"'For my friends, captain,' I replied, with a wink which he evidently
understood.
"'Let me see your papers again.'
"I unfolded them, and he glanced at them.
"'All right--they are in regular form. There is the key of the sutler's
shop, on that nail. Take possession.'
"And my friend the captain emptied a second glass of the brandy, and
made me a sign that I could go.
"I bowed profoundly; took the key; and went and opened the sutler's
shop; after which I strolled out to look at the prisoners in the area.
The sentinel had seen me visit the officer of the day, and go to the
sutler's shop.
"Thus he did not interfere with me when I went into the area, as I was
obviously a good Union man and an employee of the post.
"Such was the manner in which I secured a private interview with
Colonel Mohun: we could talk without the presence of a corporal; and we
soon arranged the plan for his escape.
"I had determined to procure a Federal uniform, to be smuggled in to
him, and an hour afterward, I left him, promising to see him again as
soon as I could visit Wilmington, and return with the intended
disguise.
"A strange piece of good fortune aided me, or rather accomplished my
purpose at once. I had scarcely returned to the sutler's shop, and
spread some blankets to sleep upon, when the officer of the day came
in, and I saw at a glance that he was half intoxicated, in consequence
of the large amount of brandy which he had swallowed.
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