6th. AT WASHINGTON.—­At first, after being informed of our declining to serve in his hospital, Colonel Foster did not appear altered in his kind regard for us.  But his spleen soon became evident.  At the time we asked for a trial by court-martial, and it was his duty to place us under arrest and proceed with the preferring of his charges against us.  For a while he seemed to hesitate and consult his inferior officers, and among them his Chaplain.  The result of the conference was our being ordered into our companies, that, separated, and with the force of the officers of a company bearing upon us, we might the more likely be subdued.  Yet the Colonel assured L.M.M., interceding in my behalf, when the lieutenant commanding my company threatened force upon me, that he should not allow any personal injury.  When we marched next day I was compelled to bear a gun and equipments.  My associates were more fortunate, for, being asked if they would carry their guns, declined and saw no more trouble from them.  The captain of the company in which P.D. was placed told him he did not believe he was ugly about it, and that he could only put him under arrest and prefer charges against him.  He accordingly was taken under guard, where he lay till we left for here.

The next morning the men were busy in burnishing their arms.  When I looked toward the one I had borne, yellow with rust, I trembled in the weakness of the flesh at the trial I felt impending over me.  Before the Colonel was up I knocked at his tent, but was told he was asleep, though, through the opening, I saw him lying gazing at me.  Although I felt I should gain no relief from him, I applied again soon after.  He admitted me and, lying on his bed, inquired with cold heartlessness what I wanted.  I stated to him, that I could never consent to serve, and, being under the war-power, was resigned to suffer instead all the just penalties of the law.  I begged of him release from the attempts by violence to compel my obedience and service, and a trial, though likely to be made by those having no sympathy with me, yet probably in a manner comformable to law.

He replied that he had shown us all the favour he should; that he had, now, turned us over to the military power and was going to let that take its course; that is, henceforth we were to be at the mercy of the inferior officers, without appeal to law, justice, or mercy.  He said he had placed us in a pleasant position, against which we could have no reasonable objection, and that we had failed to perform our agreement.  He wished to deny that our consent was only temporary and conditional.  He declared, furthermore, his belief, that a man who would not fight for his country did not deserve to live.  I was glad to withdraw from his presence as soon as I could.