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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0035 Enlarge and print image (920K) |
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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0035 Enlarge and print image (920K) |
| msa_sc5826_3_1-0035 ©Maryland State Archives - 35 - had frequent visitors among agreeable people in New York City, among others Sheridan Knowles whom I heard recite "the Smugglers", and for the first time appreciated the fascination of a good recitation. It was at this Post, I first saw Mr. Charles O'Connor, not however, at Major Pierce's table. It was in the road near the Fort, I saw a party of ladies and gentlemen on a horseback ex- cursion, and one lady was dismounted in the middle of the road holding her horse, with a pocket-handkerchief around the horse's neck, and there did not appear to be a horseman in the whole party. The horse being my specialty I stepped to the front and offered my services, and if I recollect right, took the party into the Fort, to avoid a threatening storm of rain. If Mr. O'Connor sees this, he will not thank me for casting a slur on his early equine accomplishments, for I sup- pose, like other great men, he is vain of his knowledge of trifles not the least connected with the line in which he shines conspicuously. Major Pierce knew Mr. O'Connor very well, and I mention it as an evidence of his sagacity, that he then predicted that Mr. O'Connor would make his mark in the world. We of course attributed the Major's prediction to his sympathy with Mr. O'Connor's politics. Our pay as 2d Lieuts. was then but $62.50, and the prospect of pro- motion small, as there were many grey-headed 1st Lieutenants then in the Regi- ment. This small pay in the neighborhood of a great City with all the tempting inducements to spend money, kept us very poor, and made us very anxious to see field service, so, those who had no wife or children, were delighted to have our gay times broken up by rumors of orders to take the field against the Creeks and Seminoles. Before starting, or even getting the orders, I determined to go and see my Father in Annapolis, and to this visit not foreseen at the time, I attribute remotely, a change in my profession or arm of service which greatly influenced my career. On reaching Baltimore I learned that my Father was in Washington on a |