nization out of
the scrape, and would afford them an ample excuse for abandoning the
enterprise.'

"The Secretary said: 'This seems feasible; who could you trust with this
management?'

"I replied: 'Gen. Tom Anderson.'

"'Just the man,' replied both gentlemen.

"'The Secretary said: 'This part is in your hands. We do not wish to see
anyone but you on this part of the plan. We will give our confidence
to no one else. We hope you will not delay. We will look out for
Washington. You need not hesitate; these two men, Gen. Anderson and your
son, will be amply compensated.'

"The Chief of Staff to the General then remarked: 'I think I know the
man to take hold of matters in Washington.' He then named a man who had
been a Union officer, and who was then in the city. He was sent for
and had an interview the following afternoon with the two gentlemen
mentioned. I immediately returned, met Gen. Anderson, and asked him
to go with me to my room. When there I laid the case before him fully,
imposing entire secrecy, should the terrible threatened disaster be
averted, saying to him that Henry, my son, being young and thoughtless,
must not know the inside, but must look upon it merely as a matter
of precaution, and with the intention of carrying out the Black Hills
scheme in order to get into that rich mineral country.

"The General readily assented to all, and at once prepared to return
home with me. He visited the General of the Army the following day.

"The next morning I again visited the Secretary of War, and explained
to him the General's readiness to act. He was delighted with the
arrangement, and said to me that I must return in two weeks and let him
know how matters were progressing; that it would not do to communicate
in writing. I bade him good-by, and the General and I left for home.

"On our arrival his wife and the two children were greatly delighted, as
well as the rest of the family, including Ham and Aunt Martha. His
wife, finding that he was to remain at home for some time, was extremely
happy. Henry was now called into council and put in possession of a part
of our plan. They at once went to work diligently, and in a very short
time had made up a secret organization with a view, as understood, of
going to the Black Hills, and by moving about in the country found that
any number of good soldiers could be rendezvoused at Indianapolis ready
to move by rail in any direction required, the Black Hills being the
o