L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

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[104] drink wine with a friend. One afternoon, while receiving a call from these two rebel officers, and talking over the play, they suddenly proposed to her to “drink a Southern toast in the evening, and see what effect it will have upon the audience.” In surprise, she exclaimed, “But I should be locked up in jail, if I were to attempt any thing of that kind.” They, however, scouted the idea, and finally offered her three hundred dollars in greenbacks, if she would do it. Stifling her indignation at the base proposal, she pretended to assent, and asked merely for a little time to think it over. The gentlemen left to prepare matters for the expected surprise; but no sooner were they fairly out of sight, than with cheeks burning and eyes flashing, the actress proceeded to the office of Colonel Moore, the United States Provost-Marshal, with whom she had a slight acquaintance, and to whom she related the whole affair. He quietly and kindly heard her story, and then, thanking her for her confidence, coolly advised her to carry out the programme of her rebel advisers, and drink the toast, as proposed, at the theatre that evening. Her amazement at this may be better imagined than described; but the colonel finally overcame her scruples, giving her to understand that she could render her country a true service by following his advice, and promising that he would himself be present at the theatre. “Fear not,” he said; “it is for a deeper reason than you think, that I beg you to do this thing. Good may come of it, to your country, that you know not of.” To the view of her duty, as thus presented, she patriotically yielded her assent, and returned to her lodgings to prepare for the new role which she was to act, and to get ready for