Our captors were the solid men of the city, any one of whom could have sat for the portrait of Mr. Turveydrop without the slightest alteration.  On taking us into custody, they stated the grounds on which they arrested us.  Our dark complexions and long beards had aroused suspicions concerning the places of our nativity.  Suspicion was reduced to a certainty when one of them heard me mention my presence in Missouri on the day of choosing candidates for the Convention.  Our purpose was divined when I asked if there was any activity at the Navy Yard.  We were Rebel emissaries, who designed to lay their Navy Yard in ashes!

On our release and departure we were followed to our homes, that the correctness of our representations might be ascertained.  This little occurrence, in the center of New England, where the people claim to be thoroughly quiet and law-abiding, indicated that the war spirit in that part of the North was more than momentary.

The West was not behind the Eastern States in the determination to subdue the Rebellion.  Volunteers were gathering at Cairo, and threatening to occupy points further down the Mississippi.  At St. Louis the struggle was active between the Unionists and the Secessionists.

A collision was a mere question of time, and of short time at the best.

As I visited The Herald office for final instructions, I found that the managing editor had determined upon a vigorous campaign.  Every point of interest was to be covered, so that the operations of our armies would be fully recorded from day to day.  The war correspondents had gone to their posts, or were just taking their departure.  One correspondent was already on the way to Cairo.  I was instructed to watch the military movements in Missouri, and hastened to St. Louis as fast as steam could bear me.

Detained twelve hours at Niagara, by reason of missing a railway train, I found that the opening war gave promise of affecting that locality.  The hotel-keepers were gloomy at the prospect of losing their Southern patronage, and half feared they would be obliged to close their establishments.  There were but few visitors, and even these were not of the class which scatters its money profusely.  The village around the Falls displayed positive signs of dullness, and the inhabitants had personal as well as patriotic interest in wishing there was no war.  The Great Cataract was unchanged in its beauty and grandeur.  The flood from the Lakes was not diminished, and the precipice over which the water plunged was none the less steep.  The opening war had no effect upon this wonder of the New World.