Today I have the honor of kicking off the virtual book tour for The Return of Catesby, by Bob O'Connor
with this excerpt from the book. Enjoy, and pick up your copy at http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-8206-1.
August
25, 1865
We
went to Washington City on the train. Mr. Quinn got us a room at the
Willard Hotel. I was not so much in awe of the hotel as I had been
when we visited with Mr. Lincoln before to going to Andersonville
Prison with the special committee earlier this year.
Mr.
Quinn arranged for Major Delany’s letter to be taken by courier to
Major General Lew Wallace. He told the courier to return here with
the reply.
Mr.
Quinn wanted to know what I was going to say when they called me to
testify.
“I
am going to tell the truth. Allen Means, my friend the prison guard,
told me several times that Captain Wirz wrote to Richmond on a
regular basis asking for more food and medicine. They refused to send
it to him. Allen said it wasn’t Captain Wirz’s fault we were
starving. The guards and their families weren’t getting any food
either. That’s what I am going to tell them. And I’m going tell
them if something horrible like a killing took place while I was
there, I would have seen it and recorded it. And I am also going to
tell them that I didn’t see anything of the sorts.”
“Do
you think they are going to like what you have to say, my friend?”
he wanted to know.
“I
don’t much care if they like it or not. I’m pretty sure they
won’t like it. Major Delany just wants me to tell them what I saw.”
We
went down to the dining room and ordered supper. Before we were
finished eating, the courier brought the message we were waiting for.
Major
General Lew Wallace invited me to participate. He asked me to report
to the steno at the hearing room at ten the next morning. They would
take my deposition and then call me in to testify.
“See,
Catesby. They are waiting to hear from you. I’m sure you will do
great.”
“Thanks,
Mr. Quinn. I am glad that you came along.”
~~Also available from Amazon~~
Thank you for helping Bob kick off his tour!
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