''V ';< ((♦^>'>>i>->,jcj:at he wished he would do him the favor to take that bullet to Gene^-al Price after he had hung him. Gordon seemed much amused at so trifling a request, and said to his prisoner that he must be either crazy or a fool. When informed that there was more about the bullet than he had any idea of, he insisted that he should be shown what it was; but Moore refused, saying that he was sworn to say nothing about it. Gordon was nonplussed for a while, but, ex- amining the bullet very closely, soon saw the trick, un • screwed the top, and took out and read the contents. Turning to Moore, he told him he was " all right," and furnished him with a better horse than he then had, on which he at once started back. On arriving at camp, he related his adventure, whereupon a body of cavalry was sent out in pursuit, and the next day succeeded in capturing a number of the band. Late in the fall, Moore and Blue again met in Leaven- worth, and both went toward Springfield as guides and spies for Lane and Sturgis's commands. On Christmas day, both were sent by General Steele into Price's camp, whither they went, and returned on January 3d, 1862. Four miles from Warsaw, they found Christmas was being celebrated Ijy a ball, at which many rebel officers were present, In company with some rebel teamsters, they devised a plan to scare these officers off, and secure NARRATI\Ti:S OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 17 to themselves the field and the girls, by rushing up tc the house and shouting, at the top of their voice8, •'* The Feds are coming ! the Feds are coining !" The plan worked admirably : the officers rushed away in hot haste — one even falling into the well — and our plotters were left in full possession of the premises. Coming back to Sedalia, they were engaged by Colonel Weir as guides. Going ahead one day to select a camping ground, they came to a house where was a man very hospitably inclined, asking them to stop, put up their horses and feed them with corn, of which he had plenty. Repre- senting that they had been pressed into the service, but were in heart with the rebels, their entertainer grew confidential, and told them something about himself— that he acted as a spy, carried despatches wrapped in a cigar, etc. The information thus obtained from him, contributed to the capture, by General Pope, at Black- water, of thirteen hundred rebels, with all their equip- ments. They accompanied General Pope on his <3xpedi- tion to Warrensburg, where he captured Colonel Parke'a rebel force ; and then returned to Kansas, where they jayhawked for a month or two. Going again to Mi» souri, they learned that Quantrell's guerilla band was in the vicinity of Independence. With eleven comrades, chey went there, captured the town, quartered themselves in the court house, and badly frightened the people, who thought, of course, that they were only the advance- guard of a larger body behind. Quantrell soon came into the place with forty-five men, and demanded their surrender. This was refused, and a skirmish commenced, the occupants of the court house firing out of the doors and windows, and finally succeeded in dispersing the 18 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. besiegers, who went off for reinforcements. The thirteen now thought it best to retire, which they did, skirmish- ing for one and a half miles to a stone fence, when the guerillas mounted. The jay hawkers now ensconced themselves behind the fence. Holding their position until dusk, they then scattered, having killed five and wounded seven of the guerillas. Pursuit was made by the latter ; but the darkness enabled them to escape, and they soon put an effectual end to it by cutting the telegraph wire, and stretching it across the road from fence to fence. The twain now joined Generals Curtis and Sigel as couriers, and made several dangerous trips between the army and Rolla, carrying despatches each wa^'', on one of which Blue was taken prisoner and held as such for six weeks. Both accompanied General Curtis in his terrible march through Arkansas to Helena, and met with many stirring adventures by the way. One day while they were riding in company with Newton Blue, a brother of Frank and also a scout, they came suddenly upon five rebels in a lane, with whom they stopped and talked for some time, representing themselves as Southern men. The rebels soon heard a bugle behind them, how- ever, and, suspecting all was not right, made a charge upon our scouts, who killed three of them and captured their horses, the remaining two falling into the hands of the Federal advance. At Helena they engaged in buying cotton for the speculators, and in one of their excur- sions were captured by the guerillas. Pretending to be rebels, they joined a portion of Jeff Thompson's gang, and, remaining with them eleven days, obtained much information concerning' him. Having had enough of NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, Ax\D DETECTIYES. 19 guerilla life, they planned an escape, in this wise. An old negro, of whom they knew, was Just goin- into Helena°with a load of cotton for sale. By him they Bent woid to General Steele of an arrangement which had heen made to roh him on his return of the proceeds of the cotton. The message was carried and delivered faithfully, and on his way back the negro was robbed, as proposed, of his eleven hundred dollars in greenbacks, which were found hidden away in his boots ; but just aa the thirty-one guerillas were dividing the spoils, the second battalion of the first Missouri Cavalry came up and captured the whole party, all of whom were subse- quently sent to St. Louis as prisoners. From Helena Moore and Blue next went to Columbia, and then to Corinth, where they detected and arrested two counterfeiters, making a great haul of counterfeit St. Louis city treasury warrants and gold dollars, both of which were well executed. Accompanying Colonel Truesdail's police force to Louisville, they there played the rebel, and hunted out Palmer and Estes, who burned the ammunition steamers at Columbus and were after- ward sent to Camp Chase. With our army they came on to Nashville, and afterward ran as mail messengers— a very dangerous service. Getting on the track of a band of guerillas between BowUng Gieen and Nash- ville, they piloted a cavalry force to the neighborhood, and captured a considerable number, who were brought to Nashville and were properly dealt with. They next made a successful spy trip to Murfreesboro, going by way of Lavergne and crossing at Sanders' Ferry. Dr. Goodwin, of the rebel army, whom they had ftillen in with on the way, vouched for them, and they passed 20 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. the pickets into the town readily enough. Once in, they mp.de the circuit of the town and camps, obtaining all the information they could, and then began to think of getting back. It was arranged that Moore should go to Chattanooga for further observation, while Blue would return to Nashville and report what they had already seen and heard. With this understanding, both went at once to the provost-marshal's office for passes. At that time Captain Williams was provost-marshal, whom they found somewhat crabbed and chary of words. Making known their wants, they were saluted in this manner : — " Want a pass to Chattanooga, do you? Lots of people in that fix. What d'ye want to go there for ?" " We want to join Jack Jones's cavalry company," replied Moore, at a venture, who had heard of such a company. " If that's all you want, you needn't go to Chattar aooga for it. Jones and his company are here now." This was a new and not pleasing phase of afiairs ; and, to add to their difficulty. Captain Brenton called Jones in at once, and told him here were two men who wished to join his company, and he'd better have them swoni in right away. Fairly caught in their own trap, thei*6 was no escape, and, trusting the future to good luck, they yielded to their fate, and were sworn in. Three days afterward, they with three others were detailed to duty on the second picket line, and determined to take advantage of this opportunity and make their escape. Some distance from their station was a house where whiskey could be obtained ^t exorbit^int prices; and Moore and Blue proposed tc their companions that if NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 21 they would go and get the whiskey they would pay for it, and guard the post during their absence. This was agreed to; and the whiskey seekers were hardly out of eight when our two scouts rode off in hot haste to the outer pickets, two guards being on duty in the road, the remainder of the pickets being near by at their fire, and their horses tied close at hand. They were accosted by the guard with the usual — "Halt! who comes there ?" " Friends, with the countersign !" was the answer. " Dismount ; advance, one, and give the countersign," was now the order. Our scouts had foreseen this, and planned accordingly. Hence, they rode up briskly to the pickets ; and while they pulled and tugged upon the bridle reins to hold in their fiery steeds, the spurs upon their heels were doing equally good service in urging the animals forward, and they could not be stopped until abreast of the pickets and nearly touching their opposing muskets. Moore then leaned forward, without dismounting, as if to give the password, and suddenly jerked to one side the bayonet and loaded gun of the nearest guard, while with his other hand he shot him dead with his pistol, sud- denly drawn from his holster. The ball penetrated the forehead, the guard falling over backward, his mouth wide opened. Blue at the same time drew a pistol and shot the other guard dead in his tracks, and away they flew down the road, and were speedily lost in the dark- ness and distance. The rest of the rebel pickets did noi pursue them, but our scouts could hear them shout after them long and loudly, "Oh, you infernal Yankees!" etc., etc. The scouts soon tock totha woods, travelling 22 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. all night in the direction of Nashville, and meeting witlj no further adventure until soon after sunrise, when one of them espied a moving object in their front, at a con- siderable distance. A second glance revealed it to be a "butternut," with gun in hand, who at that instant glided behind a tree and took deliberate aim at them. Our scouts, who were also in butternut, were not taken aback. Keeping on at an easy horse walk, and appa- rently noticing no one, one of them begins to sing, in a brisk, cheery voice, a verse of the "Dixie" song, ending — " In a Southern land I'll take my stand, And live and die in Dixie," etc. As they neared the butternut, he was observed to lower his gun and emerge from behind the tree. When abreast, he accosted the twain : — " Halloo, boys ! which way ?" " All right ! — ^taking a little scout this morning," was the answer. The *' butternut," who was a rebel scout or guerilla, was now near them, unsuspecting, and inclined to be in- quisitive and sociable, his gun over his shoulder. But our men were in haste, and had a vivid remembrance of that previous moment when he had drawn a bead on them, in such a cold-blooded manner, from behind the tree. One of them draws his revolver as quick as thought and shoots him dead ; and again they ride forward briskly for a while, and eventually reach the Federal lines neai Nashville in safety, but through dangers to be feared upon every hand, from behind each tree, or rock, or bush — as they were traversing debatable land, between two great contending armies, and known to be swarming NARRAriYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 25 with scouts, spies, and troops, and especially rebel gue- rillas or " partisan rangers." Acting as secret policemen and detectives, they now assisted in developing several important cases, a full mention of which would fill many pages of this work. Occasionally they varied their daily routine by acting as guides to cavalry expeditions, in which they rendered efficient service. One of their adventures in Nashville is worth relating. After the battle of Stone River large numbers of rebel prisoners were sent to the city and allowed their parole, whereupon the wealthy secessionists of the place seized every opportunity to feed, clothe, and encourage them. One day, as Moore and Blue were walking down High street in the dress of Confederate prisoners, they were invited into an elegant residence and were kindly enter- tained by Miss Hamilton, one of the reigning belles of Nashville. Conversation naturally ensued concerning the relative merits and demerits of the North and South, in the course of which Miss Hamilton said she had done every thing in her power to aid the Southern cause. She had sent letters of encouragement, she said, and also a Southern flag, through the lines. She told them of an old Irishwoman w^ho was in the habit of carrying out goods in a market wagon which had a false bottom. She Baid, too, that Governor Andy Johnson once had her brought before him and gave her a severe lecturing, bui she soon talked him over, and persuaded him into giving her a pass to go two miles out of the city to see her aunt, and that when once beyond the lines she went to the rebel army at Murfreesboro. She further said that a Mrs. Montgomery, w^ho lived two miles out on the FrarJr> 24 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. lin pike, had taken out more goods than anybody else in Nashville. When she went to Murfreesboro she took out with her letters, and had given to Southern soldiers coming into Nashville large quantities of cloth ing, and finally demonstrated her good will by presenting Moore -with a fine pair of pants and other clothing and a pair of new boots. In return for these acts of kindness, Colonel Truesdail sent her the following letter of thanks : — " Office Coief Army Police, January 10, 1863. "Miss Hamilton, High Street: — "Dear Miss : — Please accept my grateful acknowledg- ment for your kindness — during the arrival of a large number of Confederate prisoners in the city from the battle of Stone River, and their stay here — in calling mto your beautiful residence one of my secret police, and for the kind aiid benevolent treatment you extended to him. Also for the new suit of clothes and the cav- alry boots given him, the valuable information of your labors in the Confederate cause furnished to him, and the knowledge afibrded me of your persevering energy as a spy and smuggler. I shall endeavor to profit by it, and may have occasion to send another officer to you. " Respectfully, "William Truesdail, " Chief Army Polic^r After this they accompanied a cavalry police expedi- tion for the purpose of capturing Captains Young and Scruggs — the leaders of a band of guerillas on White's Creek, who were a terror to the whole country. They were at the house of an old man named McNeil, which was surrounded and a demand made for Young and Scruggs. There being some sixty troops to back the de- mand, the old man did not dare to deny their presence, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 2t. and, without deigning any reply, turned at once, wont into the house, and bolted the door. This slight bar- rier was speedily broken down, and the crowd rushed in. Search was made everywhere — down-stairs and up, under beds, in chimneys, and under the floor ; but neither Young nor Scruggs was found. As a last resort, they went to the girl's bedroom ; and there — in bed be- tween two full-grown young women — the valiant Young was found snugly hidden away. He was unceremoni- ously dragged out, and Scruggs, in the meanwhile, having been found in a hay-loft,, both were taken to Nashville, and thrown into the penitentiary at that place, awaiting their trial. After their return to Nashville, Moore and Blue were constantly engaged for a number of months in the in vestigation of numerous minor cases of smuggling and fraud, and succeeded in making Nashville too hot a place for the swarms of rebel emissaries who had so long made it their headquarters. At the outbreak of the war, in 1861, a Souihern mer chant wrote to a large firm in New York, requesting a list of the names of those who supported and sympa- thized with the ''movement against the South." The New Yorker replied by sending, through Adams & Co.'i Express, a copy of the " City Directory 1" 26 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. A NAMELESS SPY. General Garfield relates, in the annals of the Army of the Cumberland, a thrilling and interesting narrative of a nameless Union spy (nameless, because, at that time to have given his real name, would have brought down upon him and his family the bitter vengeance of the in- fluential rebels of Kentucky and Tennessee), who, as he states, went into and came out from Bragg's army at Murfreesboro three times during the week of battles at Stone river — who even dined at the table of Bragg and of his other generals — who brought us correct information as to the force and position of the rebel army, and of the boasts of its head officers. This spy was the first to assure us positively that Bragg would fight at Stone river, telling us of that general's boast, that "he would whip Eosecrans back to Nashville if it cost ten thousand men." For the four days' service thus rendered by our spy he was paid five thousand dollars by order of our general, and the author saw the money passed to h-im. In 1862 there lived in the State of Kentucky a Union man, with his wife and children. He was a friend of the Union, and an anti-slavery man upon principle. After the rebellion broke out, and when the " Southern heart" had become fired, this man, living in a strong pro-slavery region, and surrounded by opulent slaveholders — his own family connections and those of his wife being also wealthy and bitter secessionists — very prudently held his peace, feeling his utter inability to stem the tide of the rebellion in his section. This reticence, together with his knoAvn Southern birth and relations, enabled him to NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 27 pass unsuspected, and almost unobserved, at a time when Breckinridge, Marshall, Preston, and Buckner, and other ardent politicians of Kentucky chose the re- bellion as their portion, and endeavored to carry with them the State amidst a blaze of excitement. Thus, wit^iout tacit admissions or any direct action upon his part, the gentleman of whom we write was classed by the people of his section as a secessionist. Circumstances occurred during that year by which this person was brought into contact with a Federal com- mander in Kentucky, General Nelson. Their meeting and acquaintance was accidental. Mutual Union senti- ments begat personal sympathy and friendship. Nelson wished a certain service performed in the rebel territory and he persuaded the citizen to undertake it — which the latter finally did as a matter of duty, we are assured, rather than of gain, for he made no charge for the ser- vice after its speedy and successful performance. Soon after, a similar work was necessary ; and again was the citizen importuned, and he again consented, but did not consider himself as a professional spy. During this or a similar trip, and while at Chatta- noogaj our man heard of the sudden death of General Nelson. He was now at a loss what to do. Finally he determined to return and report his business to Major-General Rosecrans, who had assumed command of the Federal army. Thus resolved, he proceeded to finish his mission. After ascertaining the position of military afi'airs at Chattanooga, he came to Murfreesboro, where Bragg's army was then collecting. Staying here several days, he was urged by his Southern army friends to act as their spy in Kentrcky. The better to conceal 28 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. his owu feelings and position, he consented to do so, and he left General Bragg's headquarters to go to that State by way of Nashville, feigning important business, and from thence to go to his home, passing by and through Rosecrans' army as it lay stretched out between Nash- ville and Louisville. The nameless man now makes his way to the Federal Headquarters, seeks a private interview with General Rosecrans, and states his case fully as we have just re- lated. Here was something remarkable, surely — a Bpy in the confidence of the commanders of two great oppo- sing armies ! Our general took much pains to satisfy himself of the honesty and soundness of the stranger. He was pleased with the man's candid manner, and his story bore an air of consistency and truth. Yet, he was a Southerner, surrounded by rebellious influences, and enjoyed Bragg's confidence ; and what guarantee could be given that he was a Union man at heart ? None ; and General Rosecrans, in great perplexity, held council with his Chief of Police, and requested the latter to " dig up " the case to its very root. This was done ; but in what manner we need not specially state. Satisfied that it would do to trust the spy, to a certain extent at least, he was now sent on his way to perform his mission for Bragg. At all events, that scheming general so sup posed when our man's report was made at the rebel headquarters a few days afterward. His information was very acceptable to Bragg ; but we strongly question its value to rebeldom, as the spy reported only what he was told by that old fox Colonel Truesdail. Perhaps the reader will inquire, how can we answer foi the report thus made to Bragg ? it may have been NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 29 more true and valuable than we supposed. Well, there is force in the query. We are fallen upon strange times, when honesty, virtue, and patriotism are at heavy dis- count in rebeldom, and the Indian's idea of the uncel^ tainty of whitxi men is by no means a myth. However, we were then quite confident of the worthlessness of the report of our spy to Bragg, because he hcid notJdng else to tell him. For five days did our spy keep himself locked in a private room in the police building at Nash- ville. His meals were carried to him by a trusty ser- vant. His door was '' shadowed " constantly by our best detectives, and so were his steps if he ventured upon the street for a few moments after dark. It was cold and bleak winter weather, and he toasted himself before his comfortable fire, read books and papers, and conferred often with the Chief of Police and his assistant, afibrd- in- them, strangers as they were to that region of country, a fund of valuable information respecting the rebels of Kentucky and Tennessee. He was a man of fine address and good intellectual attainments. When our man concluded it was about time for his return to Bragg's army, he was politely escorted by our mounted police to a proper point beyond our lines, and by a route where he would see nothing of our forces. The reader will now appreciate the grounds of our confidence, we doubt not, in the worthlessness of at least one of Gen- eral Braxton Bragg's spy reports. In due time this nameless gentleman again enters our lines, and is escorted in by our pickets to the general commanding, to whom he reports in person concermng aU that is transpiring in Bragg's army at Murfreesboro, and then he resumes l«s pleasant private quarters at the 30 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. army police building. How little could the rebel Gen« eral Zollicoffer have thought, or have imagined as the wildest dream, while buildiiig his elegant house in High Btreet, Nashville, that its gorgeous rooms should ever be devoted to such purposes ! After a brief stay, another trip was made by our man to Bragg's headquarters, we using the same precautions as previously. In fact, our spy desired and even demanded, such attention at the hands of the Chief of Police. Said he — "I am a stranger to you all. I can give you no guarantee whatever of my good faith. It is alike due to you and to myself that I be allowed no opportunities for deceiving you." The report he carried to Bragg on his second trip de- lighted the latter. His officers talked with our man freely, and after staying at Murireesboro two or three days, and riding and walking all about in the most inno- cent and unconcerned manner, he was again sent back to Nashville to " fool that slow Dutchman, Rosecrans," as one of the rebel officers remarked. Of the import- ance of the report now brought to the " slow Dutchman" we need not state further than that it contributed its due weight to a decision fraught with tremendous conse- quences to the army and to the country. Marching orders were soon after issued for the advance of the Army of the Cumberland upon Murfreesboro. Now commenced a period of excessive labor and peril for the nameless spy. General Rosecrans and Bragg each wanted instant and constant information as the armies approached. The minutiae of this man's work for four or five days we need not stop to relate [ it is easily imagined. Within that time he entered the rebel NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 31 lines and returned three times. He gave the outline of Bragg's line of battle, a close estimate of his force, an accurate account of his artillery and his earthworks, the movements of the rebel wagon and railroad trains, etc., etc. He was very earnest in assuring Rosecrans that Bragg Intended to give severe battle with superior numbers. This information proved true in all essentials, and its value to the country was inestimable. We had other Bpies piercing the rebel lines at this time, but they did not enjoy the facilities possessed by the nameless one. Almost with anguish did he exclaim against himself, in the presence of the author, for the severe manner in which he was deceiving the rebel general and involving the lives of his thousands of brave but deluded followers. After the first great battle the work of such a spy is ended, or, rather, it ceases when the shock of arms comes on. Thenceforth the armies are moved upon the in&tant, as circumstances may require. Our man, who, during the four days, had been almost incessantly in the saddle, or with his ears and eyes painfully observant while in the camps, took leave of our army upon the battle field, and retired to a place of rest. One incident occurred, during his last visit to Bragg, which is worthy of mention. That general took alarm in consequence of his report, and at once started a special messenger to General John H. Morgan — who was then absent with his cavalry in Kentucky to d^ Btroy Rosecrans' railroad communications (in which Morgan succeeded) — to return instantly with his com- mand by forced marches to Murfreesboro. That same night oa; man reported this fact to the Federal com- 32 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. mander, described the messenger and what route he would take, etc. The information was telegraphed at once to Nashville, Gallatin, and Bowling Green, and a force was sent from each of those posts to intercept the messenger. They failed to apprehend him — which, however, proved of no consequence, as the battles of Stone River were fought, and Bragg was on his retreat from Murfreesboro by the time Morgan could have re- ceived the orders. Our spy was a brave man : yet, during the last three days of his service he was most sensible of its peril. To pass between hostile lines in the lone hours of the night — for he did not wait for daylight — to be halted by guerillas and scouts and pickets, with guns aimed at him, and, finally, to meet and satisfy the anxious, keen eyed, heart searching rebel officers as well as our own, was a mental as well as physical demand that could not long be sustained. While proceeding upon his last ex- pedition, the author met the nameless one upon a by- road. We halted our horses, drew near, and conversed a few seconds in private, while our attendants and com- panions moved on. He was greatly exhausted and soiled in appearance — his clothing having been rained upon and splashed by muddy water, caused by hard riding, and which had dried upon him. He said he was about to try it once more, and, though he had been so often and so successfully, yet he feared detection and its sure result, the bullet or the halter. He had been unable, amid the hurry and excitement, to make some final disposition of his affairs. He gave us a last meesage to send to his wife and children in case it became neces- sary ; and he also desired a promise — most freely given NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 33 --tnat we would attend to the settlement of his account with General Rosecrans for services recently rendered. Thus concluding, he wrung our hand most earnestly, and, putting spurs to his fresh and spirited animal, dashed off upon his mission. Twenty hours afterward we were relieved of our anxious forebodings by his safe and successful return. We have stated the price paid him for his labors : it was well earned, and to out causo was a most profitable investment. The Prater of the Wicked. — During the month of December last, and for many weeks previous, a severe drought prevailed in Tennessee. The Cumberland river was fordable in many places, the smaller streams nearly dry, and in sundry localities water for stock very scarce. During its continuance, a Union man at Shelby- ville, while in attendance upon the Methodist church at that place, heard a prayer offered from the pulpit by the officiating minister, in which occured a sentence somewhat as follows : — "0 Lord, as a nation free and independent, look down upon us in mercy and loving-kindness, and hold us within the hollow of thy hand amidst all our desola- tion and sorrow. Let the rays of heaven's light smile upon our fields, and the dews of beneficent mercy be shed upon our valleys. Let the rain descend to beautify and fructify the earth and to swell the rivers of waters ; but, Lord, do not raise the Cumberland sufficient to bring upon us the damnable Yankee gunboats 1" 3 54 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIFB*. CORPORAL PIKE, SCOUT AND RANG Whether we c msider the length of time during whicfc he was employed, or the variety and hazardous charactei of the service in w hich he was engaged, we think no one of the scouts and spies employed by the commanden of the Union armies has ever passed through a greater number of startling and perilous adventures than Cor- poral James Pike, of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry. He has published a narrative of his services, which is replete with interest. We cannot follow him in any except the most remarkable of these, for want of space. A native of Leesburg, Ohio, and a printer by profession, he pos- sessed in a large degree that love of adventure which is BO often a characteristic of Western nwii He gives m no clue to his age ; but he must have been not more than five or six and twenty years old, when, in the winter of 1858-9, he had come to the determination, after working at his trade for some time at Jefferson City, to migrate to Kansas, where the border ruffian war was then raging, in search of adventures. Having been turned aside from this intention by the solicitation of a Texan adventurer, he went to Texas ; and very soon joined a company of Rangers, and for nearly two years was engaged in warfare with the Camanches and other of the savage Indian tribes in Northern Texas. After numerous hair-breadth escapes, and terrible suJBfering in the ill advised expedition against the Camanche Indians, prosecuted under Colonel Johnston, he returned to Waco, Texas, and found the community there, as elsewhere, all alive with excitement in regard to Mr. Lincoln's NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. OO election. Avowing himself a Union man, he was soon obliged to liy ; though not until he had recorded himself as against the iniquitous ordinance of Secession. Great numbers of Union men were murdered at this time in Texas, simply for the avowal of Union sentiments ; and Pike, desirous of doing his country some service against the bloodthirsty secessionists, escaped from the State into Arkansas; and when he fell in with rebels, represented himself as the nephew of Albert Pike, a rebel general then in the western part of the Indian Territory. More than once he found himself in situations from whence escape seemed impossible ; but his reauy wit, before long, enabled him to find some way of evading the picket lines of the enemy : and passing through Memphis and Nashville — meeting his father at the latter place — he made his way to Portsmouth, Ohio, by midsummer of 1861; and soon after enlisted, first in Fremont's body- guard, and subsequently in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry. After spending two months in acquiring a knowledge of cavalry drill. Corporal Pike and the rest of his company were mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Dennison, on the 20th of November, 1861; and early in the spring moved to Louisville, where they were assigned to General 0. M. Mitchel's division, and soon marched toward Bowl- ing Green. General Mitchel was too shrewd a judge of character not to discern quickly Pike's qualifications for the secret service; and before he had been under him a week, he sent him, with some twenty comrades, on a scout toward Green River, Ky. On his return, he found General Mitchel's division before Bowling Green, and with another soldier, crossed the Big Barren river on a raft, with a coil of rope, to facilitate the construction 86 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. of a pontoon bridge. The army being safely in Bowling Green, Corporal Pike explored the adjacent region, and arrested the guerillas, who, in the guise of Union soldiers, were plundering, burning, and destroying private and public property. In ane of these expeditions, he waa fold of two of these marauders named Robinson and Keaton, about sixteen miles distant, who were constantly committing depredations. He started alone to arrest them, but before proceeding far met two men, and soon after a third, whom he knew to hi guerillas and seces- sionists; but whom he addressed as law-abiding citizens, telling them whom he was going to arrest, and insisted upon their coming with him and giving him assistance. They at first endeavored to excuse themselves, but as they were personally hostile to Robinson and Keaton, they finally consented to go with him, and he arrested the culprits, while they guarded and took charge of them. The Union people of the vicinity, not aware of the real character of Robinson and Keaton, and believing that this was a movement of the secessionists, followed in some force to Bowling Green, to demand their release ; but by hard riding Pike reached there first, and delivered up, not only the two marauders, but the three guerillas he had compelled to aid him in capturing them ; and when the Union party, who had come on to demand their release, arrived at the provost-marshal's, it was found that there were three more bushwhackers in their ranks, who were also arrested and sent to jail. General Mitchel next sent him to ascertain the loca- tion and strength of Morgan's band, then just beginning to make some disturbance in Middle Tennessee. He •jucceeded in having an interview with Morgan, passing NARRA'.VES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 3V himself off as a Texa. ranger; ascertained the strength of liis coinniand, and after narrowly escaping capture two or three times, succeeded in reaching the Union lines near Nashville. General Mitchell, who was one of the most active and energetic of commanders, now determined to explore the roads and bridges leading to Shelby ville, preparatory to a movement upon that town, and sent Corporal Pike to perform that service — one of great difficulty and danger, inasmuch as it was remote from the Union lines, and all the roads were picketed by the Texan Rangers and Morgan's battalion. But danger only added new zest to any enterprise, and he uudertook it cheer- fully. His encounters on this expedition were many and startling, but when meeting the rebels in considerable numbers, he passed himself off as Captain Bonham, of the First Louisiana Cavalry, just escaped from the Union lines ; and told his story so plausibly that it met with perfect credence. If there were but one or two, he trusted to his pistols and the speed of his good horse ; and on one occasion, meeting at night a part of Morgan's battalion, tjie audacious fellow professed to be on picket duty, and demanded the countersign ; but finding them ignorant of it, compelled them to file past, and when they were nearly across a rickety bridge in the vicinity, he put spurs to his horse and rode in an opposite direction. On the 8th of April, 1862, General Mitchell sent Pike to Decatur, Alabama, to get information as to the state of the country, and destroy the railroad bridge at that point if possible. Some of his adventures on this ex- pedition were so characteristic of the shj-ewdness and 38 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. audacity of the man that we cannot do better than to give them in his own words. " Near to the town of Fayette ville, Lincoln county, Tennessee, night overtook me, and I left the road for a short distance and slept in the woods. This was Sat- urday night, and Sunday morning I rode into town. The citizens were astonished to see a single man, dressed in full Yankee costume — blue jacket, blue blouse, and blue pants — and armed with the well known Yankee accoutrements, venture among them. They gathered about me in a great crowd, and seemed to regard it as the freak of a madman, but on approaching me at the hotel, they found me entirely rational, cool, and of decent de- portment, and they at once changed their minds, and took me for one of their own men in disguise. Seeing it was my best plan to encourage this belief, I ordered my breakfast, went to the stable to see my horse fed, and then returned to my room at the hotel. There were about three hundred men gathered on the sidewalk to ascertain what the strange arrival meant, and to hear the news ; and they were watching me with eager inter- est. I felt that I was playing a delicate game, with my neck in a halter. If they had only known my true character, they would but too gladly have hanged me to the nearest tree. They asked me my name, which I told them ; next my regiment, and with a swaggering air, I said : " ' The Fourth Ohio Cavalry.' *' * What is your colonel's name?' said one. " ' Colonel John Kennett,' I answered, slowly, and with a dubious look. " ' What is your captain's nane ?' inquired another. NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 39 « 'Captaiii 0. P. Robie,' I told him. " * Where is your command ?' asked one who appeared to be a man of consequence. "'At Shelbyville.' "'Well,' he continued, 'if your command is there, what are you doing here by yourself?' " ' Why, sir,' I responded, ' if you want to know, I came to demand the surrender of this town.' " ' Well, well/ said the man ; ' that is too good. One man to take a town like this,' and they enjoyed the joke hugely. " They now began to look exceedingly wise ; and I heard the whisper pass from mouth to mouth, that I was one of Morgan's men. This declaration I heard again and again, as I passed through the crowd. Soon after, a gentleman stepped up to me and requested to exam- ine my gun, which I handed to him after removing the cap ; but I at the same time drew out my pistol, cocked it, and held it in my hand till my piece was returned to me. After a brief survey of the gun, it was delivered over to me with trembling hand, when I restored the cap and put up my pistol. "At this moment I was called to breakfast, and walked into the dining-room and sat down to the table, keep- ing an eye on every thing at once. I seated myself be- side a man of good appearance, who had on a handsome uniform and the three stars of a rebel colonel. Sling- ing my carbine across my knees, with the hammer up, ready for instant use, I loosed my pistols, in the scab- bard on one side, and a vicious bowie knife on the other, after which I began to appease my appetite on the good things before me, watching the colonel closely. He 4.0 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. looked at me three different times, and then rismg abruptly from the table, darted out into the crowd, and I saw no more of him. A few minutes after, I heard the people on the sidewalk raise a loud laugh at the ex- pense of some one. "After eating a meal — the first since I had left camp — I went out into the crowd again, and called for the mayor, saying I wanted him to surrender the town. Again the bystanders raised a laugh, and called for some one to go for the mayor, as he was not present. They then began to joke me about our gunboats, saying the Yankees would never fight unless backed by them. I told them that General Mitchel had dry land gunboats, with steel soles and spring runners, and that he had used them with great effect at Bowling Green. One of the men said : " * If you're a Yankee, show us a Yankee trick, and we will believe you.' *' * Gentlemen,' said I, ' I will do my best to show you one, before I leave this neck of timber.' " * Where are you going ?' said one. " ' Down the country,' I replied. " * Look here, now,' one of the fellows pursued, ^ you may as well own up and tell us where the captain is.' " ' What captain ?' I asked. " *Why Captain Morgan, to be sure.' " * Gentlemen,' said T, slowly, ^ you have waked up the wrong passenger. I belong to the Fourth Ohio Cav- alry ;' and again the laugh rung out at my preposterous assertior . In obedience to directions, my horse was brought out, «nd it was a favorable time to leave, as they were all in NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 41 a good humor, aud I consequently mounted and toc^k the road to Huntsville at a gallop. Just as I passed the crowd one fellow sung out : " ' Hold on there, you haven't shown us that Yankee trick yet.' " * There's plenty of time,' said I, turning in my saddle to watch their movements, ' before I leave this section of the country.' " About five miles from Fayetteville is a very noted highland called Wells' Hill, and on the top of it there is a fork in the road, the left going directly south lo Hunts- ville, and the right to Athens and Decatur. On reach- ing this road, I was in the act of turning into it, when I looked across on still another road, called the Meridian road, and discovered a train of wagons coming slow^ly up the hill. I watched it till I saw there was no guard near, and then riding around till I met the first wagon, I caused it to be drawn close along against the fence, and there stopped ; then the next two to be drawn close alongside, thus making an effectual barricade against any force which was approaching from that direction. Next I seized the wagon master, who was some distance in the rear of the train, and shoved him and the drivers up into the fence corner, making one of them turn the mules loose from the wagons. The loads were covered with com blades and other forage, so one could not see them, but the drivers told me that the w^agons were loaded with bacon. "After arranging things to my satisfaction, I produced a bunch of matches, and fired the fodder on the top of each of the wagci s, which were of the old-fashioned 42 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. curved bodies, Conestoga pattern, each of which had on it lour thousand pounds of bacon. " The guns of the party all happened to be in the wagons, and none of them had any side arms, except the wagon master, who had something under his coat that looked like a pistol ; and as he wore a belt, it is very probable he had one ; and some of the citizens, I know had, for I saw three or four of them ; but I was ready to shoot before they could recover from their sur- prise, so that it would have been foolhardy for them to resist, as I would certainly have killed the first man who made a motion to draw a weapon. I made no attempt to take their side arms, as I did not want to lose my advantage over them for an instant. There were three good guns burned up in the wagons, one a double barrelled shot gun, and two old muskets. " When the flames shot up, several citizens came to the scene of action, but I thrust them into the fence corner, along with the wagon master and teamsters. As soon as the wagons -were so far destroyed that they began to fall down, and I saw that it would be impossible to save any thing of the wreck, I made the drivers mount the mules, and the wagon master his horse, and taking them on the road to Fayetteville, I told them that I was going to count one hundred ; and that if, by that time, they were not out of sight, I would shoot the last one of them within range. I then began to count; *one,' 'two,' ' three,' etc., very deliberately, while they put spurs to their steeds, and in a brief time they were beyond my ken, over the hills, toward Fayetteville, to give the in- habitants an account of my Yankee trick. " Wheeling my horse, I put out once more for Decatur, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 43 but at the same time inquiring my way to Athens, as if I intended to go there. As I passed the burning wagona again, I told the citizens standing around, that if they did not leave instanter, I would shoot the last one of them, and they scattered like blackbirds. " About ten miles farther down the road, I heard the deep, sonorous tones of a preacher, belaboring a sinful congregation. He was evidently a devout believer in a terrible and endless punishment for the wicked, for he was holding out to his audience the fearful picture of a lost sinner in hell ; making a comparison between his condition and that of Dives, who, he asserted, was once in a similar state of sinfulness while on earth, and who eventually brought up in hell, and from whence he ex- pressed a strong desire to visit Abraham in his new abode ; adding that the wishes of the unfortunate Dives could not be complied with for some geographical cause — something in the topography of the country — a gulf in the way, I believe. Over this subject he grew eloquent, and had probably got about to his ' thirdly,' and the congregation were almost breathless with attention, when it occurred to me that there might be soldiers in the church, and I had better look after them ; otherwise they might give me some trouble. Riding up to the door, I made my horse enter about half way, so that I could see every man in the house. As his feet struck the floor of the church, with a loud, banging sound, the people were astonished to see a soldier, under arras, riding boldly in among them. Turning to the preacher, I inquired if there were any southern soldiers in the house. The clergyman was standing with his hand raised, as he was about to enforce some point he had made, being the 44 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SC»)UTS, AND DETECTIVES. very picture of earnest honesty, looking; as if he believed every word that he had said. When he saw me, his hand dropped, and he seemed as badly frightened as if the identical devil he had so vividly described had appeared before him. He was almost overpowered with fright, and supporting himself by the rough pulpit, he glanced at the back door, and then faltered out : ' Not now, I believe, sir.' I saw that there had been rebel soldiers there, and that they had escaped in the direction of his glance ; I instantly pulled my horse back, and spurred to the corner of the log church, just in time to see four men disappear in the brush across a field which lay back of the building. They were too far off for me to shoot at, and not desiring to disturb the worship further than the strictest military necessity demanded, I rode on, after desiring the clergyman to pray for the President of the United States. The rebel papers had an account of the aflfair, but they lied when they stated that I tried to make the preacher take a drink of whiskey ; for I hadn't a drop to bless myself with. " Pretty soon I met two soldiers riding leisurely along to church. I halted them, demanded their names, regi- ments, and companies, and informed them that they were prisoners of war ; that I was a federal soldier, but that there was no way for me to dispose of them so far from our lines except one ; I was sorry it was so — but I must shoot them. They begged I would spare their lives, and pledged their honor that they would go with me in good faith, if I would not kill them. I pretended to be in a deep study for a few moments, and then told them if they would take the oath of allegiance to the NARRATIYES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 45 Cnited States I would let them go; and to this they agreed eagerly. " Holding up my right hand, and removing my cap, tbey imitated my example, uncovered their heads, raised their hands, and with a solemn look, that would well become a court room, waited for me to administer ' the oath.' I had joked them far enough, however, and not wishing to be guilty of blasphemy by administering an obligation I had no authority to require of them, I told them that I would rely upon their honor, but they must do nothing toward pursuing me, or giving information concerning ray whereabouts ; and I then told them to ' go in peace.' " The next man I met was an old citizen, riding d very spirited horse, and dressed in a suit of butternut-colored homespun. Tall, thin featured, and gaunt, he was the very picture of a secesh planter. I stopped him, and inquired the way to Camargo ; he pointed to the road he had just left, and told me to follow that. I now told him I was a confederate officer, and that I had orders from General Beauregard to gather up all the straggler? I could find, and bring them forthwith to Corinth : that we were expecting a great battle there with our ' detesta- ble foe,' the Yankees, and that it was absolutely necessary for every one to be at his post. " ' You will,' said I, ' do me a favor and your country good service by giving me the names of all soldiers who are at home without leave in your neighborhood.' "^Certainly, sir/ he replied; 'I will do so with plea- sure; and if I had time/ he added, *1 would go with you, and help to find them.' ** I then drew out a note-book, and wrote down each 46 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. name he gave me, with the company and regiment ot each man, together with his residence ; and then asked him to refer me to some responsible citizens, who would give assistance if necessary. He gave me the names of half a dozen, who, he said, would not only assist me, but would give the names of other delinquents. " He now prepared to ask me a few questions, and pre- face them with the statement that he was the 'Chief Justice, of Lincoln county, and that he was on his way to Fayetteville to open court on Monday morning. " 'Are there many cases to be disposed of?' I asked. " ' Yes, a good many,' he said. "'What is their nature generally ?' was my next inquiry. " ' Why, they are mostly political,' said he. " I was at no loss to know what the phrase meant ; the accused were Union men, who, true to their principles, had refused to yield to the demands of the secessionists, but chose persecution rather than dishonor. I then concluded to have a little fun out of the old fellow, and render the persecuted loyalists what assistance I could. But as I did not desire to kill him in cold blood, I con- cluded to frighten him a little by way of punishment. Pointing to the dense column of smoke that was rising from the burning bacon, I said, roughly : " ' Look there, old man.' " ' Why, what in the name of God does that mean ?' inquired he, raising his eyes in utter astonishment. " ' AVhy, sir,' I responded, ' it means that I am a United States soldier, and I have just burned a rebel train up there, and am now about to dispose of the Chief Justice of Lincoln county' — at the same moment NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 47 nimno; the hammer of my gun, aud drawing a bead on kim. " < Great God ! don't kJl me, sir,* he piteously pleaded; < don't kill me.' " • Look here, old man,' said I, savagely, * if I let you life, do you think you will trouble Union men in this eounty again ?' " * 0, no, no, I will not.' " * Won't bring 'em to trial?' I asked. " * No, indeed, I will not,' he solemnly asserted ; * I have been compelled to enforce the law,' he then began in extenuation, when I interrupted him with, " ^ Don't talk to me about enforcing the laws, you old reprobate, or I will kill you in your tracks. Now, see here,' I continued, * I will give you a chance for your life. This is a level road, and a straight one ; now, I will count one hundred and fifty, and if you are not out of eight in that time, I shall kill you, just as sure as God made little apples.' " I gave the word, and began to count, and he darted off, like an arrow, and was soon lost to my view in a cloud of dust. '' Again taking the Athens road, I pushed on rapidly for some time till I passed several houses, and then, reaching a shallow creek, leading into the woods, I turned down it, so that the place where I left the road could not be found. I traveled up by-ways till near sunset, when I met with an old man, who had just crossed the Athens road, and he told me that he had seen twelve of Young's Tennessee Cavalry and fifteen mounted citizens after a man * who had been raising a disturbance up the country.' He said that I answered 18 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. the description exactly, and that he believed I was thi» man. '' ' You had better hide somewhere till after dark,' ht advised me ; ' for they are alarming the whole country wherever they go.' " I saw that he was a Union man, so that I told him that if I kept on riding they could better see and hear me, and perhaps it would give them a chance to bush- whack me. I then told him I wanted to find a seques- tered spot, where I could leave my horse, and have him taken care of till I could get him again ; and he told me of a very good Union man, who lived down in the woods, away from any public road, and advised me to leave my horse there ; and he gave me such directions as would enable me to find the place, which I reached in safety. " Leaving my horse, I took to the woods on foot, mak- ing direct for Decatur, taking the sun for my guide. The second night overtook me in the woods very near Madison depot, on the railroad between Huntsville and Decatur. I had tried to travel in the night, but was overtaken by a terrible storm, and the darkness was sc great that I could not find my way. Being very tired, I slept soundly, with no other bed than the ground, and no cover but my rubber Talma." Soaked with the rain and famished with hunger, he made his way, in the early morning, toward the railroad, and followed it till about ten o'clock, when near Miner- ville he found the residence of a Union man, and ob- tained a meal, his host and himself being mutually sus- picious of each other and both acting a part. Here he met Bome rebel cavalry soldiers, and passing himself NiRRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVKb. 40 off as a Texan ranger ascertained what were the defen- ces of the railroad bridge he was sent to inspect. After they were gone, he pursued his journey, seeking the op- portunity of reaching and firing the bridcro. but falling in with the camp of the (rebel) Second Tennessee Cav- alry, and though their suspicions were not aroused as to his character, they insisted on fraternizing with him to such an extent that he had great difficulty in shaking them off, and was finally obliged to use threats, which, while they had the effect of driving his pertinacious friends away, rendered his own escape a matter of ne- cessity. In attempting this, he got into a swamp, and endeavored to £ad his way through it to the river, an J stealing a boat float down under the bridge and fire it. Failing in this, and knowing that there was no time to be lost, he turned his course and moved northward across the country to find the Union army. Travelling all day and until late at night, he was at length startled by the deep-mouthed baying, first, of a single blood- hound, and then soon after of several, and realized at once that the pursuers with their bloodhounds were on his track. Turning into a dense body of timber neai by, he soon found a stream of water about waist deep, into which he plunged, and having crossed and broken their trail by so doing, he plunged into another swamp, where he kept on for an hour, the water being still nearly to his waist. Finding at length a pile of new rails rising a little above the water he clambered upon them and was soon asleep, though he could yet hear the distant baying of the hounds. In the morning, be- numbed, and almost perishing with cold and hunger, he again waded the swamp for half an hour, tiU he came tc 4 50 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. the rear of a plantation, and attracting the attention of an aged negro, who, on finding that he was a Yankee soldier, brought him food, procured him a guide, and cheered him on his way. After some farther adventures, in which he confiscated a fine rebel horse and buggy and brought the driver, a stalwart negro, into the Union lines, he reached General Mitchel's headquarters at Huntsville, Alabama. Immediately on his return, he was sent with despatches to General Buell, at Corinth. Though very weary from his previous adventures, he set out immediately, and riding a powerful, thorough- bred horse at the top of his speed to Fayetteville, thirty- six milcd distant, which he made in three hours, he pro- cured another horse there, and continued his journey at the same rapid rate, but near Columbia, he was so much exhausted that he fell from his horse insensible, and lay an hour, unconscious, on the ground, but recovering his senses, he mounted his horse again and delivered his de> spatches at Columbia, from whence General Negley tele- graphed them to General Buell. On his return, a negro hailed liim and informed him that his master and eight other men were in ambush a little farther on, at a (Small mill, and intended to kill him. Thanking the ne- gro for the information, he rode rapidly to the mill, and as the miller ran in when he saw him coming, he called him out and charged him with his murderous intention. He, at first denied it, but being told that it was of no use, and that if he did not own up the whole afiair he (Pike) would bring a party of cavalry from Columbia and burn the mill, his house and barn, and carry ofi' all his property, he finally confessed who were his confed- erates and what had been their plans. Taking down NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS. AND DETECTIVES. 51 their names, and lecturing the old man severely, Cor- noral Pike rode away. He soon overtook a comrade from his own regiment, and feeling ill, stopped with his friend and another Union soldier at the house of a citi- zen, near Meridian, to pass the night. Here an attempt was made during the night to assassinate him, but being awake and seeing one of the assassins raise and aim his gun at him through the window, he fired his pistol, and wounded the assassin, probably mortally. His comrades carried him off, and Pike was not again disturbed. The next morning he reached Huntsville. General Mitchel immediately sent him to ascertain the rebel force at Bridgeport, Tennessee. He reached *he vicinity without any notable adventure, ascertained the number and position of the rebel troops, made his report and sent it by a Union officer who had escorted him nearly to Bridgeport, told the officer he w^ould re- main in the mountains till the Union army came to take Bridgeport. Here, after some adventure, escaping once from the rebel pickets only by shooting the sergeant, and running the gauntlet of the fire of the squad ; he was taken prisoner, partly in consequence of his own care- lessness. He was taken first to Bridgeport, and thence to Chattanooga, where he was confined in the jail, where were, at that time, in the dungeon twenty-one men from the Second, the Twenty-first, and the Thirty-third Ohio regiments, whose adventures are related elsewhere in this work.* After --.onsiderable suffering here. Corporal Pike was remDved o Knoxville to another jail, where he waa confined in an iron cage. Here he was told that he wa» * See "Thk Great Railjoad Ohabk." Part II. 52 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. to be tried as a spy and would undoubtedly be Lung. From Knoxville, he was sent to Mobile, and eight days later, removed to Tuscaloosa, and thence to Mont- gomery, Alabama, where he was taken very sick with pneumonia and typhoid fever, and was treated with great inhumanity, all medicine being refused him, and he being left for twelve days lying upon the deck of the boat, without a bed and with nothing but corn oread and spoiled old salt junk for food. From Mtmt- gomery he was sent to Macon, Georgia. Here, weak as he was, he attempted to escape, but was recaptured six days later, being run down with bloodhounds. Al-out the 1st of October, 1862, he was sent with numeious other prisoners by way of Savannah, Augusta, Coluitoia, Raleigh, Petersburg, and Richmond, for exchange. 1'hey all suffered fearfully on the route, and many died. On the 18th of October, they were exchanged, and foor Pike, reduced to a skeleton, and almost in a dying srate, was taken to the Cliffbum hospital at Washingion. Here, for some months, he lay almost hopelessly ill, out in March, 1863, had recovered sufficiently to join his regiment. Here he was soon again at his old work. Riding .>ut one day some distance beyond the lines with a ht^u- tenant of his company, they met an old negro preacher, who told them that there was a large body of ret-el soldiers not far off. Corporal Pike requested the lieu- tenant to return to Murfreesboro while he went to sae where the rebels were. After some scouting he dis- covered them, about one hundred and fifty in number, at the foot of a considerable hill ; his position being above •■hem, and two of their nen, one mounted and the other NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTI^'ES. 53 on foot, being near him, he approached and ordered them to halt, and as they fled repeated the order and fired, mortally wounding the mounted one, and then reloading, fired at the one on foot, whom he also wounded severely and then in a loud voice called out -Forward the Fourth ! Forward the Fourth Ohio !" Hearing the name of that re-iment, which was a terror to the rebels ui all that region, the whole rebel troop took to their horses and fled at the top of their speed (abandoning, as he after- ward learned, a large forage train) toward Auburn Beven miles distant. After seeing them well started Pike rode off toward Murfreesboro. Stopping at a house which they had passed, he told the woman to tell them, when they returned, that there was but one man in the attacking party, and that he said he had flogged one hundred and fifty of them and could do it again. He next explored the rebel position at Woodbury, Tennessee, dodging and frightening the rebel pickets by some sharp practice, and on his return accompanied General Stanley in his raid on the rebel camps near Middleton, Tennessee, and while actmg as aide to Colonel (acting Brigadier-General) Long, had some very narrow escapes, being at one time for a considerable period under the steady and continuous fire of a squad of rebel soldiers. . Starting soon after on a scouting expedition m the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, he found himself among a baud of guerillas, with whom he passed himself off" as a Texan ranger, and learned from one of them the pur- poses of the rebel oflicers, and especially their intention of arresting and sending South a Union ladv. the wife of a brave Union offic(«.r, then in tliat vicm-ty. Pro- 54 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. fessing an intention of going to the rebel camp, he ascer tained the truth of the information he had received, and then riding to the house of the imperiled Union lad}', he informed her of her danger, caught her a horse, and accompanied her to Nashville, avoiding by meana of by-roads the rebel pickets. The forward movement of Rosecrans' army on Chatr tanooga had now commenced, and Corporal Pike was pent by General Stanley as a scout to search for some steamboats on the Hiawassee. While on this expedition he passed through the region where he was captured the year before, and after frightening relatives of the man who had betrayed him, he went up to the summit of Cumberland mountain, and near Cowan, in a narrow and crooked pass of the mountain, discovered that the rebels were blockading the gap, witli the intention of cutting off and destroying any Union troops who might pass that way. They had felled some timber, but had not put much of it in position. There were about twenty rebel soldiers, who were guarding the gap and directing a force of fifty or more negroes who were felling the trees. Finding his position a safe one, Pike determined to put a stop to tliis proceeding, and accord- ingly fired at the evident leader of the movem'i^nt, and the bullet striking his horse he was thrown and severely injured, and the whole band of rebels were thrown into confusion ; firing again. Pike ordered an imaginary com- rade tc run back and tell the regiment to hurry up, and then turning sent another shot whizzing among them, while he ordered a pretended body of skirmishers to come down from the opposite ridge and close in with the rebels, accompanying this order with such gesture? NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 55 as to lead the rebels, who could see him, to believe that he was pointing them out to his friends. Firing again^ he shouted " hurrah, boys, we'll surround them !" and the rebels jfled in the greatest terror, the negroes shuf fling along after them. As soon as they were gone he crossed the pass to the opposite ridge, and followed the top of the ridge the remainder of that day and night, and till nine o'clock the following morning, when he was startled by hearing the sound of horses' feet behind him, stopping a moment and listening, he ascertained that there were about a dozen of them. He attempted to elude their observation by running out upon a spur which branched off from the main mountain, but the timber was open and they caught sight of him and im- mediately pursued. The mountain was steep, but they gained upon him, and although at first he seemed likely to escape, he soon came to the top of a cliff about three hundred feet high ; turning to the right a few hundred yards, he again found a place where he could descend for some distance, but was then stopped by another cliff, which projected out like a shelf Below the right-hand end of this cliff, a huge hickory tree was growing, and its shaggy top just reared itself above the shelf on which he stood, the trunk being about eight feet from the edge of the cliff. There was no time to lose, for already he could hear his pursuers clattering over the rocks above him ; so running to the edge of the cliff and looking over the giddy height, he slung his rifle across his back and leaping out headforemost, with all his strength, succeeded in grasp- ing the body of the tree with his arms and holding, although the weight of his accoutrements almost jerked lim off. Slic'ing rapidly down the tree he landed on 56 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AKD DETECTIVES. another bench of the mountain, from which, though with torn clothing and his hands, arms, and breast bleeding profusel}^ from wounds received from the rough bark of the tree, he made his way down into the bottom of a deep ravine, and neither saw nor heard any thing more of his pursuers. Following the ravine to the base of the mountain he was an involuntarj- witness to the patriotic devotion of a lovsii Tennessee family, the husband and father of which had been obliged to conceal himself for months to escape the rebel conscription, and his devoted wife had brought him food until such time as he could join the Union army. Continuing his search for the steamboats, he came upon the home of " Bob White," on Walden Ridge. White was a thorough Unionist and the leader of a body of thirty to sixty Union Tennesseans, bush wackers, who were the terror of the rebel cavalry in that region. He was welcomed by White's family and remained with them one night, though the rebel cavalry came to the house in search of him, and White's men also called him up, fearing he might be a spy. After stirring ujd the rebels at one or two points, and again finding shelter for two or three nights among the perse- cuted East Tennessee Unionists, attending one of their religious meetings where every man was armed, and the services were conducted, like those of the Covenanters three hundred years ago, after night and in the conceal- ment of the forest, lest their enemies should come upon them. In the battle of Chickamauga, as well as in tie marches and skirmishes which preceded it, Corpoia/ Pike was actively emoloyed as a scout, and was much NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 57 of the time in imminent peril, while he rendered excel- lent service to the Union army. Leaving the Union army at Chattanooga, he next set out with General Crook's cavalry in pursuit of Wheeler's rebel cavalry, which had been attempting to break up the Union lines of communication with Nashville, where he had his share in some of the most desperate cavalry fighting of the war, being on two occasions the target of the enemy's rifles, and once of their artillery. Having arrived at Brownsboro, General Crook sent him with an important despatch from General Grant to General Sherman, whose location was not definitely known, though he waa supposed to be not far from Corinth. The journey was a p n-ilous one and the chances of success, to say the least, small ; but the brave fellow did not hesitate for a moment, and taking a canoe at Whitesburg, opposite Huntsville, he descended the Tennessee river for more than a hundred miles, every mile of which was picketed by the enemy, ran the perilous rapids of the Muscle Shoals, forty miles in length, alone, and after being pur- sued and fired at by the rebels repeatedly landed near Tus- cumbia, where he found Union troops, and was sent by special train to luka, where General Sherman was, but immediately on delivering the despatch he sunk down exhausted and fainting from intense fatigue. General SheiTuan, who is ever chary of his praise, so fully ap- preciated the daring and skill of this achievement, that he gave the corporal a testimonial in which ho spoke of him in the highest terms. Returning to Ch a i t anooga, he took part in the great battles of November 23-25. In a subsequent scouting expedition at the beginning of 1864, they found that ^ certain rebel. Colonel W. C, 58 NARRATIVES OF SriES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES Walker, who had commanded a brigade at CumberLind Gap, had returned to his home in Cherokee county. N. C, with plenary conscripting powers, and was endeavor- ing to force every Union man in the region into the rebel army, committing, at the same time, great out- rages on the ftimilies of the Unionists. Pike and his companions resolved to take this villain prisoner and convey him to Chattanooga. Pike's party consisted of ten scouts and a few citizens, and on New Year's night they went to Walker's house, surrounded it, and called on him to surrender. He demanded who they w'ere, and being told that they were Yankee soldiers, and that if he gave himself up he should be treated like a gentle- man, and be regarded as a prisoner of war, he refused with an oath; and Pike then informed him that resist- ance would be useless, that his house was surrounded, and that they would take him, dead or alive. Hp answered, " I will surrender when I please." Pike and ~"is scouts, knowing that he had a body-guard constantly about him, now resolved to storm the house, and broke in the doors, front and rear. Walker retreated to an inner room, and still refused to surrender, making a stand with the evident intention of selling his life aa dearly as possible. The doors of this room also having been broken in, Pike aimed at him with his pistol, again demanding his surrender ; but he raised his Sharp's car- bine to shoot Pike. Seeing, however, that the latter had the advantage of him, he replied, after a moment's hesitation, " Yes, boys, I'll surrender," and partly turned to lay his carbine on the bed, when his wife caught Pike's arm, and with a sudden jerk destroyed his aim. Walker now wheeled instantlj, caught up his gun, and again LIVES OF SPIES. SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 59 raised it to shoot Pike, but delayed for an instant, his daughter being between them, and Pike called to his men to shoot, as he saw Walker was determined to kill him, and Jack Cook, of the 37th Indiana, fired, and killed him instantly. By this time. Walker's body- guard were heard in another part of the house, and the daring scouts instantly attacked and captured them, without firing a shot, and took them all but two to Charleston, Tenn. After some months spent in scout- ing, and the destruction of rebel property, under the direction of General Custer, Colonel Miller, and General Logan, Pike and a brother scout, Charles A. Gray, were sent by direction of General Thomas to Augusta, Ga., to endeavor to destroy the great bridge over the Savan- nah river, and, if possible, also the immense powder- mill which supplied most of the powder for the rebel armies. Having obtained their outfit at Nashville, they set out on their perilous undertaking, going by w^ay of Chattanooga and Eocky Faced ]{idge. The great cam- paigns of Sherman and Grant had now commenced, and it was of the greatest importance to prevent the two rebel generals Johnston and Lee from sending troops or supplies to each other. The destruction of the rail road bridge at Augusta would materially derange theii communications, and once destroyed, it could not bo repaired for months. Having taken part in the battle of Rocky Faced Ridge, the two scouts proceeded thenc« to the Charleston turnpike, and thence went on foot, over the region which Pike had traversed the preceding win- ter, and where Colonel Walker had been killed, and found the rebels still in terror over that event ; scaled the W ie Ridge on the 20 h of May, and descending its 60 NARRATIVES OF SPIES,' SCOUTS, ANI» DETECTIVES. eastern slope, came to the head waters of the Tallulah river, remarkable for its numerous cataracts. They followed this stream to its junction with the Chattooga, the two forming the Tugalo, one of the two affluents oi the Savannah river. Procuring a canoe, they floated down this stream, which had numerous rapids, and thence entered the Savannah, which above Augusta is a very rapid and rocky stream. They reached Ham- burg, opposite Augusta, on the 3d of June, 1864, and concealed themselves where they could overlook both cities ; but to their surprise and annoyance, they found that there were great numbers of Union prisoners there (twelve or fifteen hundred), on their way to Anderson- ville, and a large body of rebel troops guarding them, and that it would be utterly impossible for them to make any efibrt to accomplish their object, and nearly so to make their escape. The latter was all they could attempt, and during the night they got off and attempted to retrace their steps. They stole a couple of horses and rode them rapidly till morning, but were then overtaken and compelled to give up the horses, though their real character and objects were not suspected. Starting off, then, on foot, they made the best of their way toward the northwest, but two hours later they heard the baying of the bloodhounds, and knew that they were pursued. They made every effort to break the trail, passing through swamps and streams, doubling in their tracks, etc., etc., but all to no purpose. The pack of hounds was thirty-six in number, and just after nightfall their loud baying showed that they were close upon them; and in the midst of a dense thicket, the two men were compelled to stand at ba^ NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 61 and figlit with the savage brutes, and the equally savage men who had used the dogs to hunt them down. On came the hounds through the thick undergrowth, making the deep forest echo with their savage baying, until, witk a sudden bDund, the leading dog was upon the fugitives, his eyes glaring, and his mouth foaming. For an instant he paused, as he saw them through the gloom, and the next he made a spring directly at Gray's face. He was large and snow-white, and this made him the better target, and as he sprang Pike turned upon him and fired, and he fell dead in an instant But at that mo- ment the whole pack rushed upon them, and they could only distinguish them by their glaring eyes in the dark- ness, but they aimed at those, and killed one moie and wounded four others, with nine shots, when the men came up, forcing their horses through the brush, cursing and swearing like madmen. When they had approa< hed within about a hundred yards, the two scouts ordt red them to halt, saying, that if they did not stop, iney would fire on them. " Who are you ?" demanded one of the men. "Yankee soldiers," answered Pike. " What are you doing in our country ?" " We are here by order of our general." " How many are there of you ?" " Two." "Are you up a tree ?" "No ! we are not the sort of men to take to trees !" Then moving toward them. Pike said : " There are but two of us, but we are well armed, and can do you «» great deal of damage if you drive us to it. We know ^hat you h ivr a strong force after us, for we have seen 62 NARRATIVES OF SPIES^ SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. you two or three times to-day ; we know that resistance on our part would only result in useless bloodshed ; still it is our privilege to sell our lives at as dear a price as we can make you pay; but we don't want to hurt you, nor do we want you to hurt us ; and therefore, if you will agree to treat us as prisoners of war, we will surren- der without a fight, because we see that one would be useless." " You will soon be made to surrender on our terms,** replied the rebels. " Then approach us at your peril," answered Pike, " for we shall shoot as long as we can crook a finger.** Resolute as this reply was, they were in fact helpless; their ammunition exhausted, and the four or live charges in their pi^stols had all been tried on the dogs, but had failed to go off from the foulness of the weapons. While this parley had been going on, another large party had come up, and the two were disputing among themselves. Presently they hailed the two scouts plea- santly, " Halloo, Yank." " Halloo yourself," was the answer. " If you will surrender, we will treat you as prisoners of war, and there shall not one hair of your head be touched," said the commander of the party. " All right," answered the scouts, " on these conditions, and no others, you can* have our arms. Let two men come over and take our weapons," they asked. The rebels consented, but demanded that they should fire tliem in the air first. The scouts could not do this, be- ;ause the attempt would show how helpless they were, .)ut they objected on the ground that it evinced a lack of confidence in their honor. The rebel commander then ordered them to stand still and they would come NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. C)3 fo cIkmii. They did so, and when completely surrounded, pive up their arms, Gray joking with thorn freely. No sooner were the arms delivered, than a part of the rebels clianged their manner, and began to abuse them, a man by the name of Chamberlain, a renegade from Massachusetts, who it seemed owned the bloodhounds, swearing that if they had shot one of the dogs ne would kill them. They now set out on their return toward Augusta, or rather toward Edgefield, S. C, and stopped at the house of a Mr. Series, who treated them kindly, and endeavored to pacify the drunken crowd who were taking them along, as did his wife ; but his two daugh- ters went among the gang, and begged them to hang the two Yankees. *' Don't let them live, men ! don't let them live !" they said, and by their urgency they had soon " fired the Southern heart" up nearly to the point of murder. Mr. Series exerted himself to the utmost, however, to quiet them, and they finally were allowed their supper, and moved off to the house of Lieut. Col. Talbot, one of their captors. Here they were allowed an hour or two sleep, and on awakening* in the morning, found that the party who had capture^J them had all left, and that they were in the hands of party of drunken militia, who did not regard themselves as bound in any respect by the stipulations of their cap- tors These brutes roused them up, tied them very securely, and then marched them to the woods near by, and made preparations to hang them. They began with Pike, and having their rope ready, asked him if he had any confession to make? "No," was his reply ' I have nothing to confess tn you A NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. " Do yon desire to pray ?" they asked. " No," was his reply again. " I am ready to die, and don't fear death." " Have you nothing to say ?" they asked, astonished at his coolness. " Yes," he replied, " I have something to say that may interest you." " Out with it then," said one. He then told them very coolly that they were United States soldiers, acting in the discharge of their duties, and that they, as citizens, had no right to interrupt them; that the general under whose orders they (the scouts^ were acting would retaliate promptly if a hair of theii heads were injured, and their sons in the Confederate army might be the men on whom the retaliation would fall. He told them farther, that he and Gray belonged to different regiments, and that if they were hung, their regiments, which were sure to come thither, would bum every dollar's worth of property they possessed, and hang every man concerned in the transaction. "K,** he continued, " you are prepared to abide these conse- quences, I am." The ringleaders now withdrew for a short time, for consultation, leaving the two scouts under a guard. After a little they returned, took them back to Talbot's house, and untied them, and Mrs. Talbot gave them a bountiful breakfast. Talbot himself was a villain; he had attempted the preceding night to murder them, after giving his pledge that not a hair of their heads should be touched, and had only failed because his gun would not go of^. He and Chamberloin now promised to tike them to Edgefield, and as they had NARRATTVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIYES. 65 l)een forewarned that a crowd had assembled on the lower road to murder them, they asked to be taken by the upper route, and their captors finally consented. Arriving at Edgefield, the provost-marshal, who desired to have them murdered by a mob, refused to receive them from the militia, but a rebel lieutenant who was there, overruled him and ordered them to be put in the jail, subject to the orders of the military authorities at Augusta. Here, they were examined very closely, and questioned carefully, separately ; but as they had buried all their bridge-burning fixtures before leaving Hamburg, and hnd agreed upon the statements they were to make, there was no such thing as entangling them. On the 9 th of June, they were taken to Augusta. Here, they were confined on the smallest possible allowance of food, for fifty-seven days, when they were removed under a strong guard to Charleston, where they were put in the tower of the jail and kept five months under fire from the Union batteries. Vigorous efibrts were made to pro- cure their exchange, by the highest officers of the Union army, but in vain. When General Sherman's march through the Carolinas compelled the evacuation of Charleston, they were removed to Columbia, and when that was threatened, they were sent to Winnsboro on foot, with the intention of taking them to Salisbury, North Carolina, but on the way both escaped. Gray getting away fii'st, and Pike the next night, February 18th, 1865, and after wandering about for two days, the latter found his way into the Union lines, where Gray had preceded him. He was most cordially received and fitted out in con- nection with Kilpatrick's command, and when General 5 66 NAJIRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Sherman reached Cheraw, was sent to carry despatcLed to Wilmington which was then occupied by the Union troops under Generals Schofield and Terry. The journey was a perilous one, as he descended Cape Fear river from the mouth of Rockfish creek, a distance of more than a hundred miles, in an open boat ; and the whole shore of the river was lined with rebel troops. Having reached Wilmington in safety and delivered his despatches, he was innncdiately requested to carry de- spatches also to Newbern and Kinston, where he found General Schofield. Three hours after the delivery of these, General Schofield entrusted him with a despatch for General Sherman which he wished taken across the country. He started immediately, and after a long and Bomewhat dangerous tramp (for he could only go on foot in safety), he reached the general near Faison's depot. After the battle of Bentonville he applied for and re- ceived his discharge, having been in the service seven months over the time for which he had enlisted, and on the 1st of April, 1865, was mustered out at Columbus. It would be hard, we think, to find in the history of any war, an instance of a scout or spy who had encountered more dangers, hardships, and risks, or surmounted them more gallantly than Corporal James Pike. A FEMALE SCOUT AND SPY. During the war, a very considerable number of women nave entered the secret service of the commanders of the Union armies, and perhaps quite as many, or more, have been employed by the rebel generals in obtaining NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVLS. G'/ information of the situation and purposes of the Union troops. The adventures of many of these, for obvious reasons, have not as yet been made pubhc, and some of them may perhaps never be recorded. Among them have been a number of actresses, whose profession haa given them extraordinary facilities for this service, and whose intense loyalty has caused them to run fearful risks to render it service. Of some of these we shall have occasion to speak by-and-by. One of the most adroit and successful of these was not an actress, nor a native of the United States. Miss S. E. E. Edmonds, better known, perhaps, as '' The Nurse and Spy," is a native of the province of New Brunswick, and having an earnest desire to acquire a superior education, with a view to becoming a foreign missionary, and possessing besides an energetic and independent disposition, came to the United States, we beheve, in 1859 or 1860, and for a time acted as a canvasser for some books published in Hartford, Conn. When the war broke out, she at once resolved to devote herself to the work of nursing the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals, and went to Washington for that purpose. After spending eight or nine months in this duty, she learned that one of the spies in General McClellan's service had been captured by the rebels in Kichmond, and executed, and that it was necessary that his place should be filled. Miss Edmonds was daring and resolute, capable of en- during an extraordinary amount of fatigue, an accom- plished equestrienne, and a capital shot, and possessed of quick and ready perceptions, and great intelligence, while her powers of impersonation were unrivalled. She applied for the position, and was accepted after a 68 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. very tliorougli examination. Her first disguit^e was that of a negro boy. Passing safely through the Union lines, and past the rebel pickets, she entered the suburbs of Yorktown, and met with some negroes who were car- rying out supplies to the pickets. Mingling with these, the pretended contraband soon attracted tlie attention of a young rebel officer, who demanded, " Who do yuu belong to, and why are you not at w^ork ?" '*1 doesn't b'long to nobody, massa ; Fse free, and allers was ; I'se gw}aie to Richmond to work," was the reply. The offi- cer, apparently astonished that a free negro should aver his freedom, ordered him immediately set to work wheel- ing gravel up a parapet about eight feet high, for strengthening the works, and ordered that he should receive twenty lashes if he did not do his work well. The w^ork was very severe, even for a strong and robust man, and though the negroes comprising the gang helped what they could, yet before night the hands of the pseudo-contraband were blistered from the wrists to the tips of the fingers, and she was completely exhausted. After resting a little, however, she made an inspection of the fortifications, sketched them, ascertained the num- ber, size, and position of the guns, carefully concealing her notes between the soles of her contraband shoes. Securing the services of a young negro to take her place the next day on the parapet, she entered upon the easier service of carrying water to a brigade stationed near ihe rebel headquarters. Here she obtained some important information in regard to the numbers and intentions of the rebels, and de/ccted a rebel spy, who, under the guise of a peddler, had often visited the Union head- quarters, and who had caused the death of one of NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 69 McClellan's staff officers, a friend of Miss Edmunds. At night, going out to the picket lines, the pretended contraband was entrusted with a fine rifle, and put upon picket duty. Availing herself of the opportunity, she now escaped to the Union lines, bringing her rifle as a trophy, and soon after reported it headquarters. Her next expedition was under the guise of an old Irish woman, engaged in peddling cakes, etc., among the rebel soldiers. This was soon after McClellan had reached the banks of the Chickahominy. Losing her way in the Chickahominy swamps, she suffered from a violent attack of fever and ague, and for two days lay in the swamp without food or shelter, her stock of food having been spoiled in crossing the Chickahominy. On the third day she was roused by heavy firing, and crawling in the direction whence it proceeded, came soon to an opening and a small frame house, which had been deserted by its inhabitants, but in which she found a dying rebel officer. She ransacked the house for arti- cles of food, and succeeded in finding a little meal and some tea, and soon prepared a tolerable meal for the d3dng soldier, who had been some days, without food, and also something to stay her own hunger. Being unable, from exhaustion, to go upon her mission, and finding that the poor man had but a few hours to live, she cared for him as tenderly as she could, and before he died, he gave her his watch and papers, with direc- tions to deliver them to Major McKee, of General E well's stafi", and expressed his gratitude to her for her kindness. After bis death, she rested for a short time, and then gathering from the house what supplies she could, to 70 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. make up an outfit for her assumed character, she wended her way to the rebel camp, five or six miles distant, and having ascertained what she could of the position and intentions of the rebels, and the location of the batteries they had concealed along the route of the approach of the Union army, she sought Major McKee, but was obliged to wait till five P. M. before she could see him. He was very much afiected at the intelligence of Captain Hall's death, and offered to reward her, but she would axjcept no reward. He then requested her to guide a detachment of his men to the place where the captain had died. As she was really unable to walk that dis- tance, at her request he furnished her with a horse to ride. The lone house was on debatable ground, and there was reason to fear that the Union troops might fall upon them while engaged in this humane work ; but they reached the place in safety and found the body, and the commander of the detachment requesting her to ride down the road and see if there were any Yankees in eight, she complied with his request very willingly, and became so much interested in her search that she did not draw rein till she arrived in the Union camp, when she reported her discoveries, and prevented the army from falling into the traps set for them. The horse thus taken from the enemy, though spirited, proved a vicious brute, and with its teeth and heels came near costing her her hfe. At the battle of Fair Oaks, she acted as orderly to General Kearny, and twice swam the Chick- ahominy to hurry forward reinforcements for the sorely pressed Union troops. In the retreat across the Penin- sula, she was again repeatedly under fire, while serving as orderl}' or on detached duty with the wouiided; and NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 71 under the assumed name of Frank Thompson took part in most of the battles of that famous retreat. During the last few days of Pope's campaign, she was sent three time? into the enemy's camp, and under different dis- guises ; once as a negress ; and again, in other characters, she penetrated to their headquarters, and brought away, not only information of their intended movements, but valuable orders and papers. After the battle of Antietam, when following Lee back to the Rapidan, while on detached service, a body of cavalry with whom Miss Edmonds was travelling, were attacked by guerillas and her horse killed under her, and she herself seriously injured and robbed. Union troops soon came up, however, and defeated the guerillas and restored her money. In the battle of Fred- ericksburg, under her assumed name of Frank Thomp- son, she acted as aid-de-camp to General Hancock, and was under fire during the whole period. After General Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac, she went to the Western army, overtaking at Louisville the Ninth Army Corps, to which she had been for some time attached. Here she was not long in resuming her former voca- tion as a spy, and having aided in the capture of some rebel prisoners, she donned the butternut garb, and as a Kentuckian, sympathizing with the rebels, wandered into their camp, but was presently pounced upon by a rebel cavalry captain and conscripted into service ; but having to go into action before taking the oath, the con- script managed to get upon the Union side, and wounded severely, though not mortally, the rebel captain who had attempted tosecu-e her services. As the duty of a 72 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. spy after this was likely to be extra hazardous, the commanding general detailed Miss Edmonds to detec- tive duty in Louisville, and with great skill and tact she managed to detect and secure the capture of several rebel spies then in the city. She next visited Vicksburg, and after serving some time in the hospitals there as a nurse, was compelled by broken health to leave the army for a time. The Irish Sentinel. — A son of the Green Isle, a new member of Colonel Gillem's Middle Tennessee regiment, while stationed at Nashville recently, was detailed on guard duty on a prominent street of that city. It was his first experience at guard-mounting, and he strutted along his beat apparently with a full appreciation of the dignity and importance of his position. As a citizen approached, he shouted — " Halt ! Who comes there ?" "A citizen," was the response. ''Advance, citizen, and give the countersign." "I haven't the countersign; and, if I had, the de- mand for it at this time and place is something very strange and unusual," rejoined the citizen. *'An', by the howly Moses, ye don't pass this way at all till ye say Bunker Hill," was Pat's reply. The citizen, appreciating the "situation," advanced and cautiously whispered in his ear the necessary words. " Right ! Pass on." And the wide awake sentinel resumed his beat. NARRATIYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 73 ADVENTURES OF HARRY NEWCOMER A SCOUT AND SPY IN THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. Among the many spies and detectives employed by the commanders of the Union armies, in procuring informa- tion concerning the condition, purposes, and position of the enemy, or the evil deeds of rebel sympathizers, none perhaps, has passed through more interesting adventures, than he whose name appears at the head of this sketch. We have compiled from the police record of the "An- nals of the Army of the Cumberland," the following history of some of his adventures and escapes. Harry Newcomer is a native of Pennsylvania, and was bom in Lancaster county, in March, 1829. He was born and brought up in a hotel, and was employed as a bar tender in his boyhood. At the age of fourteen, his mother died, and his father broke up housekeeping, and soon afterward he was apprenticed to a miller in Ohio. After serving out his time, he continued for some years in the business, until his brother-in-law was elected sheriff of Ashland county, Ohio, when he was appointed one of his deputies. In 1857, he removed to Cleveland, and was employed by United States Marshal Jabez Fitch, as a detective officer. He retained this situation for about three years, and was successful in, ferreting out and bringing to punishment a number of noted cases of crime, especially of counterfeiters. At that time the authorities had ascertained that a large business was done in the manufacture and sale of counterfeit money in Geauga county, Ohio, but all attempts to obtain any positive evidence to fasten the guilt upon the suspected 74 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. parties had failed. Newcomer had already acquired a high reputation as a shrewd and successful detective, and it was determined to set him at work upon the case. He was instructed to make the acquaintance of an old blacksmith, named Jesse Bowen, who cultivated also a small farm in the vicinity of Burton Square in that county. Bowen was notoriously a lawless, bad man, and had been for many years engaged in all manner of frauds and crimes, but had managed to escape detection and punishment. He was now seventy-eight years of age, a friendless, unsocial old villain, whose house was shunned by all who cared for their reputation or candor. Newcomer introduced himself to him as William H, Hall, an extensive manufacturer and dealer in counter- feit money. He had with him, as evidence of his be- longing to the fraternity, considerable amounts of coun- terfeit bills on various banks, with which he had been abundantly supplied. After two or three interviews, by that sort of fascination with which he is so eminently endowed, he succeeded in winning completely the old man's confidence, and learned from him the names of all those who were connected with the gang of counter feiters. He did more than this. Won by the apparent cordiality of Newcomer, who assisted him on his little farm, he unearthed his machinery and engaged with him in the manufacture of bogus coin, gave him the pass-word, and introduced him to all the members of the gang, with whom he was presently on the best of terms. In an excess of communicativeness, Bowen one day called young Newcomer into an orcnard and revealed to him, in confidence, that he and his brother had, in early life, murdered their brother-in-law, in Vermont, and that NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 75 they had only been saved from the gallows, by a man being found who bore a remarkably strong resemblance to the murdered man, and who was induced to swear that he was the man supposed to be killed. This was the celebrated Corbin case so often referred to, m criminal trials. Having finally implicated the entire gang of counter- feiters, and acquired a thorough knowledge of their haunts and residences. Newcomer plead that urgent business called him away, and repairing to Cleveland, reported progress to the United States Marshal, and officers were sent, and the whole number arrested, tried, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary. In 1860, he removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was soon employed in the detection and ar- rest of a noted counterfeiter, named Charleh Coventry, a man of gigantic strength, and the terror of the whole region. This was accomplished with his us5ual adroit- ness, and the desperate villain trapped, tried, convicted, and sent to prison for five years. In about a year, he had succeeded in detecting and bringing to justice sixty- eight criminals, counterfeiters, burglars, horse thieves, and villains of all sort. In 1861, his extraordinary suc- cess having excited the jealousy of the other detectives of Pittsburg, he removed to Chicago, but finding no em- ployment which suited him, he enlisted as a non-com- missioned officer in the Eleventh Indiana Battery. With this battery he served throughout Buell's campaign to Nashville and Shiloh, to Corinth and Huntsville, Ala- bama, when the old love of adventure coming upon him, he began to act as a scout on his own account, reporting, when any thing of ii terest came to his knowledge, to 76 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Colonel, afterward General Harker, of the Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, who then commanded the brigade to which he was attached. The colonel, pleased with his skill and adroitness, gave him passes and encouraged him to continue to make these scouting expeditions as he had opportunity. Frequently he would go down to the Tennessee river m sight of the rebel pickets ; and one night he conclu- ded to cross the river and get a nearer view of them. Striking the stream at a point three miles from Steven- eon, he built a raft of rails and paddled himself across. Crawling up the bank through the bush, he came close upon the pickets, seven in number, without being ob- served. After watching their movements awhile, and finding nothing of particular interest, he rrturned safely as he went. Soon afterward, a negro told him of an island in the Tennessee river, some ten miles below Ste- venson, on which a company of guerilla cavalry were in the habit of rendezvousing every night. This opened a large field of operations for our scout, and he deter- mined to visit the island forthwith. One afternooon, borrowing a suit of butternut from a negro at Stevenson, he set forth in that direction. The butternut clothes were carried under his saddle until he was fairly outside of our lines, when he exchanged his own for them and went on in the character of a genuine native. Reach- ing the river opposite the island after dark, he again constructed a raft of rails, fastening them together this time with grape-vines, and shoved across the narrow channel to the island, landing in a dense canebrake. Carefully feeling his way through this, he came soon to a corn-crib, around which twenty-five or thirty horses NAKRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 77 were feeding. It was now ten o'clock, and quite dark, but clear and starlight. Examining the crib, the en- trance was discovered about half-way up, and our ad- venturer at once clambered up and put his head and shoulders through. Careful listening revealed the pres- ence of sleepers within. Putting his hand down to see how far it was to them, it came in contact with the body of a man. Wishing to know in what direction he was lying, he felt along carefull}'^ and came upon a pis- tol in his belt. Working at this, he soon drew it out, and, finding it a good Colt's revolver, put it into his pocket and got down again. Exploring around, he came to a com patch and a cabin near by, in which there seemed, from the noise within, to be a family or two of negroes. Crossing to the south or rebel side of the island, he found that the stream was much narrower there than on the other side, and that close to the shore a number of boats and scows, in which the band crossed and recrossed, were tied. It was now time to think about getting home, and he circled around the crib and cabin to reach the place where he had left his raft. When he came in sight of it, there was also to be seen a human form standing by the water's edge and appar- ently regarding the raft with no Uttle astonishment. In the uncertain light, it was impossible to tell whether it was man or woman, white or black; and there was nothing to do but wait until it disappeared. Crouching down amid 'the canes, he soon saw it turn and begin to climb the bank directly toward him ; as a precautionary measure he took out the pistol and cocked it, though he could not see or feel whether it was loaded or not. The person proved to be a negro, and passed by, unconscious 78 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. of the presence of any one so near, soliloquizing to him- Belf thus : — " Mighty quare boat dat ar ; 'spec's some of Masser John's work." This danger having passed, our self-appointed spy descended, and re-embarked on his raft. Lest any one should see him, he lay flat upon it, paddling with extended arms, the whole presenting very much the appearance of a floating mass of drift wood. By the time he reached the opposite shore his butter- nut suit was pretty thoroughly soaked, but without stopping to dry it, he mounted his horse, which he found straying about the woods, rode on to Stevenson, and reported to Colonel Harker. An expedition for the cap- ture of this band — afterward ascertained to be Captain Rountree's company — was just about starting, when or- ders were received to evacuate the place and fall back to Nashville with the remainder of Buell's army. The battery went no farther backward than Nashville, remaining there during the famous investment of the city and until the Army of the Cumberland again reached it. Meanwhile, Newcomer was occasionally employed by General Negley as a detective ; but most of the time was spent with his command. Early in December the police and scout system was fully organ- ized and in successful operation. Our former scout, thinking that he could serve the Government to better advantage in the business with which he was so familiar, made application to Colonel Truesdail for employment as a scout and spy. The colonel, pleased with his appearance and conversation, at once made an engagement with him, and procured his detail for that special service. Having previously made the acquaintance of one Cale Harrison, a livery-stable-keeper, he now called on him, and, ex- NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES 79 hibiting a forged certificate of discharge, told hi n that he was on his way to the rebel army. Harrison, of course, was highly pleased to hear it, and gave him some valuable hints and information for his guidance in the matter. There was h- snid. a man living on the Charlotte pike, by the name of Spence, whose son was an aide-de-camp on the staff of General Polk, and who would undoubtedly assist him in getting south and give him a letter of introduction to his son. In this event the road would be clear, and no difficulty need be apprehended in making the trip. Thus directed, he set forth from >s\ashville on a scout south, with saddle-bags well filled with fine-tooth combs, needles, pins, thread, etc., and carrying two fine navy revolvers. Going directly to Spence's, he introduced himself, said he had called by recommendation of Harrison, made known his business, and asked for a letter to his son, on General Polk's staff. Spence re- ceived him cordially, but would not furnish him with the desired letter. He referred him, however, to J- Wesley Ratcliffe, \h ing about one mile from Franklin, on the Lewisburg pike, as a person likely to render him very material a.-^sistance. This Ratcliffe was ■ rebel agent for the purchase of stock and commissary stores, and was well known throughout the whole country. Pushing on, he accordingly called at Ratcliffe's, and made his acquaintance. When informed of his plans and purposes and shown, the goods, Ratcliffe was much pleased, and soon became very friendly, advising him to go to Shelbyville, where such articles were greatly needed and could easily be disposed of. Newcomer accordingly started for Shelbyville, and for some time 80 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. met with no incidents on the way. Between Caney Springs and Rover, however, he fell in with a band of rebel cavalry belonging to General Buford's command, who, on being made acquainted with his business, advised him not to go to Shelby ville, as considerable trouble might be experienced there. Their bushy shocks of hair sug- gesting that they were combless, he offered his stock for sale, chatting meanwhile with them about matters and things in general and in that vicinity in particular. Combs which cost two dollars per dozen he sole' »r two dollars each, and other articles in proportion, and by the time his trading was finished, had ascertained tnat General Buford was stationed at Rover to guard a large mill full of flour and meal — the size of his command, the number and calibre of his guns, and other items of importance, and also what generals and troops were at Shelbyville. The cavalrymen now wished him to go back to Nashville and bring them some pistols on his return. This he agreed to do, and, having obtained all the information he cared for at this time, turned his horse about and once more set his face toward Nashville. The two pistols which he had carried with him he had not shown, and still had them in his possession — which circumstance was the cause of a slight adventure on the way home. He had proceeded but a little way when he met with a small squad of cavalry, who halted him^ as usual, and demanded his name, business, and where he was going. These questions satisfactorily answered, he was next asked if he had any pistols about him. He replied that he had two, and was forthwith ordered by a rough-looking Texan to produce them, which was hardly d ^ne before they were coolly appropriated by his NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 81 iuterrogator. Remonstrance was followed by abuse and tlireats of violence ; and it was only by the intervention of the other parties that the matter was compromised by the sale of the pistols at fifty dollars each, and our traveller allowed to go on his way rejoicing. Without interruption headquarters were reached, and a report of operations duly made. Remaining two days at Nashville, he started again, with three pistols and the balance of the old stock of goods. The first night was spent at Ratcliffe's, and the next day both went to Murfreesboro in a buggy. Ratr clifie had business to transact with the provost^marshal, and a number of the generals and inferior officers to see, and Newcomer was taken round and introduced to all, as a co-laborer in the cause of the South. During his four days' stay, he was all over the town, through several of the camps, in many of the houses, drank whiskey with General Frank Cheatham, went to a grand party at the court house, and made love to a dozen or more young ladies of secession proclivities — aided in all this by a perfect self-possession, an easy, graceful man- ner, and a winning face. In addition to pleasure seek- ing and love making, he also drove a thriving business in the sale of pistols and other contraband goods, and. with pockets filled with money and head stored with in- formation, returned with Ratclifie to his house, and thence to Nashville — having first made an arrangement with the former to accompany him to Shelbyville the next day. Arriving at Nashville after dark, he re- mained there until morning, and then made preparations and started for a third trip. With a pail or two of cotton cards, a lot of pistol caps, 6 82 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. and some smaller knick-knacks, as passports to favor, he set forth once more to join Ratcliffe ; but having been unavoidably delayed in starting, he found him already gone. Nothing was now to be done but to boldly push ahead in the hope of overtaking him on the road, or meeting him at Shelby ville. With the exception of Ratcliffe, not a soul there knew him. Trusting to good fortune, he travelled on, and reached Shelbyville in due season -without trouble. The usual questions were asked him by guards and pickets, to all of which he re- plied that he lived in Davidson county, was going to visit some friends in the 44th Tennessee regiment, und had, moreover, a small stock of contraband goods for sale. These answers proving satisfactory, he was passed through and reached the town early in the forenoon. Most of the day he spent in riding about, looking into quartermasters' and commissary depots, inquiring the names of officers, the number of troops, commanders, etc., until he had ascertained all that he wished. By this time night was drawing near, and it was high time to think about getting out of town ; for should he remain after dark, he was certain to be arrested. Ratcliffe was nowhere to be seen, and on inquiry he was told that he had gone" to Atlanta, Georgia, on the train, and that nobody knew when he would be back. Here was a desperate state of affairs. Get out of town he must, and to get out he must have a pass. It was easy enough to come in, but very difficult to get out. Nobody knew him ; and, in fact, for once in his life, he was at a loss what to do. While thus troubled, he met some citizens of Davidson county who had been over the river to the camps of Cheathani and McCowr.'s di\isions, and were NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 83 now on their way to the provost-marshal to procure return passes. Misery loves company, and with a long face he told them his trouble — dressing it up with a considerable amount of fiction to suit the occasion. By way of adding earnestness to his entreaty and to open a sure path to their sympathies, he bought a bottle of whiskey and invited them all to drink with him. The liquor warmed their hearts as well as stomachs ; and while hobnobbing together he asked them if they wouldn't vouch for him to the provost-marshal, and thus enable him to procure a pass. Being now in a condition to love the world and everybody in it, they promised to do so, and in due season all went for passes. His seven newly- made friends found no difficulty in their suit, their names being all written on a single pass ; but our scout was left unnoticed. The attention of the provost-marshal was called to him, when that functionary asked if any of them was personally acquainted with him. Though rebels, they would not lie ; possibly they thought it was not necessary ; and answered, " No," but they would vouch for him. But that would not do. His situation now was worse than ever. He not only had no pass, but had not the slightest chance of getting one. The whiskey investment had" proved a losing speculation ; and he knew not where to turn for relief The loungers ibout the office began to eye him suspiciously, and even the dogs seemed disposed to growl and snap at him as having no business there. The place was getting too hot for safety ; and his only hope of escape was to hurry out and lose himself in the crowd. His new friends were still outside, waiting for him; and with them a long consultation was held as to what 84 NARKATIYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTH'ES. had better be done about getting away, as every moment added to his already serious danger. Finally, one of the party suggested that he should go with them aL.y- how — that the pickets would not be likely to notice that his name was not in the pass, there being so many already on it. In default of any thing better, this pro- position was agreed to, and all set out together. New- comer, however, was still far from easy about tht matr ter, and was fearful that the plan would not work, As they were journeying along, he proposed to the one who had the pass that he should be allowed to write hie own name on the pass with a pencil, and if any objection should be made to it they might say that he belonged to the party but did not come in until the pass was made out, and that the provost marshal, to save writing a new one, had inserted the name in pencil-mark. This was assented to and done. The amended pass carried them safely through, and the last cloud of anxiety was lifted from his troubled mind. Some twelve or fifteen miles having been passed over pleasantly. Newcomer purposely lagged behind and allowed the others to get far ahead, when he turned off and struck across to the Lewisburg and Franklin pike. Travelling on this about ten miles, he stopped for the night, with five of Wheeler's cavalry, at the house of a man who had a son in Forrest's command. Starting the next morning betimes, he reached Ratcliffe's the same evening, but found he had not yet reached home. Stop- ping a few moments, he passed on through Franklin toward Nashville. He had gone some seven miles, and was near Brentwood, when he saw four cavalrymen riding furiously down a lane just ahead of him. They NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 86 and our hero reached its entrance at the same moment. The leader of the squad — who proved to be Captain Harris, a scout of John Morgan's, and who, as well as his three men. was very drunk — roughly halted him, and riding up, pistol in hand, shouted : " Who are you ? and where do you live ?" *' My name is Newcomer, and I live six miles from Nashville, near Brent Spence's," was the ready, respect ful reply. Spence was well known to all, and no further troubl was apprehended ; but the drunken captain was not so easily satisfied. He soon asked : " Where have you been ? and what in the are you doing here ?" " I have been to Shelby ville to see Spence's son, and I took along some contraband goods to sell." " You can go back to Franklin with me, sir !" Protestation was unavailing ; and without more ado he turned about and all started toward Franklin. On the way Harris asked if he had any arms with him, and on being told that he had two fine revolvers and some cartridges, ordered him to give them up, which was done. With a savage leer he then said : <* I know all about you. You're a Yankee spy . You have been going backward and forward here bo much that the citizens of Franklin have suspected yo' for a long time, and have reported you. I am satisfied that you are a Yankee spy ; and I am going to hang you, you. Bragg has ordered me never to bring in spies, but to shoot or hang them like dogs on the spot ; and I am going to mak? a beginning witli you, now, this very night." 86 NARRATIYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIYES. " If jou do that,*' was the reply, " you'll take the life of a good and true man. I can show by J. W. Rateliife that I am a true Southerner, that I have done much good for the cause — very likely much more than you have — and that I am doing good every day I live." " Captain," said one of the men, " it may be that he « an important man to our cause ; and you had better see Ratcliffe and inquire into his case," Harris studied a moment, and finally concluded to go with the prisoner to Ratcliife's and confer about the matter — at the same time assuring him that it was of no use, for he should certainly hang him anyhow. At Franklin all stopped to drink, and Harris and his men became beastly drunk. Reeling into their saddles, they were once more on their way to Ratcliflfe's, but had gone only a short distance, when Harris wheeled his horse and hiccoughed out — " Boys, there's no use in fooling. I am satisfied this fellow's a Yankee spy ; and here's just as good a place as we can find to hang him. Take the halter off that horse's neck and bring it here." It was indeed a fitting place in which to do foul mur- der. Not a house was to be seen ; and the road wound through one of those cedar thickets so dense that even in mid-day it was almost dark within them. It was now night, and the sombre shade even more gloomy than ever, as Harris jumped from his horse, and, taking the halter, made a noose of it, and, fitting it around the neck of the unlucky scout, drew it up uncomfortably tight, until, in fact, it was just about strangling him. Now or never was the time to expostulate and entreat. Tn a moment it might be too late ; and then farewell NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTnTS. 87 home, friends, and all the joys of life ! It is not ha r d to die m peace, surrounded by weeping friends, or even to meo^ the dread king in the shock and excitement of battle ; but to hang like a dog! — the idea is sickening, appalling; and it is no sign of cowardice to shrink from it. One more effort, then, for life, even if it be to supplicate for mercy from a drunken rebel. "Captain," said he, with great feeling, '*it is wrong to take a man's life on so slight a suspicion. It is a vast responsibility to take upon one's self; and you may do something for which you will be sorry by-and-by, in your calmer moments, and for which you may be even punished when it comes to the knowledge of General Bragg." To which came the rough and heartless answer, " 1 know my business, and I don't want any advice from a Yankee spy. "When I do, I'll let you know. Come along," shouted he, seizing the rope and dragging his victim toward a tree. " I know my duty, apd am going to do it, too. Come on, men, and let's swing up this rascally spy." They refused to come to his assistance, however, say- ing that they were as ready as he to do their duty, but they wanted to be a little better satisfied about the mat- ter. It was only half a mile to Ratcliffe's, and it would De a very easy thing to go and see what he said about it. Harris would not listen a moment, and again or- dered them to come and help him, which they dared not longer refuse. The case now appeared hopeless. Death stared him in the face, and life, with all its memories and pleasures, seemed passing dreamily away. Looking into the ceda»^ 88 NAKRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. hanging heavy -with darkness, they seemed the entrance to the valley of the shadow of death, beyond -which lay the infinite and mysterious future. On the verge of the grave life was yet sweet — yet worth striving for ; and, as a last eflfort, the unfortunate man went up to Harris, placed his hand on his shoulder, and asked him if he would promise, on the word and honor of a gentleman, that he would go to General Bragg and give him a true statement of the affair, narrating every circumstance as it actually occurred. Then, turning to the men, he asked them if they would do it, provided the captain did not. Less hardened than the captain, they feelingly answered that they would ; and the earnestness with which they replied was proof enough that they would make good their words. This set the captain to think- ing. He evidently didn't like the idea of Bragg's hear- ing about it, and, after some moments' reflection, con- cluded to go to Ratcliffe's and see what he would say. The rope was removed, and they resumed their journey — the captain still swearing it would do no good, as noth- ing could save him, for he was bound to hang him that very night. Life still hung on a thread, however. Li the after- noon, when Newcomer had been there, Ratcliffe had not returned, and if he were not now at home, nothing would prevent Harris from carrying out his threat, which he seemed determined to execute. That haL mile was the longest ride Newcomer ever took. No lights were to be seen ; but it was near midnight, and it might be that all were abed. Harris left the prisoner at the gate, in charge of the other three, and went up to the house. He knocked on the window, and Newcomer NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 89 thought it was the thumping of his own heart. Fortun- ately RatclifTe was at home, and came hurriedly to the door, without stopping to dress. The two conversed in a low tone for some time, when Ratcliffe was heard to exclaim, " I'll be if you do !" and instantly started down toward the gate. Coming up to the prisoner, and throwing one arm around his neck, while he took his hand in his, he said to him — "Great God! Harry, how fortunate that I am at home !" After they had talked awhile together, Harris came up again, and called Ratcliflfe to one side, where they had another protracted conversation, in a low, whisper- ing tone. While they were thus engaged, a large owl on a tree near by began hooting, and was speedily an- swered by another some distance up the road. The three men mounted their horses at once and galloped to the road, shouting at the top of their voices — "Captain, we're surrounded! This is a trap. Don*t you hear the signals ?" The captain stepped to the road, listened a moment, and then, with a volley of oaths, ordered them back for a "pack of fools, to be scared at an owl." Still quaking with fear, which did not entirely leave them until they were fairly away from the place, they resumed their places, the owls hooting lustily all the while. Harris and Ratcliffe continued their conversation for a few minutes, when the former came towards Newcomer with a pistol and some papers in each hand, saying, as he gave them to him : " I release you and restore your property on the word of Quartermaster Ratcliffe. He assures me that you are 90 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. one of the most important men in the south, and a secret agent of the Confederacy. I am very sorry that this thing has occurred, and will make any amends in my power. If you desire, I will go with you to the Char- lotte pike a& an escort, or will do you any favor you may ask." " No," said Ratcliffe ; " he must come in and stay all night with me. I can't let him go on to-night." While standing at the gate, during this conversation, our released prisoner sold his pistols to the cavalrymen for Tennessee money. Just at this moment, too, a Bquad of cavalry belonging to Starns's command came by. One of them — to whom Newcomer had sold a pistol some weeks before — recognized him at once, and shook hands with him very cordially. He corroborated Ratcliffe's statement, saying that Newcomer was on very important business for the South, which was rendered still more so by the fight having begun at Stewart*a creek. A short time was passed in general conversa- tion, when all left except Newcomer, who hitched hia horse to the porch and went in with Ratcliffe. When sufficient time had elapsed for them to be well out of the way. Newcomer said his business was of too much im portance to brook delay, and he must be off at once. Ratcliffe said if he must go he could not urge him to «tay. " I will go with you to your horse," said he ; " meanwhile take this to keep you from further trouble. If anybody stops you again, just show them this, and you will be passed at once." So saying, he took from his pocket a large govern- ment envelope- — of which he had an abundance — and wrote on it : NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 91 ''All Rigid. "J. W. Ratcliffe." Armed with this, he started again, and reached thf pickets of the Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, who brought im into the city. It was nearly three o'clock m the corning when he arrived at the police office; but the colonel was still up, and immediately telegraphed his report to headquarters. The next day, nothing daunted, he set out again, and went, as usual, first to Ratclifife's, where he remained all night^thence the next morning travelled, by way of Hart's crossroads and Caney Springs, to Murfree^ boro, reaching that place on the Saturday evening closing the week of battles at Stone river. Ridmg .about°the town, he observed that nearly every house m it was a hospital. Every thing was confusion and excite- ment. Immense crowds of straggling soldiers and citi- zens were gathered about the court house and depot. Commissary and quartermaster stores, artillery, ammu- nition, and camp equipage, were being loaded on the cars, and trains were starting as fast as loaded. An evacuation was evidently on hand, and that right speed- ily ; and he determined to leave as soon as possible. The only trouble was how to get out. After wandering around some time, seeking an opportunity, he came across a train of small wagons, with which the neighbor- ing farmers had come to take home their wounded son? an°d brothers. Quick to embrace opportunities, he saw that now was his chance to escape. Dismounting from his horse, he led bim by the bridle, and walked demurely behind one of tliese wagons, as though it was in hie 92 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. charge. Clad in butternut, and in every outward appeal ance resembling the others accompanying it, the deceit was not discovered, and he safely passed all the pickets. It was now nearly two o'clock in the morning, and he rode rapidly on, in a cold, driving rain, until fairly be- numbed. Some nine miles out, he came to a deserted Bchool-house, which he unceremoniously entered, leading his horse in after him. Within, a large fireplace and an abundance of desks suggested the idea of a fire, and a huge blaze roaring and crackling on the hearth soon demonstrated its practicability. The next step was to wring the water out of his well-soaked garments, and partially dry them. Both horse and man enjoyed them- selves here until near daybreak, when he mounted again and rode on to Ratclifie's, reaching there about three o'clock Sunday afternoon. Here he remained awhile to converse with his friend, refresh the inner man, and care for his horse — neither having eaten a mouthful since the morning before. Ratclifie was rejoiced to see him, and wished him to remain longer ; but he pushed ahead, and reached Nashville late that evening, well nigh worn-out with hunger, fatigue, and want of sleep. His report was immediately telegraphed to General Rosecrans ; but he had been so long in making his way back that the general did not receive it until he had himself entered Murfreesboro. Late the next night he started again, with a single pistol, and a small stock of needles, pins, and thread. On Monday evening he reached Ratclifie's, and, staying but two hours, rode on two miles farther, to the house of one M. H. Perryear, with whom he remained all night. Thence he travelled, by way of Hart's cross- NARRATIVES OF Sl'IES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 93 roads, toward Caney Springs, but before reaching the latter place fell in with some of Wheeler's cavalry, with whom he rodr along, friendly and companionably enough. Some of them were old acquaintances, and very confi- dential. They were, they said, just on their way to burn a lot of Federal wagons at Lavergne and Triune, and, deeming him a good fellow well met, invited him to go with them. Thinking that there might be some chance to save the wagons, he declined the invitation, urging the pressing nature and importance of his mis- sion as an excuse. It was soon found, however, that every avenue of escape northward was guarded, and the whole country filled with the cavalry, of whom th^re were, in all, about three thousand. There was nothing to do, then, but to leave the wagons to their fate and push on, which he did, and, arriving at Caney Springs, remained there over night. The next morn- ing the cavalry began to loiter back from their maraud- ing expedition, in squads of from fifteen to a hundred or more, and from them he learned the complete suc- cess of the enterprise. Making the acquaintance of a lieutenant, he was told that they were going at onoe to Harpeth Shoals, to burn a fleet of boats which was then on its way to Nashville. This determined him to abandon the idea of going to Shelbyville, and he ac- companied a detachment back as far as Hart's cross- roads, where they went on picketrduty at a meeting- house by the road. Bidding them good-day, he started on alone toward Batcliffe's. Stopping at Perryear's, he was told that Forrest was in Franklin, that the roads were all guarded, and that there was a picket just at Ratclififc 8 gate. Perryear then gave l:im an open let* 94 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, ANi> DETECTIVES. ter of introduction, recommending him to all officers and soldiers of the Confederate army as a true and loyal Southern man, engaged in business of the highest im- portance to the Government. With this he again set out, and, as he had been told, found a picket at Ratcliife's gate. Requesting to be admitted, he was asked if he was a soldier, and, on answering negatively, was passed in without hesitation. Ratcliffe corroborated Perryoar'a statement, saying, furthermore, that Forrest was very strict, and that it would be much better for him to re- main there until they had all gone down the river. "But," added he, " if you must go, I'll go with you as far as Franklin and help you through." The town was found to be full of cavalry, who were conscripting every man whom they could lay hands on. Ratclifte introduced his companion to Will Forrest — a brother of the general, and captain of his body-guard. The captain was profuse of oaths and compliments, and. withal, so very friendly that Newcomer at once told him his story and business, all of which was indorsed by Ratcliffe. More oaths and compliments followed. The captain was glad to know so important a man, and, by way of business, asked him if he had any pistols to Bell. " No," was the reply ; " I have nothing but a single navy revolver, which I carry for my own defence, and which I wouldn't like to part with. But I am just going to Nashville for more goods, and, fearing trouble in getting away, I thought I would come and see about it." " Oh, I guess there will be none," said the captain, " The general wants to know something about Nashville, KARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 95 and will be very apt to send you there to get the infor- matioa for him. Come ; let's go and see about it. The t«-o sot forth, and found tlic general, surrounded by the usual crowd, at his hotel. Calling him to one eide, the captain pointed out his new friend, and, explaining who and what he was, concluded by remark- int that he wished to go to Nashville for goods, and would bring him any information he desired. The general, not just then in the best of humor, swore very roundly that he kne« as much about Nashville as he wanted to-it was men he wanted-and concluded by ordering the captain to conscript his friend into either his own or some other company. Turning on his heel, he walked briskly away, leaving his brother to his an^er and our would-be rebel spy to his disappointment The captain fumed with great, sulphurous oaths, and consoled Newcomer thus wise : « He's a fool, if he is my brother. You are the last man I'll ever bring to him to be insulted. But you Bha'n't be conscripted. Come with me, and I'll help you throuo-h. You can go with my company, but not as a soldier, and I will send you to Nashville myself My company always has the advance, and there'll be plenty of chances." . . Making a virtue of necessity, this proposition wM gladly accepted, and all started on the march. By thi. time Wheeler had come up and taken the lead, Forrest following in the centre, and Starns bringing up the rear About eight miles from Franklin the whole command encamped for the night, and our hero slept under the Bame blanket with Captain Forrest and his lieutenant _a Texan ranger named Scott, whose chief amusement 96 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Beemed to consist in lassoing dogs while on the march, and listening to their yelping as they were pitilessly dragged along behind him. Toward midnight, one of their spies — a Northern man, named Sharp, and formerly in the plough business at Nashville — came in from the Cumberland river. Captain Forrest introduced Newcomer to him as a man after his own heart — " true as steel, and as sharp as they make 'em." The two spies became intimate at once, and Sharp belied his name by making a confidant of his new acquaintance. He had formerly been in Memphis, and acted as a spy for the cotton-burners. More recently he had been employed with Forrest; and now he had just come from Harpeth Shoals, where he had learned all about the fleet coming up the river, and to-morrow he was to guide the expedi- tion down to a place where they could easily be captured and burned. Early next morning the march was re- sumed, and at the crossing of the Hardin pike General Forrest and staff were found waiting for them. Upon coming up, the captain was ordered to take his company down the Hardin pike, go on picket there, and remain until eleven o'clock; when, if nothing was to be seen, he was to rejoin the expedition. These instructions were promptly carried out — a good position being taken on a hill some eight miles from Nashville, from which could be had a view of the whole country for many miles in every direction. About ten o'clock the captain came to Newcomer and said he was going to send him to Nashville himself; at the same time giving him a list of such articles as he wished, consisting principally of gray cloth, staff-buttons, etc. As may be imagined, no time was lost in starting, and NARRATIVES OF SPIFS, SCOUTS, AiND DETECTIVES. 97 iiill less in getting into Nashville, where he arrived in due seiison to save the fleet. A Ibrce was at once sent out on the Ilillsboro pike to cut oflf the retreat of the rebels, and another on the Charlotte pike to attack them directly. The latter force succeeded in striking their rear -guard, and threw them into confusion, when they hastily lied across the Ilarpeth river, which was at the time very high. Our forces, being principally infantry, could not cross hi pursuit, but the troops on the Ilills- boro pike succeeded in killing, wounding, and capturing considerable numbers of them. They were thoroughly scattered, however, and the fleet was saved — which was the main object of the expedition. General Rosecrans had now been in Murfreesboro several days, and Colonel Truesdail immediately on his arrival sent the scout to that place. Here he made d full report, and, having received instructions for another trip, returned to Nashville the next day to make ready for it. The only item of interest on this trip was that at Eagleville he met Wheeler's command, by many of whom, and by the general himself, he was well and favorably known. Here Wheeler employed hira as a secret agent, and gave him a permanent pass, which he still retains. Borrowing from one of his officers one hundred dollars in Tennessee money, the general gave it to him, and instructed him to buy with it certain arti- cles which he mentioned — among which were gray clotb and staff" buttons, always in demand for uniforms. Stopping at Ratcliffe's on his return, he showed him the pass, and related the circumstances of getting it, at which the former waa highly gratified — " as," said he, "you'll have no more troubh now, Harry/' 7 98 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. At Nashville, he succeeded, of course with the permis- sion of the Union authorities, in filling General Wheeler's order, and charged with such information as General Mitchell and Colonel Truesdail saw fit to impart, he took another trip to the rebel lines. Wheeler was at this time at Franklin, quartered in the court house. The goods and information were delivered, much to the grat- ification of the rebel general, who forthwith instructed him to return to Nashville for more information and late Northern papers. He was by this time so well known, and so highly esteemed by the rebels, that the cashier of the Franklin branch of the Planter's bank of Tennessee, entrusted to him the accounts and valuable papers of the branch bank to carry to the parent insti- tution at Nashville. This duty he performed faithfully. On his way, he stopped at the house of one Prior Smith, a violent rebel, and extensive negro dealer. He was cordially received by Smith, who tried to interest him in the business of running off negro children from Nash- ville, to be sold south. Newcomer declined entering upon it ; but Smith insisted, and gave him a letter of introduction to his " right bower," in Nashville, who proved to be a Dr. Hudson, a man of wealth, who pro- fessed to be a Union man, but had long been considered suspicious. The Chief of Police, Colonel Truesdail, de- sired him now to spend some time in Nashville in devel- oping the case of Dr. Hudson, but he deemed it necessary first, to return to Wheeler, and received permission to do so. At Franklin, he found that Wheeler had gone on to Shelby^'ille, and stopping with his friend Ratcliffe, the two wrote out the information he had received, and sealed it up with the papers in '.arge (rebel) government envel- NARRATIVES OP SPILS, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 9V) opes, and forwarded by carrier to Wheeler. Having spent the night with Ratcliife, he returned the next morning, and immediately entered upon the work of following up the Hudson case. Delivering Prior Smith's letter of intro- duction, he very soon gained the full confidence of Dr. Hud- son and his wife, and found them ready to do any thing to further and aid the rebel cause. Dr. Hudson was very wealthy, and possessed an elegant residence in Nashville, with every comfort and convenience to be desired, exten- sive iron-works near Harpeth Shoals, and a tract of three thousand acres, attached together, with a large amount of other property. He had taken the oath of allegiance, and furnished milk to several of the hos-pitals as a cover for his plans for furnishing arras, ammunition, medicines equipments, etc., to the rebel armies ; aided rebel pris- oners to escape, kidnapped negroes, and sold them south ; aided and stimulated the burning of Union warehouses, transports, etc., etc. In all these iniquitous transactions his wife assisted to the best of her ability, and the two were in communication with all the principal rebels in Louis- ville and south of the Union lines. In all these opera- tions, Newcomer soon succeeded in making him commit himself before other detectives, whom he had introduced as officers of Ashby's cavalry, paroled rebel prisoners, Wheeler's spies, etc., etc., and when the proof was com- plete, caused the arrest of Dr. and Mrs. Hudson, and several of their accomplices. On examination, there were found at his house large quantities of contraband goods, includirg numerous pistols (revolvers), muskets, rifles, ballets, and shot, domestic and woollen goods, morphine and quinine, of the latter, ninety-nine ounces. After imprisonment and trial, the Dr. and his wife were 100 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AXD DETECTIVES. Bent south beyond the lines, and their property confij*- cated. Newcomer was subsequently employed in ferreting out other cases of a similar character, of which there were great numbers in Louisville and Nashville. In one of these he detected one Trainer, a wagon master in the Union army, and his wife, who were engaged in render- ing all possible aid and comfort to the rebels, by smug- gling supplies, and placing the trains of the Union army in dangerous positions, and caused their arrest, as well as that of several of their accomplices. From these adroit smugglers was taken about five thousand five hundred dollars' worth of quinine, morphine, and opium, and in consequence of the discoveries made, two drug stores, a wholesale and a retail store, were seized with their contents, to the value of about seventy -five thou- Band dollars more. Through his efforts, and those of other detectives in the employ of the army police, the extensive smugghng which had been carried on by rebel emissaries in Nash- ville and Louisville was rendered so dangerous that most of it was abandoned. PAULINE CUSHMAN, THE CELEBRATED UNION SPY AND SCOUT OP THE AEMT OP TH« CUMBERLAND. Among the wild and dashing exploits which have sig- nalized the recent war — rivalling in heroic and dramatic interest the most famous achievements of the earlier days of chivalry — few are more striking or picturesque than the simple narrative of facts which we are about to relate. NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 101 Miss Pauline Cushman, or " Major" Cushman, as she is, by right, most generally called, was born in the city of New Orleans, on the 10th day of June, 1833, her father being a Spaniard, a native of Madrid, and a pros- perous merchant of the Crescent city, and her mother a French woman of excellent social position and attain- ments. In course of time, her father met with losses which followed one another in rapid succession, and unable to stay the tide of adversity, after a brave but unavailing struggle, he abandoned his enterprises in New Orleans, and removed with his family to Grand Kapids, Michigan. This town was at that time little more than a frontier settlement, and opening an establishment for the purposes of trade with the neighboring Indians, he soon found himself in active and successful business. Pauline, meanwhile, the only girl in a family of six brothers, had arrived at the age of ten years, and was growing in beauty and intelligence. The circumstances which surrounded her domestic life, however, somewhat clouded the joy of the young girl's earlier years. Her father's rigid nature and strong passions ill matched with her mother's gentle and retiring temperament, and she was therefore sometimes compelled to witness scenea of domestic discord, which made home far less desirable than it should have been. Fortunately, however, hei natural inclinations led her mostly to indulge in out-door sports, and she was thus enabled to disperse in the sun shine of forgetfulness the oppressive gloom which too frequently clouded their littie home circle. And, more than that, amid the plains, the varied scenes of frontier life, and the wild compan )ns that surrounded her in her new western home, she insensibly laid the foimda- 102 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. tion of that physical strength and beauty, and that courageous spirit, which has since distinguished her every action. In her father's store, little Pauline became acquainted with the most noted " braves" of the neighboring Indian tribes, and by her kindly attentions to their wants, and her many innocent, childish ways, completely gained their confidence and good-will, as was manifested by the poetic appellation, "Laughing Breeze," which they bestowed upon her. As time passed, she grew up as straight as an arrow, and beautiful as a prairie rose. None could use the rifle more dexterously than she ; none could excel her — whether coursing the broad plains, mounted on the back of a half-tamed steed, without saddle or bridle, or stemming the fierce moun- tain currents in her light canoe — while few among the dusky natives of the region could wing an arrow with greater certainty than this pale-faced maiden. But gradually civilization in his westward march reached and revolutionized the frontier town where she dwelt. And with the novelties and luxuries, the inventions and improvements, which came from the far eastern cities — from New York, Philadelphia, etc. — came also wonder- ful reports of the fascinations and delights of life to be found there. Exaggerated by distance, and by her own bright imagination, which pictured all things couleur de rose, these glowing descriptions awakened in Pauline's breast the most intense desire to see and participate in their realities. And, ere long, we find her in New York, waiting for an opportunity to take her first step in the real life of which, on the far off prairies, she had so often dreamed. The opp Drtuiiity was nearer than she thought, for soon she fell ir with Mr. Thomas Placide, manage? NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 103 of the New Orleans "Varieties," who, struck by her handsome face and figure, at once proposed that she should enter into an engagement with Inm, and appear at his theatre. She accepted the proposition, and, in due time, made her dehut upon the boards of the " Varie^ ties," inspiring in the hearts of the impressible people of New Orleans an admiration which partook of the nature o^^ furor. Gifted with rare natural gifts of mind and body, she soon became widely known as one of the first of American actresses. It was not, however, until the spring of March, 1863, that Miss Cushman exchanged the role of the actress for the real acting of a noble and patriot woman, risking her life in solemn and terrible earnestness for her country's good. She was, at that time, playing at Mozart Hall, or "Wood's Theatre," in Louisville, Ky., then the head- quarters of the rebel sympathizers of the southwest; and, although under Union rule, these gentry had be- come so emboldened, from long continued success, as to almost set the Federal authorities at defiance. At the house where Miss Cushman boarded, she was unavoida- bly thrown into the company of many of these disloya persons; and among her acquaintances she numbered two paroled rebel officers. Colonel Spear, and Captain J H. Blincoe, whom, apart from all pohtical considerar tions, she had admitted to a certain degree of friendship. She was at that time axiting the part of Plutella, in the " Seven Sisters," and every one who has seen this widely popular play, will remember that Plutella has to assume, durin- the course of the pie^e, many characters— at one time a dashing Zouave officer, at another, a fine gentle man of fashion, and in this last chara^^^r is supposed Xo 104 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. drink wine with a friend. One afternoon, while receiv- ing 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 ex- claimed, " 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 gentle- men 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 pro- ceeded to the office of Colonel Moore, the United States Provost-Marshal, with whom she had a slight acquaint- ance, 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 de- scribed ; but the colonel finally overcame her scruples, giving her to understand that she could render her coun- try 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 foj NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 105 the momentous event of the evening. It was enough for her to know that good to her country was to flow from her apparently treasonable act, and that some de- sign, of which she was yet unconscious, was concealed beneath it. The afternoon was well improved by her rebel friends in publishing abroad in the '^ secesh" circles of the city, that something rich was to come off that evening at the theatre. It seemed to our heroine thai the afternoon would never wear away ; and yet, as the hour approached, her heart beat fast at the thought ^hat the momentous moment was hastening on. At last the hour arrived for her to set out to the theatre. No sooner had she stepped within the building, than she saw that it was literally packed. Not even standing room was to be had for love or money. Every rebel sympathizer in town had heard of it, and all were there. The time approached for the play to begin. The musicians in the orchestra tuned their big fiddles in their usual m3'ste- rious manner. Ushers began to call out the numbers of Beats, and to slam the doors in their wonted style. The " call-boy" flew here and there, and at last, in obedience to the prompter's bell, the curtam began to rise, discov- ering Mr. Pluto at breakfast, within the shades of Hades. There was, however, a veritable Pluto to burst upon them, that they wot not of. This was coming. In the meantime, the jokes and mirth of the *• Seven Sisters" were more than ordinarily relished. It may have been that those in the secret were so delighted at the pros pect of seeing the Federal authorities thus wantonly in- sulted, that they greeted every thing with rapture, and that this became contagious among the good Union people of the house, who }f course, were ignorant of the lOfJ NAiiRATIVES OF SPIES. SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. joke. At length the critical moment arrived, and ad- vancing in her theatrical costume to the foot lights, our heroine, goblet ii^ nand, gave, in a clear, ringing voice, the following voast : " here's to JEFF. DAVIS AND THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. ^L4.1 THE SOUTH ALWAYS MAINTAIN HER HONOR AND HER BIQHTS 1" Miss Cushman had prepared herself for a fearful out- break of popular opinion, but for a moment even the hearts of the audience seemed to stop beating. Then, however, it burst forth, and such a scene followed as beggars description. The good Union portion of the audience had set, at first, spell-bound and horrified by the fearful treason thus outspoken, while the " secesh " were frozen with the audacity of the act, though con- scious that it was to occur. But then came the mingled storm of applause and condemnation. Fierce and tu- multuous it raged, until it seemed as though it would never stop. Nor was the scene behind the scenes less intense. The manager, rushing up to our heroine, de- manded, in his most tragic tone, " what she meant by such conduct ;" while the rest of the professional gentle- men and ladies avoided her as though she had suddenly been stricken with some fearfully contagious disease. The brave girl, however, had her cue, and boldly avowed that she "wasn't afraid of the whole Yankee crew, and would do it again." In short, she carried out her part so well, that no one doubted for a moment that she was a most virulent secessionist. Before she had left the theatre, the guards arrived to arrest her ; but — out of respect to Mr. Wood, the proprietor of the theatre — they were deterred from actually executing their errand, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTSj AND DETECTIVES. 107 and it was arranged that she should report at head- quarters at ten o'clock the next morning. There she was welcomed in the private office in the kindest man- ner, and earnestly thanked by Colonel Moore, and his superior. General Boyle, for the capital manner in which Bhe had carried out the pseudo-treasoniihle plan. She was now enlightened as to the design of the United States officers, who informed her that she must enter the secret service of the government. They also advised her to moderate her " secesh " proclivities in public, as if she had received a severe reprimand from General Boyle ; but, in private, to abuse the government, and say all the harm she could about it ; by which means she would in- spire confidence among the disaffected, and would be of incalculable use to the national cause. Promising a ready and strict compliance with these requests, she re- turned to her lodgings, where she found a note awaiting her from the management of the theatre, discharging her from her engagement there. Thrown afresh, as it were, upon the world, Miss Cush- man now found herself in a most peculiar and embarrass- ing position. Shunned by her former friends as bearing the brand of disloyalty — slighted — jeered at — flung by the force of her own act upon the sympathies and com- panionship of a cowardly crew of rebel sympathizers, from whose treason her very nature revolted, her situa- tion was one of peculiar hardship and disagreeableness. She was sustained, however, by the thought that she was sacrificing her own prospects and feelings for her country's good. The work before her was full of dan- ger, excitement, and importance. Louisville, at this time, was ur.dermined by disloyal sentiments and trea- 108 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AXD DETECTIYES. sonable plots. Every expedient that human and disloyal ingenuity could devise to annoy and harass the loyal Union people of that section, or to cripple the power and operations of the government, was resorted to with malignant delight — even by wealth}- and well known citizens of Louisville. Many of these plots Miss Cushman was the means of bringing to light and to punishment ; and, in so doing, had to assume various disguises, mingling with every class of people, from the cut-throats of the low groggeries to the best circles of " secesh " society. Her most dangerous service, how- ever, was scouting in search of guerillas, to accomplish which, she was frequently compelled to don male attire and to remain in the saddle all night ; and many and varied were the strange adventures which she met with. But her coolness, her energy, and patriotism carried her successfully through these experiences, and God's special providence seemed always to be with her. The most important service, however, which she rendered her country while in Louisville, was the detection of her landlady in the act of mixing up poison in the coffee of a number of sick and wounded Union soldiers, who had been quartered upon her. She managed to play the " sympathizer " until she had gained a full knowledge of the plan, and then secretly informed the United States authorities, by whom the poor soldiers were re- moved in time from the fate which awaited them, and the fiend-woman was treated to her deserved punish- ment. At another time, personating the somewhat notorious George N. Sanders, purporting to have just returned from Europe with highly important despatches, con- NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 109 oerning the recognition of the Confederacy, etc., and also a certain Captain Denver, alicis Conklin, Miss Cushman most successfully ''gammoned" some of the leading eeces- Bionists of Louisville, especially a Mrs. Ford, and placed a very elTectual embargo on a large amount of quinine, morphine, and other medicines, which were in transit to the rebel arm}'. In course of time, Mr. J. R. Allen, of the new thea- tre of Nashville, Tenn., arrived at Louisville, engaged in looking up a good company of actors, and meeting with Mr. Wood of the Louisville theatre, was recom- mended to secure Miss Cushman. " She is a good look- ing woman, and an accomplished actress, but she will talk ' secesh.' If you can only keep her out of the provost-marshal's hands, you will make a good thing, for she will be popular at once," said Mr. Wood. So the proposition was made to Pauline, and, after advising with the military authorities, under whose guidance she was acting, she determined to accept it. Of course, in order to maintain her assumed part, the authorities had to refuse her a "pass," and her only way, therefore, to get out of Louisville, was to " run the blockade." Proceeding, at the appointed time, to the cars, she got a " secesh" gentleman, going to Nashville, to attend to her trunk ; then she requested leave of the guard, at the door of the car, to speak to a friend inside, "only for one minute." Her woman's face prevailed, he let her pass, and she took pains to stay within the car. When the officer of the guard came around to inspect the passes, she had a "made up story" all ready, at the same time phowing her order from Mr. Allen to report herself im- naediately a ''. his theatre. He hesitated, but her pleasing 110 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. face and a few womanly tears carried the point, and our heroine was soon on her way to Nashville, at that time the base of operations of the glorious Array of the Southwest. On her arrival at Nashville, she met with a warm recep- tion from "Secessia," who were brimful of congratulations at her escape from the Federal power at Louisville, and of exultation at her having got away from that place with- out even securing a "pass" or taking the oath of allegiance. In her character of actress she soon became exceedingly popular, but her stay at the theatre was a short one : for, on her return from rehearsal one day, she found a summons from Colonel Truesdail, the chief of the army police of Nashville. On entering his office, she was re- ceived by him politely but distantly, as due to a stranger ; but, no sooner had he dismissed his clerks, than his whole manner changed to one of cordiality. After com plimenting her for her previous important services to the country, he informed her that he had selected her for a duty that would not only require the greatest discretion, constancy, and quickness of perception which she could command, but which was one of extraordinary peril — an undertaking which might end in glory, or in an igno- minious death by the bullet, or hy the rope ! At these words she involuntarily shrank back, but yet she an- swered in a firm tone : " Colonel Truesdail, hundreds, aye, thousands of our noble soldiers, each one of greater service to our country than my poor self, have gladly given up their lives in lier cause. Should I hesitate to do as much ? No ; I will do all that a woman sJiould do, and all that a man 'Jare do, for my country and the Union 1" NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Ill Charmed with the noble heroism which breathed in these words, the colonel proceeded to reveal the service for which she was to be detailed, and to give her the necessary instructions. The duty which was required of her, was to secretly visit the rebel General Bragg's headquarters, an enterprise at that time of the greatest im- portance, and on6 upon which the whole fate of the Union cause seemed to depend. First, she was to be sent out of the lines, in company with many other rebel women who were being sent South, in obedience to a late order of General Mitchell. To this very natural reason, she added another, i. e., that she had a brother, A. A. Cush- man, who was a colonel somewhere in the rebel army, and a professed anxiety to find him afforded a very clever ostensible reason for her travelling from hejdquar- ters to headquarters, and from place to place through the South. She was then instructed to make no con- fidants; not to talk too mucli; to make the same answers to all parties, and never to deviate from the story, when once framed. The search for her brothei was to be the free and confessed object of her travels- and under this pretence she was to visit the rebej armies at Columbia, Shelbyville, Wartrace, Tullahoma, and Manchester. She was to make no direct m- quiries of ofiicers or others concerning the strength of the Confederate forces, movements, supplies, etc., but, in accepting the offers to ride and other attentions which her personal attractions would probably secure her from officers, she was to keep her eyes oj^en, and note every thing of importance which she might see. In the hospitals, she was to make such observations as she could, concerning the medical and hospital supplies, the 112 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Qumber of sick and wounded soldiers, etc. But she was especially advised not, on any account, to make any memorandum or tracings of any kind ; only keeping a brief memoranda of the houses at which she stopped, amount of bill, and date, which being so customary as not to excite suspicion, would yet serve to refresh the memory on certain points. The Oath of Fidelity to the United States was then solemnly administered to Miss Cushman ; the gallant colonel presented to her a hand- some " six-shooter," and on a glorious May morning, under the pretended surveillance of an officer, she was conveyed beyond the lines as a disloyal woman. Arrived at a point some three miles distant from Nash- ville, out of sight of any human habitation, the carriage stopped, and Miss Cushman found awaiting her a fine bay horse, fully caparisoned, which she mounted, and bidding farewell to her military escort, she galloped gayly down the Hardin pike, followed by the good wishes of the few who knew her real character and purpose. The close of her first day's journej^ brought her to the Big Harpeth river, the bridge across which had been so injured by the rebels that it was impossible for any one to cross it, and in following a side path which seemed to lead to a ford, Miss Cushman came upon a nice looking dwelling house, where she stopped to inquire about the road. From the inmates she found that it would be im- possible to cross at present, at least without help ; and accordingly, the sympathies of the woman of the house having been fully enlisted by the story of the cruel treat- ment received by Miss Cushman from the Federal authorities of Nashville, she was allowe^^ ''p spend the NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTITES. 113 ni^lit there. In the morning, her host, Milam by name, who carried on a considerable business in smufr2:lin<; CO o goods and supplies out of Nashville for the benefit of his rebel friends across the river, purchased her horse and equipments, giving her confederate funds therefore and hired her a buggy and driver under whose care she set forth in the direction of Columbia. Through dreary woods and terrible roads and a drenching rain the} pursued their way, finally arriving at her destination, where she was, fortunately for her strength, compelled to wait, for three days, the re-opening of the railroad to Shelbyville, which had been destroyed by the Union troops. While here, she met with much sympathy from the rebels, to whom she appeared in the character of an abused woman, seeking for her brother, an officer in the army ; and she also had to pass the scrutiny of more experienced judges — officers, and others high in official rank. But she bore the test, and in turn made the most suspicious her most useful tools. Columbia proved a rich field to our heroine, who made many friends and accumulated much valuable acquaintance while there. Soon she went to Shelbyville, from whence she found, much to her annoyance, that Bragg had removed hia headquarters — and where she could not ascertain. But, ever alive to any opportunity that offered of doing good to her country, she acquired some valuable information which more than compensated her for the frustration of her original object in visiting Shelbyville. It chanced that she learned that at the same hotel table where she dined there sat a young officer of engineers, who waa engaged in drawing important plans for the rebel gov- ernment. She immediately -conceived the plan of 114 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. obtaining these plans, at whatever risk to herself, and to get back to the Federal lines, which she thought could be easily effected, and in time to be of the utmost service to her country. As an excuse for wishing to re- turn to the Federal lines, she would represent that having been hurriedly sent out of Nashville b}- the Federal officers, she had been compelled to leave all her theatrical wardrobe Ijehind her in her flight, and now she was desirous of recovering it, so that she might be able to accept some engagement at some of the theatres throughout the country, and earn enough money to en- able her to pursue her journey in search of her brother. Luckily, as if to further her plans, about this time, she received the offer of an engagement from the manager of the Richmond theatre, which of course tallied exactly with her scheme. Her next move was to get acquainted with the young engineer officer, which was soon effected by a letter of safeguard given her by one of her Shelby- ville friends. Major Boone ; and soon, with her pretty woman's ways, she had won his entire confidence so completely, that he even offered to give her letters of introduction to General Bragg. Calling upon him at his office, she was warmly welcomed, and finally excu- sing liimself whilst he retired to an adjoining room to write the promised letters of introduction. Miss Cush- man found herself alone in the room with the much coveted plans and drawings. In the few moments which elapsed during his absence from the room, she contrived to slip the plans into her bosom, and when he returned, she received from him the letters and left him as unsus pec ting and as pleasant as ever — unconscious of his loss. Shortly after she left Shelbyville on her wa^ to NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS. AND DETECTIVES. 115 Nashville ; and, during a short halt, at a place called Wartrace, she undertook a scouting enterprise with the view of communicating valuable information to some of the roving bands of Union cavalry, who were almost daily engaged in skirmishing with the rebel cavalry. In carrying out this plan, her first requisite was, of course, a man's suit of clothes, and to get these she now Bet her wits to work. At the same hotel where she was stopping was a young man of about seventeen years ot age, whose clothes she thought would just fit her, but how to get them was the question. With only the knowledge that he slept in the upper story of the house, but provokingly ignorant of which room he occu- pied, she resolved to " scout" around in the dark, and, " hit or miss," make a desperate attempt to secure the clothes. So after a series of adventures in the dark, which succeeded only in arousing nearly all the inmates of the several rooms on the corridor, our discomfited heroine, beating a hasty retreat from the discovery which now seemed inevitable, desperately tried the handle of a small door near at hand. To her great joy it yielded, and slipping hastily in, she found herself in a low, poorly- furnished chamber — in which lay sleeping the very man whose clothes she had been seeking. Luckily, the up- roar in the hall had not awakened him, and waiting till all was quiet again, she grabbed the clothes and sped silently to her own room. Hastily dressing herself in the stolen suit, she crept softly down-stairs, past the sleeping negro boy in the hall, out to the stables, and there she speedily saddled one of the best horses which she could find, and pushed her way out of the town. 116 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, A.ND DETECTIVES. Into the woods phe rode, and finally, when some three miles out of Wartrace, came suddenly upon a guerilla encampment, and was busily engaged in playing the eavesdropper to their camp-fire conversation when she unluckilj- stepped upon a brittle branch which snapped under her feet. Instantly they took the alarm, and she scarcely had time to mount her horse before they were m full chase after her. Gradually they gained upon her, when suddenly she found herself approaching, at full speed, a precipitous rock, at the foot of which meandered a small stream. It was impossible to check the head- long speed of her horse, and her pursuers were close upon her ; so, shutting her eyes, and striking the spurs deep into the animals flanks, she plunged down the mountain side. Her pursuers did not dare to follow, but standing at the top of the bluff", contented themselves with wing- ing their pistol bullets after her. Suddenly, just as she hoped that she was fairly escaped, one of her pursuers discovered a bridle path, and the chase recommenced. Pushing hastily into the woods which lined the creek, she endeavored to regain the road to "Wartrace, for she was now threatened with two dilemmas ; if daylight overtook her before she could get back to the hotel, her theft of the clothes and horse would be discovered ; and if taken by her pursuers she would inevitably be taken to Wartrace, it being the nearest town. On she rode, at full speed, until she found herself gaining upc n the rebel riders, and suddenly came upon a wounded Union cavalryman, scarce able to sit upon his horse, from the effects of a wound received while scouting, a few hours before. She at first mistook him for a " reb," but ascertaining the truth, a plan of escape flashed through NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 117 her brain, and she quickly revealed to him her sex and name, and asked his aid. The brave fellow had heard of the " Woman scout of the Cumberland," and, faint and wounded as he was, gladly and bravely offered to carry out her plan at the risk of his life. Firing her pistol into the air, she instructed the soldier to say to the pursuing party, who would inevitably be drawn thither by the report, that he had been met and shot by a " reb." She told him that he could not expect, from his w( unds, to escape capture, and advised him to stii himself around so as to make his wound bleed afresh. He obeyed, and let himself fall off his horse, while Miss Cushman gave the animal a sharp blow which sent him flying down the road. When the rebel horsemen galloped up to the spot, they found the soldier lying at the foot of a tree, bleeding freely, and in a state of unconscious- ness from his sudden fall, while over him bent our hero- ine, pistol in hand. To their surprised and hurried query who she was, she promptly replied : " I am a farmer's son, over near Wartrace, and I surrender to you; but I have shot your best fellow, here, and only wish I had shot more of ye." To their astonished looks and questions as to what he meant, she replied in the same bitter vein ; " 1 mean just what I say, I am only sorry that I didn't kill more of you darned Yankees, that comes down yhere and runs all our niggers off!" Com- pletely misled by her skilful acting, the rebels now saw that the boy had mistaken them for Yankees ; and on questioning the Yankee soldier, who was gradually re- covering from his faintness, the brave fellow, true to mstructions, designated the " farmer s boy," as the :ne who had shot him, " bxjause he was a Yankee." It now 1J8 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. became evident to the "rebs'*that each party had mistaken the other for " Yanks ;" but for further precau- tion, Pauline was ordered to a(.'Company them, and the wounded soldier was placed on a horse, and the party took up their march to Wartrace. This was a programme 'lot at all agreeable to her, and as they rode along through the darkness of the forest, she conceived the idea of creating a "scare," hoping to avail herself of the con- fusion to get jflf and make her escape to Wartrace before daylight should make it too late to escape detection as a thief So as they were passing through a narrow gorge of the road, thickly overshadowed by tall forest trees, — a nice place for an ambush — she managed to fall behind the party and become hidden by a bend in the road. Then taking out her revolver, she fired five shots in rapid succession. As she expected, her rebel companions were startled. Supposing themselves ambushed by Fed- eral cavalry, fear lent a thousand terrors to their minds, and their imaginations gave new echoes to the reports of the pistol. Away they went, pell-mell, and laughing heartily at the success of her " scare," Miss Cushman rapidly galloped to Wartrace, where she luckily succeed- ed in comfortably housing her steed and in returning the borrowed clothes, without detection — and, in due time, answered the summons of the breakfast bell, as rosy and fresh-faced, and as innocent in look and manner, as if the night had been spent comfortably in her bed. After several stirring adventures at Tullahoma, where she made a short stay, she returned to Columbia, where she remained awhile, engaged in picking up all the in- formation which it was possible to secure. Here, too, she mot 1 er friends (and lovers too, if truth were spoken), IfARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 119 Major Boone, and Captain P. A. Blackman, rebel quarter- master, the latter of whom urged her to adopt man's apparel and join the Confederate army, with the promise of a position as his aide-de-camp, and the rank of lieu- tenant. This flattering proposition was accepted — the enamored captain forthwith ordered a complete rebel oihcer's uniform, and it was agreed that so soon as she should return from her proposed trip to Nashville, she should accompany him as aide. Meanwhile, she was not slow to accept every invitation from him to ride over the neighboring country, thereby gaining that complete knowledge of camps, fortifications, and the paraphernalia of war, which was deemed essential to the new officer. [t may here be noticed that Miss Cushman now departed from the strict instructions which she had received from her military superiors, not to make drawings, plans, etc., of fortifications ; and at Shelby ville and TuUahoma she made careful and accurate drawings, which she concealed between the inner and outer soles of her boot. This dereliction of duty, though intended for the best, proved the ultimate cause of the troubles and miseries which afterward befell her. On her return to the house at the crossing of the Big Harpeth river, in company with the same man who had brought her over before, he in- duced her to cross the bridge on foot, saying that the ford was impassable, owing to late rains. She did so, and instead of following by another ford, he incontinently- disappeared, leaving her with but a small moiety of hei baggage, some distance from her destination, and the night rapidly approaching. Indeed it was quite dark when she reached Milam's house, where she had soent th*^ nignr and soH her horse b*^fore going to Columbia. 120 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Mrs. Milam, who had before been so cordial, was now evidently suspicious, and our heroine's comfort was not increased by her interview with the husband on the following morning. He informed her that her trunks which she had left at Nashville, had been seized by- Colonel Truesdail, whereupon she made a gi-eat show of pretended indignation, declaring that she would go to Nashville, " if she had to walk all the way," and get them back ; and offering to buy back her horse. Un- Ibrtunately, her host, who had made her a confidant of his treasonable plans and acts when she was his guest on the occasion of her going to Columbia, as he thought, permanently, was suspicious of her sudden return, and by no means inclined to injure his own prospects, by helping her to return to Nashville, where, if false to her assumed character, he knew she would " post " the au- thorities concerning him. He therefore communicated with the nearest rebel scout post, and ere long she was placed under arrest, and transferred to Anderson's Mill, where she was disarmed and examined by the officer in charge. Finding that she had no ^' pass," she was held as a prisoner of war, until her case could be reported to and acted upon by General Bragg. Moreover, she was not allowed to return to the house at Big Harpeth where she had left a satchel containing her rebel uniform and several articles of pressing use and value. Fortunately she had come across her horse on the road to Anderson's Mill, at the house of one De Moss, and claiming him at once, had taken possession of him, and as night closed in, she found herself again on the road, still a prisoner. About noon the next day, her guide stopped with hei for refreshment at the house of a well-known physician, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 121 and while there, a large body of Confederate cavalry passed, under command of the famous General Morgan. His attention being called to Miss Cushraan, he detailed lier guard to another special duty, and took her under his own care and watch, and she enjoyed his gallant attentions until they reached Hillsboro, where she waa handed over to another scout to be taken to General Forrest's headquarters. During the long ride which ensued she concocted another nice little scheme foi escape. Knowing that General Rosecrans was much dreaded by the rebels in that part of the country, who haidly knew where they might next expect an attack from him, she knew that if she could raise the cry, " Old Rosy is coming," a gen- eral *' skedaddle " would ensue, instanter. She felt sure, also, that she was not regarded as a very important political prisoner, and would probably be dropped imme- diately by her guards, in order to effect their own escape. Her horse, she noticed, stood still saddled in a small outhouse, and the storm which raged with much fury, was favorable to her project. Watching her oppor- tunity, therefore, she made friends with an aged negro man about the place, and gave hun a ten dollar green- back if he would, at a proper time of night, run up the road a piece, and then back again, shouting as loud as he could, ''the Yankees are coming!" Tho old ne- gro entered heartily into the plan, and carried it out successfully At the darkest hour of the stormy night, the whole "negro quarters" poured into the house where the guards and their prisoner were sleeping, and " the Yanks ! the Yanks am a^joming !" resounded fron» a dQ7en thoroughly frightened throats. Sauve qui peut, 122 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTI7ES. was the word, the rebels fled incontinently, and oui heroine, flinging herself upon her horse, sped away on the road to Franklin. She had provided herself, some- how, with a pistol belonging to a wounded rebel soldier in a house where she had stopped ; and pushing her way fearlessly along she reached and passed, with peculiar adroitness, five rebel pickets, but was finally foiled and obliged to turn back before the uuswervable honesty of the last picket on the road, who would not allow her to pass him without the proper document. At a house near the road, where death had bereaved the family of an infant child, the tired girl found a refuge and shelter from storm and fatigue. She was awakened from her sound slumbers the next morning by the unwelcome appearance of four of the rebel scouts from whom she had escaped the night before, and who had tracked her all the way from Hillsboro. Although she pretended to be glad to see them and ex- plained her separation from them as the result of her fears of the '' Yanks," they were neither gulled nor mollified, but gruffly ordered her to accompany them back, without even taking the breakfast which her kind hostess pressed upon them. And soon she was in the saddle, and proceeding on her journey, under the care of her scouts, who evinced more than usual watchfulness ver her. She was first taken to General Morgan, who recnved her with his wonted courteousness, and he ac- companied her to General Forrest's headquarters. That celebrated chief, after a trying examination, sent her, under guard, to General Bragg. On arriving at Shelby- ville, she was shown at once to the general's headquar- tt*rs, which were in the heart of the camp. On entering NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 123 she was met by a small sized man, with small, dark gray eyes, iron gray hair and whiskers, and bronzed face. This was General Bragg. His manner was stern, but gentlemanly, and after glancing over the papers handed to him by her guide, he began : " Of what country are you a native, Miss Cushman?" he asked, waving her to a chair with his hand. " I am an American, sir ; but of French and Spanish parentage," she answered. " And you were born where ?" he asked. " In the city of New Orleans." " Hum !" ejaculated the general, doubtingly. " Hoit comes it, then, that — that your pronunciation has the Yankee twang ?" " It comes, probably, from the fact that I am, profes sionally, an actress," she answered promptly, " and as I am in the habit of playing Yankee characters very fre- quently, it may be that I've caught the " twang " by it, and show it in my ordinary conversation, as well as on the stage." "Hum!" growled the general again. "But what brought you down South ?" " I was not brought, sir ; I was sent,'' answered Pau- line, proudly. " By whom, may I ask. Miss Cushman ?" " By the Federal Colonel, Truesdail." "And why were you sent ?" inquired Bragg, with a ely look of incredulity. " Because I gave warm utterance to my Southern feelings, and refused to take their oath of allegiance," replied our heroine, pretending to shed tears, " and a pretty way I'm pait" for it, too ' 124 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. " Why wouldn't you take the oath ?" persisted Bragg, apparently untouched by her youth and beauty in tears " I had declared that I wouldn't take it, and I meant to stick to my word !" replied Pauline, stoutly. The general studied the expression of her counte- nance for a moment, and then continued. " What was the main charge that the Federals made against you ?" " I had publicly dnmk to the success of the South and our Confederacy. It was on the stage of the Louis- ville theatre, and I did it at the request of two paroled Confederate officers, w^ho, if they were now here, would tell you the same thing," and our heroine related the whole occurence of the toast, etc. " Well, what happened then ?" remarked the general. " I was at once discharged from the theatre, and went to Nashville, where I got a fresh engagement, only to be sent away in turn ; for Colonel Truesdail, the chief of the Federal army police, getting wind of my Southern sen- timents, and hearing of my drinking the toast wishing success to the South, immediately ordered me to leave the Federal jurisdiction, and wouldn't even allow me to take my trunk or theatrical wardrobe with me." The perfect coherence of her story, and her appa- rently calm and truthful manner was not without it« effect upon the general, who after a brief pause, during which he carefully scrutinized her, resumed in a more kindly tone : " Miss Cushman, this statement of yours may be all correct, but still I should like to have you give some vooitive proof of your loyalty to our cause ; for, as it sti.nds, I must say it appears, at best, very doubtful." NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. V25 " General," replied Pauline, pointedly, " I have been peized and brought hither to meet charges laid against me, I presume ; but assuredly not to investigate and dc' cide my own case. You cannot be expected to believe mi/ statement; therefore, all I can say is, to produce your charges and the evidence, and when the examina- tion is over, I think that my loyalty to the South will shine with as bright and steady a lustre as does your own. After that, if you still doubt me, or if one sus- picion still lingers in your mind, give me a place near you in battle, and you will see that Pauline Cushman will fight as bravely and faithfully as any man in your army." Half amused, and half convinced by this speech, the old soldier continued his searching examination, striving in every way to entrap and confuse her, and to elicit from her all the information which he could concerning the plans, movements, and operations of the Federal commanders. She, on the contrary, assumed an inno- cent appearance of ignorance on these points, although careful to speak the truth in whatever she did say. It was a keen contest of wit, and finally the general ter- minated the interview by saying, " As for yourself. Miss Cushman, I have to tell you plainly, that there are very serious charges against you, and I must give you into the custody of our provost-marshal-general. Colonel McKinstry, who is, however, a very just and humane man, and who will treat you kindly. Your subsequent fate will depend entirely upon the result of our inves- tigation." " Colonel McKinstry is, then, precisely the man I de- sire to see ; for thro igh him will the proofs of my guilt- l'ZQ narratiyes of fpies, scouts, and detectives. lerfsness of the<5e charges appear," rejoined Miss Cush man, boldly, " and if they are proved false, how then, general ?" "You will be acquitted with honor," replied he. " How, though, if I am found guilty ?" "You know the penalty inflicted upon convicted hpies. If found guilty, Tou will be hanged," replied the general, dryly. Leaving Bragg, she was taken before Colonel McKins- try and there subjected to another strict examination, m which she was interrogated concerning the manner in which she became possessed of the Confederate uniform found among her effects when captured. To this she answered frankly, although, to her annoyance, it caused the instant issue of an order for the arrest of the gallant captain who had procured it for her. But, finally, the colonel produced from his desk the plans, maps, and doc- uments which she had abstracted from the rebel engi- neer's table at Columbus, together with the sketches and memoranda that she had made, of various fortifications at TuUahoma, Shelbyville, Spring Hill, etc. Staggered almost to faintness by the sight of these tell-tale docu- ments which she had placed in the soles of her gaiters, and which had been purloined from her satchel, left in the hurried flight from Hillsboro, she yet assumed a light demeanor and admitted that she made the sketches. She stoutly asserted, however, with a laugh, that they were mere fancy sketches, " gotten up with the idea of stufiing the Yankees when she should find herself among them, so that she should be permitted to recover her theatrical wardrobe." The colonel, although surprised tt her consummate and audacious acting, was too old a NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 127 bird to be caught hi that way, and remanded her to custody. She was taken to the house of a Mr. Morgan, near Duck river, where she was carefully guarded in a room fitted up as a dungeon, with barred windows and doubl V fastened doors. Hers was now a truly distressing and apparently hopeless case. Tinder the long protracted suspense as to her ultimate fate, added to the great privations and fatigues which she had previously gone through, she fell seriously ill ; and the discomforts of her situation — s\ck and helpless, surrounded by foes and strangers — can hardly be described by tongue or pen. Long, weary days she lay thus, at the very verge of death — the court-martial which had been appointed to investigate her case had not yet been able to agree upon a verdict, and imagination added its horrors to the dread reality of her situation. Ten days thus passed, with the dread of death in its most ignominious form, hanging, like the sword of Damocles, ever above her head. Finally, Captain Pedden brought to her the unwelcome news which he tenderly broke to her, that she had been found Guilty and that she was condemned to be hanged as a SPY. The situation of our heroine, mental and physical, was now deplorable in the extreme. Condemned to death upon the gallows, surrounded by foes, with her fate unknown, even to her friends, hers was indeed a position to shake the hearts of the strongest and firmest. Yet there loas a small ray of hope that illumined the darkness of this dismal prospect, and that was that, as she was still confined to her bed by the deepest physical prostration, the rebels would scar ely drag her from there tc tbf gallows ; and there was a slujlit chance that. 128 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. during the brief respite thus afforded, some change of the military situation might yet afford relief to her. She well knew that Shelby ville, where she then was, was the objective point of the Union army of the Southwest, and they might reach there in time to save her from her horrid fate. Yet the chances which were thus suggested, were too slight to encourage our heroiiie, who had made up her mind heroically to meet her fate; and she met her fearful situation with an angelic courage and sweet- ness which won the love of the few friends whom she had drawn to her during her imprisonment. Slowly and surely the Union army advanced on ita glorious career, and soon Miss Cushman's guards and the Confederate army generally, began to show evident signs of evacuating Shelbyville. Finally it was decided by a council of war to retreat, and what a thrill of mingled hope and joy ran through Miss Cushman's veins as her friends announced to her that she would have to be left behind, as she was too weak to be moved. Before leav- ing the town, however, she was removed to a more com- fortable house, and left in the hands of an excellent physician, who was Union at heart. At length it waa rumoied that a large body of Federals was just outside the town : then followed the battle of Shelbyville, and ere long the streets of that town echoed to the tread of the Union army and the peal of its bugles. It was a moment of supremest joy and ecstacy to the wan and feeble girl, who felt new life surging through every vein, and springing from her bed, she staggered to the oper window, despite the remonstrances of her kind hostess As the blessed certainty came upon her, that the Union &ag oncf more waved ov6 r the town, and that she wag NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 129 hnfe. tlie fictitious strengtli which excitement had lent her gave way to weakness, and she sank to the floor, over- come by joy and happiness. Ere the close of that happy day, Generals Granger and Mitchell called upon her and expressed the liveliest interest in her situation ; the brave soldiers heard of the noble woman whom they had thus opportunely saved from a terrible death, and, on every hand, she received the most tender and convincing tokens of the general esteem in which she was held. At eleven o'clock the next morning, in the general's own ambulance, well stocked with all the comforts and necessaries which the generosity and courtesy of her new friends could suggest, she left Shelbyville en route to Murfreesboro. There a day and a night's rest enabled her to take the cars to Nashville ; and under the care of an officer of General Granger's staff, who had himself done her the honor of attending her thus far, she began her return journey to that city. On her arrival thero, she was waited upon by the most distinguished generals of the army, and by others less prominent — all of whom, however, were united in treating her with a delicate and even affectionate courtesy, which left her no comfort to be desired but the boon of absolute health. As a deserved and appropriate acknowledgment of the great services which this brave girl had rendered the Union cause, she was, through the efforts of Generals Granger and Gar- field, honored with the commission and rank of a major of cavalry, with full and special permission to wear the equipment and insignia of her new rank. The ^.adies of Nashville, hearing of her promotion, and deeply sensible of the honor thus conferred upon one of their own sex, prepared a costly riding-habit, trimmed in military style, J^O NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIYES. with dainty shoulder-straps, and presented the dress to the gallant major with all the customary honors. Amusing Instance of Rebel Desertion. — After the recent advance of our army upon Bragg at TuUahoma, and his retreat, the Pioneer Brigade pushed on to Elk river to repair a bridge. While one of its men, a private, was bathing in the river, five of Bragg's soldiers, guns in hand, came to the Ijank and took aim at the swimmer, one of them shouting : "Come in here, you Yank, out of the wet!" The Federal was quite sure that he was " done for," and at once obeyed the order. After dressing himself, he was thus accosted : " You surrender, our prisoner, do you ?" " Yes ; of course I do." '* That's kind. Now we'll surrender to you !" And khe five stacked arms before him, their spokesman adding — *' We've done with 'em, and have said to old Bragg, * good-by !' Secesh is played out. Now you surround us and take us into your camp." This was done accordingly, and is but one of hundreds of instances of wholesale desertion coming to the know- ledge of our officers during two months— -July and August — in Lower Tennessee. NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETfcAmVES. 181 KELLER OR KILLDARE, ONK Of THE SCOUTS OF THE ARMY OF THE OUMBX.Ba«aIisi you at your house ; his name was Sanford, and he ivas a great deal thought of by General Van Dorn. So aow we've got you, you, turn your Avagon round and go back.' '' We turned and went to Squire Allison's again, at which place I met Dr. Morton, from Nashville, whom I requested to assist in getting me released. Dr. Morton spoke to the men, who, in reply, said, ' we have orders to arrest him as a spy, for carrying letters to Truesdail's headquarters.' They then turned back to South Har- per creek, and took me up the creek about one mile, where we met about eight more of these scouts and Col onel McNairy, of Nashville, who was riding along in a buggy. The lieuteiiant in command of the squad wrote a despatch to Van Dorn, and gave it to one of the men, by the name of Thompson, who had me in custody, and we then proceeded up the creek to Spring Hill, toward the headquarters of General Van Dorn. About six miles up the creek, Thompson learned I had some whiskey, which I gave him, and of which he drank un- til he got pretty well intoxicated. In the neighborhood of Ivy we stopped until about six o'clock in the evening. About one mile from Ivy the wheel of my carryall broke. A neighbor came to us with an axe and put a pole un- der the axletree, and we proceeded on our way. We had gone but a few hundred yards when the wagon turned over ; we righted it, and Thompson took a car- pet-sack full of goods, filled his pockets, and then told me ' to go to : he would not take me to headquar- ters.' Changing his mind, however, he said he would, as he had orders so to do, and showed me the despatch written by Lieutenant Johnston to General Van Dorn. It read as follows : " 'I have succeeded in capturing Mr. Killdare. Archy Cheatham, of Nashville, says Killdare is not loyal to the Confederacy. The Federals have mounted five hundred light infantry. Sanford's being killed \» confirmed. (Signed) *' * T^uT. Johnston.' i36 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. ^* Thompson, being very drunk, left me, taking the goods he stole. Two citizens came up shortly and told me to turn round, and stop all night at Isaac Ivy's, 1st District, Williamson county. There we took the re- mainder of the goods into the house. At three o'clock in the morning a negro woman came and knocked at the door. . " Mr. Ivy says, * what do you want ?' " 'A soldier is down at the creek, and wants to know where his prisoner is,' was the reply. " ' What has he done with the goods he took from that man ?' " * He has left them at our house, and has just started up the creek as I came up.' " ' That will do. Go on.' " I was awake, and tried to make my escape, asking Mr. Ivy if he had a couple of saddles to loan me. He said he had ; and I borrowed from him seven dollars, as Thompson took all my money (fifty dollars in Georgia currency.) He (Ivy) then told me the route I should take — going a few miles toward Franklin, and then turn toward my home in Nashville. Taking Ivy's advice, we proceeded on our way toward Franklin. About eight miles from Franklin, four guerillas came up to me and fired two pistols. ' Halt !' said they ; ' you want to make your way to the Yankees. We have a notion to kill you, any way.' " They then ordered me to turn, which I did, — two going behind whipping -the mules, and hooting and hallooing at a great rate. We then turned back to Ivy's. When we got there, I said : " Where is Thompson, my guard, who told me to go on ?' "*He was here early this morning, and has gone up the hill hunting you, after borrowing my shot gun,' was the answer. " Some conversation ensued between the parties, when Ivy wrote a note to General Van Dorn and gave it to Thompson. Ivy then gave us our equipage, and we went toward Spring Hill On th<^ way we met, on NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 137 Carter's Creek pike, a camp of four hundred Texan rangers. We arrived at Spring Hill at sundown o** the day following. At Van Dorn's headquarters I asked for an interview with the general, which was not allowed, but was ordered to Columbia to prison until further orders. "On Friday evening, a Nashville soldier who stood sentinel let me out, and said : 'you have no business here.' I made ray way toward Shelbyville ; crossed over Duck creek ; made my way to the Louisburg and Frank- lin pike, and started toward Franklin. Before Ave got to the pickets we took to the woods, and thus got round the pickets. A farmer reported having seen me to the guard, and I was taken again toward Van Dorn's headquarters, six miles distant. I had gone about one mile, when I fell in with Colonel Lewis's command, and was turned over to an orderly sergeant with whom I was acquainted and by whom I was taken to the headquar- ters of Colonel Lewis. There I was discharged from ar- rest, and was told by the colonel what route I should take in order to avoid the scouts. I then started toward Columbia, and thence toward Hillsboro. At Hillsboro I met a friend by the name of Parkham, who guided me within five miles of Franklin, where I ar rived at daylight this morning. On Friday last Col onel Forrest passed through Columbia with his force (three thousand strong), and six pieces of artillery, to Decatur, Alabama. One regiment went to Florence. The whole force under Van Dorn at Spring Hill does not exceed four thousand ; and they are poorly clothed. I understand that the force was moving toward Ten- nessee river, in order to intercept forces that were be- ing ient out by General Grant. "Sam. Killdare." This Archy Cheatham, who it appears had informed upon Killdare, was a government contractor, and pro fessed to be loyal. The manner in which he obtained T>\s information was in this wise. 138 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. One day a genteel, well-dressed young man came to the ^lice office and inquired for Judge Brien, an en*- ployee of the office. The two, it seems, were old ac- quaintances, and for some time maintained a friendly conversation in the presence of Colonel Truesdail. The visitor, whose name was Stewart, having taken hia leave, Brien remarked to the Colonel : " There is a young man who can do us a great deal of good." " Do you know him?" said the colonel. "Very well. He talks right." The result was that Stewart and Colonel Truesdail soon afterward had a private conversation in reference to the matter. Stewart stated that he lived about two miles from the city upon his plantation, that he was intimate with many prominent secessionists, waa regarded as a good Southern man, and could go any- where within the lines of the Confederacy. The col- onel replied that he was in want of just such a man, and that he could be the means of accomplishing great good. It was an office, however, of vast responsibility, and, if he should be employed, he would be required to take a very stringent and solemn oath, which was read to him. To all this Stewart assented, and took the oath, only stipulating that he should never be mentioned as having any connection with the pohce office. He was consequently employed, and told to go to work at once. For a time all seemed well enough. One or two minor cases of smuggling were developed by him. He subse- quently reported that he had become acquainted with the cashier of the Planteis' Bank, and a Mrs. Bradford, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 139 who lived five miles from the city, and made herself very busy in carrying letters, in which she was aided by Cantrell, the cashier. He was also in the habit of meeting large numbers of secessionists, among whom was Archy Cheatham. He also was a member of a club or association which met every Saturday, to devise ways and means for aiding the rebellion, and at which Mrs. Bradford and Cantrell were constant attendants. One day he reported that Mrs. Bradford was just going to carry out what was ostensibly a barrel of flour, but really a barrel of contraband goods covered over with flour at each end. And so it went on from week to week. Somebody was just going to do something, but never did it, or was never detected ; and, despite the many fair promises of Stewart, the results of his labors were not deemed satisfactory. On the night that Killdare came in from his last trip, Stewart was at the office. Something was evidently wrong, and Stewart soon left. To some natural inquirieft of the colonel, Killdare answered, excitedly : " Somebody has nearly ruined me, colonel!" '* How is that, and who can it be ?" " Well, I am sure that it is a man by the name of Stewart and Archy Cheatham who have done the mis- chief. Cheatham has been out in the country some fourteen miles, and there he met Lieutenant Johnston, whom he told that I was disloyal to the Confederacy, and one of your spies. The result was that I was arrested, and came near — alto";ether too near hanffinu for comfort. Johnson telegraphed to Van Dom that he had caught me, but I got away ; and to make a long 140 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Btorj short, I have been arrested and have escaped three times." This oiDened the colonel's eyes somewhat, and inqui- ries were at once set on foot, which disclosed the fact that Stewart was a rebel of the deejiest dye, and had been " playing off" all the time. It was found that he had not only informed Cheatham of Killdare's business and position, but had himself been out in the country some fourteen miles, and had told the neighbors that Killdare had gone south in Truesdail's employ. He told the same thing to two guerillas whom he met, and even taunted Killdare's children by saying that he knew where their father had gone. The colonel, for once, had been thoroughly deceived by appearances ; but it was the first and last time. After a month or six weeks' search, Stewart was found and committed to the peniten- tiary; and before he leaves that institution it is by no means improbable that he will have ample time and opportunity to conclude that his operations, though sharp and skilful, were not of the most profitable character. A Fighting Parson. — Colonel Granville Moody, of the Seventy-fourth Ohio, is a famous Methodist preacher from Cincinnati. He is something over fifty, six feet and two or three inches, of imposing presence, with a fine, genial face and prodigious vocal range. The reverend colonel, who proved himself a fighting parson of the first water, was hit four times at the battle of Murfreesboro, and will carry the marks of battle when he goes back to the altar. His benevolence justifies his military flock NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS. AND DETECTIVES. 141 in the indulgence of sly humor at his expense ; but he never permits them to disturb his equanimity. Several battle anecdotes of him arc well authenticated. Not long agO; General Negley merrily accused him of using heterodox expletives in the ardor of conflict. " Is it a f\ict, colonel," inquired the general, '* that you told the boys to ' give 'em hell' ?" ^* How ?" replied the colonel, reproachfully : *' that's Bome more of the boys' mischief. I told them to give the rebels ' Hail Columbia ;' and they have perverted my language." The parson, however, had a sly twinkle in the corner of his eye, which left his hearers in considerable doubt. Our Western circuit preachers are known as stentors. Where others are emphatic, they roar in the fervor of exhortation, especially when they, come in with their huge "Amen." This fact must be bome in mind to appreciate the story. The colonel's mind was saturated with piety and fight. He had already had one bout with the rebels, and given them " Hail Columbia.'* They were renewing the attack. The colonel braced himself for the shock. Seeing his line in fine order, he thought he would exhort them briefly. The rebels were coming swiftly. Glancing first at the foe, then at the lads, he said, quietly, " Now, my boys, fight for your country and your God," and, raising his voice to thunder-tones, he exclaimed, in the same breath, " Aim low !" Says one of his gallant fellows, " I thought for an instant it was a frenzied ejaculation from the profoundest depths of the * Amen corner.' " Any day now you may hear the lads of bhe Seventy-fourth roaring, " Fight for your country and your God — aim low !" i42 NARRATIYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. A DARING SCOUT AND SPY. Among the Union men and officers in our annies, none have been more earnest in their patriotism, or more ready to do and dare every thing for the Union cause, than some of the citizens and natives of Southern States. To be a Union man in the Southern Atlantic or Gulf States, meant, unless the man's social position was of the very highest, to be a martyr ; to be robbed, persecuted, stripped of all the comforts of life, deprived of a home, and often to be conscripted, imprisoned, shot, hung, or to suffer a thousand deaths in the tortures and indignities inflicted on his helpless family. Yet, with all this before them, many Southern men dared to be true to their allegiance to the National Government, and to enter its service. As was to be expected, these men proved the most serviceable and fearless of the Union scouts and spies. Their familiarity with the country was of great service to them, and the remembrance of the wrongs they had endured fired them with an energy and zeal, and a desire to punish the foe, which rendered them invaluable. Among the men of this class who have rendered most efficient service to the national cause, was a young Georgian, born of Scotch parents, near Augusta, Georgia, in the year 1832. His real name was concealed, in consequence of the peril which would have accrued to his relatives, had it been known ; but he was known to some extent in the Union anny as John Morford. A blacksmith by trade, he early engaged in railrDad w^ork, and at the opening of the war was master mechanic upon one of the Southern railroads. NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 143 He wa« a decided Union man, and made no secret of his opinions, and was in consequence discharged from his situation, and not allowed employment upon any other railroad. Morgan's cavalry was also sent to his farm, and stripped it; and when he applied to the guerilla leader for pay for the property thus taken, he was told he should have it if he would only prove his loyalty to the South. As he would not do this, Morgan cursed and abused him, threatened to have him shot, and iinally sent him under arrest to one Major Peyton. The major endeavored, but without any success, to convince him that the cause of the South was right; but Morford proving firm to his Union sentiments, he began to threaten him, declaring that he should be hung within t\vo weeks. Morford coolly replied that he was sorry for that, as he should have preferred to live a little longer, but if it must be so, he couldn't help it. Find- ing him uiiterrified, Peyton cooled down, and finally told him that if he would give a bond of one thousand dollars, as security for his good behavior, and take the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, he would release him and protect his property. After some hesi- tation — no other plan of escape occurring to him — Mor- ford assented, and took the required oath, upon the back of which Peyton wrote, " If you violate this, I will hang you." "With this safeguard, Morfoid returned to his farm and lived a quiet life. Buying a span of horses, he devoted himself to the cultivation of his land, seeing as few per- sons as he could, and talking with none. His house had previously been the headquarters of the Union men, but was now deserted by them ; and its owner endeavored 144 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND D^fECTIVES. tx) live up to the letter of the obligation he had taken. For a short time all went well enough ; but one day a Bquad of cavalry came with a special wriicen order from Major Peyton to take his two horses, which they did. This was too much for human nature; and Morford, perceiving that no faith could be placed in the assur- ances of those in command, determined to be revenged upon them and their cause. His house again became a secret rendezvous for Unionists ; and by trusty agents he managed to send regular and valuable information to General Buell — then in command in Tennessee. At length, however, in May, 1862, he was betrayed by one in whom he had placed confidence, and arrested upon the charge of sending information to General Crittenden, at Battle Creek. He indignantly deiiied the charge, and declared that he could easily prove himself inno- cent if released for that purpose. After three days' con- finement, this was assented to ; and Morford, knowing full well that he could not do what he had promised, made a hasty retreat and fled to the mountains, whence, some days afterward, he emerged, and went to McMinn- ville, at which place General Nelson was then in com- mand. Here he remained until the rebel force left that vicinity, when he again went home, and lived undis- turbed upon his farm until Bragg returned with his army. The presence in the neighborhood of so many officers cognizant of his former arrest and escape ren- dered flight a second time necessary. He now went to the camp of General Donelson, with whom he had some acquaintance, and soon became very friendly there — %cting the while in the double capacity of beef contractor NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Li 5 for the rebel army, and spy for General Crittenden. Leaving Genera,l Donelscn after some months' stay, altliough earnestly requested to remain longer, Morford next found his way to Nashville, where he made numer- ous expeditions as a spy for General Negley. Buell was at Louisville, and Nashville was then the Federal out- post. Morford travelled about very readily upon passes given him by General Donelson, making several trips to Murfreesboro, and one to Cumberland Gap. Ui>on his return from the latter, he was arrested near Lebanon, Tennessee, about one o'clock at night, by a party of four soldiers upon picket duty at that point Halting him, the following conversation occurred : " Where do you live ?" " Near Stewart's Ferry, between here and Nashville.** " Where have you been, and what for?" " Up to see my brother, to get from him some jeans cloth and socks for another brother in the Confederate army." " How does it happen you are not in the army your- self? That looks rather suspicious." "Oh, I live too near the Federal lines to be conscripted.'* " Well, we'll have to send you to Murfreesboro. 1 reckon you're all right ; but those are our orders, and we can't go behind them." To this Morford readily consented, saying he had no objection; and the party sat down by the fire and talked in a friendly manner for some time. Morford soon re- membered that he had a bottle of brandy with him, and generously treated the crowd. Further conversation was followed by a second drink, and soon by a third. One of the party now proposed to exchange his Rosinantr 10 146 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. ish mare for a fine horse which Morford rode. Tlie latter was not inclined to trade ; but objection was use* less, and he finally yielded, receiving seventy-five dollars in Confederate money and the mare. The trade pleased the soldier, and a present of a pair of socks still farther enhanced his pleasure. His companions were also simi- larly favored, and testified their appreciation of the gift by endeavoring to purchase the balance of Morford's stock. He would not sell, however, as he wished to send them to his brother at Richmond, by a person who had given public notice that he was soon going there. A fourth drink made all supremely happy : at which juncture their prisoner asked permission to go to a friend's house, only a quarter of a mile ofi", and stay until morning, when he would go with them to Murfrees- boro. His friend of the horse-trade, now very mellow, thought he need not go to Murfreesboro at all, and said he would see what the others said about it. Finally it was concluded that he was " right," and might; where- upon he mounted the skeleton mare and rode rejoicingly into Nashville. On his next trip southward he was arrested by Colonel John T. Morgan, just as he came out of the Federal lines, and, as his only resort, joined Forrest's command, and was furnished with a horse and gun. The next day Forrest made a speech to his men, and told them that they were now going to capture Nashville. The column immediately began its march, and Morford, by some means, managed to have himself placed in the advance. Two miles below Lavergne a halt for the night was made ; but Morford's horse was unruly, and could not t»e stopped, carrying its rider ahead and out of sight. It NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 147 is needless to say that fhis obstinacy was not overcome until Nashville was reached, nor that, when Forrest came the next day, General Negley was amply prepared for him. At this time Nashville was invested. Buell was known to be advancing toward the city, but no scouts had been able to go to or come from him. A handsome reward was offered to any one who would carry a despatch safely through to Bowling Green, and Morford undertook to do it. Putting the document under the lining of his boot, he started for Gallatin, where he arrived safely. For some hours he sauntered around the place, lounged in and out of bar rooms, made friends with the rebel soldiers, and toward evening purchased a small bag of corn meal, a bottle of whiskey, a pound or two of salt, and some smaller articles, which he threw across his shoulder and started up the Louisville road, with hat on one side, hair in admirable disorder, and, apj^)arently, gloriously drunk. The pickets jested at and made sport of him, but permitted him to pass. The meal, etc., was car- ried six miles, when he suddenly became sober, dropped it, and hastened on to Bowling Green, and there met General Rosecrans, who had just arrived. His information waa ver}^ valuable. Here he remained until the army came up and passed on, and then set out on his return on foot, as he had come. He supposed that our forces had gone by way of Gallatin, but when near that place learned that it waa still in possession of the rebels, and so stopped for the night in a shanty between Morgan's pickets, on the north side, and Woolford's (Union), on the south side. During the night the two had a fight, which finally centered around the shanty, and resulted in driving Morford to the woods. Tu two or three hours he came 148 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. back for his clothes, and found that the contending parties had disappeared, and that the railroad tunnels had been filled with wood and fired. Hastily gathering his effects together, he made his way to Tyree Springs, and thence to Nashville. For a short time he acted as a detective of the army police at Nashville, assuming the character of a rebel soldier, and living in the families of prominent secession- ists. In this work he was very successful ; but it had too little of danger and adventure, and he returned again to scoT^ting, making several trips southward, sometimes without trouble, but once or twice being arrested and escaping as best he could. In these expeditions he visited McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Altamont, on the Cumberland mountains, Bridgeport. Chattanooga, and other places of smaller note. He travelled usually in the guise of a smuggler, actually obtaining orders for goods from j)rominent rebels, and sometimes the money in advance, filling them in Nashville, and delivering the articles upon his next trip. Just before the battle of Stone river, he received a large order to be filled for the rebel hospitals ; went to Nashville, procured the medicine, and returned to McMinnville, where he delivered some of it. Thence he travelled to Brad^^ville, and thence to Murfreesboro, arriving there just as the battle began. Presenting some of the surgeons with a supply of mor- phine, he assisted them in attending the wounded for a day or two, and then went to a hospital tent in the woods near the raili'oad, where he also remained one day and part of another. The fight was now getting hot, and, fearful that somebody would recognize him, he ^ft Murfreesboro on Friday, and went to McMinnville. NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTI\T:S. H9 He had been there but little more than an hour, having barely time to put up his horse and step into a house near by to see some wounded men, when two soldiers arrived in search of him. Their description of him was perfect; but he escaped by being out of sight — the friend with whom he was supposed to be, declaring, though closely questioned, that he had not seen and knew nothing of him. In a few minutes pickets were thrown out around the town, and it was two days before he could get away. Obtaining a pass to Chattanooga at last, only through the inHuenco of a lady acquaintance, with it he passed the guards ; but when once out of sight, turned off from the Chattanooga road and made his way safely to Nashville. General Rosecrans was now in possession of Murfrees- boro, and thither Morford proceeded with some smuggler's goods, with a view to another trip. The necessary per- mission was readily obtained, and he set out for Wood- bury. Leaving his wagon outside the rebel lines, he proceeded on foot to McMinnville, arriving there on the 19th of January 1863, and finding General John H. Morgan, to whom he represented himself as a former resident in the vicinity of Woodbury ; his family, how- ever, had moved away, and he would like permission to take his wagon and bring away the household goods. This was granted, and the wagon brought to McMinn- ville, whence Morford went to Chattanooga, representing himself along the road as a fugitive from the Yankees. Near Chattanooga he began selling his goods to Union ists and rebels alike, at enormous prices, and soon closed them out at a profit of from four hundred to five hund -ed dollans. At Chattanooga he remained a few 150 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. days, obtained all the information he could, and returned to Murfreesboro without trouble. His next and last trip is the most interesting and daring of all his adventures. Making a few days' stay in Murfreesboro, he went to McMinnville, and remained there several days, during which time he burned Hickory Creek bridge, and sent a report of it to General Rosecrans. This he managed with so much secrecy and skill as to escape all suspicion of complicity in the work, mingling freely with the citizens and talking the matter over in all its phases. From McMinnville Morford proceeded to Chattanooga, and remained there nearly a week, when he learned that three of our scouts were imprisoned in the Hamilton county jail, at Harrison, Tennessee, and were to be shot on the first Friday in May. Determined to attempt their rescue, he sent a Union man to the town to ascertain who was jailer, what the number of the guards, how they were placed, and inquire into the condition of things in general about the jail. Upon receipt of his report, Morford gathered about him nine Union men, on the night of Tuesday, April 21, 1863, and started for Harrison. Before reaching the place, however, they heard rumors that the guard had been greatly strengthened ; and, fearful that it would prove too powerful for them, the party retreated to the mountains on the north side of the Tennessee river, where they remained concealed until Thursdaj^ night. On Wednesday night the same man who had previously gone to the town was again sent to reconnoitre the position. Thursday morning he returned and said that the story of a strong guard was all false : there were but two in addition to the jailer NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 151 Morford's part} was now reduced to six, including himself; but he resolved to make the attempt that night. Late in the afternoon all went down to the river and loitered around until dark, when they procured boata and crossed to the opposite bank. Taking the Chattanooga and Harrison road, they entered the town, looked around at leisure, saw no soldiers nor any thing unusual, and proceeded toward the jail. Approaching quite near, they threw themselves upon the ground and sur- veyed the premises carefully. The jail was surrounded by a high board fence, in which were two gates. Morford's plan of operations was quickly arranged. Making a prisoner of one ol his own men, he entered the enclosure, posting a sentinel at each gate. Once inside, a light was visible in the jail, and Morford marched confidently up to the door and rapped. The jailer thrust his head out of a window and asked what was wanted. He was told, " Here is a prisoner to put in the jail." Apparently satisfied, the jailer soon opened the door and admitted the twain into the entry. In a moment, however, he became alarmed, and hastily ex- claiming, " Hold on !" stepped out. For ten minutes Morford waited patiently for his return, supposing, of course, that he could not escape from the yard, both gates being guarded. Not making his appearance, it was found that the pickets had allowed him to pass them. This rather alarming fact made haste necessary, and Morford, returning to the jail, said he must put his prisoner in immediately, and demanded the keys forthwith. The women declared in positive terms that they hadn't them, and did not know where they were. One of the guards was discovered in bed 152 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. and told to get the keys. Proving rather noisy and Baucy, he was reminded that he might get his head taken off if he were not quiet — which intimation effectually silenced him. Morford again demanded the keys, and the women, somewhat frightened, gave him the key to the outside door. Unlocking it, and lighting up the place with candles, he found himself in a room around the sides of which was ranged a line of wrought- iron cages. In one of these were five persons, four white and one negro. Carrying out the character he had assumed of a rebel soldier in charge of a prisoner, Morford talked harshly enough to the caged men, and threatened to hang them at once, at which they were very naturally alarmed, and began to beg for mercy. For a third time the keys to the inner room, in which the scouts were, were demanded, and a third time the women denied having them. An axe was then ordered to be brought, but there was none about the place : so said they. Morford saw that they were trifling with him, and determined to stop it. Snatching one of the jailer's boys standing near by the collar, and draw- ing his sabre, he told him he would cut his head off if he did not bring him an axe in two minutes. This had the desired effect, and the axe was forthcoming. . Morford now began cutting away at the lock, when he was startled by hearing the word " halt !" at the gate. Of his five men two were at the gates, two were inside as a guard, and one was holding the light. Ready for a fight he went out to see what was the matter. The sentinel reporting that he had halted an armed man outside, Morford walked out to him and demanded : " What are you doing here with that gun?" NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 153 " Miss Laura said you were breaking down the jail, and I want to see McAllister, the jailer. Where is he?" was the reply. " Well, suppose I am breaking down the jail : what are you going to do about it ?" '' I am going to stop it if I can." " What's your name ?" " Lowry Johnson." By this time Morford had grasped the muzzle of the gun, and told him to let go. Instead of complying, Johnson tried to pull it away ; but a blow upon the neck from Morford's sabre soon made him drop it. Morford now began to search him for other weapons, but before he had concluded the operation Johnson broke away, leaving a part of his clothing in Morford's hands. The latter drew his revolver and pursued, firing five shots at him, sometimes at a distance of only six or eight paces. A cry, as of pain, showed that he was struck, but he managed to reach the hotel (kept by his brother), and, bursting in the door, which was fastened, escaped into the house. Morford followed, but too late. Johnson's brother now came out and rang the bell in front, which gathered a crowd about the door ; but Morford, not at all daunted, told them that if they wanted to guard the jail they had better be about it quick, as he was going to burn it and the town in the bargain. This so fright- ened them that no further demonstration was maae, and Morford returned to the jail unmolested. There he and his men made so much shouting and hurrahing as to frighten the people of the town beyond measure ; and many lights from upper story windows were extin- guished, and the streets were deserted. 154 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. A half hour's work was necessary to break off the out- side lock — a splendid burglar-proof one. Morford now discovered that the door was double, and that the inner one was made still more secure by being barred with three heavy log chains. These were cut in two with the axe ; but the strong lock of the door still remained. He again demanded the ke}^ and told the women if it was not produced he would murder the whole of them. The rebel guard, Lew. Luttrell by name, was still in bed. Rising up, he said that the key was not there. Morford now ordered Luttrell to get out of bed, in a tone so authoritative that that individual deemed it advisable tc comply. Scarcely was he out, however, before Morford struck at him with his sabre ; but he was too far off, and the blow fell upon one of the children, drawing some blood. This frightened the women, and, concluding that he was about to put his threat in execution and would murder them surely enough, they produced' the key without further words. No time was lost in unlock- ing the door and releasing the inmates of the room. Procuring their clothes for them, and arming one with Johnson's gun, the whole party left the jail and hurried ,oward the river. Among the released prisoners was a •'ebel with a wooden leg, the original having been shot ff at Manassas. He persisted in accompanying the ^thers, and was only induced to go back by the intima- tion that " dead men tell no tales." Crossing the river in the boats, they were moved to another place at some distance, to preclude the possibil- ity of being tracked and followed. All now hid them- selves among the mountains, and the same Union man was again sent to Harrison, this time to see how severely NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 155 Jolinson was wounded. He returned in a day or two, and reported that he had a severe sabre cut on the shoulder, a bullet through the muscle of his right arm, and two slight wounds in one of his hands. Morford and his men remained in the mountains until all search for the prisoners was over, then went to the Cumberland mountains, where they remained one day and a portion of another, and then proceeded in the direction of McMinnville. Hiding themselves in the woods near this place during the day, seeing but not seen, they travelled that night to within eleven miles of Woodbury, when they struck across the road from McMin^iville to Woodbury. Near Logan's Plains they were fired on by a body of rebel cavalry, but, though some forty shots were fired, no one of the ten was harmed, Morford hav- ing one bullet hole in his coat. The cavalry, however, pursued them across the barrens, surrounded them, and supposed themselves sure of their game : but Morford and his companions scattered and hid away, not one being captured or found. Night coming on, the cavalry gave up the chase, and went on to Woodbury, where they threw out pickets, not doubting that they would pick up the objects of their search during the night. Morford, however, was informed of this fact by a citizen, and, in consequence, lay concealed all the next day, making his way safely to Murfreesboro, with all of his company, the day after. General Palmer and the Hog. — Early one morning in 1862, while at Farmington, near Corinth, Mississippi, as Brigadier- (now Major-) General Palmer was riding 156 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. along his linos to inspect some breastworks that had been thrown up during the previous niglit, he came suddenly upon some of the boys of Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, who had just shot a two-hundred-pound hog, and were engaged in the interesting process of skinning it. The soldiers were startled ; their chief looked astonished and sorrowful. " Ah ! a body — a corpse. Some poor fellow gone to his last home. "Well, he must be buried with military honors. Sergeant, call the officer of the guard." The officer was speedily at hand, and received orders to have a grave dug and the body buried forthwith. The grave was soon prepared, and then the company were mustered. Pall-bearers placed the body of the dead upon a stretcher. The order was given to march, and, with reversed arms and funeral tread, the solemn procession of sixty men followed the body to the grave. Not a word passed nor a muscle of the face stirred while the last rites of sepulture were being performed. The ceremony over, the general and his staff waved their adieux, and were soon lost in the distance. The philosophy of the soldier is usually equal to the emergency. He has read and pondered. He new painfully realizes that flesh is as grass, and that life is but a shadow. But he thinks of the resurrection, and his gloom passes away. So with the philosophic boys of Company I, Twenty-seventh Illinois. Ere their general was fairly seated at his own breakfast-table, there was a raising of the dead, and savory pork steaks were frying in many a camp pan. NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 157 SCOUTING IN EAST TENNESSEE. Edmund Kirke (Mr. J. R Gilmore), who has ex- plored extensively the regions desoLated by the war, thus narrates one )f the adventures of a Union East Tennessean, who had been acting as a scout for General Rosecrans, in his little volume " Down in Tennessee :" I was dreaming of home, and of certain flaxen-haired juveniles who are accustomed to call me "Mister Papa," when a heavy hand was laid on my shoulder, and a grujBf voice said : " Doan't want ter 'sturb yer, stranger, but thar hahit nary nother sittin'-place in the whole kear." I drew in my extremities, and he seated himself before me. He was a spare, muscular man of about forty, a little above the medium height, with thick, sandy hair and beard, and a full, clear, gray eye. There was nothing about him to attract particular attention except his clothing, but that was so out of all keeping with the place and the occasion, that I opened liiy eyes to their fullest extent, and scanned him from head to foot He wore the gray uniform of a secession officer, and in the breast of his coat, right over his heart, was a round hole, scorched at the edges, and darkly stained with blood! Over his shoulder was slung a large army revolver, and at his side, in a leathern sheath, hung a weapon that seemed a sort of cross between a bowie- knife and a butcher's cleaver. On his head, surmounted by a black pUime, was a moose-colored slouched hat. lob NARRATIVKS OK Sl^IES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. and falling from beneath it, and tied under liis chin, was a white cotton handkerchief stiffly saturated with blood! Nine motley-clad natives, all heavily armed, had entered with him and taken the vacant seats around me, and at first view I was inclined to believe that in my sleep the .train had gone over to the enemy and left me in the hands of the Philistines. I was, however quickly reassured, for, looking about, I discovered the Union guard and my fellow-travellers all in their pre- vious places, and as unconcerned as if no unusual thing had happened. Still, it seemed singular that no officer had the new-comer in charge ; and more singular that any one in the uniform he wore should be allowed to carry arms so freely about him. After awhile, having gleaned all the knowledge of him that my eyes could obtain, I said in a pleasant tone : •' Well, my friend, you appear to take thinga rather coolly." '' Oh, yes, sir ! I orter. I've been mighty hard put, but I reckon I'm good fur a nother pull now." " Where are you from ?" "Fentress county, nigh outer Jimtown (Jamestown), ['m scoutin' it fur Burnside — runnin' boys inter camp ; but these fellers wanted ter jine Gunnel Brownlow — the old parson's son — down ter Triune. We put plumb fur Nashville, but hed ter turn norard, case the brush down thar ar thick with rebs. They'd like ter a hed us." "Oh, then you wear that uniform as a disguise on scouting expeditions ?" " No, sir ; I never hed sech a rig on afore. I allera shows the true flag, an' thar haint no risk, 'case, ye see, the whole deestrict down thar ar Union folks, an' ary T«-ARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. one on 'em would house'n me ef call Buckner's array wus at my heels. But this time they run me powerful close, an' I lied to show the secesh rags." As he said this, he looked down on his clean, unworn suit of coarse ^ray with ineffable contempt- , " And how could you manage to live with such a hole there ?" I asked, pointing to the bullet rent in his coat. " Oh ! I warn't inside of 'em just then, though I war- rant me he war a likely feller thet war. I ortent ter a done hit — but I hed ter. This war he ;" and taking from his side pocket a small miniature, he handed it to me. It was a plain circlet of gold, attached to. a piece of blue ribbon. One side of the rim was slightly clipped, as if it had been grazed by the passing ball, and the upper portion of the ivory was darkly stained with blood; but enough of it was unobscured to show me the features of a young man, with dark, flowing hair, and a full, frank, manly face. With a feeling akin to horror I was handing the picture back to the scout, when, in low, stammering tones, he said to me : " 'Tother side, sir ! Luk at 'tother side." I turned it over, and saw the portrait of a young woman, scarcely more than seventeen. She had a clear, transparent skin, regular, oval features, full, swimming, black eyes, and what must have been dark, wavy, brown hair, but changed then to a deep auburn by the red stains that tinged the upper part of the picture. With intense loathing, I turned almost fiercely on the scout, and exclaimed : " And you killed that man ?" " Yes, sir, God forgiv me — I done hit. But I couldn't holp hit. He hed me down — he'd cut me thar," turning up his sleeve, and displaying a deep wound on his aim; 160 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AXD DETECTIVES. " au' tliar !" removing the bandage, and showing a long gash back of his ear. '' His arm wiis riz tcr strike agin —in another minhit he'd hev cluv my brain. I seed hit, sir, an' I fired ! God forgiv me, I fired ! I wouldn't a done hit ef I'd a knowed thet," and he locked down on the face of the sweet young girl, and the moisture came into his eyes : " I'd hev shot 'im somewhar but yere — Bomewhar but yere!'' and laying his hand over the rent in his coat, he groaned as if he felt the wound. With that blood-stained miniature in my hand, and listening to the broken words of that ignorant scout, I realized the horrible barbarity of war. After a pause of some minutes, he resumed the con- versation. " They killed one on our bo^^s, sir." "Did they! How was it?" " AYal, sir, ye see they b'long round the Big Fork, in Scott county; and bein's I war down thar, an' they know'd I war a runnin' recruits over the mountins ter Bumside, they telled me they wanted me ter holp 'em git 'long with the young cunnel. They'd ruther a no- tion ter him — an' he ar a feller thet haint grow'd every- whar — 'sides all the folks down thar swar by the old parson." " Well, they ought to, for he's a trump," I remarked, good-humoredly, to set the native more at his ease. " Ye kin bet high on thet ; he haint nothin' else," he replied, leaning forward and regarding me with a pleased, kindly expression. " Every un down my way used ter take his paper; thet an' the Bible war all they ever seed, an' they reckoned one war 'bout so good as 'tother. Wall, the boys thort I could git 'em through — an' bein's NARRATIVES OF SPIES XOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. IGl it made no odds to me ichar they jined, so long as they did jine, I 'greed ter du hit. We put out ten days, yisterday — twelve on 'em, an' me — an' struck plumb for Nashville. We lay close daytimes, 'case, though every lious'n ar Union, the kcntry is swarmin' with Buckner's men, an' we know'd they'd let slide on us jest so soon as they could draw a bead. We got 'long right smart till we fotched the Roaring river, nigh onter Livingston We'd 'quired, an' hedn't heerd uv ary rebs bein' round ; so, foolhardy like, thet evenm' we tuk ter the road 'fore hit war clar dark. We hedn't gone more'n a mile till we come slap onter 'bout eighty secesh calvary. We skedaddled fur the timber, powerful sudden ; but they war over the fence an' on us 'fore we got well under cover. 'Bout thirty on 'em slid thar nags, an' come at us in the brush. I seed twarn't no use runnin' ; so 1 yelled out : ' Stand yer ground, boys, an' sell yer lives jest so high as ye kin !' Wall, we went at hit ter close quarters — hand ter hand, an' fut ter fut — an' ye'd better b'lieve thar war some tall fightin' thar fur 'bout ten minhits. Our boys fit like fien's — thet Uttle chunk uv A feller thar," pointing to a slim, pale-faced youth, not more than seventeen, " laid out three on 'em. I'd done up two myself, when the cap'n come onter me — but, Tve telled ye 'bout him ;" and drawing a long breath, he put the miniature back in his pocket. After a short pause, he continued : " When they seed the cap'n war done fur, they fell back a piece — them as war left on 'em — ter the edge uv the timber, an' hollered fur tuthers ter come on. Thet guv us time ter load up — we'd fit arter the fust fire wuth knives — an' we blazed i iter 'em. Jest as we done 11 162 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. hit, I heer'd some more calvary comiii' up the road, an* I war jest tellin' the boys we'd hev ter make tracks, when the new fellers sprung the fence, an' come plumb at the secesh on a dead run. Thar warn't only thirty on 'em, yit the rebs didn't so much as make a stand, bui skedaddled as ef old Rosey himself lied been arter 'em.** ''And who were the new comers?" " Some on Tinker Beaty's men. They'd heerd the tirin' nigh two mile off, an' come up, suspicionin' how things wus." "■ Bvit, are there Union bands there ? I thought East Tennessee was overrun with rebel troops." "Wall, hit ar; but thar's a small chance uv Union goorillas in Fentress an' Overton county. They hide in the mountins, an' light dow^n on the rebs, now an' then, like death on a sick parson. Thar is places in them deestricts thet a hundred men kin hold agin ten thousand They know 'em all, 'case they wus raised thar, an' they know every bridle path through the woods, so it's well nigh unpossible ter kotch 'em. I reckon thar's a hundred on 'em, all mounted, an' bein' as they haint no tents, nor wagins, nor camp fixin's, they git round mighty spry. Thar scouts is allers on the move, an' wharever thar's a showin', they pounce down on the rebs, cuttin' 'em ter pieces. Thet's the how they git powder an' pro- visions. They never trouble peaceable folk, an' haint no sort o' 'spense ter guverment ; but they does a heap uv damage ter the secesh." " Well, they did you a 'powerful' good turn." "They did thet; but we lost one on our boys. He war only sixteen — brother ter thet fell 3r thar," pointing •o a young man sitting opposite. * They hung his NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 163 father, an' now — tliey's killed iiim," and he drew a deep sisch. " Why did they hang his father?" " Wall, ye see, they kunscripted h im — he war over age, but they don't mind thet — an' he desarted, meanin' ter git ter the Union lines. They kotched him in the woods, an' hung him right up ter a tree." " Was only one of your men hurt ?" "Yes, two on 'em wus wounded too bad ter come wuth as. The calvary toted 'em off ter the mountins, an' I reckon they'll jine 'em when they gits round. But we left elevin uv the rebs dead on the ground." " Did your men kill so many ? The cavalry had a hand in that, I suppose ?" " Yes, they killed two — thet's all. They couldn't gii at 'em, they run so. We done the rest." " You must have fought like tigers. How many were wounded ?" '^ Nary one ; what wan't dead the boys finished." "You don't mean to say that your men killed the wounded after the fight?'' " I reckon they did — some four on 'em." " My friend, that's nothing but murder I had hoped the rebels did all of that work." " Wall, they does — anuff on hit ; an' I never could bring my mind ter think it war right oi human : but I e'pose thet's case I never hed a father hung, or a sister ravig'd, or a old mother shot down in har bed. Them things, you knows, makes a difference." "And have any of your men suffered in such ways?" " In sech ways ? Thar haint one on 'em but kin tell you things 'ud turn yer ^lood ter ice D'ye see thet fel- 1G4 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. ler tliar?" pointing to a thin, sallow faced man, two seata in our rear. " Not two months gone, some twenty rebs come ter his house while he war lay in' out in the woods, an' toted his wife — as young an' purty a 'oman as yer own sister — off 'bout a mile, an' thar tuk thar will uv her — all on 'em ! She made out ter crawl home, but it killed har. He warn't wuth liar when she died, an' hit wus well he warn't, fur he'd hev gone clean crazy ef he hed been. He's mor'n half tliet now — crazy fur blood ! An' kin ye blame him ? Kin ye 'spect a man thet's hed sech things done ter him ter show quarter? 'Taint in natur' ter do hit. All these boys lies hed jest sich, an' things like hit ; an' they go in ter kill or be kilt. They doan't ax no marcy, an' they doan't show none. Nigh twenty thousand on 'em is in Burnside's an' old Rosey'a army, an' ye kin ax them if they doan't fight like devils. The iron has entered thar souls, sir. They feel they's doin' God sarvice — an' they is — when they does fur a secesh. An' when this war ar over — ef it ever ar over — thar'll be sech a reckonin' wuth the rebs uv East Tennessee as creation never know'd on afore. Thar wont be one on 'em left this side uv hell !" This was said with a vehemence that startled me. His eyes actually blazed, and every hne on his seamed face quivered with passion. To change the subject, I asked: " And what did you do after the fight ?" " Not knowin' what moight happen, we swapped does with sech uv the rebs as hed gray 'uns, an' put North — plumb fur the mountins. Nigh outer Meigsville we come outer a Union man, who holped us ter cut some timber an' make a raft — fur we 'lowed the secesh would track us wuth houns, an' ter throw 'em off the scent w© NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 165 hed ter take tor the water. We got inter Obey's Fork, an' tloated down ter the Cumberland ; hidin' in the bushea in the daytime, an' floatin' at night. We got nigh onter Carthage, an' knowin' the river wan't safe no longer, .. j left hit an' struck 'cross fir the railroad. Thet kentry ar full uv rebs, but hevin' the secesh does on, we made out ter git 'nuflf ter eat till we got yere." BIBLE SMITH, THE EAST TENNESSEE SCOUT AND SPY. No troops in the Union service were more thoroughly patriotic than the Union men of East Tennessee. Mostly of Scotch Irish stock, and often imbued with the most profound and earnest religious sentiment, they united the earnest puritanism of Cromwell's Ironsides to the skill, tact, and daring of the pioneers of the border. These qualities, added to their thorough knowledge of the coun- try, and its inhabitants, and a sort of free masonry which prevailed among the hunted and persecuted Union men of the region made them invaluable as scouts and spies. Among them all none perhaps acquired more renown or accomplishe(^ more for the benefit of the Union armies of the Cumberland and the Ohio, in their great work of putting down the rebellion, than William Jehosaphat Smith, better known throughout East Tennessee as Bible Smith from his Scriptural middle name. Smith was one of the middle class of farmers of that mountain region ; and had had very little education ; hi^ wife, who, as was 166 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. often the case with the class to Avhich she belonged, wda of sojnewhat higher social position than her husband, and better educated, had taught him to read. He was a man of very strong affections, and was deeply attached to his wife, whom he regarded as almost a superior being. Next to her his most ardent love was bestowed on the flag of his country. For it and the cause it represented he would dare any thing and every thing. Mr. J. R. Gilmore (" Edmund Kirke") gives an admirable history of Smith's experiences in connection with the war and as a scout, from which we quote the following: Seated after dinner on the piazza of the hospitable Southern lady, Bible told me his story. He had been stripped of all his property, his wife and children had been driven from their home, his house had been burned to the ground, and he himself hunted through the woods like a wild beast, because he had re- mained true to what he called democratic principles — " free schools, free speech, free thought, and free a'r fur all o' God's critters." The world went well with him till the breaking out of the rebellion. That event found him the owner of fifteen likely negroes, a fine plantation of nine hundred and thirty acres, and a comfortable frame dwelling and out-buildings. His elder daughter had married a young farmer of the district, and his younger — little Sally, whom I remembered as a rosy-cheeked, meek-eyed, wee 'thing of only seven years — had grown up a woman. In the spring of 1861, when there were no Union troops south of the Ohio, and the secession fever was ragmg furiously all over his county he organized one NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. l67 hundred and six of his noighbors into a ooiiipany of Home Guards, and was elected their captain. They were pledged to resist all attacks on the person or prop- erty of any of their number, and met frequently in the woods in the vicinity of their homes. This organization secured Bible safety and free expression of opinion till long after Tennessee went out of the Union. In fact, he felt so secure that, in 1862 — a year after the State seceded — under the protection of his band of Home Guards, he inaugurated and carried through a celebratiot of the fourth of July at Richmond, Tennessee, under the very guns of a rebel regiment then forming in the town. An act of so much temerity naturally attracted the attention of the Confederate authorities, and not long afterward he was roused from his bed one morning, before daybreak, by three hundred armed men, who told him that he was a prisoner, and that all his property was confiscated to the Government. They at once enforced the " confiscation act;" "and this," he said, taking from his wallet a piece of soiled paper, " ar' whot I hed ter 'tribute ter the dingnation consarn. It'r Sally's own handwrite, an' T knows ye loikes har, so ye kin hev it, fur it'll nuver be uv no manner uv account ter me." The schedule is now before me, and I copy it verbatim : '*14 men and wimmin" (Jake eluded the soldiers and escaped to the woods), "1600 barrils corn, 130 sheeps, 700 bushls wheat, 440 barley, 100 rye, 27 mules, 5 eow- brutes, 105 head hogs, 17 horses and mars, and all they cud tote beside." "Wall, they tied me hand an' fut," he continued, "an' toted me off ter the Military Commission sittin' tei Chattanoog-a. I kncw'd whot thet meant — a short 168 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. prayer, a long rope, an' a break-down danced on the top o' nothin'. Better men nur me hed gone thet way ter the Kingdom — sevin on *em wuthin a month — but I de- tarmined I wouldn't go ef I could holp it ; not thet I jected ter the journey, only ter goin' afore uv Sally. Ye sees, I hedn't been nigh so good a man as I'd orter be, an' I reckoned Sally — who, ye knows, ar the best 'ooman thet uver lived — I reckoned she, ef she got thar a leetle afore o' me, could sort o' put in a good word wuth the Lord, an' git Him ter shot His eyes ter a heap o' my doin's ; an' sides, I should, I know'd, feel a mighty strange loike up thar without har. Wall, I detarmined not ter go, so thet night, as we war camped out on the ground, T slid the coil, stole a nag, an' moseyed off. Howsumuver, I hedn't got more'n a hun'red rods, 'fore the durned Secesh yered me, an' the bullets fell round me thicker'n tar in January. They hit the boss, winged me a trifle, an' in less nur ten minnits, hed me tighter'n uver. They swore a streak uv blue brimstun', an' said they'd string me up ter onst, but I telled 'em they wouldn't, 'case I know'd I war a gwine ter live ter holp do thet ar' same turn fur Jeff. Davis. Wall, I s'pose my impudence hed suthin' ter do wuth it, fur they didn't hang me — ye mought know thet, Mr. , fur, ye sees, I hes a good neck fur stretchin' yit. " Wall we got ter Chattanooga jest arter noon. The Commission they hed too many on hand thet day ter 'tend ter my case, an' the jail wus chock-heapin', so they put me inter a tent under guard uv a hull Georgy regi- ment. Things luck'd 'mazin' squally, an' much as I de- tarmined ter be a man, my heart went clean down inter mv boots whenuver I thort uv Sall3^ I nuver felt so, NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 1 09 afore or senco, fur then I hedii't got used ter luckin' at the gall us uvery day. " Wall, / didn't know whot ter do, but thhikin' the Lord did, I kneeled down an' prayed right smart. I telled Him I hedn't no face ter meet Him afore I'd a done sutliin' fur the kentry, an' thet Sally's heart would be clean broke ef I went afore har, but, howsumuver, I said. He know'd best, an' ef it war His will, I hed jest nothin' ter say agin it. Thet's all I said, but I said it over an' over, a heap o' times, an it war right dark when I got off uv my knees. The Lord yered me, thet's sar> tin, 'case I hedn't mor'n got up fore a dirty grey-back, drunker'n a member uv Congress, staggered inter the tent. I recken he thort he war ter home, fur he drap- ped down outer the ground an' went ter sleep, wuthout eo much as axin' ef I was willin'. " Then it come inter my head, all ter onst, whot ter do. Ye sees, the critters hed tied me hand an' fut, an' teddered me wuth a coil ter one o' the tent stakes, so I couldn't move only jest so fur ; but the Lord He made the drunken feller lop down jest inside uv reachin'. Wall, when I war shore he war dead asleep, I rolled over thar, drawed out the bowie-knife in his belt wuth my teeth, an' sawed off my wristlets in no time. Yo kin reckon it didn't take long ter undo the 'tother coils, an' to 'propriate his weapons, tie 'im hand an' fut loike I war, strip off his coat, put mine onter 'im, swap hats, an' pull the one I guv him down onter his eyes loike as ef he never wanted to see the sun agin. When I'd a done thet, I stopped ter breathe, an' luckin' up I seed a light a comin'. I 'spicioned it war ter 'xamine arter me, BO I slunk down inter a come* o' the tent, jest aside 170 nakratives of spies, scouts, and detectives. the door. They wus a leftenant, an' three privits, makin' the rounds, an' the light showed me nigh onter a army uv sentinels all about thar. Thet warn't no way encouragin', but sez 1 ter myself : ' Bible,' sez I, ^ be cool an' outdacious, an' ye'U git out o' this, yit;' so, when the leftenant luck'd in, an' sayin' : 'All right,' put out agin, I riz up, an' jined the fellers as wus a follerin' on him. I kept in the sh adder, an' they, supposin' I war one on 'em, tuck no kind uv notice uv me. We'd luck'd arter three or four pore prisoners loike I war, w^hen I thort I'd better be a moseyin', so I drapped ahind, an' arter a w^hile dodged out beyont the second line o' pickets. I'd got nigh onter a patch uv woods half a mile off, when all ter onst a feller sprung up frum a clump uv bushes, yelled, * Halt,' an' pinted his musket stret at me. I mought hev eended 'im, but I reckoned others wus nigh, an' sides, I nuver takes humin life ef I kin holp it ; so I sez ter 'im ; * Why, Lord bless me, cumrad', I didn't seed ye.' * I s'pose ye didn't. Whot is ye doin' yere ?' sez he. ' Only pursuin' a jug o' blue ruin I'se out thar hid under a log,' sez I. * Ye knows it'r agin rule to tote it inside, but a feller must licker.' * Wall, licker up ter-morrer,' sez ha ' We's got 'ticklar orders ter let no 'un out ter-night. * Blast the orders,' sez I. ' Ye'd loike a swig yerself.' * Wall, I would,' sez he. ^ Wull you go snacks ?' ' Yas,' Bez I ; ^ an' guv ye chock-heapin measure, for I must hev some o' thet afore mornin'.' " Thet brung him, an' I piked off for the ruin. (It warn't thar, ye knows — I nuver totch the dinguation stuff.) Ye'd better b'lieve the grass didn't grow under my feet when onst I got inter the woods. I plumbed NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 171 my coorse by the stars, an' made ten right smart miles in no time. Then it come inter my head thet I'd a forgot all ab">ut the Lord, so I kneeled down right thar, an' thanked Him. I telled Him I seed His hand jest so plain as ef it war daytime, an' thet, as shore as my name war Bible, I'd foller His lead in futur' — an' I'se tried ter, uver sense. " I'd got to be right well tuckered out by thet time — the 'citement, ye see, hed holt me up, but I'd no sooner gone to prayin' fore my knees guv out all ter onst — so, I put fur a piece uv timber, lay down under a tree, an* went ter sleep. I must hev slept mighty sound, fur, long 'bout mornin', some'un hed ter shuck me awful hard, an' turn me clar over, 'fore it woked me. I got up. 'Twar nigh so light as day, though 'twarn't sun-up, .Yit I luck'd all around an' didn't see a soul ! Now, what d'ye s'pose it war that woked me ?" " Your own imagination, I reckon. You were dream- ing, and in your dream you thought some one shook you," I replied. *' No ; 'twarn't thet. I nuver dreams. It war the Lord ! An' He done it 'case I'd prayed ter' im. I'se nuver gone ter sleep, or woke up, sense, wuthout prayin' ter Hni. an' though I'se been in a heap uv wuss fixes nur thet. He's got me out uv all on 'em, jest 'case I does pray ter Him." I did not dispute him. Who that reads the New Testament as Bible reads it — like a little child — can dispute him. In a moment he went on with his story "Wall, I luck'd all round, an' seed nuthin', but I yered — not a mile off — the hounds a bayin' away loike a young thundergust They wus arter me, an' tliet 172 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. wus the why the Good Lord woked me. I luck'd at tho Volver I'd stole from the sodger, seed it war all right, an' then clurab a tree. 'Bout so quick as it takes ter tell it, the hounds — two 'maizin' fine critters, wuth a hun'red an' fifty apiece — wus on me. I run my eye 'long the pistol-barr'l, an' let drive. It tuck jest two shots ter kill 'em. I know'd the Secesh wus a follerin the dogs, so ye'd better b'lieve I made purty tall racin' time till I got ter the eend uv the timber. " Just at night I run agin some darkies, who guv me suthin ter eat, an' nothin' more happen'd 'fore the next night, when I come in sight o' home. I got ter the edge uv the woods, on the hill jest ahind uv my barn, 'bout a hour by sun ; but I darn't go down, fur, ye knows, the house stood in a clarin', an' some uv the varmints mought be a watchin' fur me. I lay thar till it war. thick dark, an' then I crept ter the r'ar door. I listened ; an' whot d'ye 'spose I yered? Sally a prayin' — an' prayin' fur me, so 'arnest an' so tender loike, thet I sc t down on the door step, an' cried loike a child — I did." Here the rough, strong man bent down his head and wept again. The moisture filled my own eyes as he continued : " She telled the Lord how much I war ter har ; how she'd a loved me uver sense she'd a fust seed me ; how 'fore har father, or mother, or even the chilkn, she loved me ; how she'd tried ter make me love Him ; how she know'd thet, way down in my heart, I did love Him, though I didn't say so, 'case men doan't speak out 'bout sech things loike wimmin does. An' she telled Him how she hed tried ter do His will ; tried ter be one on Tlifl raal chillf^nj an' she telled Him He bed promised NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DKTECYIVES. 173 not ter lay outer His chillen no more'ii they could b'lii-, an' she couldn't b'ar ter hev me hung up as ef I war a traitor: thet she could part wuth me if it war best ; thet she could see me die, an' not weep a tear, ef I could only die loike a man, wuth a musket in my hand, a doin suthin' for my kentry. Then she prayed Ilim ter send me back ter har fur jest one day, so she mought ax me once more ter love Him — an' she know'd I would love Him ef she axed me agin — an' she said ef He'd only do thet, she'd — much as she loved me — she'd send me away, an' guv me all up ter Him an' the kentry fur uver ! " I couldn't stand no more, so I opened the door, drapped outer my knees, tuck har inter my arms, lay my head on har shoulder, an' sobbed out : ' The Lord hes yered ye, Sally ! I wull love Him ! I wull be worthy of sech love as y's guv'n me, Sally !' " He paused for a moment, and covered bis face with his hands. When he spoke again there was a softness and tenderness in his tone that I never heard in the voice of but one other man. " Sense thet minnit this yerth hes been another yerth ter me; an' though I'se lost uverythin'; though I hes no home ; though night arter night I sleeps out in the cold an' the wet, a scoutin' ; though my wile an chillen is scattered ; though nigh uvery day I'se in danger uv the gallus ; though I'se been roped ter a tree ter die loike a dog ; though a thousand bullets hes yelled death in my yeres; though I'se seed my onlj^ boy shot down afore mj* vury eyes, an' I not able ter speak ter him, ter guv him a mossel uv comfort, or ter yere his last word, I'se hed Buthin allers yere (laying his hand on his h* art) thet 174 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. hes holt me up, an' made me luck death in the face an of I loved it An ef ye hain't got thet, Mr. , no matter whot else ye's got, no matter whot money, or larnin', or friends, ye's ]3ore — porer nur I ar!" I made no reply, and after a short silence he resumed his story. " Jake — that war my boy — ^^e remember him, ye hed him on yer knee — he war eighteen an' a man grow'd then : wall, Jake an' me made up our minds ter pike fur the Union lines ter onst. Sally war all night a cookin' fur us, an' we a gittin' the arms an' fixin's a ready — we hed lots o' them b'longin' ter the Guards, hid away in a panel uv the wall — an' the next day, meanin' ter start jest arter sunset, we laid down fur isome sleepin'. Nigh onter dark. Black Jake, who war a watchin', come rushin' inter the house, sayin the secesh wus a comin'. Thar wus only twenty on 'em, he said, an' one wus drunk an' didn't count fur nuthin', so, we detarmined ter meet *em. We tuck our stands nigh the door, each on us men — Black Jake, the boy, an' me — wuth a Derringer in his pocket, two 'volvers in his belt, an' a Bowie-knife in the breast uv his waistcoat, an' the wimmin wuth a 'volver in each hand, an' waited fur 'em. Half a dozen on 'em went round ter the r'ar, an' the rest come at the front door, yellin' out: " ' We doan't want ter 'sturb ye. Miss Smith (they's chivulry, ye knows), but we reckons yer husban' ai yere, an' we must sarch the house. We hes orders ter take him.' " I opened the door stret off, an' steppin' down onter the piazzer — Black Jake an' the boy ter my back, an* the wimmin' ter the winder — I sez ter 'em : NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 175 "'Wall, I'se yere. Take me efye kin!' "They wus fourteen on 'em thar, uvery man wuth a musket, but they darn't lift a leg! They wus cowards. It'r nuthin but a good cause, Mr. , thet guvs a man courage — makes him luck death in the face as ef he loved it. " Wall, they begun ter parley. ' We doan't want ter «hed no blood,' said the leftenant. 'but we's orders ter take ye. Mister Smith, an' ye'd better go wuth us, peace- able loike.' "'I shan't go wuth ye peaceable loike, nur no other how,' sez I; 'fur ye's a pack o' howlin thieves an' traitors as no decent man 'ud be seed in company uv. Ye dis- graces the green yerth ye walks on, an' ef ye doan't git off uv my sheer uv it in less nur no time, I'll send ye — though it'r agin my principles ter take humin life — whar ye'll git yer desarts, sartin.' "Then the leftenant he begun ter parley agin, but 1 pinted my 'volver at him, an' telled him he'd better be a moseyin' sudden. Sayin' he'd 'port ter his cunnel, he done it. "We know'd a hun'red on 'em 'ud be thar in no time, so, soon as they wus out o' sight, the boy an' me, leavin* Black Jake ter luck arter the wimmin, struck a stret line fur the timber. We hedn't got mor'n four mile — ter the top uv the tall summit ter the ra'r uv Richmond — afore, luckin' back, we seed my house an' barns all a blazin'I The Heaven-defy in' villuns hed come back — shot Jake down in cold blood, druv my wife an' darter out o' doors, an' burnt all I hed ter the ground! We seed the fire, but not knowin wliot else hed happin'd, an' not bein' able ter do nothin', we piked on inter the woods 176 NARRATIYES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. " We traviled all thet night tlirougli the timber, an' jest at sundown uv the next day come ter a clarin*. We wus mighty tired, but 'twouldn't do ter sleep thar, fur the trees wus nigh a rod asunder ; so we luck'd round, an' on t'other side uv the road, not half a mile off, seed 'bout a acre uv laurel bush — ye knows whot them is, Bome on 'em so thick a dog kam't git through 'em. Jake war tireder nur I war, an' he said ter me, ' Dad,' sez he : * let us git under kiver ter onst. 1 feels loike I couldn't stand up no longer.' It wus foolhardy loike, fur the eun warn't clar down, but I couldn't b'ar ter see the boy 80, an', agin my judgment, we went down the road ter the laurels. We lay thar till mornin', an' slep' so sound thet I reckon ef forty yerthquakes bed shuck the yerth, they wouldn't hev woked us. Soon as sun-up, Jake riz, an' w^ent ter the edge uv the thicket ter rekonnoitter. He hedn't stood thar five minutes — right in plain sight, an' not more'n two hun'red rods frum me — afore I yered a shot, an' seed the pore boy throw up his arms, an' fall ter the ground. In less nur no time fifty Secesh wus on him. I war &pringin' up ter go ter him, when suthin' tuck me by the shoulder, belt me back, an' said ter me : * Ye karn't do nothin' fur him. Leave 'im ter the Lord. Save yerself fur the kentry.' It went agin natur,' but it 'peared the Lord's voice, so I crouched down agin 'mong the bushes. I nuver know'd whot it war thet saved me till nigh a y'ar arterwuds. Then I tuck thet leftenant pris'ner — I could hev shot him, but I guv him his life ter repent in, an' he done it : he's a decent man now, b'longin' ter Gunnel Johnson's rigiment. Wall, I tuck him, an' he said ter me : "I wus aside uv thet pore boy when he war dyin'. He turned his eyes outer me NARRATIVES OF SPIE;i, 3C0UTS, AND DETECTIVES. L7T jest as he war goin', an' he said : ' Ye karn't kotch hira. He's out o' the bush! Ha! ha!' He said thet, and died. Ter save me, died wuth a lie on his Hps ! Doea ye b'lieve the Lord hiid that agin him, Mr. ?" " No, no I I am sure not. It was a noble action." " It pears so ter me, but it war loike the boy. He war allers furgettin' himself, an' thinkin' uv other folk He war all— all the pride uv my life — him an' Sally- but it pleased the Lord ter tuck him afore me— but only fur a time — only fur a time— 'fore long I shill hev him agin — agin — up thar — up thar !" His emotion choked his utterance for awhile. When he resumed, he said : "At the eend uv a fortn't, trav'lin' by night an* eleepin' by day, an' livin' on the darkies when my fixin'a guv out, I got inter the Union lines 'bove Nashville." " And what became of your wife and daughter ?" 1 asked. " Lettle Sally went ter har sister. My wife v^^alked eighty miles ter har father's. He's one on yer quality folk, an' a durned old secesh, but he's got humin natur' in him, an' Sally's safe thar. Tse seed har twice ter his house. The old 'un he's know'd on't, but he hain't nuver said a word." Bible'? scouting adventures would fill a volume, and read more like a romance of the middle ages thai) a matter-of-fact history of the present time. On one occasion, when about five miles outside of our lines, he came, late at night, upon a party of rebel ofiicers, making merry at the house of a Avealthy secessionist Riding coolly up to the mounted orderly on guard before the door-way, he pmion ^d his arms, thrust a handker- u 178 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCX)UTS, AND DETECTIVES. chief into his mouth, and led him quietly out of hearing Then bidding him dismount, and tying him to a tree, he removed the impromptu gag, and levelling a revolver at his head, said to him : " Now, tell me, ye rebel villun, whot whiskey-kaga wus ye a watchin thar ? Speak truth, or I'll guv ye free passage ter a hot kentry." " Nine ossifers," said the trembling \ebel ; a cunnel, two majors, a sargeon, two cap'ns, an' the rest lef- tenants." '' Whar's thar weapons ?'* " Thar swords is in the hall-way. None on 'em hain't pistols 'cept the sargeon — he mought hev a 'volver." " What nigs is they round ?" " Nary one, I reckon, more'n a old man thar (point ing to the kitchen building) an' the gals in the house." '' Wall, I'll let ye go fur this, ef ye's telled the truth. Ef ye hain't, ye'd better be a sayin' yer prayers ter onst, fur the Lord wont yere ye on the t'other side uv Jurdan." Fastening his horse in " the timber," and creeping up to the house, he then reconnoitered the kitchen prem- ises. The old man — a stout, stalwart negro of about fifty — sat dozing in the corner, and his wife, a young mulatto woman, was cooking wild-fowl over the fire. Opening the door, and placing his finger on his lips to enjoin silence, Bible beckoned to the woman. She .■".ame to him, and looking her full in the eye for a moment, he said to her : " I kin trust ye. Wud ye 'an yer old 'un loike ter git out o' the claws uv these durned secesh ?" NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 179 '' Yas, yas, massa," she replied, '' we wud. We's Union ! We'd loike ter git 'way, massa !" Then awakening her husband, Bible said to him : '* Fncle, wud yer risk yer life fur yer freedom ?" " Ef dar's a chance, massa, a right smart chance. Dis dark'y tinks a heap ob his life, he does, massa. It 'm 'bout all him got." " Yas, yas, I know ; but ye shill hev freedom. I'll Bee ye ter the Free States, ef ye'll holp tuck them secesh ossifers." " Holp tuck dem, massa ! Why, dar's a dozen on 'em ; dey'd chaw ye up in no time," exclaimed the astonislied African. " No, thar hain't a dozen on 'em ; thar's only nine ; but — ye's a coward," replied the scout. " No, I hain't no coward, massa ; but I loikes a chance, massa, a right smart chance." Bible soon convinced the negro that he would have a " right smart chance," and he consented to make the hazardous strike for his freedom. Entering the house, he returned in a few moments to the scout, confirming the sentinel's report : the weapons were reposing quietly in the hall, near the doorway, and the officers, very much the worse for liquor, were carousing with his ma»- ter in the dining-room. Selecting thi-ee of the best horses from the stables. Bible directed the yellow woman to lead them into the road, and to bring his own from where it was fastened in the woods. Then, with his sooty ally, the scout entered the mansion. Removing the arms from the hall, ho walked boltlly into the dining-room. " Gentlemen," ho said, pointing his pistols — one in each hand — at thfi 180 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. rebel officers, " ye is my pris'ners. Surrender yer shoot- in* irons, or ye's dade men." " Who are you ?" exclaimed one of them, as they all sprang to their feet. '* Gunnel Smith, uv the Fust Tennessee Nigger Regi- ment — one old black man an' a yaller 'ooman,*' coollj replied the scout. " Go to ," shouted the surgeon, quickly drawing his revolver, and discharging it directly at Bible's face. The ball grazed his head, cut off a lock of hair just above his ear, and lodged in the wall at his back. The report was still sounding through the apartment, when the sur- geon uttered a wild cry, sprang a few feet in the air, and fell lifeless to the floor ! The negro had shot him. " Come, gentlemen, none o' thet," said Bible, as coolly as if nothing had happened, '' guv me the shootin' iron, an' surrender, or we'll sot the rest on ye ter his wuck — rakin' coals fur the devil's funnace — in less nur a min- nit." Without more hesitation the rebel colonel handed the Bcout the fallen man's pistol, and then all, followed by the scout and the negro, marched quietly out of the front door. The mulatto woman, holding the horses, was standing in the highway. " Hitch the nags, my purty gal," said the scout, " an' git a coil. An' ye, gentlemen, sot down, an' say nothin* — 'cept it mought be yer prayers ; but them, I reckon, ye hain't larned yit." The negress soon returned with the rope, and while Bible and her husband covered them with their revolvers, Bhe tied t'le arms of the prostrate chivalry. When this was done, the scout affixed a long rope to the waist of NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 181 the officer on either flank of the column, and, taking ono in his own liand, and giving the other to the i.^|n:o, cried out • " Sogers uv tlie Fust Tennessee ! Mount!" The regiment bounded into the saddle, and in that plight — the planter and the eight captive officers march- ing on before, the self-appointed " cunnel" and his chief officer bringing up the rear, and the rest of his command — the yellow woman — astraddle of a horse botween them, they entered the Union lines. On another occasion, hunted down by several compa- nies of rebel cavalry, Bible took refuge in a grove of laurel bushes. Among the bushes was a hollow tree in which he had once or twice slept on previous expedi- tions. It had been overthrown by a tornado, and the soil still clung, in huge boulders, to its upturned roots. Creeping into this tree, he closed the small opening with earth, and boring a hole through the trunk with his Bowie-knife to admit air, and give him a look-out on his pursuers, he lay there without food for three days and nights. The rebels saw him enter the grove, and at once surrounded it, so that escape was impossible. A party then beat the bushes, and after examining every square yard of the ground, came and sat upon the hollow tree. Listening, he heard them recount some of his exploits, and assert very positively, that he had sold himself to that notorious dealer in human chattels — the devil — who, they thought, had given him power to make himself invisible at will. " An' bein' thet's so, cumrades," very logically remarked one of the number. ** doan't it naVrally foller thet the devil ar' on the Union 182 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. Bide, an* moughtent we 'bout so wall guv it up fur a dade beat 'ter oust !" When the rebel army retreated from Murfreesboro, its advance column came suddenly upon the scout as he was eating his breakfast in an "oak opening" near the highwa3\ There was no chance of escape or conceal- ment, for the "opening" was covered with immense trees standing fifteen and twenty feet apart, with only a fehort grass growing between them. Bible was dis- guised in an immense mass of red hair and beard, and wore a tattered suit of the coarse homespun of the dis- trict. Knowing he would certainly be discovered, he assumed a vacant, rustic look, and, rising from the ground, gazed stupidly at the soldiery. " I say, green one, what are you doing thar?" shouted the officer at the head of the column. '' I'se loss my cow-brutes, cunnel," replied the scout^ ** two right loikely heffers ; 'un on 'em speckle all over, *cept the tail, an' thet white'n yer face. Ye hain't seed *em no whar 'long the road, nohow, hes ye ?" " No, I hain't seed 'em, no whar, nohow," rejoined the officer. '' Come, step into the ranks ; we need just Buch fellows as you are. Why the devil haven't they conscripted you before. Step into the ranks, I say," he repeated, as Bible, not seeming to comprehend his meaning, remained standing in his previous position. The second command having no more effect on him than the first, the officer directed a couple of soldiers to take Bible between them, and to fall in at the rear of the columu. It was not till he was fairly in the road that the scout seemed to awaken to the reality of hip <»ndition. NARRATIVES OP SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 183 * Why, why, ye hain't a gwine to tuck me 'long o* ye !" he exclaimed, frantically appealing to the ** cunnel." *' Ye hain t a gwine ter tuck me 'long o' ye! Ye karn't mean thet !" '' We do mean that, and you just keep quiet, or, like St. Paul, you'll fight against the pricks," said the officer, alluding perhaps to the bayonets which the two soldiers had unslung and were holding ready to apply to Bible's flanks. " Why, ye karn't mean thet ! ye karn't mean thet, cunnel !" again piteously cried the scout, " Wh — wh — whot'U become on the old 'ooman — whot'll become on the cow-brutes ?" " D — n the old woman and the cow-brutes," shouted the officer, riding forward and leaving the new recruit to his fate. And thus Bible marched to the Tullahoma, and thus he enlisted in the second regiment of Alabama Infantry. He remained a fortnight at Tullahoma, and while there obtained a correct idea of the number and dispo- sition of the enemies' forces, and brought away with him, in his head, an accurate map of the rebel fortifica- tions. Desertions being frequent, the picket lines had been doubled, and when he was ready to leave, it had become next to impossible to penetrate them. But he was equal to the emergency, and hit upon a bold expe- dient which proved successful. Restrictions had been laid by the commanding general on the importation of whiskey, and the use of that article, which is a sort of necessity to the Southern "native," had been prohibited within the lines of the army — except on the eve of battle Then the cold water 184 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND OETECTIYES. generals, themselves, dealt it out — mixed with gun- powder — to every man in the ranks. The regulations concerning it were rigidly enfor(?fed in all the divisions except Hardee's. That general — to whose corps Bible belonged — who has, notoriously, a weakness for '' spirits" and negro women, winked at the indulgence of his men in those luxuries, when it did not interfere with their Btrict observance of " Hardee's Tactics." Knowing his proclivities, Bible, one evening just after Bunset, took a tin ''jug" under his arm, and sauntered past the general's tent. " I say," shouted Hardee, catching sight of the long ft-rm of the scout, " where are you going with that big Cctnteen ?" " Ter git some bust-head, giniral. Ye knows we karn't live wuthout thet," replied Bible, with affected simplicity. " Perhaps you karn't : don't you know it's against regulations. I'll string you up, and give you fifty." " Oh, no ! ye woan't do thet, I knows, giniral, fur ye's a feller feelin' for we pore sogers," said Bible. " "We karn't live wuthout a leetle ruin ; wuthout a leetle, nohow, giniral !" " Where do you expect to get it ?" asked the general. "Ter Squire Pursley's," said the scout, naming a planter living a few miles outside of the lines. " He's got some on the tallest old rye ye uver seed. I knows him. An' he's the biggest brandy, too, an' the purtiest nigger gal (rolling his tongue in his mouth and smacking his lips) thar is anywhar round. She's whiter'n ye is, giniral, an' the snuggest piece uv house furnitur* as uver wus grow'd." NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 18t) " And how do you expect to pass the pickets ?" asked Ihe standard authority on " Tactics." " I reckon' this wull brung 'em," answered Bible, tap ping his canteen significantly. "Well, it wont," replied the general, laughing; "bat ril give you something that will. And here, take this canteen and get me some of that ' big brandy,' and tell the squire I'll be over there one of these days." The general gave Bible a pass, another canteen, and five dollars of Confederate scrip, to effectually " raise the spirits ;" and then the scout, saying, '' Ye kin reckon on gittin' sich brandy, giniral, as wull sot ye up so high ye'll nuver come down agin," walked leisurely out of the rebel lines. Once, while scouting near McMinnville, Bible was captured by a small party of Forrest's cavalry. One of the Confederates knew him, and he was told he must die. Throwing a rope over the limb of a tree, they adjusted it about his neck, and the rebel officer, taking out his watch, said to him : " You can have five minutes to say your prayers." "I thanks ye, cap'n," said Bible; "fur thet shows ye's got a spark uv humin feelin' in ye ; an' ef ye'll jest pile a lettle light 'ood on ter thet spark, it mought be it 'ud blaze up an* make ye a better man nur ye is, or kui be, whiles ye's a fightin' agin' yer kentry. As ter prayin', iap'n, I doan't need no time fur thet; fur I'se allers a prayin', not wuth words — but silent, deep, down yere" — placing his hand on his heart — "whar I'se allers a sayin' 'Our Father!' Our Father, cap'n; your'n aa wull as mine ! An' doan't ye 'spose He's luckin down «»n ye now sorry, grieved ter His vury heart the t ye, 186 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. His chile, thet His own Son died a wus- death nur this fur, should be a doin' whot ye is? — not a hangin' uv me; I hain't no complaint ter make o' thet, fur it'r His wull, or ye wouldn't be a doin' on it — but sorry thet ye's lifted yer hand agin' yer kentry, agin truth, an' right, an' the vury liberty ye talks so much about. Prayin'! I'se allers a prayin', cap'n; allers been a prayin' uver sense Sally said ter me: 'Pray, Bible, fur it'r the only way yt kin come nigh ter Him : it'r the only way ye kin know, fur shore, thet ye's His raal chile.' An' I does know Pse his chile, 'case I loves ter pray ; an' I'll pray fur ye, cap'n — ye needs it more nur me. It woan't do ye no hurt, an' it mought do ye some good, fur the Lord promises ter -yere His chillen, an' He hasyered me, over an' over agin." The five minutes had elapsed, but the Confederate officer still stood with his watch in his hand. At last, turning suddenly away, he said to his men : "Take ofif the rope! Take him to the general. Ee may do what he likes with him. I'll be d — d if I'U hang him." ^ Before they reached Forrest's headquarters at McMinn- ville, they were set upon by a squad of Union cavalry, who rescued the prisoner, captured a half dozen of the privates, and gave the captain a mortal wound in the side. Bible laid him upon the grass, and, taking hi? head tenderly in his lap, prayed for him. As the captain turned ais eyes to take a last look at the setting sun, he placed the scout's hand against his heart, and saying: " I*m going now — I feel at peace — I owe it to you — God bless you for it, may God forever bless you," he Tittered a low moan and died. While the rebel forces lay encamped around Chatta NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 187 nooga, Bible made them a professional \isit. For two days, from the top of Lool<:out Mountain, he looked dowD on their fortifications. With the works fully mapped in his mind, so that, in his rude way, he could sketch them upon paper, he started, just at nightfall of a murky, stormy day, to make his way iiortlnvard. Arriving at the house of a pretended friend, he took supper, and retired to sleep in a small room on the ground floor. It was not far from eleven o' clock, and raining and blow- ing violently, when a light rap came at his window. Fie got up — he always slept in his clothes, wdth his arms about him — and applying his ear to the glass, heard a low voice say: "Ye is betrayed. Come out ter onst. They'll be yere in a hour." He lifted the sash, and, springing lightly into the yard, saw — as well as the night would permit — a young octoroon woman standing unprotected in the storm, thinly clad, and drenched from head to foot. Leading him out into the darkness, she said to him : "This man's son war at master's house not a hour back. He's telled on ye ter git the reward! They's 'spectin' the cavalry uvery minnit. Hark ! I yere's 'em now!" While she yet spoke he heard the heavy tramp of horsemen along the highway. Placing her hand in hi.H, the woman fled hurriedly to the woods. When they had gone about a mile, she paused, and said to him : *' I karn't go no furder. I must git home or they *\\ 'spect suthin'. When they find ye's gone, the cavalry '11 make fur the landin'. Ye must go up the river, an Tjout two mile frum yere ye'll find a yawl. It'r chained. I8S NAHkATIVKS OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. but ye kin break thet. Doan't cross over — a hull i-egi- nieiit is 'camped on t'other side — put up the river so fur as \ e kin." With a mutual "God bless ye," they parted. Bible made his way to the river, and narrowly inspected ita banks, but no boat was to be seen ! He had spent two hours in the search, when he came to a bend in the stream which gave him an uninterrupted view of it for miles below. All along the river the air was alive with torches hurrying to and fro. He knew his pursuers would soon b€ upon him, and ejaculating a short prayer, in which he r& minded the Lord that the information he carried in his head was of "no oncommon vallu, orter be got ter the giniral ter onst, an' wouldn't be uv no yerthly use" if he were hanged just then, he crept down to the water. Entangled in the underbrush just above him was a large log, the estray property of some up-country sawyer. Dropping himself into the water, he made his way to the log, and, laying down on it at full length, paddled out into the river. When he had reached the middle of the stream, he let himself drift down with the current, and in a short time was among his pursuers. A thou- sand torches blazing on either bank lit up the narrow river with a lurid glare, and made the smallest object on its surface distinctly visible. Knowing that if he kept his position he would certainly be seen, Bible rolled off into the water, turned over on his back, and, keeping one hand upon the log, floated along beside it. When he came opposite to the landing, he heard one cavalry- man say to another : " See ! thar's a log ; moughtent the durned critter be on thetr NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. 189 " No," replied the other ; " thar's nothiii' on it. Yer eyes is no better 'n moles.'* '^ AVall, I'll guv it a shot, anyhow," rt-joined the first, and fired liis carbine. The bullet glanced from the log, and struck the water a few feet from the scout. The one shot attracted others, and for a few minutes the balls fell thickly around him, but he escaped unhurt ! The God to whom he had prayed shielded him, and brought him safely out of the hands of his enemies. In six days, after unparalleled hardships, he reached the Union lines. A few days before I left Murfreesboro, Bible staited on another trip into the enemies' lines to establish a chain of spy stations up to Bragg's headquarters. He succeeded in the perilous enterprise, and, when I last heard of him, was pursuing his usual avocation, doing really more service to the country than many a star- shouldered gentleman who is talked of now in the newfi»- papers, and may be read of centuries hence in history. If I have outlined his character distinctly, the reader has perceived that he is brave, simple-hearted, outspoken, hospitable, enterprising, industrious, loyal to liberty, earnest in his convictions — though ignorantly confound- ing names with things — a good husband and father, with a quiet humor which flavors character as Worcester sauce flavors a good dinner, a practical wisdom which " trusts in the Lord, but keeps its powder dry," some talent for bragging, and that intensity of nature and dis- position to magnify every thing (illustrated in his storiej and conversation) which leads the Southerner to do noth- ing by halves, to throw his whole soul into whatever he undertakes, to be, like Jeremiah's figs, " if good, very good : if bad, not fit to feed the pigs." Though morally 190 NARRATIVES OF SPIES, SCOUTS, AND DETECTIVES. and intellectually superior to the mass of" poor Southern whites," he is still a good representative of the class. They nearly all possess the same traits that he does, and differ from him only in degree, not in kind. That is saying little against them, for one might travel a whole summer'} day in our Northern cities, and not meet many men who, in all that makes true manhood, are his equals. Three Soldiers Captured by a Boy with a Coffee- PoT. — An amusing instance of the value of a ready wit and presence of mind occurred during the advance of the Second Corps of Federal troops, near Hatcher's Run A }Oung lad in the Fourteenth Connecticut regiment, going with a coffee-pot to get water from the stream, suddenly found himself surrounded by three of the enemy. With all the fierceness of voice the little fellow could muster, he commanded them to throw down their arms and surrender. Supposing that the brave youth had companions near to enforce his command, they complied, when he seized one of their muskets and marched them into camp in great triumph. This story was related in his camp as the capture of three Dohnnies with a coffee- pot. THE GREAT RAILROAD CHASE. The most remarkable and thrilling railroad adventure that ever occurred on the American continent, was that which happened to the twenty-two members of an ex- pedition sent out by the Union General 0. M. Mitchel, to destroy the communication on the Georgia State Rail- road, between Atlanta and Chattanooga. The expedi- tion itself, in the daring of its conception, possessed the wildness of a romance, and which, had it been success- ful, would have suddenly and completely changed the whole aspect of the war in tho South and Southwest. It was as sublime in the results aimed at, as it was dar- ing in execution ; for it would have given full possession of all East Tennessee to the Union forces, which, moving then on Lynchburg, would have had the valley of Vir- ginia at their mercy, and could have attacked Stonewall Jackson in the rear. In addition to this advantage, they would have held the railroad to Charlottesville and Orange Court House, as well as the Southside railroad leading to Petersburg and Richmond ; and thus, by uniting with McClellan's army, could have attacked the rebel General Joe Johnston's army, front and flank, driven him from Virginia, and flanked Beauregard (191) 192 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. This admirable coup ■^etat, the sagacity and importanct of which challenged even the warmest admiration of the Confederates - themselves, as being " the deepest laid scheme, and on the grandest scale, that ever emanated from the brains of any number of Yankees combined," was planned and set on foot in April, 1862, by Mr. J. J. Andrews, a citizen of Kentucky, who had been pre- viously engaged in the secret service of the United States Government. The plan of operations which he proposed was to reach a point on the State road, where they could seize a locomotive and train of cars, and then dash back in the direction of Chattanooga, cutting the telegraph wires and burning the bridges behind them as they went, until they reached theii own lines. The party consisted of twenty-four men, who, with the ex- ception of its leader, Mr. Andrews, and another citizen of Kentucky, William Campbell by name — who volun- teered as substitute for a soldier — were selected from different companies of the Second, Twenty-first, and Twenty-third Ohio regiments, with particular reference to their known courage and discretion. These brave men were informed that the movement was to be a secret one, and doubtless comprehended something of its perils ; but Mr. Andrews and one other alone seem to have known any thing of its precise direction and object. They all, how- ever, cheerfully and voluntarily engaged in it; and before starting, Andrews divided among them seven hundred dollars of Confederate scrip, informed them that they were now venturing upon important and dangerous duty, and threatened to shoot on the spot the first man that got drunk or flinched in the least. They then made their way through the lines in parties of two and three. DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. J 93 in citizens' dress, and carrying only side arms, to Chatta- nooga, the point of rendezvous agreed upon, where twenty-two out of the twenty-four arrived safely. Here they took passage, without attracting attention, for Marietta, which place they reached at twelve o'clock on the night of the 11th of April. The next morning, be- fore daylight, they took the cars and went back oi» the «ame road to a place called Big Shanty, a regular stop- ping-place for refreshments, and where, within forty or fifty yards of the road, some twenty thousand Confeder ate troops were encamped, it being a general rendezvous for recruits and the organization of regiments. The train upon which the conspirators were, contained, also, a number of soldiers, as well as citizens, together with a quantity of provisions, and an iron safe containing a large amount of Confederate money, designed for the payment of the rebel troops at Corinth, Mississippi- Here, for the first time, they knew the nature of their duty, which was to destroy the track and bridges from Big Shanty, to and beyond Chattanooga, or as far as Bridgeport, Tennessee. This section of the road is built over innumerable creeks and rivers; and as General Mitchel had already cut off all communication from Corinth, by holding Huntsville, Alabama, the destruc- tion of bridges which they were expected to effect, would have completely prevented rebel reinforcements and commissary stores from reaching Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. At Big Shanty, therefore, the train stopped for break fast, and passengers, conductor, engineer, and " hands," all went into the saloon, and were soon engaged in en- joying their matutin*il meal. The conspirators were 13 194 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. prompt to seize the golden moment of opportunity now oflfered to them. Leaving the cars, they quietly and naturally grouped together in squads of three and four, taking station with apparent carelessness on each side of the train. Andrews stationing himself at the coupling pin of the third car. A number of their party were engineers, and thoroughly understood the business in hand. One of these engineers was at his post, and found every thing right. All hands then quickly mounted the cars, although the guard was within three feet of them ; the word was given, Andrews drew the coupling pin and cried, "All right!" The engineer opened the valve and put on all steam, and the train, now consist- ing of three box cars and the engine, moved quietly but swiftly off — leaving rebel conductor, engineer, passen- ger-?, spectators, and the soldiers in the camp near by, all lost in amazement, and dumbfounded at the strange, startling, and daring act. And now commenced the most exciting railroad race and chase, which it has ever fallen to the pen of historian to describe. They soon lost sight of the lights at Big Shanty station, and at the first curve the train was stopped just long enough to allow one of the party to climb the telegraph pole and cut the wires. Starting again, they pushed along — making stops here and there to tear up the track, and taking with them on the cars a few of the rails thus re- moved. But unforseen difficulty now began to meet them. According to the schedule of the road, of which Mr. Andrews had possessed himself, they should have met but a single train on that day, whereas they met three, two of which were er. gaged on extraordinary ser- vice, and they were compelled to switch off and let them DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 195 pass. At the first station where this happened, the engineer of the road made his appearance, and was about to step on the engine, when Andrews told him he could not come on board, as this was an extra train running through to Corinth, and that his party were engaged to run it, and in support of his assertion the iron safe was shown. This apparently satisfied the engineer, and after taking in wood and water, the train again started. A second time they were compelled to switch off, and in order to get the switch-keys, Andrews, who knew the road well, went into the station and took them from the office. This caused considerable excitement, which he partly quieted by stating that the train contained gun- powder for Beauregard, at Coripth. About an hour was lost in waiting to allow these trains to pass, which, of course, enabled their pursuers to press closely after them. But they pushed on as rapidly as possible, removing rails, throwing out obstructions along the track, and cutting the telegraph lines from time to time — attaining, when in motion, a speed of sixty miles per hour — but they could not regain the time which they had lost. Reaching a bridge about twenty miles south of Dalton, Georgia, they set fire to one of their cars, piled on wood, and left it on the bridge, to which they thus hoped to set fire. Now, let us return to the rebel engineer, conductor, and passengers, thus unceremoniously left at Big Shanty, by the amazing and sudden disappearance of the engine and part of the train. The party who had thus stolen the march upon them, had evidently done so at that time and place, wi' h the presumption that pursuit could not be made by an ^ngine short of Kingston, some thirty 196 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. miles above Big Shanty; and that, by cutting the tele- grai)h wires as they proceeded, they should gain at legist three or four hours' start of any pursuit which could be made. This was a legitimate and reasonable conclusion, and but for the energy and quick judgment of Mr. Fuller, the conductor, and Mr. Cain, the engineer of the stolen train, and of Mr. Anthony Murphy, foreman of the Wood Department of the State road, who accidentally happened on the train that morning, the plans of Mr. Andrews and his party would have resulted as origin- ally contemplated, and with crushing disaster to the rebel cause. But these three determined men, without a moment's delay, put out after the flying train on foot, amidst shouts of laughter from the crowd, who, though lost in amazement at the unexpected and daring act, could not repress their merriment at seeing three men starting on foot after a train which had just whirled away from before their eyes, under the highest power of steam. But Messrs. Fuller, Cain, and Murphy, nowise daunted by the disparity of motive power, put on all their speed and ran along the track for three miles, until they came up with some track raisers who had a small truck car, which is shoved along by men so employed on railroads, on which to carry their tools. Truck and men were at once " impressed," and they took it by turns of two at a time to run behind the truck and push it along all up-grades and level portions of the road, and let it drive at will on all the down- grades. Reaching the spot where the runaways had cut the telegraph wires and torn up the track, they found themselves suddenly tumbled out, pell-mell, truck and men, upc i the side of the road. Finding, however, that DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 197 " nobody was hurt on our side," the plucky " rebs " put the truck again on the track, left some hands to repair the road, and with all the power of determined will and muscle, they pushed on to Etowah station, some thirty miles above. Here, the first thing that met their sight was the " Yonah," an old coal engine, one of the first ever used on the State road, standing already " fired up." This venerable locomotive was immediately turned upon the track, and like an old racer at the tap of the drum, pricked up her ears and made fine time to Kings- ton. There they found themselves but twenty minutes behind the runaway train ; and leaving the " Yonah " to blow off, they mounted the engine of the Rine Branch road, which was ready fired up, and waiting for the arrival of the passenger train nearly due. Here a num- ber of persons volunteered for the chase, taking such arms as they could lay their hands on at the moment, and with the fresh engine they started for Adamsville. But a little before reaching that place they found the train at a standstill, in consequence of the destruction of a portion of the road by the Yankee runaways. This was vexatious, but it did not discourage Fuller and Murphy, who left the engine and once more put on t oji foot, alone. After two miles running, they met the down freight train from Adamsville — reversed and ran it backward to that place, switched off" the cars on side track, and with the engine made fine time to Calhoun, where they met the regular down passenger train. Here they made a momentary halt, took on board a number of well armed volunteers, a company of track hands to repair the track as they went along, and t telegraph operator, and continued the chase. A short 198 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. distance above Calhoun they saw, for the first time, tho runaway train ahead of them. The " Yanks," supposing themselves now well out of danger, were quietly oiling the engine, taking up track, etc., but finding themselves discovered, they mounted and sped away, throwing out upon the track, as they fled, the heavy cross-ties with which they had provided themselves ; which was done by breaking out the end of the hindmost box car, and pitching them out. The rails which they had last taken up they now carried off" with them, but their rebel pursuers, on coming to where the rails were torn up, stopped, tore up the rails behind them and laid them down, without fastening, before the engine, which ran over them cautiously but safely; and then carefully throwing off from the track the cross-ties which had been thrown there to impede their progress, pushed on after the fugitives. Now the race became terrible in it« intensity. " Nip and tuck " the two trains swept with fearful speed past Resaca, Tilton, and on through Dalton, where the rebel train stopped to put off the tele- graph operator, with instructions to telegraph to Chatta- nooga to have them stopped there, in case he should fail to overhaul them. On and on, fast and still faster the rebel train pressed with hot speed, sometimes in sight, as much to prevent their cutting the wires be- fore the message could be sent, as to catch them. The daring Yankees indeed stopped just opposite, and very near to the encampment of a rebel regiment, and cut the wires, but the operator who had been dropped at Dalton had^M^ the message through about tivo minutes before. They also again tore up the track, cut down a telegraph pole, and placed the two ends of it under the cross-ties. DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 191/ and the middle over the rail on the track. Their pur- suers, however, got over this impediment in the same manner they did before — taking up rails behind and laying them down before. Once over this, they shot through the great tunnel at Tunnel Hill, only five minutes behind the adventurous " Feds," who, finding themselves closely pressed, uncoupled two of the box- cars from their engine, hoping to impede the progress of their pursuers. Quick-witted Fuller, however, hastily coupled them to the front of his engine, and pushed them ahead of him to the first turn-out, where he switched them off out of his way, and dashed ahead. As they passed Ringgold, the runaways began to show signs of *' giving out." They were out of wood, water, and oil ; their rapid running and inattention to the engine had melted all the brass from its journals; and they had no time for repair, so rapid was the pursuit. Nearer and nearer panted the iron steed behind them, until, when it was within four hundred yards of them, seeing thai their only safety was in flight, they jumped from the engine, scattering in the thicket, each for himself And now their troubles commenced. The whole country immediately swarmed with armed pursuers. Unac- quainted with the country, they lost their way, were hunted down by mounted men and bloodhounds, and finally were all captured. Their plan had failed from causes which reflected neither upon the genius by which it was planned, nor upon the intrepidity and discretion of those engaged in it, but from a combination of unfore- seen circumstances. It was a plan which the rebels themselves declared to have been " entirely practicable on almost any day for the last year," but they did not 200 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. expect to meet two " extrax)rdinary" or special trains on the road ; they did not expect that any men would be so apparently foolhardy as to attempt their pursuit an f(X)t; and they did not expect that their pursuers would find any such " God-send" as the old coal engine, " Yonah," standing on the track, ready fired up. Their calculations on every other point were admitted by their enemies, and those best acquainted wnth the road and its arrangements, to have been " dead certainties," which would have met with perfect success. It might have been hoped that the signal bravery of such an exploit would have commanded the respect of their captors, and mitigated in some degree the resent- ment which such an attempt excited. But it was not so. The twenty-two captives, when secured, w^ere thrust into the negro jail at Chattanooga. There they occu- pied a single room, half under ground, and but thirteen feet square, so that there was not space enough for them all to lie down together, and a part of them were, in consequence, obliged to sleep sitting and leaning against the walls. The only entrance to this vile room was through a trap door in the ceiling, through which, twice a day, their scanty meals were lowered in a bucket ; and they had no other light or ventilation than that which came through two small, triple grated win- dows. They were covered with SAvarming vermin, and the oppressiveness of the heat obliged them to strip themselves entirely naked. Added to this, they were all handcuffed, and fastened to each other in companies of twos and threes, by trail chains, secured with padlocks around their necks. Their food, doled out to them DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 201 twice a day, consisted of a little flour moistened with water, and baked in the form of bread, together with Bpoiled pickled beef. And, as their pockets had been rifled of whatever money they contained at the time of their capture, they were utterly without the means to pro- cure any better supplies from outside. Shortly after their capture, Jacob Parrot, an orphan boy, aged twenty years, belonging to the Thirty-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, was taken by a Confederate officer and four soldiers, who stripped him, bent him over a stone, and while two pistols were held to his head, a lieutenant in rebel uniform inflicted, with a raw hide, over a bun- dled lashes on his bare back. This was done in the presence of an infuriated crowd, who clamored for his death, and actually brought a rope with which to hang him. The object of this prolonged scourging was to force from him (the youngest of the the party) a confes- sion as to the objects of the expedition and the names of his comrades, especially that of the engineer who had run the train. Three times, in the course of this horri- ble flogging, it was suspended, and young Parrot was asked if he would confess; but, steadily and firmly, with unswerving fidelity to the trusts of friendship and the mspirations of patriotism, he refused all disclosures, and it was not until his tormenters were weary of their cruel labor, that they abandoned the attempt. While thus imprisoned at Chattanooga, their leader, Mr. Andrews, was tried, condemned, and executed as a spy, at Atlanta, on the 7th of June. The remainder, although strong and healthy when they entered this prison, at the end of three weeks, when they were re- quired to leave it, were so exhausted by their confine- 202 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. ment and treatment, as scarcely to be able to walk. Finally, twelve of their number were transferred to the prison at Knoxville, Tenn., and there seven of them were tried by court-martial as spies. Their trial, of course, was summary, and although permitted to be present, they were not allowed to hear either the argu- ment of their own counsel or of the judge-advocate. Their counsel, however, afterward visited them in prison, and read to them his argument, which was, in substance, that the fact of their being dressed in citizens' clothes was no more than what had been authorized in similar cases by the Confederate Government itself ; that the object of the expedition was a purely military one, and as such lawful, according to the rules of war ; and that not having lingered about or visited any of the camps, obtaining or seeking information, they could not rightly be considered as spies. This just and unanswerable presentation of the case, appears to have produced a favorable impression, and the whole party soon after were removed to Atlanta, Ga., under the impression that those who had been tried had been acquitted. But, on the 18th of June, after their arrival at Atlanta, their prison door was opened, and, without warning, the death- sentence was read to the seven who had been tried at Knoxville, and who, little dreaming of their hapless fate, were even then engaged in whiling away the time by playing euchre. No time for preparation was allowed — they were bid to say farewell to their comrades, and ** be quick about it" — then were tied, carried out, and hung. One of their number, too ill to walk, was pinioned like the rest, and dragged off in this condition ♦» tho scaffold ; while two, whose weight broke the ropes DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 203 which suspended them, were denied another hour's, respite for prayer. One of their number, Alfred Wilson, of the Twenty-first Ohio, did not hesitate, while stand ing under the gallows, to make a brief, manly, and patriotic address to the scowling mob who surrounded him. The remaining prisoners, now reduced to fourteen, were kept closely confined under special guard, in the Atlanta jail, until October, when, overhearing a conver- sation among their guards, they became convinced that they were to be hung, as their companions had been. This led them to devise a way of escape, which they carried out on the evening of the next day, by seizing the jailor when he opened the door to carry away the bucket in which their supper had been brought. Seizing and disarming the guards, eight of the fugitives were soon beyond pursuit. Of these, six, after long and pain- ful wanderings, succeeded in reaching the Union lines. Of the other two, nothing has ever been heard. The remaining six of the fourteen were recaptured and con- fined in the barracks until December, when they were removed to Richmond, where they were confined iu Castle Thunder. There they shivered through the winter, without fire, thinly clad, and with but two small blankets, which they had saved w4th their clothes, to cover the whole party. So they remained until the early part of March, 1863, when they were exchanged, and thus, at the end of eleven months, terminated their pitiless sufferings and persecutions in the South — perse- cutions begun and continued amid indignities and suffer- ings on their part, and atrocities on the part of their captors, which illustrate, more fully than pen or words 201 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. can ever express, the diabolical spirit of the rebelliDn, against which they and thousands of our brave Union eokliers have fought and sujQTered in every part of the South. The railroad lines along the border were the scenes of some startling adventures and narrow escapes, during the war. The following, very graphically told by a former engineer, has the merit also of truthfulness : THE WRONG SIDE OF THE CURVE. AN EX-ENQINEER's STORY. "Among the many incidents that during the late rebellion were connected with that great national artery, the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, is one that I will relate. " In the fall of 1861, having been detained by business in the town of Cumberland, Maryland, I was at last about to start for Wheeling, when I learned by a de- spatch that the road was occupied below Harper's Ferry by a force of rebels, and therefore no train would pass. " This proved to be true in reference to ordinary trains, but a * special,' with which was the Hon. Mr. Pierpont, and a few other notabilities, had passed before the rebels cut the track, and was therefore approaching. On inquiry, I found that the engineer of the coming trair* had been one of my old chums, ere I had discarded engine-driving for more profitable business. My friend Joe M was a cool, bold, skilful engineer, and as generous as reckless of danger. DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 205 " As I expected, I no sooner saw him and stated my wish to go up the road, than he swore that, special or no special, I should ride with him, if for nothing but to Bee the ' fast time" his engine, " Wildfire," would make. "As we dashed rapidly along and were passing through Black Oak Bottom, a couple of ill-looking fellows in citizen's dress fired at the engineer, but doing no damage, merely provoked a laugh of derision from him for their want of marksmanship. On arriving at Oakland, Mary- land, we were disagreeably surprised by receiving a telegram, informing us that a party of rebels were mak- ing extraordinary haste to reach the railway at a point many miles ahead of us. Also they seemed to know who the special contained, and would therefore use all endeavors to capture or kill us. " There was but one car behind the engine, and in it was briefly discussed the question of go or stay, while Joe was having the tender refilled with wood and water " Mr. Pierpont's business was too urgent to admit oi any possible delay ; two or three others concluded to risk the trip, and I — well, if it's not too egotistical to say so — I had run risks on railways too often to back out because there was danger ahead, while the rest concluded to stay and trust to luck for the opportunity of getting away. " Just as we were about to start, the fireman making a misstep on the ' running board,' fell and struck the ground with such force as to break his arm. Joe hur- riedly picked the poor fellow up, but time was precious just then, so leaving him to the care of the gentlemen who had accompanied us, he started directly toward me, asking me to come and * run ' for him, as, having no fire nan, he would have more than he could do. T told 206 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. him, however, to consider me his fireman for the rest of the trip, as he was best acquainted with the road ; so without any more ado, I dofied my coat, we jumped on, and away we went, past hamlets, through wildernesses of stunted bushes, up grade and down hill, at a speed rarely equalled. Our light train made firing an easy task for me, and I had frequent leisure to scan the beautiful ranges of the Alleghanies along which we skirted. Joe was sitting, as was usual with him, with his left hand on the throttle lever, and his body half out of the side window of the *cab,' that he might the better scan the track ahead. "A few miles south of the famous Cheat river bridge, is a deep mountain gorge, with precipitous, rocky sides. "It is shaped like an hour-glass, wide at each end, but tapering each way toward the middle. The track runs for quite a distance along one side of the gorge, makes d very abrupt turn to cross the chasm, a very deep one, in a straight line, and then, still curving in- wardly, follows the gorge in a line nearly parallel with the track on the opposite side, for three fourths of a mile. *' We were pitching along with that peculiar rocking, bounding motion, so difierent from the jar of ordinary fast speed. As we swept to the top of a grade, around the side of a hill that commanded a view of the gorge — Joe and I both on the lookout — we saw, at a moment's glance, enough to make us concentrate our thinking faculties, and act in a hurry, whatever was best to be done. "There, on the straight track, just at the near edge of the girge, a lot of men, in gray uniform, were hastily DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 207 piling up some old ties, logs, etc., while at the point where th6 curve was sharpest — before reaching the gorge — were several more, tugging furiouslj^ at a rail, one end of which seemed to bailie them, as they pulled it outward. We were within a mile of them when we discovered them, and as each noticed them, the shout came simultaneously from both of us, ' The wrong side of the curve !' The ignorant fools were pulling out the inside rail, instead of the outside. In the latter case, nothing could have saved us from running off the track, and probably into the gorge. Our single brakesman, seeing the danger — I suppose from habit — was commenc- ing to tighten the brake, but at a look from Joe I sig- nalled * off brakes,' Joe, meanwhile, opening the throttle to its widest extent, as we dashed down the grade at a positively frightful velocity. "As we neared them, a party of them huddled to- gether near the track. T seized a large stick of wood, intending, if possible, to hurt ^somebody.' We were going altogether too swu't to fear their taking aim at us; and for that matter, I suppose they considered our de- struction such a certainty that firing at us would be needless. I was poising the big stick of wood, guessing at the rate of speed — I've had some practice throwing parcels from trains in motion — when Joe suddenly pulled the whistle-rope. The hoarse shriek seemed to startle them for an instant ; they huddled closer together, and I tossed the stick outward and downward. I had barely time to see it crash through the group with the force of a thunderbolt, when, with a jarring plunge, the wheels on one side struck the naked ties. That part of the trouble we had feared but little, as the impetus of 208 DARIKG ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AKD MEN. the engine was almost sure to make it mount the track again. On the track again, but a few rods ahead of us, was the formidable barricade, and beyond that the yawn- ing chasm. Joe was standing up now, with eyes blaz- ing, still holding the throttle wide open, as he braced himself for the shock. I had grasped the brake rod of the tender the instant I threw the piece of wood. Crash — my hold didn't avail me, as I was pitched head over heels against the tire-box, and laid flat on my back on the footboard or floor of the engine. "Joe was as suddenly jerked half around, his back striking the little door in front of where he had stood, breaking the door and shivering the glass to atoms. But we were through ; how, we couldn't tell, except that we were still on the track, and thundering over the gorge. Joe's spirits rose with the occasion. Extricating himself almost as suddenly as he had been deposited in the little glass door, he jerked a tin flask from his pocket, sprung on top of the tender, and from thence to the roof of the cab. Steadying himself for a moment, with his face toward the rebels, he shouted, 'good-by,' made them a low bow, and took a drink, perfectly regardless of the white puflfs of smoke, as one after another discharged their pieces at him; as he afterward explained, 'the en- gine made too much noise for him to hear the bullets, and they didn't seem to be hitting anybody.' " After having, in spite of sore bones, performed a jig, which he had extemporized for that occasion for the ex- press edification of the ' rebs,' Joe descended from hia perch and deliberately shutting ofi" steam, stopped. " W*^ were still in sight of them, though at a tolerably lafe distance, and now saw a group of them standing DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 209 near several men who had been wounded, perhaps some killed, by that irrepressible' stick of wood. '' Our damages were a few bruises each, but no serious hurts. Our engine suffered the loss of the pilot, or cow- catcher, and head light ; the front of the smoke-box was stove in, besides sundry dents and bruises on the brass casings of the cylinders ; but for running purposes was absolutely uninjured. The rebels haviilg piled the logs squarely across the top of the track, the point of the cow-catcher had gone under them, and though broken by the shock, had raised them sufficiently to keep them from under the wheels, while the engine dashed them right and left into the gorge. " The rebels, seeing us stop, started in pursuit ; but as we found nothing serious to impede our further progress, and, as in their case, * distance lent enchantment to the view,' we were off again in high spirits, and without further adventure worth recounting, arrived safely at our destination. " Poor Joe, after being shot at so often as to have acquired a sovereign contempt for rebel bullets, was shot dead about a year ago, while running a government engine near Chattar'DOga." 14 210 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. ZAGONYrS CHARGE. The charge of Fremont's Body-Guard aud the Prairie Scouts of Major Frank White, upon the rebel garrison in Springfield, Missouri, under the leadership of Major Charles Zagonyi, is justly regarded as one of the most daring and gallant achievements of the wai. Charles Zagonyi was a Hungarian refugee who, like fio many of his countrymen, had fled to this country after the suppression of the revolution in his native country by the iron hand of the Russian Czar. His daring character brought the young officer to the notice of the invincible General Bem, by whom he was placed in command of a troop of picked cavalry for extraordinary service. His story, after that hour, up to the date of his capture by the enemy, was one of unparalleled daring. His last act was to charge upon a heavy artillery force. Over one half of his men were killed and the rest made prisoners, but not until after the enemy had euflfered terribly. He was then confined in an Austrian dungeon, and finally released, at the end of two years, to go into exile in America. Fremont drew around him a large number of such re- fugees from European tyranny, and found in thera men of great value, in all departments of the service. Zagonyi enlisted three hundred carefully chosen men, who, as a '' Body-Guard," served as pioneers and scouts in Fremont's advance. The exploit at Spring-field was only one of many similar services for which they were designated by Fremont; but, the suspension of his com- mand in Missouri broke up the Guard, and Zagonyi with* DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 211 drew from the service until his leader should again be given a command. The Guard was mounted, and was armed with German sabres and revolvers — the first company only having carbines. The horses were all bay in color, and were chosen with special reference to speed and endurance. The expedition to Springfield was planned, as it after- ward appeared, upon false information. Instead of Springfield being held by a small force, it was in posses- sion of twelve hundred infantry and four hundred cavalry. Major Frank White had been ordered by General Sigel to make a reconnoissance toward Springfield — the Union army then being at Camp Haskell, south of the Pomme de Terre river, thirty-four miles from Warsaw and fifty- one from Springfield. The major had just come in with his dashing " Prairie Scouts," one hundred and fifty-four strung, from their gallant dash into Lexington ; and the order to strike out for the reconnoissance found them jaded from over service. The major, however, put out, and was far on his way w^hen, on the 24th (of October), he was joined by Zagonyi, who assumed command of the expedition, by order of Fremont. Zagonyi had with him one half of his Guard, provided with only one ration. The march to Springfield was to be forced, in order that the enemy should be surprised and the place secured before rebel reinforcements could reach it. The com- bined Scouts and Guard marched all Thursday (October 24th) night; briefly rested Friday morning, then pushed on and were before Springfield at three p. m. on the 25th — the fifty-one miles having been accomplished in eigh- teen hours. Eight miles from Springfield five mounted rebels wer« 212 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. caught ; a sixth escaped and gave the alarm to the forces in the town, whose strength, Zagonyi learned from a Union farmer, was fully two thousand strong. Nothing was left but a retreat or bold dash. Zagonyi did not hesitate. His men responded to his own spirit fully, and were eager for the adventure, let it result as it would. Major White was so ill from overwork that, at Zagonyi's entreaty, he reman led at a farm-house for a brief rest. The Union farmer offered to pilot the Body- Guard around to the Mount Vernon approach on the West — thus hoping to effect a surprise in that direction, as the enemy was, doubtless, aligned to receive the as- sault on the Boliver road, on the North. Of this detour White knew nothing, and after his rest he pushed on with his guard of five men and a lieutenant, to overtake his troops. He travelled up to the very outskirts of the town, and yet did not come up to his men. Supposing them in possession of the pla."'e, he kept on and soon found himself in a rebel camp — a prisoner. He wiia immediately surrounded by a crew of savages, who at once resolved to have his life. Captain Wroton, a rebel officer, only saved the Federal officer and his men from murder by swearing to protect them with his life. The blood thirsty wretches were only kept at bay by the constant presence of Wroton. The particulars of the charge aie given by Major Dorsheimer in his admirable papers on Fremont's Cam- paign, in the Atlantic MontJily : The foe were advised of the intended attack. When Major White was brought intD their camp, they were preparing to defend their position. As appears from the DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 213 confession of prisoners, they had twenty-two hundred men, of whom four hundred were cavahy, the rest being infiintry, armed with shot guns, American rifles, and revolvers. Twelve hundred of their foot were posted along the edge of the wood upon the crest of the hill. The cavalry was stationed upon the extreme left, on top of a spur of the hill, and in front of a patch of timber. Sharpshooters were concealed behind the trees close to the fence alongside the lane, and a small number in some underbrush near the foot of the hill. Another detachment guarded their train, holding possession of the county fair ground, which was surrounded by a high board fence. This position was unassailable by cavalry from the road, the only point of attack being down the lane on the right ; and the enemy were so disposed as to com- mand this approach perfectly. The lane was a blind one, being closed, after passing the brook, by fences and ploughed land : it was in fact a cul-de-sac. If the in- fantry should stand, nothing could save the rash assail- ants. There are horsemen sufficient Id sweep the little band before them as helplessly as the withered forest- leaves in the grasp of the autumn winds ; there are dead- ly marksmen lying behind the trees upon the heights and lurking in the long grass upon the lowlands; while a long line of foot stand upon the summit of the slope, who, only stepping a few paces back into the forest, may defy the boldest riders. Yet, down this narrow lane, lead- ing into the very jaws of death, came the three hundred. On the prairie, at the edge of the woodland in which he knew his wily foe lay hidden, Zagonyi halted his "ommand. He spurred '^.long the line. With eager 214 DARIXG ExVTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. glance be scanned each horse and rider. To his officers he gave the simple order, " Follow me ! do as I do !" and then, drawing up in front of his men, with a voice tremulous and shrill with emotion, he spoke: " Fellow-soldiers, comrades, brothers ! This is your first battle. For our three hundred, the enemy are two thousand. If any of you are sick, or tired by the long march, or if any think that the number is too great, now is the time to turn back." He paused — no one was sick or tired. " We must not retreat. Our honor, the honor of our general and our country, tell us to go on. I will lead you. We have been called holiday soldiers for the pavements of St. Louis ; to day we will show that we are soldiers for the battle. Your watchword shall be — ' TJie Union and Fremont f Draw sabre ! By the right flank — quick trot — march !' Bright swords flashed in the sunshine, a passionate ehout burst from every lip, and wdth one accord, the trot passing into a gallop, the compact column swept on in its deadly purpose. Most of them were boys. A few weeks before they had left their homes. Those who were cool enough to note it say that ruddy cheeks grew pale, and fiery eyes Avere dimmed with tears. Who shall tell what thoughts, ^vhat visions of peaceful cottages nestling among the groves of Kentucky, or shining upon the banks of the Ohio and the Illinois — what sad recollections of tearful farewells, of tender, loving faces, filled their minds during those fearful moments of suspense ? No word was spoken. With lips compressed, firmly clenching their sword-hilts, with quick tramp of hoofs and clang of steel, honor leading and glory awaiting t^em, the young soldiers flew for- DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 2 1 -'i ward, each brave rider and each straining steed mem- bers of one huge creature, enormous, terrible, irresifj- tible. " ' Twere worth ten years of peaceful life, One glance at their array." They pass the fair ground. They are at the corner of the Lane where the wood begins. It runs close to the fence on their left for a hundred yards, and beyond it they see white tents gleaming. They are half way past the forest, when, sharp and loud, a volley of musketry bursts upon the head of the column ; horses stagger, riders reel and fall, but the troop presses for- ward undismayed. The farther corner of the wood is reached, and Zagonyi beholds the terrible array. Amazed, he involuntarily checks his horse. The rebels are not surprised. There to his left they stand crown- ing the height, foot and horse ready to engulph him, if he shall be rash enough to go on. The road he is fol- lowing declines rapidly. There is but one thing to do — run the gauntlet, gain the cover of the hill, and charge up the steep. These thoughts pass quicker than they can be told. He waves his sabre over his head, and shouting, " Forward ! follow me ! quick trot ! gallop !" he dashes headlong down the stony road. The first company, and most of the second follow. From the left a thousand muzzles belch forth a hissing flood of bullets ; the poor fellows clutch wildly at the air and fall from their saddles, and maddened horses throw themselves against the fences. Their speed is not for an instant checked ; farther down the hill they fly, like wasps dri ven by the leaden storm. Sharp volleys pniir 216 OARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. out of the underbrush at the left, clearing wide gaps through their ranks. They leap the brook, take down the fence, and draw up under shelter of the hill. Zagonyi looks around him, and to his horror sees that only a fourth of his men are with him. He cries, ** They do not come — we are lost !" and frantically waves his sabre. He has not long to wait. The delay of the rest of the Guard was not from hesitation. When Captain Foley reached the lower corner of the wood and saw the enemy's lines, he thought a flank attack might be ad- vantageously made. He ordered some men to dismount and take down the fence. This was done under a severe fire. Several men fell, and he found the woods so dense that it could not be penetrated. Looking down the hill, he saw the flash of Zagonyi's sabre, and at once gave the order, "Forward !" At the same time, Lieutenant Kennedy, a stalwart Kentuckian, shouted, " Come on, boys ! remember Old Kentucky !" and the third company of the Guard — fire on every side of them — from behind trees, from under the fences — with thun- dering strides and loud cheers — poured down the slope and rushed to the side of Zagonyi. They have lost seventy dead and wounded men, and the carcasses of horses are strewn along the lane. Kennedy is wounded in the arm, and lies upon the stones, his faithful charger standing motionless beside him. Lieutenant Gofi" received a wound in the thigh ; he kept his seat, and cried out, "The devils have hit me, but I will give it to them yet !" The remnant of the Guard are now in the field under the hill, and from the shape of the ground the rebel fire DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 217 sweeps with the roar of a whirlwind over their heads. Here we will leave them for a moment, and trace the fortunes of the Prairie Scouts. When Foley brought his troop to a halt, Captain Fairbanks, at the head of the first company of Scouts, was at the point where the first volley of musketr}' had been received. The narrow lane was crowded by a dense mass of struggling horses, and filled with tJie tumult of battle. Captain Fairbanks says, and he is corroborated by several of his men who were near, that at this moment an officer of the Guard rode up to him and said, " They are fl3nng ; take your men down that lane and cut off their retreat" — pointing to the lane at the left. Captain Fairbanks was not able to identify the person who gave this order. It certainly did not come from Zagonyi, who was several hundred yards farther on. Captain Fairbanks executed the order, fol- lowed by the second company of Prairie Scouts, under Captain Kehoe. When this movement was made. Cap- tain Naughton, with the Third Irish dragoons, had not reached the corner of the lane. He came up at a gallop, and was about to follow Fairbanks, when he saw a Guardsman, who pointed in the direction in which Zagonyi had gone. He took this for an order, and obeyed it. When he reached the gap in the fence, made by Foley, not seeing any thing of the Guard, he supposed they had passed through at that place, and gallantly attempted to follow. Thirteen men fell in a few minutes. He was shot in the arm and dismounted. Lieutenant Connolly spurred into the underbrush, and received two balls through the lungs and one in the left shoulder. The dragoons, at the outset not more 218 DAKING EXTERPKISES OF OFFICERS AND XTEN. than fifty strong, were broken, and, dispirited by the loss of their officers, retired. A sergeant rallied a few and brought them up to the gap again, and they were again driven back. Five of the boldest passed down the hill, joined Zagonyi, and were conspicuous for their valor during the rest of the day. Fairbanks and Kehoe, having gained the rear and left of tlie enemy's position, made two or three assaults upon detached parties of the foe, but did not join in the main attack. I now return to the Guard. It is forming under the shelter of the hill. In front, with a gentle incli- nation, rises a grassy slope, broken by occasional tree- stumps. A line of fire upon the summit marks the position of the rebel infantry, and nearer and on the top of a lower eminence to the right stand their horse. Up to this time no Guardsman has struck a blow, but blue coats and bay horses lie thick along the bloody lane. Their time has come. Lieutenant Maythenyi with thirty men is ordered to attack the cavalry. AVith sabres flashing over their heads, the little band of heroes spring toward their tremendous foe. Right upon the centre they charge. The dense mass opens, the blue coats force their way in, and the whole rebel squad- ron scatter in disgraceful flight through the cornfields in the rear. The boys follow them sabering the fugitives. Days after, the enemy's horses lay thick among the un- cut corn. Zagonyi holds his main body until Maythenyi disap- pears in the cloud of rebel cavalry; then his voice rises through the air : " In open order — charge !" The line opens out to give play to their sword-arm. Steeds respond to the ardor of their riders, and quick as thought, DAKING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 219 with thrilling cheers, the noble hearts rush into the leaden torrent which pours down the incline. With un- abated fire the gallant fellows press through. Their fierce onset is not even checked. The foe do not wait for them — they waver, break, and fly. The Guards- men spur into the midst of the rout, and their fast- falling swords work a terrible revenge. Some of the boldest of the Southrons retreat into the woods, and continue a murderous fire from behind trees and thickets. Seven Guard horses fill upon a space not more than twenty feet square. As his steed sinks under him, one of the officers is caught around the shoulders by a grape- vine, and hangs dangling in the air until he is cut down by his friends. The rebel foot are flying in furious haste from the field. Some take refuge in the fair ground, some hurry into the cornfields, but the greater part run along the edge of the wood, swarm over the fence into the road, and hasten to the village. The Guardsmen follow. Zagonyi leads them. Over the loudest roar of battle rings his clarion voice — " Come on. Old Kentuck ! Fm with you !" And the flash of his sword-blade tells hia men where to go. As he approaches a barn, a man steps from behind a door and lowers his rifle ; but before it has reached a level, Zagonyi's sabre-point descends upon his head, and his life-bloody leaps to the very top of the huge barn-door. The conflict now raged through the village — in the public square, and along the streets. Up and down the Guards ride in squads of three or four, and wherever they see a gro ip of the enemy, charge upon and 220 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. scatter tliem. It is hand to hand. No one hut has a chare in the fray. There was at least one soldier in the Southern ranks. A young officer, superbly mounted, charges alone upon a large body of the Guard. He passes through the line unscathed, killing one man. He wheels, charges back, and again breaks through, killing another man. A third time he rushes uj)Ou the Federal line, a score of- sabre-points confront him, a cloud of bullets fly around him, but he pushes on until he reaches Zagonyi — he presses his pistol so close to the major's side, that he feels it, and draws convulsively back, the bullet passes through the front of Zagonyi's coat, who at the instant runs the daring rebel through the body; he falls, and the men, thinking their commander hurt, kill him with a dozen wounds. "He was a brave man," said Zagonyi afterward, " and I did wish to make him prisoner." Meanwhile it has grown dark. The foe have left the village, and the battle has ceased. The assembly is sounded, and the Guard gathers in the Plaza. Not more than eighty mounted men appear : the rest are killed, wounded, or unhorsed. At this time one of the most characteristic incidents of the afiair took place. Just before the charge, Zagonyi directed one of his buglers, a Frenchman, to sound a signal. The bugler did not seem to pay any attention to the order, but darted off with Lieutenant Maythenyi. A few moments afterward he was observed in another part of the field vigorously pursuing the flying infantry. His active form was alwaj-s seen in the thickest of the fight. When the line was forme(/ in the Plaza, Zagonyi noticed the PARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 22J bugler, and approaching him, said : " Tii the midst of battle you disobeyed my order. You are unworthy to be a member of the Guard. I dismiss you." The bugler showed liis bugle to his indignant commander — the mouth-piece of the instrument was shot away. He said : ** The mouth was shoot off. I could not bugle viz mon bugle, and so I bugle viz mon pistol and sabre." It is unnecessary to add, the brave Frenchman was not dismissed. I must nol forget to mention Sergeant Hunter, of the Kentucky company. His soldierly figure never failed to attract the eye in the ranks of the Guard. He had served in the regular cavalry, and the Body-Guard had profited greatly from his skill as a drill master. He lost three horses in the fight. As soon as one was killed, he caught another from the rebels : the third horse taken by him in this way he rode into St. Louis. The sergeant slew five men. " I wont speak of those I shot," said he — " another may have hit them ; but those I touched with my sabre I am sure of, because ] felt them." At the beginning of the charge, he came to the extreme right, and took position next to Zagonyi, whom he followed closely through the battle. The major see- ing him, said : " Why are you here, Sergeant Hunter? Your place is with your company on the left.'* " I kind o' wanted to be in the front," was the answer. " What could I say to such a man ?" exclaimed, Zagonyi, speaking of the matter afterward. There was hardly a hor?^ or rider among the sur 222 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. vivois that did not bring away some mark of the fray. T saw one animal with no less than seven wounds — none of them serious. Scabbards were bent, clothes and caps pierced, pistols injured. I saw one pistol from which the sight had been cut as neatly as it could have been done by machinery. A piece of board a few inches long was cut from a fence on the field, in which there were thirty-one shot holes. It was now nine o'clock. The wounded had beeo earned to the hospital. The dismounted troopers were placed in charge of them — in the double capacity of nurses and guards. Zagonyi expected the foe to return every minute. It seemed like madness to try and hold the town with his small force, exhausted by the long march and desperate fight. He therefore left Springfield, and retired before morning twenty-five miles on the Bolivar road. Captain Fairbanks did not see liis commander after leaving the column in the lane, at the commencement of the engagement. About dusk he repaired to the prairie, find remained there within a mile of the village until midnight, when ho followed Zagonyi, rejoining him in the morning. I will now return to Major White. During the con- flict upon the hill, he ^as in the forest near the front of the rebel line Here his horse was shot under him. Captain Wroton kept careful watch over him. When the flight began he hurried White away, and, accom- panied b}^ a squad of eleven men, took him ten miles into the country. They stopped at a farm-house for the night. White discovered that their host was a Union man. His paro e having expired, he took advantage of DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 223 the iriomcntnry absence of his captor to speak to the farmer, telling him who he was, and asking him to send for assistance. The countryman mounted his son upon his swiftest horse, and sent him for succor. The party lay down by the fire, White being placed in the midst. The rebels were soon asleep, but there was no sleep foi the major. He listened anxiously for the footsteps of his rescuers. After long weary hours, he heard the tran^p of horses. He arose, and walking on tiptoe, cau- tiously stepping over his sleeping guard, he reached the door and silently unfastened it. The Union men rushed into the room and took the astonished Wroton and his followers prisoners. At daybreak White rode into Spring- field at the head of his captives and a motley band of Home Guards. He found the Federals still in possession of the place. As the officer of highest rank, he took command. His garrison consisted of twenty-four men. He stationed twenty-two of them as pickets in the out- skirts of the village, and held the other two as a reserve. At noon the enemy sent a flag of truce, and asked per- mission to bury their dead. Major White received the flag with proper ceremony, but said that General Sigel was in command and the request would have to be re- ferred to him. Sigel was then forty miles away. In a short time a written communication purporting to comp from General Sigel arrived, saying that the rebels migh. send a party under certain restrictions to bury their dead : White drew in some of his pickets, stationed them about the field, and under their surveillance the Southern dead were buried. The loss of the enemy, as reported by some of their working party, was one hundred and sixteen killed 224 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. The number of wounded could not be ascertained, Aftei the conflict had drifted away from the hill-side, some of the foe had returned to the field, taken away their woun- ded and robbed our dead. The loss of the Guard was fifty-three out of one hundred and forty-eight actually engaged, twelve men having been left by Zagonyi in charge of his train. The Prairie Scouts reported a loss of thirty -one out of one hundred and thirty : half of these belonged to the Irish Dragoons. In a neighboring field an Irishman was found stark and stifi", still cling- ing to the hilt of his sword, which was thrust through the body of a rebel who lay beside him. Within a few feet a second rebel lav shot throu^ch the head. THE PASSAGE OF THE PORT HUDSON BATTERIES. The rebels had blockaded the Mississippi from the beginning of the war with their batteries. In the pro- gress of the war Farragut had captured the batteries below New Orleans, and above as far as Prophet's Island, just below Port Hudson, and Foote, Davis, and Porter had made a conquest of the batteries above Vicksburg, leaving only the Vicksburg, Warrenton, and Port Hudson batteries — a distance of two hundred aTid thirty-two miles by the river. Of these, the batteries at Port Hudson were, with the exception of those at Vicksburg, the most formidable on the river. The blufij rising forty feet above the level of the nver, waf covered with forts for a distance of nearly DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. Ii25 ibiir miles, constructed upon the most scientific princi- ples of modern military art, and armed with the most approved and heaviest ordnance which England, seeking the ruin of the republic, could furnish the rebels. The river, just at the bend, suddenly narrows, and the cur- /ent, striking upon the west bank, is thrown across, running with great velocity, and carrying the channel almost directly under the base of the precipitous cliffs. Any vessel attempting the passage would be comjoelled to run the gauntlet of a plunging fire from batteries which commanded the range for several miles above and below. It was proposed, in order that the fleet might be able to co-operate with General Grant in the siege of Vicks- burg, to attack Port Hudson, and, under the fire of the bombardment, to attempt to force a passage by several of our gunboats up the river. To Rear-Admiral Farragut, already renowned for his naval victory at Forts St. Philip and Jackson, was assigned the work of attacking and passing this formid- able river fortress. The fleet consisted of the flag-ship *' Hartford," a fine sloop-of-war, carrying twenty-six guns ; the " Richmond," a vessel of the same class and armament ; the side-wheel steamship " Mississippi," with twenty-two eight and nine inch guns ; the *' Mononga- hela," a smaller steam sloop-of-war, with sixteen heavy guns; and the gunboats " Kineo," ''Albatross," " Sachem," and ''Genesee," each carrying three columbiads, and two rifled thirty-two pounders, togethei with six mortar boats, intended to assist in the bombardment, but not to attempt the passage of the batteries. On the morning of the 14th of April, the squadron 15 226 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. having ascended the river from New Orleans, anchored off Prophet's Ishand, and the mortar boats took their position, and early in the afternoon commenced a vigorous bombardment of the rebel works. At half-past nine o'clock in the evening, a red light from the flag- ship signaled the ships and gunboats to weigh anchor. The " Hartford" led, the "Albatross" being lashed on her starboard side ; the " Richmond" followed, having the "Genesee" lashed to her; next came the " Monon- gahela" and the " Kineo," while the " Mississippi" and the " Sachem" brought up the rear. The mortar boats, from their sheltered anchorage, were prepared to renew their bombardment with marked effect so soon as it should be necessary. Signal lights were flashing along the rebel batteries, showing that they were awake to the movements of the Union squadron. Soon the gleam of a fire kindled by the rebels was seen, which blazed higher and more bril- liant till its flashes illumined the whole river opposite the batteries with the light of day. This immense bon- fire was directly in front of the most formidable of the fortifications, and every vessel ascending the stream would be compelled to pass in the full blaze of its light, exposed to the concentrated fire of the heaviest ord- nance. Still it was hoped, notwithstanding the desper- ate nature of the enterprise, that a. few at least of the vessels of the squadron would be able to effect a passage. Silently in the darkness the boats steamed along, •mtil a rebel field-piece, buried in the foliage of the shore, opened fire upon the "Hartford." The challenge thus given was promptly accepted, and a broadside DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. "J 1^7 volley was returned upon the unseen foe. The rebel batteries, protected by strong redoubts, extended, as we have mentioned, with small intervening spaces, a dis- tance of nearly four miles, often rising in tier above tier on the ascending bluff. Battery after battery immedi- ately opened its fire ; the hill-sides seemed peopled with demons hurling their thunderbolts, while the earth trembled beneath the incessant and terrific explosions. And now the mortar boats uttered their awful roar, add- ing to the inconceivable sublimity of the scene. An eye-witness thus describes the appearance of the mam- moth shells rising and descending in their majestic curve : " Never shall I forget the sight that then mot my astonished vision. Shooting upward, at an angle of forty-five degrees, with the rapidity of lightning, small globes of golden flame were seen sailing through the pure ether — not a steady, unfading flame, but coruscat- ing like the fitful gleam of a fire-fly, now visible and anon invisible. Like a flying star of the sixth magni- tude the terrible missile — a thirteen-inch shell — nears its zenith, up and still up, higher and higher. Its flight now becomes much slower, till, on reaching its utmost altitude, its centrifugal force becoming counteracted by the earth's attraction, it describes a parabolic curve, and down, down it comes, bursting, it may be, ere it reaches terra firma, but probably alighting in the rebel works ere it explodes, where it scatters death and destruction around." The air was breathing gently from the east, and dense volumes of billowy smoke hung over the river, drifting slowly across in clouds which the eye could not pene- 228 DARING EXTERPRISES OF OFFICIRS AND MEN. trate, and adding greatly to the gloom and sublimity of the scene. It strains a ship too much to fire all the guns simultaneously. The broadsides were, conse- quentl}', generally discharged by commencing with the forward gun, and firing each one in its turn in the most rapid manner possible — as fast as the ticking of a clock. The effect of this bombardment, from ship and shore, as described by all who witnessed it, was grand and terrific in the extreme. From the innumerable batteries, very skilfully manned,- shot and shell fell upon the ships like hail. Piercing the awful roar, which filled the air as with the voice of ten thousand thunders, was heard the demoniac shrieks of the shells, as if all the demons of the pit had broken loose, and were revelling in hideous rage through the darkness and the storm. In the midst of this scene of terror, conflagration, and death, as the ships were struggling through the fire against the swift current of the Mississippi, there was heard from the deck of the " Richmond," coming up from the dark, rushing stream, the cry of a drowning man. " Help ! oh, help !" The unhappy sufferer had evidently fallen from the '' Hartford," which was in advance. In such an hour there could not be even an attempt made to rescue him. Again and again the agonizing cry pierced the air, the voice growing fainter and fainter as the victim floated away in the distance, until he sank beneath the turbid waves. The whole arena of action, on the land and on the water, was soon enveloped in a sulphurous canopy of smoke, pierced incessantly by the vivid flashes of the guns. The vessels could no longer discern each other or the hostile batl ^ries on the shore It became very DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 229 difTicult to know how to steer; ,ind as in the impenetrar ble gloom the only object at which they could aim was the flash of the guns, tlit danger became imminent that they might fire into each other. This gave the rebels great advantage; for with their stationary guns trained upon the river, though they fired into dense darkness, they could hardly fire amiss. Occasionally a gust of wind would sweep away the smoke, slightly reveal- ing the scene in the light of the great bonfire on the bluflf. Again the black, stifling canopy would settle down, and all was Egyptian darkness. At one time, just as the " Richmond" was prepared to pour a deadly fire into a supposed battery, whose flash the gunners had just perceived, Lieutenant Terry shouted out, "Hold on, you are firing into the ^Hart' ford !' " Another quarter of a minute and they would have been pouring a destructive broadside into the flag- ship which could scarcely have failed to sink her. A shell from a rebel battery entered the starboard port of the " Richmond," and burst with a terrific ex- plosion directly under the gun. One fragment splin- tered the gun-carriage. Another made a deep indenta' tion in the gun itself. Two other fragments struck the unfortunate boatswain's mate, cutting off" both legs at the knee, and one arm at the elbow. He soon died, with his last breath saying, " Don't give up the ship, lads !" The whole ship reeled under the concussion as if tossed by an earthquake. The river at Port Hudson, as we have mentioned, makes a majestic curve. Rebel cannon were planted along the concave brow of the crescent-shaped bluffs of the eastern •hoi'c, while beneath the blufi", near the water's edge, 280 DARING ENTEKPRISEI. OF OFFICERS AND Mi;.\. (here was another series of what were called water bat- teries lining the bnnk. As the ships entered this curve, following the channel which swept close to the eastern shore, they were, one after the other, exposed to the most terrible enfilading fire from all the batteries follow- ing the line of the curve. This was the most desperate point of the conflict ; for here it was almost literally fighting muzzle to muzzle. The rebels discharged an inces.«ant cross-fire of grape and canister, to which the heroic squadron replied with double-shotted guns. Never did ships pass a more fiery ordeal. Lieutenant-Commander Cummings, the executive offi- cer of the ''Richmond," was standing with his speaking- trumpet in his hand cheering the men, with Captain Alden by his side, when there was a simultaneous flash and roar, and a storm of shot came crashing through the bulwarks from a rebel battery, which they could almost touch with their ramrods. Both of the officers fell as if struck by lightning. The captain was simply knocked down by the windage, and escaped unharmed. The speaking-trumpet in Commander Cummings' hand was battered flat, and his left leg was torn off just below the knee. As he fell heavily upon the deck, in his gushing blood, he exclaimed : " Put a tourniquet on my leg, boys. Send my letters to my wife. Tell her that I fell in doing my duty !" As they took him below, and into the surgeon's room, already filled with the wounded, he looked around upon the unfortunate group, and said : " If there are any here hurt worse than I am let them be attended to first," DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 23 J His shattered limb was immediately amputated ^'ood after, as he lay upon his couch, exhausted by the opera- tion and faint from the loss of blood, he heard the noise of the escape of steam as a rebel shot penetrated the boiler. Inquiring the cause, and learning that the ship had become disabled, he exclaimed with fervor : *' I would willingly give my other leg if we could but pass those batteries !" A few days after this Christian hero died of his wound. Just above the batteries were several rebel gunboats. They did not venture into the melee, but anxiously watched the fight, until, apprehensive that some of our ships might pass, they put on all f earn and ran up the river as fast as their web feet cc Ad carry them. But now denser and blacker grew the dark billows of smoke. It seemed impossible, if the sUamers moved, to avoid running into each other or upon the shore. An officer of each ship placed himself at the prow, striving to pene- trate the gloom. A line of men passed from him to the stern, along whom, even through the thunders of the battle, directions could be transmitted to the helmsman Should any of the ships touch the ground beneath the fire of such batteries their destruction would be almost sure. It was a little after eleven o'clock at night when the first shot had been fired. For an hour and a half the unequal contlict had raged. The flag-ship " Hartford" and the '' Albatross" succeeded in forcing their way above the batteries, and in thus gaining the all-impor- tant object of their enterprise. The " Richmond" follow- ing, had just passed the principal batteries when a shot penetrated her steam-chest, so efiectually disabling her 232 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. for the hour that she dropped, ahnost helpless, dowu the stream. The " Genesee," which was alongside, Jinable to stem the rapid current of the river, with the massive " Richmond" in tow, bore her back to Prophet's Island. Just as the " Richmond" turned a torpedo explod- ed under her stern, throwing up the water mast-head high and causing the gallant ship to quiver in every timber. The ^' Monongahela" and " Kineo" came next in line of battle. The commander of the " Monongahela," Cap- tain M'Kinstry, was struck down early in the conflict. The command then devolved on a gallant young officer, Lieutenant Thomas. He manfully endeavored through all the storm of battle to follow the flag-ship. But in the dense smoke the pilot lost the channel. The ship grounded directly under the fire of one of the principal rebel batteries. For twenty-five minutes she remained in that perilous position, swept by shot and shell. Finally, through the efforts of her consort, the " Kineo,'* she was floated, and again heroically commenced steam- ing up the river. But her enginery soon became so dis- abled under the relentless fire, that the " Monongahela** was also compelled to drop down with the '^ Kineo" to the position of the mortar fleet. Her loss was six killed and twenty wounded. In obedience to the order of Admiral Farragut, the magnificent ship " Mississippi" brought up the rear, with the gunboat " Sachem" as her ally, bound to her larboard side. She had reached the point directly opposite the town, and her officers were congratulating themselves that they had surmounted the greatest dangers, and that they would soon be above the batteries, when the ship, which had just then been put under rapid headway, DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 233 grounded on the west bank of the river. It was an awful moment ; for the guns of countless batteries were immedi- ately concentrated upon her. Captain Smith, while, with his efficient engineer Rutherford he made the most stren- uous exertions to get the ship afloat, ordered his gunners to keep up their fire with the utmost possibLi rapidity. In the short space of thirty-five minutes they fired two hundred and fifty shots. The principal battery of the foe was within five hundred yards of the crippled ship, and the majestic fabric was soon riddled through and through by the storm with which she was so pitilessly pelted. The dead and the wounded strewed the decks, and it was soon evident that the ship could not be saved. Captain Smith prepared to destroy the ship, that it might not fall into the hands of the rebels, and to save the crew. Captain Caldwell, of the iron-clad " Essex," hastened to his rescue. Under as murderous a fire as mortals were ever exposed to, the sick and wounded were conveyed on board the ram. Combustibles were placed in the fore and after part of the ship, to which the torch was to be applied so soon as the crew had all escaped to the western shore. By some misunderstand- ing she was fired forward before the order was given. This caused a panic, as there were but three small boats by which they could escape. Some plunged into the river and were drowned. It is related, in evidence of the coolness of Captain Smith, that in the midst of this awful scene, while lighting his cigar with steel and flint, he remarked to Lieutenant Dewy : " It is not likely that we shall escape, and we must make ^very preparation to secure the destruction of the ship." 234 DARING ENTERPRISES OF (IFFICERS AND MEN. After spiking nearly every gun with his own hands, and seeing that the survivors of his crew were fairly clear of the wreck, Captain Smith, accompanied by Lieutenant Dewey, Ensign Bachelder, and Engineer Tower, sadly took their leave, abandoning the proud fabric to the flames. Scarcely had they left, when two shells came crashing through the sides of the " Mississippi," overturn- ing, scattering, and enkindling into flame some casks of turpentine. The ship was almost instantly enveloped in billows of fire. A yell of exultation rose from the rebels as they beheld the bursting forth of the flames. The ship, lightened by the removal of three hundred men, and by the consuming power of the fire, floated from the sand bar and commenced floating, bow on, down the river. The scene presented was indeed magnificent. The whole fabric was enveloped in flame. Wreathing ser- pents of fire twined around the masts and ran up the shrouds. Drifting rapidly downward on the rapid cur- rent, the meteor, like a volcanic mountain in eruption, descended as regularly along the western banks of the stream as if steered by the most accomplished helmsman. As the ship turned round, in floating ofi", the guns of her port battery, which had not been discharged, faced the foe. As the fire reached them the noble frigate, with the stars and stripes still floating at her peak, opened a new bombardment of the rebel batteries. The shells began to explode, scattering through the air in all directions. The flaming vision arrested every eye, on the land and on the ships, until the floating moun- tain of fire drifted down and disappeared behind Prophet's Island. And now came the explosion of the magazine. There was a vivid flash, shooting upward DARING ENTERPIIISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 235 to the sky in the form of an inverted cone. For a momeat the whole horizon seemed iiblaze with fiery missiles. Then came booming over the waves a peal of heaviest thunder. The very hills shook beneath the awful explosion. This was the dying cry of the " Mis- sissippi" as she sank to her burial beneath the waves of the river from which she received her name. Captain Caldwell, of the "Essex," who, as soon as he Baw the " Mississippi," to be on fire, gallantly steamed to her aid, directly under the concentrated fire of the batteries, succeeded in picking up many who were strug- gling in the waves, and in rescuing others who had escaped to the shore. There were about three hundred men on board the " Mississippi " Of these sixty-five officers and men were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Seventy, who escaped to the shore, wandered, for many miles, down the western banks of the stream, in constant danger of being taken captive, wading the bayous, and encountering fearful hardships, until they finally reached the ships below. Two ships, the "Hart- A)rd" and the "Albatross," succeeded in running the gauntlet. RUNNING THE BATTERIES AT VICKSBURG, The fate of the " Mississippi," in her attempt to pass the batteries at Port Hudson, might well have appalled the stoutest heart ; but, in war, necessity is stronger than law — stronger than human suflering, or than any ob- stacle which may oppose its action. It was necessary 236 DARfNO ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. for General Grant, while marching his troops overlaiK^ on the west side of the Mississippi, toward the poini from which he intended to cross and attack Vicksburg from the south and east, to have transports and gun- boats below the Vicksburg and Warren ton batteries to bring supplies and ferry his troops across the Mis- sissippi, as well as to attack the Warrenton batteries from below. On consultation with Admiral Porter, that brave officer proposed to send down eight gunboats, three transports, and a number of barges and flat boats, laden with commissary supplies, past the batteries to New Carthage. These were all manned by volunteers, who were not deterred by the previous misfortunes of Fairagut's squadron from undertaking this perilous expedition. The former attempts at running the Vicksburg bat- teries had been made shortly before, or at daylight ; this time a change was resolved upon. Eleven o'clock at night was appointed as the hour at which the boats should leave their rendezvous, which was near the mouth of the Yazoo river. To the anxious expectants of the coming events, the hours stole slowly by. As the ap- pointed moment drew near, the decks of the various steamboats were crowded with watchful spectators. A sort of apprehensive shudder ran through the col- lected gazers when it was announced that the first boat destined to pass the batteries was approaching. Sombre and silent it floated down, near the Louisiana shore ; scarcely were its dark sides to be distinguished from the foliage lining the bank. Stealing slowly on, it passed the group of steamers, and at a point below took rd DARING ENTERPlilSES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 237 oblique course, steering for the Mississippi side of tLwe river ; and, in the gloom, it was soon confounded witn the dark shadow of the trees beyond. Before this boat was lost sight of, another succeeded, and to that another, and another, until, before midnight, the whole had gained the Mississippi side of the river, and were swallowed up in the dim obscurity. With breathless interest their transit was watched by all of those oii the boats of the fleet, whose position, a little above the entrance of the first canal, brought the rough heights of Vicksburg within their sphere of vision, though the town lay, for the present, buried in the dark- ness, except where now and then the twinkling of a starry light was seen. As the boats, with lights out and fires carefully hid- den, floated past, indistinct as the ghosts of Ossian in the mountain mists, it was curious to note the effect upon the spectators. Before they appeared, the hum of conversation was heard all around. All were busy with speculations as to the probabilities of success. The de- sponding prognosticated unmitigated disaster. The hopeful indulged in confident speculations. All were contented to endure some loss, provided a sufiiciency ar- rived at the destined point to accomphsh the object con- templated. As the various boats came slowly into view, stole past with noiseless motion, then vanished into the recesses of the shadowy shore, each voice was hushed ; only in subdued and smothered tones were persons, at intervals, heard to ask a question or venture an observation. It seemed as if each one felt that his silence was due to the impressive scene ; as if an indiscreet utterance on hip 238 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. part might raise the vail of secrecy, so necessary to be preserved in the presence of a watchful foe. A painful expectation weighed on every spirit. The boats must now be nef,r the point opposite the belea- guered city. Will they be discovered at the first ap- proach, or will a kindly fortune give them easy passage by ? Suddenly a flame starts up ! Another and another leaps into the darkness of tho night ! The enfemy has seen the passing boats, and is sending across the river his death-dealing messengers. Rapid now dart the mo- mentary fires ; the iron rain of the remorseless cannon hurtles upon the dim and gliding boats. Dull upon the heavy air, scarce nerved by the night wind, which blows in a direction unfavorable for their hearing, reverberates the heavy thud of the cannon. As the time passes, the batteries lower and still lower come into action. The gazers can trace the course of the fleet by new flames, that each moment startle the strained sight; and cannon, for miles along the hazy shore, are hurling their destructive missiles. A new ac- cessory now adds its influence to the exciting scene. While the spectators had been engaged in watching the vivid flames leaping from cannon mouths and exploding shells, a gleam of light, first pale and soft, then red and lurid, and at last glaring and refulgent, stole up into the heavens above the opposing city. For the first time, the silence was broken by the gazing crowds upon the steam- boats of the fleet. " Vicksburg is on fire !" was uttered in excited tones. But it was not so. Steady and with wonderful brilliancy, upon the hill on which the city Htands, the fire assumed a circular outline on the upper edge, much like a third part of the full moon when. DAaiNG ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 231) apparently magnified, it is rising above the horizon. The flame glowed brilliant and beautiful — no smoke was visi- ble to dim its splendor. It was a beacon light, placed in a position to throw its beams along each arm of the bend of the river, the convex side of which is turned toward Vicksburg. So powerful was the light that, at the point where the steamboat tleet was moored, the shadow of a hand, held a foot from the boat's side, was distinctly thrown upon it. This beacon, with treacher- ous fidelity, showed to the foe the now fast disappearing boats ; but, happily, it was fired too late. The sight of the boats appeared to add new rage to the enemy, who could not fail to count the cost to him of such a fleet joining Farragut's three gunboats already between Vicks- burg and Port Hudson. The firing became more rapid. From the upper batteries to the last ones down at War- renton, leaped flame on flame. The dull echo of the cannon, and the whirr and shriek of the flying shells, startled the midnight air. But now comes a roar which tells that the Union boys are awake and lively ! The light that showed the boats to the enemy, revealed to the gunners on the gunboats the outlines of the batteries, and the roar which deafens the ear to every other sound is the peal of their heavy pieces. After an interval of maddest rage, the upper guns of the enemy almost cease their fire. It is evident that the boats have passed the first reached batteries — all of them that have es- caped the deadly onset. That no large portion of them is missing, is apparent from the activity of the forts at Warrenton, and the answering thunders of the Union guns. By this time the beacon light was burnt down, and 240 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. ceased to render its cruel aid. Just as the gathering darkness and the yet longer and larger intervals of silence gave intimation that the exciting scene was nearly over, another startling mcident woke anew the emotions of the time. Midway between the extinct beacon in the city and the lower batteries at Warrenton, a new glow of light, soft as the dawn, but rapidly blushing into deeper intensity, climbed gently toward the sky. "They are lighting another beacon," shouted many voices ; but again the speakers were mistaken. The light grew stronger every moment ; it wanted the mellow, vivid, space-penetrating brilliancy of the beacon ; above it rolled volumes of thick curling smoke ; and more — the light, with slow and equal pace, was moving down the stream! There was no disguising the truth — one of our own boats was on fire. The white color of the smoke showed that among the fuel to the flame was cotton. The inference was plain ; it was not a gunboat but a transport that was burning, for the latter, alone, were protected by bales of cotton. On floated the doomed vessel ; her light doubtless exposed to the rebels' view the floating flat boats and barges ; further firing, espe- cially from the Warrenton batteries, was for a short time violently renewed. The glow of the burning boat continued in sight until the beams of morning hid its glare. Before this, more- over, the solemn drama had reached its termination The spectators reluctantly retired to their cabins, when nothing remained to engage the attention but the flaming wreck and scattering shots : " The distant and random gun, That the foe was sullenly firing." DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 241 It was not until noon of the next day (April 17, 1863) tliat the account of the fate of the expedition reached the Union camp at Young's Point. The eight gunboats reached their destination with but slight in- juries or loss of life, only one man having been killed and two wounded. The transport Henry Clay was burned ; but the other transports, flat boats, etc., made the passage in safety, and the crew of the Henry Clay reached the shore and joined some of the other boats. A few days later, Admiral Porter sent a second squad- ron of gunboats and transports down, but the transports in this expedition were seriously damaged. THE CAVALRY FIGHT AT BRANDY STATION. This action, one of the most brilliant in which our cavalry were engaged, and one of the first in which they won the reputation of being superior to the rebehj in that arm of the service, in which they bad especially plumed themselves, is thus graphically described by a participator in it : " It was the prettiest cavalry fight that you ever saw, said the adjutant, stretching his legs, and lighting a fresh cigar. " It was just my luck to lose it," I answered. •' Hert» have I been lying, growling and grumbling, while you fellows have been distinguishing yourselves. It was miserable to be taken sick just when the army 16 242 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. got in motion, and still worse not to hear a word of what was going on. I almost wished that we had been a neicspaper regiment, so that I could learn something about our share in that day's work. Be a good fellow, and play reporter for my benefit. Freshen hawse, as the nautical novelists say, and begin." *' Well, we were lying at Warrenton Junction, making ourselves as comfortable as possible after the raid, when (m the morning of the 8th of June, the whole division was ordered out in the very lightest marching order. That night we lay close to Kelly's Ford, in column of battalions, the men holding their horses as they slept, and no fires being lighted. "At four o'clock on the morning of the 9th, we were again in motion, and got across the ford without inter- ruption or discovery. Yorke, with the third squadron, was in advance, and as we moved, he managed so well that he bagged every picket on the road. Thus we had got almost upon the rebel camp before vre were discovered. We rode right into Jones' Brigade, the First Jersey and First Pennsylvania charging together ; and before they had recovered from the alarm we had a hundred and fifty prisoners. The rebels were then forming thick upon the hill-side by the station, and they had a battery playing upon us like fun. Martin's New York Battery. on our side galloped into position, and began to answer them. Then Wyndham formed his whole brigade for a charge, except a squadron of the First Maryland, left to support the battery. Our boys went in splendidly, keeping well together, and making straight for the rebel battery on the hill behind the station. Wyndham lumself rode on the right, and Broderick charged more P4RING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN'. '24 3 toward the left, and with a yell we were on them. We were only two hundred and eighty strong, and in front of us was White's Battalion of five hundred. No mat- ter for that. Wyndham and Broderick were leading, and they were not accustomed to count odds. "As we dtoshed fiercely into them, sabre in hand, they broke like a wave on the bows of a ship, and over and through them we rode, sabreing as we went. We could not stop to take prisoners, for there in front of us was the Twelfth Virginia, six hundred men, riding down to support White. By Jove, sir, that was a charge ! They came up splendidly, looking steadier than we did our- selves aftoi the shock of the first charge. I do not know whether Wyndham was still with us, or if he had gone to another regiment ; but there wa& Broderick, looking full of fight, his blue eyes in a blaze, and hia sabre clenched, riding well in front. At them we went igain, and some of them this time met us fairly. I saw Broderick's sabre go through a man, and the rebel gave a convulsive leap out of his saddle, falling senseless to the ground. It seemed but an instant before the rebels were scattered in every direction, trying now and then to rally in small parties, but never daring to await our approach. " Now, there were the guns plain before us, the drivers yelling at their horses, and trying to limber up. We caught one gun before they could move it, and were dashing after the others, when I heard Broderick shout/- ing in a stormy voice. I tell you, it was a startling sight. The fragments of White's Battalion had gathered to- get^\er toward the left of the field, and were charging in our rear. The First Maryland was there, and Broderick 244 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. was shouting at them in what their colonel considered a * very ungentlemanly manner,' to move forward to the charge. At the same tirao two fresh regiments, the Eleventh Virginia, and anot.ier, were coming down on our front. Instead of dashing at White's men, the First Maryland wavered and broke, and then we were charged at the same time in front and rear. We had to let the guns go, and gather together as well as possi- ble to cut ourselves out. Gallantly our fellows met the attack. We were broken, of course, by the mere weight of the attacking force, but, breaking them up too, the whole field was covered with small squads of fight- ing men. I saw Broderick ride in with a cheer, and open a way for the men. His horse went down in the melee ; but little Wood, the bugler of Company G, sprang down, and gave him his animal, setting off him- self to catch another. A rebel rode at the bugler, and succeeded in getting away his arms before help came. As Wood still went after a horse another fellow rode at him. " The boy happened at that moment to see a carbine, where it had been dropped after firing. He picked up the empty weapon, aimed it at the horseman, made him dismount, give up his arms, and start for the rear Then he went in again. Lucas, Hobensack, Brooks, and Beekman, charged with twelve men into White's Battalion. Fighting hand to hand, they cut their way through, but left nine of the men on the ground behind them. Hughes was left almost alone in a crowd, but brought himself and the men with him safe through. Major Shelmire was sean last lying across the dead body of a rebel cavalryman None of us thought any thing DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS ANH MEN. -45 of two to one odds, as long as we had a chance to ride at them. It was only when we got so entangled that we had to fight hand to hand that their numbers told heavily. It was in such a place that I lost sight of Broderick. The troop horse that he was riding was not strong enough to ride through a knot of men, so that he had to fight them. He struck one so heavily that he was stunned by the blow, but his horse was still in the way; swerving to one side, he escaped a blow from another, and, warding off the thrust of a third, man- aged to take him with his point across the forehead ; just as he did so, however, his sabre, getting tangled with the rebel's, was jerked from his hand. "He always carried a pistol in his boot. Pulling that out, he fired into the crowd, and put spurs to hia horse. The bullet hit a horse in front of him, which fell. His own charger rose at it, but stumbled, and as it did, Broderick himself fell, from a shot fired within arras' length of him and a sabre stroke upon hia side. " I saw all this as a man sees things at such times, and am not positive even that it all occurred as 1 thought I saw it ; for I was in the midst of confusion, and only caught things around by passing glimpses. You see I was myself having as much as I could do. The crowd with whom Broderick was engaged was a little distance from me ; and I had just wheeled to ride up to his help when two fellows put at me. The first one fired at me and missed. Before he could again cock his revolver I succeeded in closing with him. My sabre took him just in the neck, and must have cut the jugu- lar. The bl/-«od guj'aed out in a black looking stream ; 246 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. he gave a horrible yell, and fell over the side of his horse, which galloped away. Then I gathered up my reins, spurred my horse, and went at the other one. I was riding that old black horse that used to belong to the signal sergeant, and it was in fine condition. As I drove in the spurs it gave a leap high in the air. That plunge saved my life. The rebel had a steadj^ aim at me ; but the ball went through the black horse's brain. His feet never touched ground again. With a terrible convulsive contraction of all his muscles the black turned over in the air, and fell on his head and side Btone dead, pitching me twenty feet. I lighted on my pistol, the butt forcing itself far into my side ; my sabre sprung out of my hand, and I lay, with arms and legs all abroad, stretched out like a dead man. Everybody had something else to do than to attend to me, and there I lay where I had fallen. '' It seemed to me to have been an age before I began painfully to come to myself; but it could not have been many minutes. Every nerve was shaking ; there was a terrible pain in my head, and a numbness through my side which was even worse. Fighting was still going on around me, and my first impulse w^as to get hold of my sword. I crawled to it and sank down as I grasped it once more. That was only for a moment; for a rebel soldier seeing me move, rode at me. The pres- ence of danger roused me, and I managed to get to my horse, behind which I sank, resting my pistol on the saddle, and so contriving to get an aim. As soon as the man saw that, he turned off without attacking me. I was now able to stand and walk ; so, holding my pistol m one hand a d my sabre in the other, I made my way DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 24? across the fields to where our battery was posted, scaring some with my pistol, and shooting others. Nobody managed to hit me through the whole fight. When I got up to the battery I found Wood there. He sang out to me to wait, and he would get me a horse. One of the men, who had just taken one, was going past, so Wood stopped him and got it for me. "Just at that moment White's Battalion and some other troops came charging at the battery. The squad- ron of the First Maryland, who were supporting it, met the charge well as far as their numbers went ; but were, of course, flanked on both sides by the heavy odds. All of our men who were free came swarming up the hill, and the cavalry were fighting over and around the guns. In spite of the confusion, and even while their comrades at the same piece were being sabred, the men at that battery kept to their duty. They did not even look up or around, but kept up their fire with unwavering steadiness. There was one rebel, on a splendid horse, who sabred three gunners while I was chasing him. He wheeled in and out, would dart away, and then come sweeping back and cut down another man in a manner that seemed almost supernatural. We at last succeeded in driving him away, but we could not catch or shoot him, and he got ofi" without a scratch. " In the meantime the fight was going on elsewhere. Kilpatrick's Brigade charged on our right. The Second New York did not behave as well as it has sometimes done since, and the loss of it weakened us a great deal. The Tenth New York, though, went in well, and tht» First Main 3 did splendidly, as it always does. In spite of their supeiior numbers (Stuart had a day or two 248 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. before reviewed thirty thousand cavahy at Culx^eppei, according to the accounts of rebel officers), we beat them heavily, and would have routed them completely if Duffle's Brigade had come ^p. He, however, was engaged with two or three hundred men on the left; the aide-de-camp sent to him with orders was wounded and taken prisoner, and he is not the sort of man to find out the critical point in a fight of his own accord. " So now, they bringing up still more reserves, and a whole division of theirs coming on the field, we begai to fall back. We had used them up so severely that they could not press us very close, except in the neigh- borhood of where the Second New York charged. There some of our men had as much as they could do to get out, and the battery had to leave three of its guns. "We fonned in the woods between a quarter and half a mile of the field, another regiment moved back to cover the left of Buford, who was in retreat toward Beverly Ford. Hart and Wynkoop tried hard to cover the guns that were lost, but they had too few men, and so had to leave them. The rebels were terribly punished. By their own confession they lost three times as many as we did. In our regiment almost every soldier must have settled his man. Sergeant Craig, of Company K, I believe, killed three. Slate, of the same company, also went above the average. But we lost terribly Sixty enlisted men of the First Jersey were killed, wounded, or missing. Colonel Wyndham was wounded, but kept his saddle ; Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick and Major Shelmire were killed ; Lieutenant Brooks was wounded; Captain Sawyer and Lieutenant Crocker were taken prisoners ; and I, as ^^ou see, have had to come in at last and refit." DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 24 i) THE CAPTURE OF MISSION RIDGE. The campaign of Chattanooga, in October and Novein- Kjt, 1863, was as brilliant as it was brief. It was not the continuous "pounding' of Vicksburg, the dogged and obstinate fighting, and the terrible slaughter of the battles in Virginia in the spring and summer of 1864 ; but in dash, in skilful surmounting of obstacles, in bril- liant and heroic achievement, it was surpassed by no campaign of the war. Each of its five engagements had something of special merit to entitle it to lasting remem- brance; the adroitly managed surprise by which the command of the river was won, and the toilsome sixty miles' travel of the supply trains over the worst roads in the world reduced to ten miles over a good road, and the subsequent sharp but successful battle of Wauhatchie, in which the gray-haired hero, Gearj^, showed himself as skilful as he was daring, indicated that the general in command at Chattanooga was fully master of the situation. The capture of Lookout mountain by Gene- ral Hooker ; the conflict " above the clouds," where the lurid light that flamed from Union and rebel cannon mimicked, with wonderful effect, the thunders of Heaven's own artillery, and where, with every struggle, the stars and stripes crept higher and higher toward that summit which overlooked so many battle fields, till the morn- ing's light beheld them waving proudly from its highest point ; the bold and rapid movement, by which, while marshalled, as the enemy supposed, for a dress parade, the Army of the Cumberland swept across the plain and captured Orchard Knob ; that succession of fierce and 250 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. persistent struggles in which Sherman wrestled for the capture of Tunnel Hill, and by which he drew to that point so large a portion of Bragg's troops ; and last and most glorious of all that fiery ascent of Mission Ridge, in which that noble Fourth Corps marched and climbed for a long hour through a furnace of flame, and after struggling up an ascent so steep that to climb it unop» posed would task the stoutest energies, swept their enemies from its summit, and over all that broad vista disclosed from its summit, saw only a flying and utterly routed foe. Many writers have attempted to describe, and with varying success, this brilliant feat of arms, but none have succeeded so admirably as Mr. B. F. Taylor, of the " Chicago Journal," himself an eye-witness of it. We give a portion of his description, which is as truthful as it is glowing : The brief November afternoon was half gone ; it was yet thundering on the left ; along the centre all was still. At that very hour a fierce assault was made upon the enemy's left near Rossville, four miles down toward the old field of Chickamauga. They carried the Ridge ; Mis- sion Ridge seems everywhere — they strewed its summit with rebel dead ; they held it. And thus the tips of the Federal army's wide-spread wings flapped grandly. But it had not swooped ; the gray quarry yet perched upon Mission Ridge ; the rebel army was terribly battered at the edges, but there full in our front it grimly waited, biding out its time. If the horns of the rebel crescent could not be doubled crushingly together, in a shapeless mass, possibly it might be sundered at its centre, and tumbled in fragrnents over the other sido of Mission DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN 251 Ridge. Sherman was halted upon the left ; Hooker waa liolding hard in Chattanooga Valley ; the Fourth Corps, that rounded out our centre, grew impatient of restraint ; the day was waning ; but litth time remained to com- plete the commanding general's grand design ; Gordon Granger's hour had come ; his work was full before him. And what a work that was to make a we^k man faltei and a brave man think ! One and a half miles to trav- erse, with narrow fringes of woods, rough valleys, sweeps of open field, rocky acclivities, to the base of the ridge, and no foot in all the breadth withdrawn from rebel sight ; no foot that could not be played upon by rebel cannon, like a piano's keys, under Thplberg's stormy fingers. The base attained, what then ? A heavy rebel work, packed with the enemy, rimming it like a battle- ment. That work carried, and what then ? A hill, struggling up out of the valley, four hundred feet, rained on by bullets, swept by shot and shell ; another line of works, and then, up like a Gothic roof r^ugh with rocks, a wreck with fallen trees, four hundred more ; another ring of fire and iron, and then the crest, and then the enemy. To dream of such a journey would be madness; to devise it a thing incredible ; to do it a deed impossible. But Grant was guilty of tliem all, and Granger was equal to the work. The story of the battle of Mission Ridge is struck with immortality already ; let the leader of the Fourth Corps bear it company. That the centre yet lies along its silent line is still true ; in five minutes it will be the wildest fiction. Let us take that little breath of grace for just one glance at the surroundinofs. since we shall have neitV.» heart nor 252 DARING RNTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AMD MEN. eyes for it again. Did ever battle have so vast a cloud of witnesses ? The hive shaped hills have swarmed. Clustered like bees, blackening the housetops, lining the fortifications, over yonder across the theatre, in the Beats with the Catilines, everywhere, are a hundred thou- sand beholders. Their souls are in their eyes. Not a murmur can you heai. It is the most solemn congre gation that ever stood ip in the presence of the God of battles. I think of Bunker Hill, as I stand here ; of tht thousands who witnessed the immortal struggle ; and fancy there is a parallel. I think, too, that the chair of every man of them will stand vacant against the wall to-morrow, and that around the fireside they must give thanks without him if they can. At half-past three, a group of generals, whose namea will need no '' Old Mortality" to chisel them anew, stood upon Orchard Knob. The hero of Vicksburg was there, calm, clear, persistent, far-seeing. Thomas, the sterling and steady ; Meigs, Hunter, Granger, Reynolds. Clusters of humbler mortals were there, too, but it was any thing but a turbulent crowd ; the voice naturally fell into a subdued tone, and even young faces took on the gravity of later years. Generals Grant, Thoma^y and Granger conferred, an order was given, and in an instant the Ktioh was cleared like a ship's deck for action. At twenty minutes of four, Granger stood upon the parapet ; the bugle swung idle at the bugler's side, the warbling fife and the grumbling drum unheard — there was to be louder talk — six guns, at intervals of two seconds, the signal to advance. Strong and steady hia voice rang uut : " Number or e, fire ! Number two, fire ! Number three, fire !" it seem id to me the tolling of the DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 25o clock of destiny — and when at " Number six, fire !" the roar throbbed out with the flash, you should have seen the dead line that had been lying behind the works all day, all night, all day again, come to resurrection in the twinkling of an eye — leap like a blade from its scab- bard, and sweep with a two-mile stroke toward the ridge. From divisions to brigades, from brigades to regi- ments, the order ran. A minute, and the skirmishers deploy ; a minute, and the first great drops begin to patter along the line ; a minute, and the musketry is in full play, like the crackling whips of a hemlock fire j men go down, here and there, before your e^'Os; the wind lifts the smoke and drifts it away over the top of the ridge ; every thing is too distinct ; it is fairly palpor ble ; you can touch it with your hand. The divisions of Wood and Sheridan are wading breast deep in the valley of death. I never can tell you what it was like. They pushed out, leaving nothing behind them. There was no re- servation in that battle. On moves the line of skir- mishers, like a heavy frown, and after it, at quick time, the splendid columns. At right of us, and left of us, and front of us, you can see the bayonets glitter in the sun. You cannot persuade yourself that Bragg was wrong, a day or two ago, when, seeing Hooker moving in, he said, "Now we shall have a Potomac review ;" that this is not the parade he prophesied ; that it is of a truth the harvest of death to which they go down. And so through the fringe of woods went the line. Now, out into the open ground they burst at the double-quick. Shrll I call it a Sabbath day's journey, or a long one and a half mile ? To me. 254 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. that watched, it seemed endless as eternity, and yet they made it in thirty minutes. The tempest that now broke upon their heads was terrible. The enemy's &re burst out of the rifle-pits from base to summit of Mis- sion Ridge; five rebel batteries of Parrotts and Napo- leons opened along the crest. Grape and canister and shot and shell sowed the ground with rugged iron, and garnishee/ it with the wounded and the dead. But steady and strong our columns move on. " By heavens I It was a splendid sight to see, For one who had no friend, no brother there ;" but to all loyal hearts, alas ! and thank God, those men were friend and brother, both in one. And over their heads, as they went, Forts Wood and Negley struck straight out like mighty pugilists right and left, raining their iron blows upon the Ridge from base to crest; Forts Palmer and King took ui the quarrel, and Moccasin Point cracked its fiery whipfe and lashed the rebel left till the wolf cowered in its comer with a growl. Bridges' Battery, from Orchard Knob below, thrust its ponderous fists in the face of the enemy, and planted blows at will. Our artil- lery was doing splendid service. It laid its shot and shell wherever it pleased. Had giants carried them by hand they could hardly have been more accurate. All along the mountain's side, in the rebel rifle-pits, on the crest, they fairly dotted the Ridge. General Granger leaped down, sighted a gun, and in a moment^ right in front, a great volume of smoke, like "the cloud by day," lifted ofi" the summit from among the rebel batteries, and hung motioil^ss, kindling in the DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 255 tun. The shot had struck a caisson, and that was itb dying breath. In five minutes away floated another. A shell went crashing through a building in the cluster that marked Bragg's headquarters ; a second killed the skeleton horses of a battery at his elbow, a third scat- tered a gray mass as if it had been a wasp's nest. And all the while our lines were moving on ; they had burned through the woods and swept over the rough and rolling ground like a prairie fire. Never halting, never faltering, they charged up to the first rifle-pits with a cheer, forked out the rebels with their bayonets, and lay there panting for breath. If the thunder of guns had been terrible, it was now growing sublime; it was like the footfall of God on the ledges of cloud. Our forts and batteries still thrust out their mighty arms across the valley ; the rebel guns that lined the arc of the crest full in our front, opened like the fan of Lucifer, and converged their fire down upon Baird, and Wood, and Sheridan. It was rifles and musketry; it was grape and canister ; it was shell and schrapnel. Mission Ridge was volcanic ; a thousand torrents of red poured over its brink and rushed together to its base., And our men were there, halting for breath ! And still the sublime diapason rolled on. Echoes that never waked before, roared out from height to height, and called from the far ranges of Waldron's Ridge to Look- out. As for Mission Ridge, it had jarred to such music before ; it was the " sounding-board" of Chickamauga ; it was behind us then ; it frowns and flashes in our faces to-day; the old Army of the Cumberland was there ; it breasted the stonn till the storm was spent, and left the ground it held; the old Army of the Cumberland in 256 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. here ! It shall roll up the Ridge like a surge to it« summit, and sweep triumphant down the other side. Believe me, that memory and hope may have made the heart of many a blue coat beat like a drum. " Beat," did I say ? The feverish heat of the battle beats on ; fifty-eight guns a minute, by the watch, is the rate of its terrible throbbing. That hill, if you climb it, will appal you. Furrowed like a summer-fallow, bullets as if an oak had shed them ; trees clipped and shorn, leaf and limb, as with the knife of some heroic gardener pruning back for richer fruit. How you attain the summit, weary and breathless, I wait to hear; how they went up in the teeth of the storm no man can tell! And all the while rebel prisoners have been streaming out from the rear of our lines like the tails of a cloud of kites. Captured and disarmed, they needed nobody to set them going. The fire of their own comrades was like spurs in a horse's flank, and amid the tempest of their own brewing they ran for dear life, until they dropped like quails into the Federal rifle-pits, and were safe. But our gallant legions are out in the storm; they have carried the works at the base of the Ridge; they have fallen like leaves in winter weather. Blow, dumb bugles ! Sound the recall ! " Take the rifle-pits," was the order ; and it is as empty of rebels as the tomb of the prophets. Shall they turn their backs to the blast? Shall they sit down under the eaves of that dripping iron? Or shall they climb to the cloud of death above them, and pluck out its lightnings as they would straws from a sheaf of wheat ? But the order was not DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AiiD MEN. 257 given. And now the arc of fire on the crest grows fiercer and longer. The reconnoissance of Monday had failed to develop the heavy metal of the enemy. The dull fringe of the hill kmdles with the flash of great guns. I count the fleeces of white smoke that dot the Ridge, as battery after battery opens upon our line, until from the ends of the growing arc they sweep down upon i1 in mighty Xs of fire. I count till that devil's girdle numbers thirteen batteries, and my heart cries out, " Great God, when shall the end be !" There is a poem I learned in childhood, and so did you : it is Campbell's " Hohenlinden." One line I never knew the meaning of until I read it written along that hill ! It has lighted lip the whole poem for me with the glow of battle for- ever : "And louder than the bolts of heaven, Far flashed the red artillery." At this moment. General Granger's aides are dashing out with an order ; they radiate over the field, to left, right, and front; ''Take the Ridge if you can"— " Take the Ridge if you can" — and so it went along the line. But the advance had already set forth without it. Stout-hearted Wood, the iron-gray veteran, is rally- ing on his men; stormy Turchin is delivering brave words in bad English; Sheridan— " little Phil"— you may easily look down upon him without climbing a tree, and see one of the most gallant leaders of the age if you do— is riding to and fro along the first line of rifle- pits, as calmly as a chess-player. An aide rides up with the order. " Avery, that flask," said the general. Quietly filling the pewter cup, Sheridan looks up at the 17 258 JAKING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. batter;)' that frowns above him, by Bragg's headquarters, shakes his cap amid that storm of every thing that kills, when you could hardly hold out your hand without catch- ing a bullet in it, and with a '' how are you ?" tosses off the cup. The blue battle flag of the rebels fluttered a response to the cool salute, and the next instant the batp tery let fly its six guns, showering Sheridan with earth. Alluding to that compliment with any thing but a blank cartridge, the general said to me in his quiet way, " I thonght it ungenerous !" The recording angel will drop a tear upon the word for the part he played that day. Wheeling toward the men, he cheered them to the charge, and made at the hill like a bold riding hunter ; they were out of the rifle-pits, and into the tem- pest, and struggling up the steep, before you could get breath to tell it, and so they were throughout the in- spired line. And now you have before you one of the most start- ling episodes of the war; I cannot remember it in words ; dictionaries aie beggarly things. But I mai/ tell you they did not storm that mountain as you would think. They dash out a little way, and then slacken ; they creep up, hand over hand, loading and firing, and wavering and halting, from the first line of works to the second ; they bui-st into a charge with a cheer, and go over it. Sheets of flame baptize them ; plunging shot tear away com- rades on left and right; it is no longer shoulder to shoulder ; it is God for us all ! Under tree trunks, among rocks, stumbling over the dead, struggling with the living, facing the steady fire of eight thousand in- fantry pour9d down upon their heads as if it were the old his*;oric curse from heaven, they wrestle with the DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 269 Ridge. Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes go by like a reluc- tant century. The batteries roll like a drum ; between the second and last lines of rebel works is the torrid zone of the battle; the hill sways up like a wall before them at an angle of forty-five degrees, but our brave mountaineers are clambering steadily on — u}3 — upward still ! You may think it strange, but I would not have recalled them if I could. They would have lifted you, as they did me, in full view of the heroic grandeui' : they seemed to be spurning the dull earth under their feet, and going up to do Homeric battle with the greater gods. And what do those men follow ? If you look you shall see that the thirteen thousand are not a rushing herd of human creatures ; that along the Gothic roof of the Ridge a row of inverted Vs is slowly moving up in line, a mighty lettering on the hill's broad side. At the angles of those Vs is something that glitters like a wing. Your heart gives a great bound when you think what it is — tJie regimental /lag — and glancing along the front count fifteen of those colors that were borne at Pea Ridge, waved at Shiloh, glorified at Stone River, riddled at Chickamuuga. Nobler than Caesar's rent mantle are they all ! And up move the banners, now fluttering like a wounded bird, now faltering, now sinking out of sight- Three times the flag of one regiment goes down. And you know why. Three dead color-sergeants lie just there, but the /lag is immortal — thank God ! — and up it comes again, and the Vs move on. At the left of Wood, three regiments of Baird — Turchin, the Russian thunder- bolt, is there — hurl themselves against a bold point strong with rebel works ; for a long quarter of an hour 260 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. three flags are perched and motionless on a plateau under the frown of the hill. Will they linger forever ? I give a look at the sun behind me ; it is not more than a hand's breadth from the edge of the mountain ; its level rays bridge the valley from Chattanooga to the Ridge with beams of gold ; it shines in the rebel faces ; it brings out the Federal blue ; it touches up the flags. Oh, for the voice that could bid that sun stand still ! I turn to the battle again : those three flags have taken flight ! They are upward bound. The race of the flags is growing every moment more terrible. There at the right, a strange thing catchea the eye ; one of the inverted Vs is turning right side up. The men struggling along the converging lines to over- take the flag have distanced it, and there the colors are, sinking down in the centre between the rising flanks. The line wavers like a great billow and up comes the banner again, as if heaved on a surge's shouldei. The iron sledges beat on. Hearts, loyal and brave, are on the anvil, all the way from base to summit of Mission Ridge, but those dreadful hammers never intermit. Swarms of bullets sweep the hill ; you can count twenty- eight balls in one little tree. Things are growing des- perate up aloft ; the rebels tumble rocks upon the rising line ; they light the fuses and roll shells down the steep ; they load the guns with handfuls of cartridges in their haste ; and as if there were powder in the word, they shout " Chickamauga !" down upon the mountaineers. But it would not all do, and just as the sun, weary of the scene, was sinking out of sight, with magnificent bursts all along the line, exactly as you have seen the crested sjas leap up at the breakwater, the advance DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 261 Burged over the crest, and in a minute those flags flut- tered along the fringe where fifty rebel guns were ken- neled. God bless the flag ! God save the Union ! What colors were first upon the mountain battlement I dare not try to say ; bright honor itself may be proud to bear — nay, proud to follow the hindmost. Foot b^ foot they had fought up the steep, slippery with much blood ; let them go to glory together. A minute and they were all there, fluttering along tlie ridge from left to right. The rebel hordes rolled off to the north, rolled off to the east, like the clouds of a worn out storm. Bragg, ten minutes before, was putting men back in the rifle-pili. His gallant gray was straining a nerve for him now, and the man rode on horseback into Dixie's bosom, who arrayed in some prophet's discarded mantle, foretold on Monday that the Yankees would leave Chattanooga in five days. They left in three, and by way of Mission Ridge, straight over the mountains as their forefathers went! As Sheridan rode up to the guns, the heels of Breckinridge's horse glittered in thw last rays of sunshine. The crest was hardly " well off with the old love before it was on with the new." But the scene on the narrow plateau can never be painted. As the blue coats surged over its edge, cheer on cheer rang like bells through the valley of the Chickamau- ga. Men flung themselves exhausted upon the ground. They laughed and wept, shook hands, embraced ; turned round and did all four over again. It wf^s iis wild as a carnival. Granger was received with a shout. " Soldiers," he srid, " you ought to be court-martialed, every man of you I ordered you to take the rifle-pits and you scaled the noun tain !' but it ^^as not Mars' horrid front exactly 262 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. with which he said it, for his cheeks were wet with teaiB as honest as the blood that reddened all the route. Wood uttered words that rang like "Napoleon's," and Sheridan, the rowels at his horse's flanks, was ready for a dash down the Ridge with a " view halloo," for a fox hunt. But you must not think this was all there was of the scene on the crest, for fight and frolic was strangely mingled. Not a rebel had dreamed a man of us all would live to reach the summit, and when a little wave of the Federal cheer rolled up and broke over the crest, they defiantly cried " Hurrah and be damned !" the next minute a Union regiment followed the voice, the rebels delivered their fire, and tumbled down in the rifle-pits, their faces distorted with fear. No sooner had the sol- diers scrambled to the Ridge and straightened themselves, than up muskets and away they blazed. One of them, fairly beside himself between laughing and crying, seemed puzzled at which end of his piece he should load, and so abandoning the gun and the problem together, he made a catapult of himself and fell to hurling stones after the enemy. And he said, as he threw — well, you know our " army swore terriblj' in Flanders." Bayonets glinted and muskets rattled General Sheridan's horse was killed under him ; Richard was not in his role, and so he leaped upon a rebel gun for want of another Rebel artillerists are driven from their batteries at the edge of the sword and the point of the bayonet ; two rebel guns are swung around upon their old masters. But there is nobody to load them. Light and heavy artillery do not belong to the winged kingdom. Two infantrymen claiming to be old artillerists, volunteer. DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. ii63 Granger turns captain of the guns, and — right about wheel ! — in a moment they are growling after the flying enemy. I say ''flying," but that is figurative. The many run like Spanish merinos, but the few fight likfj gray wolves at bay ; they load and fire as they retreat i they are fairly scorched out of position. A sharpshooter, fancying Granger to be worth the powder, coolly tries his hand at him. The general heari the zip of a ball at one ear, but doesn't mind it. In a minute away it sings at the other. He takes the hint, sweeps with his glass the direction whence the couple came, and brings up the marksman, just drawing a bead upon him again. At that instant a Federal argument persuades the cool hunter and down he goes. That long range gun of his was captured, weighed twenty -four pounds, was telescope-mounted, a sort of mongrel howit- zer. A colonel is slashing away with his sabre in a ring of rebels. Down goes his horse under him ; they have him on the hip ; one of them is taking deliberate aim, when up rushes a lieut.^nant, clasps a pistol to one ear and roars in at the other, " Who the h — 1 are you shooting at?" The fellow drops his piece, gasps out, "I surren- der," and the next instant the gallant lieutenant falls eharply wounded, He is a "roll of honor" officer, straight up from the ranks, and he honors the roll. A little German in Wood's Division is pierced like the lid of a pepper-box, but he is neither dead nor wounded. " See here," he says, rushing up to a comrade, " a pullet hit te preach of mine gun — a pullet in mine pocket' book — a pullet in mine coat tail — they shoots me tree, five time, and py dam T gives dem h — 1 yet I" 264 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. But I can render you no idea of the battle caldron that boiled on the plateau. An incident here and there I have given you, and you must fill out the picture for yourself. Dead rebels lay thick around Bragg's head- quarters and along the Ridge. Scabbards, broken aims, artillery horses, wrecks of gun-carriages, and bloody garments, strewed the scene ; and, tread lightly, oh ! loyal- hearted, the boys in blue are lying there ; no more the Bounding charge, no more the brave, wild cheer, and never for them, sweet as the breath of the new-mown hay in the old home fields, " The Soldier's Return from the War." A little waif of a drummer-boy, somehow drifted up the mountain in the surge, lies there ; his pale face upward, a blue spot on his breast. Muffle his drum for the poor child and his mother. Our troops met one loyal welcome on the height. How the old Tennessean that gave it managed to get there nobody knows, but there he was, grasping a col- onel's hand, and saying, while tears ran down his face • " God be thanked ! 1 knew the Yankees would fight !" With the receding flight and swift pursuit the battle died away in murmurs, far down the valley of the Chickamauga ; Sheridan was again in the saddle, and with his command spurring on after the enemy. Tall columns of smoke were rising at the left. The rebels were burning a train of stores a mile long. In the ex- ploding rebel caissons we had " the cloud by day," and now we are having "^ the pillar of fire by night." The sun, the golden dish of the scales that balance day and night, had hardly gone down, when up, beyond Mission Ridge, rose the silver side, for that night it was full moon. Thf troubled day was done. A Federal general DARING ENIERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 205 mt in the seat of the man wlio, pose I shall lose it. But I still feel — as if I could say — hurrah for General Emory. I fought under you — at Sabine Crossroads — and Pleasant Hill." The general dismounted to give the sufferer a glass of whisky, and left a guard to see that he was put into an ambulance. It was nearly dark when our corps reached its camps. No new arrangement of the line was attempted ; in the twilight of evening the regiments filed into the same positions that they had quitted in the twilight of dawn ; and the tired soldiers lay down to rest among dead comrades and dead enemies. They had lost every thing but what they bore on their backs or in their hands; their shelter-tents, knapsacks, canteens, and haversacks had been plundered by the rebels ; and they slept that night, as they had fought that day, without food. But there was no rest for the enemy or for our a v- alry. All the way from our camps to Strasburg, a d s- tance of four miles, the pike w^as strewn with the deb is of a beaten army ; and the scene in Strasburg itself w is such a flood of confused flight and chase, such a cha )s of wreck, and bedlam of panic, as no other defeat of the war can parallel. Guns, caissons, ammunition wagons, baggage wagons, and ambulances by the hundred, with dead or entangled and struggling horses, were jammed in the streets of the little, town, impeding alike fugi- tives and pursuers. Our troopers dodged through the press as tliey best could, pistoling, sabreing, and taking prisoners. A private of the Fifth New York Cavalry riding up to a wagon, ordered the five rebels who were DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AKJ MEN. 277 in it to surrender ; and when they only Lashed their horses, into a wilder gallop he shot two M-ith his re- volver and brought in the three others. The usually gallant and elastic Southern infantry were so stupefied by fatigue and cowed by defeat that it seemed like a flock of animals, actually taking no notice of mounted men and officers from our army, who wandered into the wide confusion of its retreat. Lieutenant Gray, Com- pany D, First Rhode Island Artillery, galloped up to a retreating battery and ordered it to face about. " I was told to go the rear as rapidly as possible," remonstrated the sergeant in command. " You don't seem to know who I am," answered Gray. '' I am one of those d — d Yanks. Countermarch immediately !" The battery was countermarched, and Gray was leading it off alone, when a squadron of our cavalry came up and made the cap- ture a certainty. The victory was pushed, as Sheridan has pushed all his victories, to the utmost possible limit of success, the cavalry halting that night at Fisher's Hill, but starting again at dawn, and continuing the chase to Woodstock, sixteen miles from Middletown. It was a gay evening at our headquarters, although we were worn out with fatigue, and as chilled, starved, and shelterless as the soldiers, our tents, baggage, rations, and cooks, having all gone to Winchester. Notwithstanding these discomforts, notAvithstanding tho thought of slain and wounded comrades, it was delight- ful to talk the whole day over, even of our defeat of the morning, because we could say, "All's well that ends well." It was laughable to think of the fugitives who had fled beyond the hearing of our victory, and who 278 JjARING ENTERrRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN". were now on their way to Martinsburg, spreading the news that Sheridan's army had been totally defeated, and that they (of course) were the only survivors. Then every half hour or so somebody galloped in from the advance with such a tale of continuing success that we could hardly grant our credence to it before a fresh messenger arrived, not so much to confirm the story as to exaggerate it. It was " Hurrah ! twenty cannon taken at Strasburg That makes twenty-six so far." *' Glorious! Don't believe it. Isn't it splendid? Impossible ! All our own back again," answered the contradictory chorus. Then came another plunge of hoofs, reining up with another " Hurrah ! forty-six guns ! More wagons and ambulances than you can count !" In truth the amount of material captured in this vic- tory w^as extraordinary. Two days after the battle I saw near Sheridan's headquarters a row of forty-nine pieces of artillery, of which twenty-four had been lost by us and retaken, while the others were Early's own. In addition, the rebels lost fifty wagons, sixty-five ambu- lances (some of them marked " Stonewall Brigade"), sixteen hundred small arms, several battle flags, fifteen hundred prisoners, and probably two thousand killed and wounded. Our own losses were : Crook's command, one hundred killed and wounded, and seven hundred prisoners; the Ninteenth Corps, sixteen hundred killed and wounded, and one hundred prisoners; the Sixth Corps, thirteen hundred killed and wounded; total, three thousand eight hundred. The only reinforcement which the Army of the DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN 279 Sheiifuidoah received, or needed to recover its lost field of battle, camps, intrenchments, and cannon was on**, man — Sheridan. Refusing to Volunteer in the Rebel Army.- -In the same prison with Parson Brownlow and other Union- ists in Tennessee, was a venerable clergyman, ncwned Gate, and his three sons. One of them, James Madison Gate, a most exemplary and worthy member of the Bap- tist church, was there for having committed no other crime than that of refusing to volunteer in the rebel army. He lay stretched at full length upon the floor, with one fhickness of a piece of carpet under him, and an old overcoat doubled up for a pillow — and he in the agonies of death. His wife came to visit him, bringing her youngest child, which was but a babe. They were refused admittance. Parson Brownlow here put hia head out of the jail window, and entreated them, for God's sake, to let the poor woman come in, as her hus- band was dying. The jailer at last consented that she might see him for the limited time of fifteen minutes. As she came in, and looked upon her husband's wan and emaciated face, and saw how rapidly he was sinking, she gave evident signs of fainting, and would have fallen to the floor with the babe in her arms, had not Parson B. rushed up to her and seized the babe. Then she sank down upon the breast of her dying husband, unable to speak. When the fifteen minutes had expired, the officer came in, and in an insulting and peremptory man- ner notified her that the interview was to close. 280 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN JOHN F. PORTER, JR, FOURTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY — PARTICULARS OF HIS EBCAFS. Captain John F. Porter, of the Fourteenth New York Cavalry, arrived in New York on Monday night, February 15th, 1864, from Washington, having escaped from Richmond, where he was a prisoner of war. Cap. tain Porter was taken prisoner on the 15th of June, 1863, in the attack on Port Hudson. He was carried to Jack- eon, and thence conducted to the rebel capital, which he reached on the 29th of June. In Richmond, he was in( arcerated in the now famous Libby prison. Some two months previous to his escape, Captain Por- ter determined upon making such an attempt. He then tried to purchase a rebel uniform, but could not get it. At a later date, however, he succeeded in procuring rebel clothing, several brother officers in prison providing him mth. each article suitable for his purpose, which they 3)ossessed. Captam Porter was so emaciated from want if food and the sufferings while in prison, as well as a ievere wound which he received at the second Bull Run, that he found much difficulty in walking ; but after taking a little exercise daily, and gradually increasing the same, he soon found his strength increasing, and nerved himself to the task of an effort to escape. On the morning of the 29 th of last Januarj^, accom- panied by Major E. L. Bates of the Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers, Captain Porter made his first attempt. He went down to the main entry of the prison and entered the surgeon's room. Here he informed the surgeon that DARING tNTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 281 he was attacked with chills, and so deceived this excel- lent medical gentleman that he gave him medicine fo/ the disease. He next passed down into the room occu- pied by the commissary, shaved his beard and darkened his eyebrows and hair, thus disguising himself perfectly. Captain Porter did not then endeavor to pass out of tne gate, but waited until three o'clock in the afternoon, which was the hour designated for roll-call. At this time he went into the middle room of the prison, and, roll-call being over, went down with the guard. Captain Porter then waited until the guard went into the build- ing, and while a new one was being placed on duty, passed Post No. 1, down Carey street, in which Libby Prison is situated. Having got outside of the city hmits, he suddenly stumbled against a battery, and, seeing a negro in the vicinity, asked the name of the battery, and was told it was No. 4. Passed out along the Nine Mile road, and, coming to a wood, stayed there over night, and returned to Richmond next morning, in order to await a more favorable opportunity for reaching the Union lines. In Richmond, Captain Porter now re- mained nine days without suspicion, during which time he passed around the entire fortifications of the city. A.t the end of that time he procured a passport from a rebel officer, and, in company with a family of Irish refugees, started for the Army of the Potomac. Arriving at Cat Tail Church, in Hanover county, the party were suddenly surrounded by rebel cavalry. Captain Porter s passport was rigorously examined, and his person robbed of one hundred dollars Confederate money, the rebels leaving him fifty in his possession. Two days after, having reached the Rappahannock, the river was crossed 282 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. into Riclimond county, and the party reached the banks^ of the Potomac on Thursday. They were secreted in the house of a Union gentleman until Friday night, who, for twenty dollars in gold, chartered a boat to carry them to Maryland. They were then landed at Clement's bay, St. Mary's county, Maryland. Captain Porter here fell in w'ith a detachment of the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Regular Cavalry, and was by them escorted to Leonardtowui. Here the escaped officer was provided with transportation to Point Lookout, where, on reporting to General Manton, he w^as sent on to Washington. Major Bates, who escaped a few hours previous to Captain Porter, was subsequently recaptured. Captain Porter says that the tunnel by which the last batch of officers made their escape from Libby Prison, was commenced on last New Year's Night. It extended from one of the lower rooms of the prison some tw^o hundred yards into the street, opening on a vacant lot. The Youngest Soldier in tee Army of the Cumber- land. — At the Caledonian supper in Cincinnati, Ohio, during December, 1863, General Rosecrans exhibited the photograph of a boy who he said was the youngest soldier in the Army of the Cumberland. His name is Johnny Clem, twelve years of age, a member of Com- pany C, 22d Michigan Infantry. His home was at New- ark, Ohio. He first attracted the attention of General Rosecrans during a review at Nashville, where he was acting as marker for his regiment. His extreme youth DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 283 (he is quite small for his age) and intelligent appearance interested the general, and calling him to him he ques- tioned him as to his name, age, regiment, etc. General Rosecrans spoke encouragingly to the young soldier, and told him to come and see him whenever he came where he Avas. He saw no more of the boy until the end of 1863, when he went to his place of residence— the Bur- net House — and found Johnny Clem sitting on his sofa, waiting to see him. Johnny had experienced some of the vicissitudes of war since last they met. He had been captured by Wheeler's cavalry near Bridgeport. His captors took him to Wheeler, who saluted him with — •' What are you doing here, you d d little Yankee scoundrel ?" Said Johnny Clem, stoutly: "General Wheeler, I am no more a d d scoundrel than you are, sir." Johnny said that the rebels stole about all that he had, including his pocket-book, which contained only twenty-five cents. " But I wouldn't have cared for the rest," he added, "if they hadn't stolen my hat, which had three bullet holes it received at Chickamaui^a." He was finally paroled and sent north. On Saturday he was on his way from Camp Chase to his regiment, having been exchanged. General Rosecrans observed that the young soldier had chevrons on his arm, and asked the meaning of it. He said he was promoted to a corporal for shooting a rebel colonel at Chickamauga. The colonel was mounted, and stopped Johnny at some point on the field, crying, "Stop, you little Yankee devil." Johnny halted, bringing his Australian rifie to 284 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. an "order," thus throwingthe colonel off his guard, cocked his piece (which he could easily do, being so short), and suddenly bringing his piece to his shoulder, fired, the colonel falling dead with a bullet through his breast. The little fellow told his story simply and modestly, and the general determined to honor his bravery. He gave him the badge of the '*' Roll of Honor,'* which Mrs. Saunders, wife of the host of the Burnet House, sewed upon Johnny's coat. His eyes glistened with pride as he looked upon the badge, and little Johnny seemed suddenly to have grown an inch or two taller, he stood so erect. He left his photograph with General Rosecrana, who exhibits it with pride. We may hear again of Johnny Clem, the youngest soldier in the Army of the Cumberland. " God's Flag :" — As one of the brigades of the reserve corps which came up to the rescue of General Thomas at Chickamauga was marching through the town of Athens, a bright-eyed girl of four summers was looking intently at the sturdy fellows as they tramped by. When she saw the sun glancing through the stripes of dazzling red and on the golden stars of the flag, she exclaimed, clapping her hands : ^' Oh, pa ! pa ! God made that flag ! — see the stars ! — it's God's flag !" A shout, deep and loud, went up from that column, and many a bronzed veteran lifted his hat as he passed the sunny-haired child of bright and happy thoughts, resolving, if his good right arm availed any thing, God's flag should conquer. What a sweet and happ}^ christening the glorious ensign received from those artless lips — ''God's flag !"and so it is. DAKING ENTLRPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 285 HOW THE PRISONEKS ESCAPED ?BOM THE RICHMOND JAIL — INCREDIBLE UNDERGROUND WORK — FRIENDSHIP OP VIRGINIA NEGROES. About the beginning of the year 1S64 the officers con- fined in Libby Prison conceived the idea of effecting their own exchange, and after the matter had been seriously discussed by some seven or eight of them, mey undertook to dig for a distance toward a sewer running into a basin. This they proposed doing by commencing at a point in the cellar near to the chimney. This cellar was immediately under ttie hospital, and was the receptacle for refuse straw, thrown from the beds when they were changed, and for other refuse matter. Above the hospital was a room for officers, and above that yet anotlier room. The chimney ran through all these- rooms, and prisoners who were in the secret, impro- vised a rope, and night after night let working parties down, who successfully prosecuted their excavating operations. The dirt was hid under the straw and other refuse matter in the cellar, and it was trampled down to pre- vent too great a bulk. When the working party had got to a considerable distance underground, it was found difficult to haul the dirt back by hand, and a spittoon, which had been furnished the officers in one of the rooms, was made to serve the purpose of a cart. A string was attached to it, and it was run in the tunnel, and as soon as filled was drawn out and deposited under the straw. Bu: after hard work, and digging with 286 DARLNG ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN". fino-er nails, knives, and chisels, a number of feet, the working party found themselves stopped by piles driven in the ground. These were at least a foot in diameter. But they were not discouraged. Penknives, or any other articles that would cut, were called for, and after chipping, chipping, chipping, for a long time, the piles were severed, and the tunnelers commenced again, after a time reaching the sewer. But here an unexpected obstacle met tlieir further pro- gress. The stench from the sewer and the flow of filthy water was so great that one of the party fjiinted, and was dragged out more dead than alive, and the project in that direction had to be abandoned. The failure was communicated to a few others beside those who had first thought of escape, and then a party of seventeen, after viewing the premises and surroundings, concluded to tunnel under Carey street. On the opposite side of this street from the prison was a sort of carriage house or outhouse, and the project was to dig under the street, and emerge from under or near the house. There was a high fence around it, and the guard was outside of this fence. The prisoners then commenced to dig at the other side of the chimney, and after a few handfuls of din had been removed they found themselves stopped by a stone Avail, which proved afterward to be three feec thick. The party were by no means daunted, and with pocket-knives and penknives they commenced operations upon the stone and mortar. After nineteen days and nights at hard work they again struck the earth beyond the wall, aiiu pushed their work forward. Here, too (after they got some distance under ground") the friendly spittoon was brought DA KING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 2S7 into requisition, and the dirt was liauled out in small quantities. After digging for some days the question arose whether they had not reached the point aimed at ; and in order if possible to test tlie matter, Captain Gallagher, of the Second Ohio Regiment, pretended that he had a box in the carriage house over the way, and desired to search it out. This carriage house, it is proper to state, was used as a receptacle for boxes and goods sent to the prisoners from the North, and the recipients were often allowed to go, under guard, across the street to secure their property. Captain Gallagher was allowed permission to go there, and as he walked across under guard, he, as well as he could, paced off the distance, and concluded that the street was about fifty feet wide. On the 6th or 7th of February the working party supposed they had gone a sufficient distance, and com- menced to dig upward. When near the surface they heard the rebel guards talking above them, and dis- covered they were two or three feet yet outside the fence. The displacing of a stone made considerable noise, and one of the sentinels called to his comrade and asked him what the noise meant. The guards, after listening a few minutes, concluded that nothing was wrong, and returned to their beats. The hole w^as stopped up by inserting into the crevice a pair of old pantaloons filled with straw, and bolstering the whole up with boards, which they secured from the floors, etc., of the prison. The tunnel was then continued some six or seven feet more, and when the working party supposed they were about ready to emerge t(» daylight, others in the prison were informed that there was a way now open for escape. 288 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. One hundred and nine of the prisoners decided to make the attempt to get away. Others refused, fearing the consequences if they were recaptured. At half-past eight o'clock on the evening of the 9th the prisoners started out, Colonel Eose, of New York, leading the van. Before starting, the prisoners had divided themselves into squads of two, three, and four, and each squad was to take a different route, and after they were out were to push for the Union lines as fast as possible. It was the understanding that the working party were to have an hour's start of the other prison- ers, and, consequently, the rope-ladder in the cellar was drawn out. Before the expiration of the hour, however, the other prisoners became impatient, and were let down through the chimney successfully into the cellar. The aperture was so narrow that but one man could get tlirough at a time, and each squad carried with them provisions in a haversack. At midnight a false alarm was created, and the prisoners made considerable noise in their quarters. Providentially, however, the guard suspected nothing wrong, and in a few moments the exodus was again commenced. Colonel Kendrick aAd his companions looked with some trepidation upon the movements of the fugitives, as some of them, exercising but little discretion, moved boldly out of the enclosure into the glare of the gaslight. Many of them were, however, in citizen's dress, and as all the rebel guards wore the United States uniform, but little suspicion could be excit<"!d^ even if the fugitives had been accosted by a guard. Between one and two o'clock the lamps were extin- DARING EN'iERnilSES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 289 guished in the streets, and then the exit was more safely accomplished. There were many officers who desired to leave, who were so weak and feeble that they were dragged through the tunnel by mere force, and carried to places of security, until such time as they would be able to move on their journey. At half-past two o'clock, Captain Joyce, Colonel Kendrick, and Lieu- tenant Bradford passed out in the order in which they are named, and as Colonel Kendrick emerged from the hole he heard the guard within a few feet of him sing out : " Post No. 7, half-past two in the morning ind all is well." Lieutenant Bradford was intrusted with the provisions for this squad, and in getting through was obliged to leave his haversack behind him, as he could not get through with it upon him. Once out they proceeded up the street, keeping in the shade of the buildings, and passed eastwardly through the city. A description of the route pursued by this party, and of the tribulations through which they passed, will give some idea of the rough time they all had of it. Colonel Kendrick har^ 'Defore leaving the prison, mapped out his course, and concluded that the best route to take was the one toward Norfolk or Fortress Monroe, as there were fewer rebel pickets in that direction. They therefore kept the York River railroad to the left, and moved toward the Chickahominy river. They passed through Boar Swamp, and crossed the road leading to Bottom Bridge. Sometimes they waded through mud and water almost up to their necks, and kept the Bot- tom Bridge roai to their left, although at times the^ 19 290 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICKRS AM) MEN. could see and hear the cars travelling over the York River road. While passing through the swamp near the Chicka- hominy, Colonel Kendrick sprained his ankle and fell. Fortunate, too, was that fall for him and his party, for while he was lying there one of them chanced to look up, and saw in a direct line with them a swamp bridge, and in the dim outline they could perceive that parties with muskets were passing over the bridge. Tl>ey therefore moved some distance to the south, and afier passing through more of the swamp, reached the Chickahominy about four miles below Bottom Bridge, Here now was a difficulty. The river was only twenty feet wide, but it was very deep, and the refugees were worn out and fatigued. Chancing, however, to look up, Lieutenant Bradford saw that two trees had fallen on either side of the river, and that their branches were interlocked. By crawling up one tree and down the other, the fugitives reached the east bank of the Chicka- hominy. They subsequently learned from a friendly negro that, had they crossed the bridge they had seen, they would assuredly have been recaptured, for Captain Turner, the keeper of Libby Prison, had been out and posted guards there, and in fact had alarmed the whole country, and got the people up as a vigilant committee to capture the escaped prisoners. After crossing over this natural bridge they laid down on the ground and slept until sunrise on the morning of the 11th, when they continued on their way, keeping eastwardly as near as they could. Up to this time they had had nothing to eat, and were almost famished. DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. 2l)l About noon of the llth they met several negroes, who gave them information as to the whereabouts of the rebel pickets, and furnished them with food. Acting under the advice of these friendly negroes, they remained quietly in the woods until darkness had set in, when they were furnished with a comfortable supper by the negroes, and after dark proceeded on their way, the negroes (who everywhere showed their friend- ship to the fugitives) having first directed them how to avoid the rebel pickets. That nigtit they passed a camp of rebels, and could plainly see the smoke and camp fires. But their wearied feet gave out, and they were compelled to stop and rest, having only marched five miles that day. They started again at daylight on the 13th, and after moving awhile through the woods they saw a negro woman working in a field and called her to them. From her they received directions and were told that the rebel pickets had been about there looking for the fugitives from Libby. Here they laid down again, and resumed their journey when darkness set in, and marched five miles, but halted till the morning of the 14th, when the journey was resumed. At one point they met a negress in a field, and she told them that her mistress was a secesh woman, and that she had a son in the rebel army. The party, however, were exceedingly hungry, and they determined to secure some food. This they did by boldly approaching the house and, informing the mistress that they were fugi- tives from Norfolk, who had been driven out by Butler ; and the secesh sympathies of the woman were at once aroused, and she gave th'^m of her substance, and started 292 DARING ENTERPRISES OF OFFICERS AND MEN. them on their way, with directions how to avoid the Yankee soldiers, who occasionally scouted in that vicin- ity. This inforraat*'>n was exceedingly valuable to the refugees, for by it tney discovered the whereabouts of the Federal forces. When about fifteen miles from Williamsburg the party came upon the main road and found the tracks of a large body of cavalry. A piece of paper found by Cap- tain Jones satisfied him that they were Union cavalry ; but his companions were suspicious, and avoided the road and moved forward. At the "Burnt Ordinary" (about ten miles from Williamsburg) they awaited the return of the cavalry that had moved up the road, and from behind a fence corner, where they were secreted, the fugitives . saw the flag of the Union, supported by a squadron of cav- alry, which proved to be a detachment of Colonel Spear's 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, sent out for the purpose of picking up escaped prioners. Colonel Kendrick says his feelings at seeing the old flag are indescribable. At all points along the route the fugitives describe their reception by the negroes as most enthusiastic, and there was no lack of white people who sympathized with them and helped them on their way. In their escape the officers were aided by citizens of Richmond ; not foreigners or the poor class only, but by natives and persons of wealth. They know their friends there, but very properly withhold any mention of their names. Of those who got out of Libby Prison there were a number of si^^k ones, who were cared for by Union people, and wil eventually reach the Union lines through their aid. MOTHER BICKERDYKE,"THE SOLDIERS' FRIEND." Among the many noble women who have contributed BO largely to the comfort of our sick, wounded, and ex- hausted soldiers in the Western armies, there is none more deserving the title of the " Soldier's Friend " than Mrs. Bickerdyke. She is of humble origin, and of but moderate education, a widow, with two noble and beau- tiful little boys, somewhat more than forty years of age, we should judge, with a robust frame and great powers of endurance, and possesses a rough, stirring eloquence, and earnestness of manner which has proved very effec- tive in carrying measures on which she has set her heart. At the commencement of the war, she was, we have heard, housekeeper in a gentleman's family in Cleveland, but she commenced very early her labors of love and kindness among the sick and wounded men of the army, and continued them with ever increasing success till tho close of the conflict. It has been one of her peculiai' ities that she devoted her attention exclusively or nearly 80 to the private so'diers. The officers, she said, had 294 ARMY LIFE IN TAMP, FIELD, AND EOSPITAL. enough to look after them ; but it was the men, poor fellows, with but a private's pay, a private's fare, and a private's dangers, to whom she was particularly called. They were dear to somebody, and she would be a mother to them. And throughout the war, she has contended etoutly and almost always successfully^ for their rights and comfort. The soldiers all over the Western armies knew her and fairly idolized her, as well they might. But woe to the surgeon or assistant surgeon, the com- missary or quartermaster, whose neglect of his men and selfish disregard for their interests and needs came under her cognizance. For such a one she had no mercy, and in more instances than one, by the fierce torrent of her invective, or the more effective method of appealing to the commander of the army, with whom ghe always had great inliuence, she procured their dis- missal from the service. Her will was strong, and when she had determined to do a thing it would be carried through, whatever obstacles might present themselves ; yet while officers even of high rank stood appalled and yielded to her commands, urged as they often were in a tone and .manner which brooked no denial, she was gentle and tender as a mother to the common soldiers. The contrabands regarded her as almost a divinity, and would fly with unwonted alacrity to obey her commands. Her authority, however, great as it was, was used most beneficently; and with every day her influence w^as greater with the commanding generals, who saw, in her, an instrument of great good to the army. At Perry- ville she set the negro women to gathering the blankets and clothing left upon that bloody field, and such of the clothing of the slain and desperately wounded as could ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 295 be spared, and having had it carefully washed and re- paired, distributed it to the wounded, who were in great need of additional clothing. The arms left on the field were also picked up by her corps of contrabands and delivered over to the Union quartermaster. Not long after Bhe was put in charge of the Gayoso Hospital, in what was formerly the Gayoso Hotel, one of the largest hotels in Memphis. Here she was in all her glory. It was her ambition to make her hospital the best regulated, neatest, and most comfortable in Memphis or its vicinity, and this, in such a building, was not easy. She accom- plished it, however. It was usual in the hospitals there as elsewhere to employ convalescent soldiers as nurses, ward masters, etc., for the drudgery of the hospital ; and as these were often weak, and occasionally peevish and ill-tempered from their own past or present sufferings, it may be imagined that they did not always make the best of nurses. Mrs. Bickerdyke substituted negro women for these duties, and the improvement was ppeedily manifest. Herself a skilful and admirable cook, she superintended the preparation of all the food for the sick or wounded, and often administered it in person. Nothing displeased her so much as any neglect of the men on the part of the surgeon or assistant Burgeons On one occasion, visiting one of the wards at nearly eleven o'clock A. M., where the men were very badly wounded, she found that the assistant surgeon- m-charge, who had been out " on a spree " the night before and had slept very late, had not yet made out the special diet list for the ward, and the men, faint and hungry, had had no breakfa<*t. She at once dei ounced him in the strongest terms. 296 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSPITAL. He came in meanwhile, and on his inquiry, " Hoiiy toity, what's the matter?" she turned upon him with, " Matter enough, you miserable scoundrel ! Here these men, any one of them worth a thousand of you, are suffered to starve and die, because you want to be off upon a drunk ! Pull off your shoulder-straps," she continued, as he tried feebly to laugh off her reproaches, "pull off your shoulder-straps, for you shall not stay in the army a week longer." The surgeon still laughed, but he turned pale, for he knew her power. She was as good as her word. Within three days, she had caused his discharge. He went to headquarters, and asked to be reinstated. General Sherman, who was then in command, listened patiently, and then inquired who had caused his discharge. " I was discharged in conse- quence of misrepresentations," answered the surgeon, evasively. '' But who caused your discharge ?" persisted the general. " Why," said the surgeon, hesitatingly, " I suppose it was that woman, that Mrs. Bickerdyke." *' Oh," said Sherman. " Well, if it was her, I can do nothing for you. She ranks me." Some months later, the chief surgeon of the hospital, a martinet in discipline, was dissatisfied at Mrs. Bicker- dyke's innovations, though he acknowledged the admira/- ble order and neatness of the hospital ; he knew that she valued highly her well trained corps of negro women employed as nurses, etc., in the hospital, and he, there- fore, procured from the medical director an order that none but convalescent soldiers should be employed as nurses in the Memphis hospitals. The order was to take effect at nine o'clock the following morning. Mrs. Bick- erdyke heard of it just at night. The Gayoso Hospital ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSriTAL. 297 was three fourths of a mile from headquarters; it vma raining heavily, and the mud was deep; but nothing daunted, she sallied out, having first had the form of an order drawn up permitting the employment of contra- bands as nurses at the Gaj-oso Hospital. Arrived at the headquarters, she was told that the commanding general, Sherman's successor, was ill, and could not be seen. She understood very well that his illness was only intoxicar tion, and insisted that she must and would see him, and, in spite of the objections of the staff officers, she forced her way to his room, and, finding him in bed, roused him partially, propped him up, put a pen in his hand, and made him sign the order she had brought. This done, she returned to her hospital, and the next morn- ing, when the surgeon and the medical director came round to enforce the order of the latter, she flourished in their faces the order of the commanding general, pei- xnitting her to retain her contrabands. While in charge of this hospital, she made several journeys to Chicago, and other cities of the northwest, to procure aid for the suffering soldiers. The first of these was characteristic of her energy and resolution. She had found great difficulty in procuring, in the vicinity of Memphis, the milk and butter needed for her hospital, and the other hospitals had also been but scantily sup- plied. She resolved to have a dairy for the hospitals, and going among the farmers of central Illinois she begged two hundred cows, and as eggs were required in large quantities she obtained also, by her solicitations, a thousand hens, and returned in triumph with her drove of cows and her flock of hens. On reaching Memphis her cattle and fowls made such a lowing and cackling 298 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. that the rebel sympathizing inliabitants of the city entered their complamts, and the commanding general assigned her an island in the Mississippi opposite the city, where her dairy and hennery were comfortably accommodated. We are not certain whether it was on this journey or the next that, at the request of Mrs. Hage and Mrs. Lovemore, of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, Bhe visited Milwaukee. The Ladies' Aid Society of that city had memorialized the Chamber of Commerce of the city to make an appropriation to aid them in their efforts for helping the soldiers, and were that day to receive the reply of the Chamber. Mrs. Bickerdyke went with the ladies, and the President of the Chamber, in his blandest tones, informed them that the Chamber of Commerce had considered their request, but that they had expended so much in the fitting out of a regiment, that they thought they must be excused from making any contributions to the Ladies' Aid Society. Mrs. Bickerdyke asked the privilege of replying. For half an hour she held them enchained, while she described, in simple but eloquent language, the life of the soldier, his privations and sufierings, the patriotism Avhicli ani- mated him, and led him to endure, without murmuring, hardships, sickness, wounds, and even death itself, for his country. She contrasted this with the sordid love of gain which not only shrunk from these sacrifices in person, but grudged the pittance necessary to alleviate them, and made the trifling amount which it had already contributed an excuse for making no further contribu- tions, and clased with this forcible denunciation: "And you, merchants and rich men of Milwaukee, Jiving at AKMT LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 299 your ease, dressed in your broadcloth, knowing little and caring less for the sufferings of the soldiers, from hunger and thirst, from cold and nakedness, from sickness and wounds, from pain and death, all incurred that you may roll in wealth, and your homes and your little ones be safe. You will refuse to give aid to these poor soldiers, because, forsooth, you gave a few dollars some time ago to fit out a regiment. Shame on you — you are not men — ^^^ou are cowards — go over to Canada — this country has no place for such creatures !" The Chamber of Com- merce was not prepared for such a rebuke, and they re- considered their action, and made an appropriation at once to the Ladies' Aid Society. When Rosecrans moved forward from Murfreesboro in June, 1863, Mrs. Bickerdyke, tired of the confine- ment of the hospital, joined the army in the field again, and amid all the hardships and exposures of the field, ministered to the sick and wounded. Cooking for them in the open air, under the burning sun and the heavy dews, she was exposed to disease, but her admirable constitution enabled her to endure fatigue and exposure, better even than most of the soldiers. Though neat and cleanly in person, she was wholly indifferent to the attractions of dress, and amid the flying sparks from her fires in the open air, her calico dresses would often take fire, and as she expressed it, '' the soldiers would put her out ;" i. e., extinguish the sparks which were burn- ing her dresses, till they became completely riddled. It was with her clothing in this plight that she again visited Chicago, in the summer of 1863, and the ladiea of the Sanitary Commission replenished her wardrobe, an^ soon after sent her a box of excellent clothing for iJOO ARiTY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. her own use. Of this, some articles, the gift of those who admired her earnest devotion to the interests of the Boldier, were richly wrought and trimmed. Among them were two heautiful night-dresses, trimmed with ruffles and lac 3. On receiving the box, Mrs. Bickerdyke, who was again for the time in charge of a hospital, re- serving for herself only three or four of the plainest and cheapest articles, traded off the remainder, except the two nightrdresses, with the rebel women of the vicinity , for butter, eggs, and other delicacies for her sick soldiers; and as she purposed going to Cairo soon, and thought that the night-dresses would bring more for the same purpose in Kentucky, she reserved them to be traded on her journey. On her way, however, at one of the towns on the Mobile and Ohio railroad (Jackson, we believe), she found two poor fellows who had been discharged from some of our hospitals with their wounds not yet fully healed, and their exertions had caused them to break out afresh. Here they were, then, in a miserable shanty, sick, bleeding, hungry, penniless, and with only their soiled clothing. Mrs. Bickerdyke at once took them in hand. Washing their wounds and stanching the blood, she tore off the lower portions of the night- dresses for bandages, and as the men had no shirts, she arrayed them in the remainder of these dresses, ruffles, lace, and all. The soldiers modestly demurred a little at the ruffles and lace, but Mrs. Bickerdyke suggested to them that if any inquiries were made, they could say that they had been plundering the secessionists. Visitmg Chicago at this time, she was again invited to go to Milwaukee, and went with the ladies to the Chamber of Commerce. Here she was very pohtely re* ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 30J ceived, and the President informed her that the Chamber, feeUng deeply impressed with the good work she and the other hidies were doing in behalf of the soldiers, had voted a contribution of twelve hundred dollars a month to the '* Ladies' Aid Society." Mrs. Bickerdyke was not, however, disposed to tender them the congratulations to which perhaps they believed themselves entitled for their liberality. '' You believe yourselves very generous, no doubt, gentlemen," she said, " and think that because you have given this pretty sum, you are doing all that is required of you. But I have in my hospital a hun- dred poor soldiers, who have done more than any of you. Who of you would contribute a leg, an arm, or an eye, instead of what you have done ? How many hundred or thousand dollars would you consider an equivalent for either ? Don't deceive yourselves, gentle- men. The poor soldier who has given an arm, a leg, or an eye to his country (and many of them have given more than one), has given more than you have, or can. How much more, then, he who has given his life ? No ! gentlemen, you must set your standard higher yet, or you will not come up to the full measure of liberality in giving." Mrs. Bickerdyke was on the field in the battles of November, 18G3, around Chattanooga, and in the hospitals of Chattanooga during the winter. In May, 1864, she and Mrs. Porter, of Chicago, both in the service of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, followed Sher man's Anny in the march to Atlanta: being present at every battle, and ministering to the wounded and the exhausted soldiers. Her great executive ability had fair play here, and with few or none of the ordinary 302 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSPITAL. apparatus for cooking, or preparing needed dishes fot the sick, she would manage to make barrels of delicious coffee, manufacture panada and gruel out of hard tack, and other food for th'^ sick from the most unpromising materials. It is said that soon ifter General Grant took com- mand at Chattanooga, in the autumn of 1863, she visited his headquarters, and in her rough, blunt way, paid to him, " Now, General, don't be a fool. You want your men to do a great deal of hard fighting, but the Burgeons here, in the hospitals, are neglecting them shamefully, and you will lose hundreds of men who would do you good service unless you see to it yourself. Disguise yourself so that the surgeons or men won't know you, and go around to the hospitals and see for yourself how the men are neglected." "• But, Mrs. Bickerdyke," said the general, '^ that is the business of my medical director, he must attend to that. I can't see to every thing in person." " Well," was her reply, " leave it to him if you think best ; but if you do, you will lose your men." The general made no promises, but a night or two later the hospitals were visited by a stranger, who made very particular inquiries, and within a week nearly half a dozen surgeons were dismissed, and more efficient men put in their places. After the capture of Atlanta, Mrs. Bickerdyke re- turned northward, stopping for a time, we believe, at Nashville. In January, 1865, she went to Savannah to superintend one of the hospitals there. Generous to a fault, Mrs. Bickerdyke has never been influenced, even in the slightest degree, by mercenary AR\[Y LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL- 303 motives. Much of her service lias been rendered wi thout fee or reward, and when the necessity of providing for the care and education of her boys has compelled her to receive compensation, it has been only in such amount as would suffice for that purpose. Yet her eminent services, many of them such as none but her- self could have rendered, richly deserve a noble testi- pionial The Romance of "War. — The following order is said to have originated at the headquarters of that correct disciplinarian, Major-Genera^l Rosecrans : — "Headquarters Department op the Cumberland, April 17, 1863 " General: — The general commanding directs me to call your attention to a flagrant outrage committed in your command — a person having been admitted hiside your lines without a pass and in violation of orders. The case is one which calls for your personal attention, and the general commanding directs that you deal with the offending party or parties according to law. '' The medical director reports that an orderly sergeant in Brigadier-General 's division was to-day delivered of a hahy — which is in violation of all military law and of the army regulations. No such case has been known since the days of Jupiter. " You will apply the proper punishment in this casa and a remedy to present a repetition of the act." 30-i ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND nOSPITAL. THE DEATH OF JOHN, THE WEST VIRGINIA BLACKSMITH. Miss L. M. Alcott, the accomplished daughter of A. B. Alcott, the Concord philosopher, and the bosom friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was for a time a nurse in one of the hospitals for the wounded in the vicinity of Washington, D. C, She subsequently published a little volume, entitled *' Hospital Sketches," in which the life, heroism, and death of some of our brave fellows, wounded in the struggle for the nation's life, are por- trayed with a graphic power which has never been sur- passed. Among these descriptions of hfe and death in the hospital, none surpasses, in beauty and pathos, the story of John, the West Virginia Blacksmith. Miss Alcott is in one of the wards of the hospital, ministering to the sick, when a messenger from another ward comes m with the expected yet dreaded message : "John is going, ma'am, and wants to see you if you can come." " The moment this boy is asleep ; tell him so, and let me know if I am in danger of being too late." The messenger departed, and while I quieted poor Shaw, I thought of John. He came in a day or two after the others; and one evening, when I entered my "pathetic room," I found a lately emptied bed occupied by a large, fair man, with a fine face, and the serenest eyes I ever met. One of the earlier comers had often spoken of a friend who had remained behind that those apparently worse wounded than himself might reach a AKMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 305 dnelter first. It seemed a David and Jonathan sort of friendship. The man fretted for his mate, and was never tired of praising John — his courage, sobriety, self- denial, and unfailing kindliness of heart ; always wind- big up with : "He's an out an' out fine feller, ma'am; you see if he aint." I had some curiosity to behold this piece of excel- lence, and when he came, watched him for a night or two, before I made friends with him ; for, to tell the truth, I was a little afraid of the stately looking man, whose bed had to be lengthened to accommodate his commanding stature; who seldom spoke, uttered no complaint, asked no sympathy, but tranquilly observed what went on about him; and, as he lay high upon his pillows, no picture of dying statesman or w^arrior was ever fuller of real dignity than this Virginia blacksmith. A most attractive face he had, framed in brown haii and beard, comely featured and full of vigor, as yet ui> subdued by pain; thoughtful and often beautifully mild while watching the afflictions of others, as if entirely forgetful of his own. His mouth was grave and firm, with plenty of will and courage in its lines, but a smile could make it as sweet as any woman's ; and his eyes were child's eyes, looking one fairly in the face with a clear, straightforward glance, which promised well for such as placed their faith in him. He seemed to chug to life as if it were rich in duties and delights, and he had learned the secret of content. The only time I saw his composure disturbed, was w^hen my surgeon brought another to examine John, who scrutinized their faces with an anxious look, asking of the elder : " Do you think I shall pull througly, sir ?" " I hope so, my 20 i06 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSFITAL. man." And, as the two passed on, John's eye still fol lowed them, with an intentness which would have won a clearer answer from them, had they seen it. A mo- mentary shadow flitted over his face: then came the usual serenity, as if, in that brief eclipse, he had ac- knowledged the existence of some hard possibility, and, asking nothing yet hoping all things, left the issue in God's hands, with that submission which is true piety. The next night, as I went my rounds with Dr. P., I happened to ask which man in the room probably suifered most ; and, to my great surprise, he glanced at John : " Every breath he draws is like a stab ; for the ball pierced the left lung, broke a rib, and did no end of damage here and there; so the poor lad can find neither forgetfulness nor ease, because he must lie on his wounded back or suffocate. It will be a hard struggle, and a long one, for he possesses great vitality ; but even his temperate life can't save him ; I wish it jould." *' You don't mean he must die, doctor ?" ^* Bless you, there's not the slightest hope for him ; and you'd better tell him so before long ; women have a way of doing such things comfortably, so I leave it to you. He wont last more than a day or two, at furthest." I could havQ sat down on the spot and cried heartily, if I had not learned the wisdom of bottling up one's tears for leisure moments. Such an end seemed very hard for such a man, when half a dozen worn-out, worthless bodies round him, were gathering up the rem- nants of wasted lives, to linger on for years, perhaps, bur ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. o07 dens to others, daily reproaches to themselves. The army needed men like John, earnest, brave, and faith- ful ; fifijhting for liberty and justice with both heart and hand, true soldiers of the Lord. I could not give him up so soon, or think with any patience of so excellent a nature robbed of its fulfilment, and blundered into eter- nity by the rashness or stupidity of those at whose hands so many lives may be required. It was an easy thing for Dr. P. to say : " Tell him he must die," but a cruell}'' hard thing to do, and by no means as "comforta- ble" as he politely suggested. I had not the heart to do it then, and privately indulged the hope that some change for the better might take place, in spite of gloomy prophecies, so rendering my task unnecessary. A few minutes later, as I came in again, with fresh rollers, 1 saw John sitting erect, with no one to support him, while the surgeon dressed his back. I had never hitherto seen it done; for, having simpler wounds to attend to, and knowing the fidelity of the attendant, I had left John to him, thinking it might be more agreeable and safe; for both strength and experience were needed in his case. I had forgotten that the strong man might long for the gentler tendance of a woman's hands, the sympathetic magnetism of a woman's pres- ence, as well as the feebler souls about him. The doc- tor's words caused me to reproach myself with neglect, not of any real duty, perhaps, but of those little cares and kindnesses that solace homesick spirits, and make the heavy hours pass easier. John looked lonely and forsaken just then, as he sat with bent head, hands folded on his knee, and no outward sign of suffering, till, looking nearer, I saw great tears roll do^vn and drop 308 ARMY UFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. upon the floor. It was a new sight there ; for, though 1 had seen many suffer, some swore, some groaned, most endured silently, but none wept. Yet it did not seem weak, only very touching, and straightway my fear vanished, my heart opened wide and took him in, as gathering the bent head in my arms, as freely as if he had been a little child, I said, " Let me help you bear it, John." Never, on any human countenance, have I seen so swift and beautiful a look of gratitude, surprise, and comfort, as that which answered me more eloquently than the whispered — " Thank you, ma'am ; this is right good ! this is what I wanted !" "Then why not ask for it before?" " I didn't like to be a trouble ; you seemed so busy, and I could manage to get on alone." " You shall not want it any more, John." Nor did he j for now I understood the wistful look that sometimes followed me, as I went out, after a brief pause beside his bed, or merely a passing nod^ while busied with those who seemed to need me more than he, because more urgent in their demands ; now I knew that to him, as to so many, I was the poor substitute for mother, wife, or sister, and in his eyes no stranger, but a friend who hitherto had seemed neglectful; for, in his modesty he had never guessed the truth. This was changed now ; and, through the tedious operation of probing, bathing, and dressing his wounds, he leaned against me, holding my hand fast, and, if pain wrung further tears from him, no one saw them fall but me. When he was laid down again, I hovered about him, m ARMY LirE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 309 a remorseful state of mind that would not let me rest, till I had bathed his face, brushed his " bonny brown hair," set all things sm )oth about him, and laid a knot of heath and heliotrope on his clean pillow. While doing this, he watched me with the satisfied expression I so liked to see ; and when I offered the little nosegay held it carefully in his great hand, smoothed a ruffled leaf or two, surveyed and smelt it with an air of genuine delight, and lay contentedly regarding the glimmer of the sunshine on the green. Although the manliest man among my forty, he said, '' Yes, ma'am," like a little boy ; received suggestions for his comfort with the quick smile that brightened his whole face ; and now and then, as I stood tidying the table by his bed, I felt him softly touch my gown, as if to assure himself that I was there. Any thing more natural and frank I never saw, and found this brave John as bashful as brave, yet full of excellencies and fine aspirations, which, having no power to express themselves in words, seemed to have bloomed into his character and made him what he was. After that night, an hour of each evening that re- mained to him was devoted to his ease or pleasure. He could not talk much, for breath was precious, and he spoke in whispers ; but from occasional conversa- tions, I gleaned scraps of private history which only added to the affection and respect I felt for him. Once he asked me to write a letter, and as I settled pen and paper, I said, with an irrepressible glimmer of feminine curiosity, "Shall it be addressed to wife or mother, John?" " Neither, ma'am ; I've got no wife, and will write to 810 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AlO) HOSPITAL. motlier myself when I get better. Did you think I was married because of this ?" he asked, touching a plain ring he wore, and often turned thoughtfully on hi* finger when he lay alone. "" Partly that, but more from a settled sort of look you have, a look which young men seldom get until they marry." " I don't know that ; but I'm not so very young, raa'am, thirty in May, and have been what you might call settled this ten years'; for mother's a widow, I'm the oldest child she has, and it wouldn't do for me to marry until Lizzy has a home of her own, and Laurie's learned his trade ; for we're not rich, and I must be father to the children and husband to the dear old woman, if I can." " No doubt but you are both, John ; yet how came you to go to war, if you felt so ? Wasn't enlisting as bad as marrying ?'* '^ No, ma'am, not as I see it, for one is helping my neighbor, the other pleasing myself I went because I couldn't help it. I didn't want the glory or the pay ; 1 wanted the right thing done, and people kept saying the men who were in earnest ought to fight. I was in earnest, the Lord knows ! but I held oflf as long as I could, not knowing which was my duty ; mother saw the case, gave me her ring to keep me steady, and said ' Go :' so I went." A short story and a simple one, but the man and the mother were portrayed better than pages of fine writing could have done it. " Do you ever regret that you came, wh^n you li« here sufferino; so much ?" ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 311 " Never, ma'am ; I haven't helped a great deal, but Fve shown I was willing to give my life, and perhaps I've got to ; but I don't blame anybody, and if it was to do over again, I'd do it. I'm a little sorry I wasn't wounded in front; it looks cowardly to be hit in the back, but I obey id orders, and it don't matter in the end, I know." Poor John ! it did not matter now, except that a shot in front might have spared the long agony in store for him. He seemed to read the thoughts that troubled me, as he spoke so hopefully when there was no hope, for he suddenly added : " This is my first battle ; do they think it's going to be my last?" " I'm afraid they do, John." It was the hardest question I had ever been called upon to answer ; doubly hard with those clear eyes fixed on mine, forcing a truthful answer by their own truth. He seemed a little startled at first, pondered over the fateful fact a moment, then shook his head, with a glance at the broad chest and muscular limbs stretched out before him : " I'm not afraid, but it's difficult to believe all at once. I am so strong it don't seem possible for such a little wound to kill me." Merry Mercutio's dying words glanced through my memory as he spoke : " 'Tis not so deep as a well, nor eo wide as a church door, but 'tis enough." And John would have said the same could he have seen the omi nous black holes between his shoulders : he never had ; and, seeing the' ghastly sights about him, could not be 512 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. lieve his own wound more fatal than these, for all the Buffering it caused him. '* Shall I write to your mother, now ?" I asked, think- ing that these sudden tidings might change all plans and purposes ; but they did not ; for the man received the order of the Divine Commander to march with the Bame unquestioning obedience with which the soldier had received that of the human one, doubtless remember- ing that the first led him to life and the last to death. " No, ma'am ; to Laurie just the same ; he'll break it to her best, and I'll add a line to her myself when you get done." So I wrote the letter which he dictated, finding it better than any I had sent ; for, though here and there a little ungrammatical or inelegant, each sentence came to me briefly worded, but most expressive ; full of ex- cellent counsel to the boy, tenderly bequeathing " mother and Lizzie" to his care, and bidding him good-by in words the sadder for their simplicity. He added a few lines, with steady hand, and, as I sealed it, said, with a patient sort of sigh, *' I hope the answer will come in time for me to see it;" then, turning away his face, laid the flowers against his lips, as if to hide some quiver of emotion at the thought of such a sudden sundering of all the dear home ties. These things had happened two days before; now John was dying, and the letter had not come. I had been summoned to many death-beds in my life, but to none that made my heart ache as it did then, simce my mother called me to watch the departure of a spirit akin to this in its gentleness and patient strength. As I went in, J( hn stretched out both hands : ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 313 " I knew you'd come ! I guess I'm moving on, ma'am." He was ; and so rapidl}'^ that, even while he spoke, over his face I saw the C!;rav vail flxUinfi; that no human hand can lift. I sat down by him, wiped the drops from his forehead, stirred the air about him with the slow wave of a fan, and waited to help him die. He stood in sore need of help — and I could do so little ; for, as the doctor had foretold, the strong body rebelled against death, and fought every inch of the way, forcing him to draw each breath with a spasm, and clench his hands with an imploring look, as if he asked, " How long must I endure this and be still !" For hours he suffered dumbly, without a moment's respite, or a mo- ment's murmuring ; his limbs grew cold, his face damp, his lips white, and again and again he tore the cover- ing off his breast, as if the lightest weight added to his agony ; yet through it all his eyes never lost their per- fect serenity, and the man's soul seemed to sit therein, undaunted by the ills that vexed his flesh. One by one the men woke, and round the room appeared a circle of pale faces and watchful eyes, full of awe and pity ; for, though a stranger, John was beloved by all. Each man there had wondered at his patience, respected his piety, admired his fortitude, and now lamented his hard death ; for the influence of an upright nature had made itself deeply felt, even in one little week. Presently, the Jonathan who so loved this comely David came creeping from his bed for a last look and word. The kind soul was full of trouble, as the choke in hi«^ voice, the grasp of his hand, betrayed ; 314 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. but there were no tears, and the farewell of the friendi was the more touching for its brevity. " Old boy, how are you ?" faltered the one " Most through, thank heaven !" whispered the other. " Can I say or do any thing for you anywheres ?" " Take my things home, and tell them that I did my best." " I will ! I will !" " Good-by, Ned." " Good-by, John, good-by !" They kissed each other, tenderly as women, and bo parted, for poor Ned could not stay to see his comrade die. For a little while, there was no sound in the room but the drip of water from a stump or two and John's distressful gasps, as he slowly breathed his life away. I thought him nearly gone, and had just laid down the fan, believing its help to be no longer neded, when sud- denly he rose up in his bed, and cried out with a bitter cry that broke the silence, sharply startling every one with its agonized appeal : ** For God's sake, give me air !" It was the only cry pain or deafh had wrung from him, the only boon he had asked ; and none of us could grant it, for all the airs that blew were useless now. Dan l!ung up the window. The first red streak of dawn was warming the gray east, a herald of the coming sun; John saw it, and with the love of light which lingers in us to the end, seemed to read in it a sign of hope of help, for over his whole face there broke that mysterious expressic n, brighter than any smile, which often comes to eyes that look their last. He laid himself gently down, and stretching out his strong right arm, as if to ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSFITAL. 315 grasp aud bring the blessed air to his lips in a fuller flow, la])sed into a merciful unconsciousness, which assured ua that for him suffering was forever past. He died then ; for, though the heavy breaths still tore their way up for a little longer, they were but the waves of an ebbing tide that beat unfelt against the wreck, which an immor- tal voyager had deserted with a smile. He never spoke again, but to the end held my hand close, so close that when he was asleep at last, I could not draw it away Dan helped me, warning me, as he did so, that it waa unsafe for dead and living flesh to lie so long together; but though my hand was strangely cold and stiff, and four white marks remained across its back, even when warmth and color had returned elsewhere, I could not but be glad that through its touch, the presence of human sympathy, perhaps, had lightened that hard hour. When they had made him ready for the grave, John lay in state for half an hour, a thing which seldom hap- pened in that busy place ; but a universal sentiment of reverence and afiection seemed to fill the hearts of all who had known or heard of him ; and when the rumor of his death went through the house, always astir, many came to see hira, and I felt a tender sort of pride in my lost patient ; for he looked a most heroic figure, lying there stately and still as the statue of some young knight asleep upon his tomb. The lovely expression which so often beautifies dead faces, soon replaced the marks of pain, and I longed for those who loved him best to see him when half an hour's acquaintance with Death had made them friends. As we stood looking at him, the ward mastei handed me a letter, saying it had been foi> gotten the night befoi >. Tt was John's letter, come jus* 31C ARWY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD. AND HOSPITAL. an hour too late to gladden the eyes that had Icnged and looked for it so eagerly : yet he had it ; for, after I had cut some ])ro\vn locks for his mother, and taken off the ring to send her, telling how well the talisman had done its work, I kissed this good son for her sake, and laid the letter in his hand, still folded as when I drew my own away, feeling that its place was there, and making myself happy with the thought, that even in his solitary place in the " Government Lot," he would not be with- out some token of the love which makes life beautiful and outlives death. Then I left him, glad to have known so genuine a man, and carrying with me an enduring memory of the brave Viginia blacksmith, as he lay serenely waiting for the dawn of that long day which fcnows no night. ROBINSON, THE WOUNDED SOLDIER. Miss Dun lap, a Philadelphia lady, who devoted her- self with great assiduity to the care of the wounded sol- diers in the hospitals, which were so numerous around that city, has related some incidents of her experience in the hospitals in a most charming volume, entitled " Notes of Hospital Life," a work deserving of much wider circulation than it received. Among these incidents there is perhaps none more louching than those she relates concerning Robinson, a Boldier of the Army of the Potomac, wounded at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, and whom soon after that battle dhe found in one of the wards of the hospital she waa ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 817 most accustomed to visit, with his arm bandaged from fthoulder to finger-tip, and who was whistling a bright, cheerful tune in a voice of uncommon sweetness. Coming up to him, she said, '^ I am glad you can whistle : it shows you are not suffering so much as I feared when I saw your bandages." He smiled, but said nothing ; and she noticed, as she came closer, that large drops of perspiration were stand- ing in beads upon his brow; his one free hand was tightly clenched, and a nervous tremor ran over his whole frame. One of the patients in a neighboring bed, who had become somewhat acquainted with Miss Dunlap, now spoke : "Ah, miss, you don't know Robinson yet; he's a new fellow, and we all laugh at him here ; he says when the pain's just so bad he can't bear it nohow, he tries to whistle with all his might, and he finds it does him good." " Whether," says Miss Dunlap, " from the suspension of this novel remedy for acute suffering, or a sudden in- crease of pain, I cannot tell ; but, as I turn to Robinson for a confirmation of this singular statement, the large tears are in his eyes, and roll slowly down his cheeks. He tries to smile, however, and says : " ' Oh, yes ; it does help me wonderfully ; it kind of makes me forget the pain, and think I'm at home again, where I'm always whistling. Nothing like keeping up a good heart. It don't always ache like this — only in spells — it'll stop after a bit. Never mind me, ma'am, Tm not half so bad as poor Darlington there.' " The gentle, unselfish, and patiei ^ sufferer who could 318 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. thus attempt to subdue an^ control the anguish of hia wounds, by whistling up tb*^ bright memories of home, soon became a prime favorite in the hospital, where he was long detained by the severity of his wounds. "• His left arm," says Miss Dunlap, " was terribly shat- tered, just below the shoulder, and injuring the shoul- der blade ; and for a long time his case was a \Qiy criti- cal one, requiring the most close and constant watching. He was entirely confined to his bed for many tedious weeks, and yet I know not why I should apply that term to the time so passed ; for they were certainly never * tedious' to us, although we felt great anxiety for him, and we never had any proof that they were so to him. Patient and uncomplaining, the only sign he gave of suffering, save the contraction of his brow, was the constant effort to whistle away the pain, and his moans in his sleep. There was always something inexpressi- bly sad to me in these moans ; it seemed as though the body were compensating itself, during sleep, for the powerful restraint imposed upon it during waking hours. " I have rarely seen greater unselfishness in any one. During his illness, it was all-important to keep up his strength, for as the wound began to heal, one abscess followed another, and kept him much prostrated; we, therefore, tried to tempt his appetite in every way; and often, when I have brought him some delicacy, he has pointed me to some one near him, with the words : * Please give it to him ; he cares for such things more than I do.' " His love for his mother, and anxiety to spare her all unnecessary suffering on l:is account, was very ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 319 beautiful, and attracted me to him from the first. His weakness was so great that he was utterly unable, for a long time, even to feed himself, and, of course, could not write. When I offered to do so for him, he declined, saying, that she knew, through a friend, that he was here; and that the sight of a strange hand, with the conviction that it would bring that he was too ill to write for himself, would be worse for her than to wait for a little w bile. " One day, some time afterward, I came to his bed- side, and found a paper lying there with a few unmean- ing scratches, as I thought, upon it; he held them up to me. " ' The best I could do.' " * What were you trying to do ?' said I ; * did you mean that for drawing ?' "A look of intense disappointment passed over his face. " ' I was afraid so,' said he ; * then it would frighten her, as I thought. I meant it for my signature, and I've looked at it, 'and looked at it, and hoped it didn't look as bad as I thought, at first; but if you ask what I'm trying to do, when you see it, the game's up, and it's no use.' " I assured him that such a signature would be stronger proof of the real state of the case than any letter I could send telling the facts, and giving the reasonable ground for hope which we now felt. But he still preferred to wait ; and ere very long we found, by pinning the paper to the table, to keep it firm, he could execute a tolerably legible epistle. The weeks rolled on, and, by slow degrees, he regained his strength ; his 320 AKMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. bright, hopeful disposition, even temper, and uniform ch ;eil"uhiess, were great aids to his recovery; and we watched his improvement with great satisfaction, and at laat had the pleasure of seeing him able to be up, and even out, for a short time. " He came to me, one morning, in our ladies* room, saying, ' Miss , would it be troubling you too much to ask you to write to mother ?' " ^Brought to it at last !' said I. 'Why do you ask me now, Robinson, when you have refused so often before, and can write for yourself?' " * That's just it ; she wont believe what I say; thinks I'm fooling her, and pretending to be better than I really am ; and has an idea they're going to take my arm off, and I'm keeping it from her; and I thought if you'd just write, and tell her it wasn't coming off, she'd be sure to believe you.' " * Sure to believe a stranger in preference to her own son, Robinson ? Does that tell well for the son.' " * Yes, ma'am, I think so; she knows you could have no object in deceiving her ; while the thing I care most for in the world is to keep her from fretting, and she knows it.' " There was no combating this reasoning, and in a short time I received a beautiful answer to my letter, well written and well expressed, confirming all that Robin- son had told us : that he was the youngest son, and had always been carefully and tenderly brought up; that he had two brothers, the only other children — one had gone to Texas, before the breaking out of the rebel- lion, and never having heard from him since, they feared hfj had been pressed into the rebel service ; fortunately ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 321 she had never heard, and I trust, now, never may hear what Robinson had told us — that while pressing on at the Battle of Fair Oaks, over heaps of the enemy's dead, he saw an upl urncd face on the field — wounded or dead, lie knew not which — that face, he said, he never could mistake — it was that of his brother ! "AYe tried to convince him that this was most impro- bable — that his imagination was excited at the time, and that the dread that such a thing might happen had been ' fatli(T to the thought ;' but in vain ; we never could persuade him to the contrary ; and yet, whether from a doubt in his mind, or the dread of the pain it must cause, he never, as we afterward found, had made any allusion to the subject in his letters home. " One morning, after he had been able to be about, and even out for some weeks, I was surprised, on going into his ward, to find him in bed again. " ' Why, Piobinson, I am sorry to see you there! What have you been doing ?' " He hesitated, twisted the end of his coverlid, but made no answer. *' ' Nothing wrong, I'm very sure of that. It wasn't your own fault, was it ?' said I, fearing he thought 1 doubted him, as so many of the relapses here are caused by excess, the moment the men are able to be out, and I well knew there was no such danger here. " He looked up at me, at once, with his clear, honest eyes, and said, * Yes, Miss , all my own fault j but I thought she worried so ' " * Your motier?' I questioned. " * Yes, ma'a n ; and if I could just slip my arm into my coat-sleeve long enough to have my picture taken, 21 522 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. she'd see it was better, and it would set her mind at rest more than all the letters I could write.' " So to satisfy this mother's heart, the poor wounded ehoulder had been forced into his sleeve, giving him, aa it did, several weeks of added sufiering and confinement to his bed. Can any one wonder that such a man should have won his way to our hearts ; or at our regret, when we found he was to be transferred to another hospital, at some distance from the city ? We thus lost sight of him for many months. Several times when I asked after him at our own hospital, I was told that he had been there but a short time since ; sometimes the week before ; sometimes only the day before ; but it so hai> pened that we never met. His wound they told me was far from well, varying very much ; some days giving hope that it would heal, and then bursting out again. I bad received many and urgent letters from his mother, before he left us, begging me to use all the influence 1 could bring to bear, to have him transferred to a hospi- tal near his home (this was of course before the present order on the subject had been given) ; but on ajDplying to the surgeon, I found that he considered his wound far too serious to attempt the journey, and that Robinson so fully agreed with him. that I wrote the poor disappointed mother to that eJ0fect, trying to console her with the hope of restoring him to her, ere very long, perfectly cured. The winter slipped away ; the pressure of present ho^ pital duties and interests had almost crowded out all thoughts of Robinson, when I am surprised, one sunny April afternoon, to receive a note from one of our lady visitors, telling me of Robinson's extreme illness, and that it is scarcely supposed he can recover. ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSriTAL. 323 " An hour later finds M. and myself driving rapidly out to tlio hospital where he now is ; and here we are at the gates; how shall we enter? Ah ! we do not now fear a guard with a bayonet, as we should have done some time since ; and fifteen minutes more suffices for all the neces- sary * red tape' connected with admittance, and we are at the door of Robinson's ward, listening to the ward- master's answer to our question : " ' Yes, ladies, walk in ; but he wont know you ; he's too low, and he's flighty all the time.' " ' Wont know us !' Robinson not know us ! We cannot believe that ; but see ! he is leading the way ; and we follow to a bed where lies a man tossins; restr- lessly, and talking or rather muttering to himself in an indistinct tone ; his bandaged shoulder and arm resting on a pillow, for an operation has been performed — a large piece of bone extracted — and the result still doubt- ful. Doubtful ? No ; too certain ; that face is enough. Poor mother in your western home, you can never look upon your boy, till you meet at the final Bar, in the presence of your Judge ! God in his mercy grant thai it may be to spend a happy eternity together ! "And yet, as we stand, we find ourselves almost doubt- ing whether this can really be our merry, laughing, whistling Robinson. Little hope, indeed, that he will recognize us, but let us try. " ' Robinson, do you know me ?' He starts, and in a moment the vacant gaze changes into one of his old bright smiles of recognition. " * Know you ! Why shouldn't I know you ? How long it is. Miss , since I have seen you — and you too,' added he, stretching out his hani to M. j but even 324 ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. as lie spoke, liis expression changed, and his mind wandered again. "And this was the end of all our care — this the result of so many weary months of suffering. He seemed pleased at our coming, and would answer any direct question, but could not sustain a conversation of even a few moments. We found our old friend, Hiandsome Harry,' of concert memorj^, who had been transferred at the same time, established here as Robinson's devoted nurse, although enth'ely unable to move without crutches. He told us that the surgeon had told him that morning, that if his family wished to see him he had better telegraph for them at once. Robinson heard us, and catching the Avord ' telegraph,' said quickly, ' Don't telegraph ; father's poor, and he might come on; I'll be better soon, and get a furlough, and go out to them.' " ^ But, Robinson,' said I, ' you are very ill ; perhaps you may not be better, and you would like to see your father.' " 'I don't think I am very ill — they said so to-day; but I think I'll come round soon.' " The next moment he was on the field, and evidently going over the fatal ' Fair Oaks ' fight. *' His friend Harry told us that it had been his most earnest desire and longing to see his father ; and that he had urged him some days ago, if he should l)e worse, to let them know at home. I therefore wrote the telegram on his table, and we drove to the office on our ret-irn to the city, that no time might be lost. " I was detained at home for the two succeeding days ; bt.t some of our ladies went out to see him each day, as he was ?. general favorite ; one lady going in a pour- ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIL'LD, AND HOSPITAL. 325 iug rain, although she knew that she would have nearly a mile to walk after leaving the cars ; their report of the case was most unfavorable. On the third day, the Rev. Mr. , who had been a most constant and faith- ful friend to Robinson, in our hospital, went out with Die. When we arrived, we found him in a terrible state of excitement; he had been talking, and was now almost shrieking, and dashing himself from side to side. *' ' It's no use speaking to him to-day,' said the ward master ; ' he don't know anybody.' *' But once again I tried it, and once again he extended Lis hand, and repeated my name, and then said, 'And Mr. , how very kind in him to come !' "I sat down by him, and tried to soothe and calm that dreadful restlessness ; his mind was too much gone for words, I only gently stroked his brow, and fanned him. * I am out on the water ; out on the water !' was his one cry, from a low tone ascending till it amounted almost to a scream. Truly he was 'out on the water,' and where was compass or chart for the final voyage ? Those words, with the constant repetition of his brother's name, were the last I ever heard him utter. The only moment of calmness I noticed, was when Mr. knelt at his bedside, and repeated those soul-soothing prayers, from the ' Visitation of the Sick.' He attempted no conversation, for we well knew Robinson was in no state to bear it. We had felt, from the first, that prayer for him was all that we could offer ; not witli him, as his intervals of consciousness were merely momentary. Ilis father had not ycit arrived, and there appeared little hope that he could now do so in time, as he was very much lower than on m^ last visit, and evidently sinking 326 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. As our presence could give him no comfort, we left him with heavy hearts. " When I reached there the next day, I found that an order had been given prohibiting all admittance for visitors to his ward, as the surgeon thought that Rotan- Bon had been excited by those he had seen the day before, but that his flither had come, and that we could see him ; he had arrived that morning. " There are few things connected with this hospital work which I recall with more pleasure than the simple, earnest gratitude of this bronzed and weather-beaten old man, for the trifling kindnesses which we had been able to olBfer to his boy. There was something about him altogether so real, so honest, genuine, and smcere, that one could not help feeling drawn to him at once. He was a rough, plain Western man, primitive in the extreme; but no one could listen to him without the consciousness that a warai, true, noble heart, beat beneath that uncouth exterior. *' Had the telegram been a day later he could not have reached here for nearly a week longer. The train, which only runs on certain days, left the morning after he received the news ; he had travelled night and day, making every connection, and performing the journey as rapidly as it could be done. His boy, he said, had recognized him, and he was pleased to find him better than he had hoped for. He thought with care he would get well now, and he was going at once to telegraph the good news to his wife. "We were thunderstruck; how could he be so deceived? For although we had not seen Robinson that day, w 3 well knew he was in a condition from ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 327 which he could not rally. It seemed, therefore, no kindness to allow his mother to be tortured with false hope, and we earnestly represented (hard as it seemed to do so) that the surgeons did not look for any im- provement; but all in vain — he had seen sickness — he had seen doctors mistaken before now — his boy was going to get well ; so he accompanied us to the telegraph station, and sent his message. That evening I was told some one wanted to see me, from the hospital, and on going out, was met by the words, ^ Miss , my boy's gone, my boy's gone !' and a burst of sobs, which seemed as though it must shake that poor old frame to pieces. " He had scarcely left, in the morning, to send his hopeful telegram, when the change took place, and Robinson breathed his last just as his father reached his bedside. The blow fell heavier, as we had feared, from the strong hope he had persisted in entertaining, and even then it seemed as though he were too much bewildered and stunned to realize fully what had oo* curred. There was something inexpressibly touching in the grief of that poor, bowed-down old man, shattered as he was, too, by hard travel and loss of rest ; and yet I hardly knew how to comfort him, or to answer that sad appeal, ^ How can I go back to his mother without him ?' Deep grief must ever bear with it a reverence of il3 own, and this seemed something one scarcely dared meddle with. "He said the funeral was to take place the next afternoon, and begged that the ladies who had been so kind to him would b« present for his mother's sake ; he 628 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. thought it would comfort her to know it. I readily con- sented, and promised to inform the others. *' He rose to go, and drawing a little paper from his pocket, said: ^I thought maybe you might care for this; it is a lock of my boy's hair, which I cut off for you, and I thought his mother would be glad to know you had it.' "I expressed my feelings in a few words, which seemed to soothe and gratify him. '' That poor mother seemed never out of his thoughts; and again and again would he repeat that piteous ques- tion, ' How can I go back to her without him ?' " But he need not have feared ; that mother's heart was anchored on the Rock which alone can withstand the storms of earth. Listen to but one sentence from her first letter (to one of the ladies, who had been a kind and constant correspondent), after that sad return. " *At first it seemed I could not bear it. My bright- faced, joyous boy — my sunbeam ! But soon came the thought, how. short the journey would be for me to go to him, and that my sunbeam would now shed its ray upon me from the sky, to light my path onward and upward.' "It would be of little avail to go into the dreary details of that dreariest afternoon. Touching in the extreme did it seem to see the little band (for the ladies willingly agreed to the request to be present) take their places as mourners with the father; mourners in reality, though so lately strangers ; mourners, for we claimed a right to grieve ; for was it not, as I have said, a young life given for our country as well as his ? — for the one ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 329 common cause which forms so strong a bond between all loyal hearts ? "A heavy, pouring rain added to the general gloom ; the only comfort came from the words of our Burial Service, which must always fall with blessed balm upon the sorrowful soul. It was performed at his father's re- quest, and with the permission of the surgeon in charge, by Robinson's kind and true friend, the Rev. Mr. , to whom I have alluded before. ' ' It was a long, long time ere I could forget the face of that broken-hearted old father, as — every thing over — he stood at the door, as we drove off, leaving him lonely and desolate among strangers. He was to start that night alone, in the rain, on his sad, homeward journey, and seemed to long to keep us with him to the last; and how we longed to stay to comfort him ! But we must say good-by, and with a long, warm grasp of that rough hand, we parted, and one more hospital sor- row was over. " Brave, gentle, heroic heart ! The aching limb, the suffering frame, tlie strained, excited nerves are stilled forever. Robinson sleeps in a land of strangers ; but the turf that covers that ' soldier's grave' will be mois- tened and kept green by the tears of those who can never forget that bright example of noble unselfishness Hud beautiful patience under severest suffering and trial/' 330 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSl'ITAL. Challenging tue Sentinel. — It was the custom of tLe colonel of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers to make the rounds every night in person, and satisfy himself that every sentinel was at his post and doing his duty. On one occasion, while in the discharge of that self-imposed duty, he approached a post, and re- ceived the challenge as usual, " Who comes there ?" "Friend with the countersign," was the colonel's reply. Here the poor sentinel was at a loss. The rest of his instructions had been forgotten. The colonel was a very particular man, and insisted that every thing should be done exactly right. So, after spending con- siderable time in the endeavor to impress the ''role" upon the mind of the sentinel, he suggested that 7ie would act as sentinel while the other should personate the colonel. " Blinky" — for such was this soldier's surname in the regiment — moved back a few paces and then turned to approach the colonel. " Who comes there ?'* challenged the colonel. "TF/iy, Blinhy ; clorit you Tctu/w me, colonel?'' This was too much for even so patient and forbearing a man as Colonel Howell. "As green as verdigris/* thought he. The gun was handed over, and the colonel passed on to the next post, meditating upon the vanity of all earthly things in general, and of things military in particular. ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 331 RACHEL SOMERS, THE NOBLE MOTHER. Mr. J. R. GiLMORE (Edmund Kirke) relates an incident wliicli occured under his own observation in East Ten- nessee, which proves that the Spartan mother who gave her sons the charge, as she handed them their shields, " Come back with these, or upon them !" has been far surpassed in lofty heroism by an American, Christian mother. A chaplain of one of the regiments of the Army of the Cumberland, whom he was visiting, invited him to accompany him to the regimental hospital. " One of my boys is dying," he said — " a Tennessee boy, wounded at Stone river. He has lingered long, but now is going." Mr. Gilmore continues : Walking rapidly across the open fields, we entered, at the end of a short half hour, a dingy warehouse in the very heart of the city. About fifty low cots were ranged along the two sides of a narrow, cheerless apart- ment on the ground floor of this building, and on one of them the wounded soldier was lying. His face was pallid, his eyes were fixed, a cold, clammy sweat was on his forehead — he Avas dying. Sitting at his feet was a lad of sixteen ; and kneeling at his side, her hand in his, was a middle-aged woman, with worn garments, and a thin, sorrow-marked face. " You are too late ! He is almost gone," said the col- onel of the regiment, as we paused before the group. The chaplain made no reply, but slowly uncovered his head, for the dying man was speaking. *' Mother," he said, "good-by. And you, Tom, good 33:i AIIMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. by. Be of good heart, mother. God will take care of yoa, and save — save the ." A low sound then rattled in his throat, and he passed away, with the name of his country on his lips. The mother bent down and closed the eyelids of her dead son ; and then, kissing again and again his pale face, turned to go away. As she did so, the chaplain, taking her hand in his, said to her : *' The Lord gave : the Lord hath taken away." Looking up to him with tranquil fiice and tearless eyes, the woman answered : " * Blessed be the name of the Lord.' They have mur- dered my husband, Mr. Chapl'in, my oldest boy, and now John, too, is gone." Then, laying her hand on the shoulder of her living son, she turned to the colonel, and while her voice trembled a very little, she added : " He's all I've got now, Mr. Gunnel — give him John's place in the rigiment." A tear rolled down the colonel's weather-beaten cheek, and he turned his face away, but said nothing. There was a convulsive twitching about the chaplain's firm-set mouth, as lie said : " The SpaTtan mother gave only two sons to her country : would you give three .?" " I'd give all — all I've got, Mr. Chapl'in," was the low answer. And this was a " poor white" woman ! Her words Bhould be heard all over the land. They should go down in history, and make her name — Rachel Somebs — immorta.^ ARMY LIFE IN" CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSPITAL. 333 THE SOLDIERS' GUARDIAN ANGEL. Among those who have sacrificed all the comforts of life, the pleasures of society, and the delights of intellec- tual culture and association for the still higher and holier joy of ministering to those, who, on our great battle fields, have fiiUen in defence of their country, there is none more deserving of a nation's gratitude and enduring remem- brance than Miss Clara H.. Barton. Of an excellent family in Massachusetts, a family num- bering among its connections some of the most eminent citizens of the Old Bay State, highly educated, and though modest and difiident in manner, possessing ex- traordinary executive ability, and an active and self-re- liant disposition, this young and gifted woman, from the time of the wounding of our soldiers in Baltimore, gave herself wlioll}^ to the work of ministering to the sick and wounded soldiers of the Army of the Potomac, At first, owing to the obstacles which were in the way of the per- sonal ministrations of women unconnected with the Sani- tary Commission in the field, she confined her labors to the hospitals, and to the sending of supplies by trust- worthy distributers to the army in the field, from Wash- ington. Soon, however, this ceased to satisfy her patri- otic heart, wliich longed to give to the wounded heroes, on the battle field or in the field hospitals, those gentle ministries which woman only can bestow. After a severe mental struggle with those conventional ideas which de- clared it altogether improper for a young ladj^ unpro- tected, to go even on ai errand of mercy into the army. 334 ARMY LIFK IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. she went first with a car load of supplies to Culpepper Court House, just after the disastrous battle of Cedar Mountain, on the 9th of August, 1862. Returning to Washington, she obtained the assistance of other ladies and one or two gentlemen as companions in her labors of love, and with another car load of supplies reached the battle field of Bull Run at the close of the second struggle of that name, on the 30th of August, 1862. Her coming here was almost like an angel's visit. The sur- geons, overworked by the sad necessities of that bloody fray, which had come upon a succession of previous battles, were just ready to give out and abandon their work in despair. They were without bandages, without cordials, without lights, without food for themselves or the wounded, when just at the moment of despair, Miss Barton, who, finding that locomotives could not be made to work, had impressed into her service some mules, who dragged the car along the rickety track, drove up her- self, greatl}'^ exhausted with her exertions, but with every thing that was needed, bandages, cordials, lights, and food, and by her own ministrations of gentleness and tenderness, recalled to life and hope many who were already far on their way into the land of shadows. She remained on the field, amid great personal peril, during the next two days, ministering to the wounded from the battle of Chantilly, even when surgeons fled from the field. By the 3d of September, the army with its wounded were safe under the shelter of the fortifica- tions around Washington, and her vocation for the mo- ment had ceased. Three days later they were march- ing in long columns northward to meet the foe in i\Iary- land, and a great battle was evidently impending near AR.MY LIFE IM CAMP, FIELD, AND IIOSriTAL. 335 the Pennsylvania border. Miss Barton promptly sought the opportunity of carrying aid and succor to those who were destined to sutler in the impending battle. But the place where the battle would be fought was unknown, and transportation almost wholly unattainable. With great difficulty, her friend, General Rucker, superinten- dent of transportation, managed to spare her a single army wagon and one teamster. Loading this with such supplies as her experience had taught her would be needed, and accompanied only by Mr. C. M. "Welles, a mis- sionary of the Free Mission Society, she started, on the morning of Sunday, September 14th, 1862, to follow the route of the army, riding in the army wagon, and sleep- ing in it at night. On her route she purchased all the bread she could find at the farm-houses. After three days of travel over the dusty roads of Maryland, she reached Burnside's corps after dark on the night of the 16th, and found the two armies lying face to face along the opposing ridges of hills that bound the valley of the Antietam. There had already been heavy skirmishing, far away on the right, where Hooker had forded the creek, and taken position on the opposite hills ; and the air was dark and thick with fog and exhalations, with the smoke of camp-fires, and the preparations for the fierce struggle of the morrow. There was little sleep that night, and as the morning sun rose bright and beautiful over the Blue Eidge, and its rays lit up what was soon to become the valley of death, the firing on the right was resumed. Reinforce- ments soon began to move along the rear to Hooker's support. Believing that the place of danger was the place of duty, Miss Barton ordered her mules to be hai 336 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AXD HOSPITAL. ncsscd, and took her place in the swift moving train of artillery that was passing. On reaching the scene of action, they turned into a field of tall corn and drove through it to a large barn. They were close upon the line of battle; the rebel shot and shell flew thickly around and over them; and in the barnyard and among the corn, lay wounded and bleeding men — the worst cases — ;]ust brought from the places where they had- tallen. The army medical supplies had not yet arrived, nor the Sanitary Commission stores, which indeed did not come till one or two days later ; the small stock of dressings brought by the surgeons was exhausted, and the surgeons, in their desperate necessity, were endeav- oring to make bandages out of corn husks. Miss Barton opened to them her stock of bandages and dressings, and with her companion in travel proceeded to procure soft bread dipped in wine for the wounded and fainting. In the course of the day she picked up twenty-five men who had come to the rear with the wounded, and set them to work administering restoratives, bringing and applying water, lifting men into easier positions, check- ing hemorrhages by extemporized tourniquets, and the use of styptics, etc., etc. At length her supply of bread was exhausted, but fortunately a part of the liquors she had brought was found to have been packed in meal, and she at once determined to prepare gruel for the men. The farm-house to which the barn belonged was discov- ered at a little distance, and on searching its cellar she found three barrels of flour and a bag of salt which had been hidden there by the rebels the day before. Kettles were collected from the house, and the preparation of gruel commenced on a large scale, and as fast as cooked ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELP, AND HOSPITAL. 337 It was carried in buckets and distributed along the line I'or miles. On the ample piazza of the house were ranged the operating tables, where the surgeons with terrible rapidity performed their fearful work; and on that piazza Miss Barton kept her place from before noon till nightfall, preparing gruel, ministering to the wounded, and directing her assistants, the whole time directly under the fire of one of the fiercest battles of the war. Before night her face was as black as a negro's, and her lips and throat parched with the sulphurous smoke of battle. But night came at last, and with it a cessation of the deadly conflict. The dead and wounded lay everywhere. Amid the rows of corn, in the barn, in the yard, and on the piazza, and in the rooms of the house, they were laid so thickly that it was difiicult to move between the rows. As the night closed in, the surgeon in charge look. 4 despairingly at a bit of candle, and said it was the only one on the place, and no one could stir till morning A thousand men dangerously wounded and suflfering fearfully with thirst lay around that building, and if not succored many must die before the morning's light. It was a fearful thing to die alone and in the dark, but for aught he could see, it must come to that. Miss Barton replied, that profiting by her experience at Chantilly, she had brought with her thirty lanterns and an abun- dance of candles. It was worth a journey to Antietam to see the joy and hope that beamed from the faces of the wounded, when they learned that they were not to be left in darkness through that long, sad night, and found that it was due to her careful forethought which had provided for the^'r needs. On the morrow the 22 338 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. fighting had ceased, but the work of caring foi the wounded was resumed and continued all day. On the third day the regular supplies arrived, and Miss Barton having exhausted her small stores, and finding that her protracted fiitigue and watching was bringing on a fever, tiirned her course toward Washington. It was with difficulty that she was able to reach home, where she was confined to her bed for some time. About the 23d of October, 1862, another great battle being expected in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, she left "Washington with a well appointed and heavily laden train of six wagons and an ambulance, with seven team, eters and thirty-eight mules. The government furnished transportation and the support of its teamsters, but the supplies were mostly procured from her own means or the contributions of friends. Her teamsters were rough and ruffianly fellows, who had no disposition to be com- manded by a woman, and who mutinied when they had gone but a few miles. Perfectly self-possessed and digni- fied in her manner. Miss Barton directed them to proceed, and stated to them the course she should pursue if they continued insubordinate, and they sulkily returned to their duty, venting their oaths and imprecations, however, on every thing in their way. She overtook the army as it was crossing the Potomac below Harper's Ferry. Her teamsters refused to cross. She summoned them to her ambulance, and gave them the alternative of crossing peaceably and behaving themselves as they should, or of being instantly dismissed and replaced by soldiers. They knew very well that their dismission under such circumstances would be followed by their arrest and punishment, a'd having become convinced by this time ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 339 that this gentle and winning woman possessed sufficient resolution and determination to act promptly and vigor- ously, the}' yielded, and from that day forward gave her nc further trouble, obeying readily her every request. The expected battle did not come off, but in its place there was a race for Richmond between the opposing armies. The Army of the Potomac had the advantage of interior lines, keeping for some time along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, while the rebel army followed the course of the Shenandoah. There was a struggle at every gap in the Blue Ridge, the rebels usually gaining possession of the pass first, and endeavoring to surprise some portion of the Union army as it passed, or to capture a part of the supply trains. Thus every day brought its battle or skirmish, and its additions to the list of the sick and wounded ; and for a period of about three weeks, until Warrenton Junction was reached, the national army had no base of operations, nor any reinforcements or supplies. The sick were carried all this time over the rough roads in ambulances or the hard, jolting army wagons. Miss Barton with her wagon train accompanied the Ninth Army Corps, as general purveyor for the sick. Her original supply of comforts was very considerable, and her men contrived to add to it every day such fresh provisions as could be gathered from the country. At each night's encampment, they lighted their fires and prepared fresh food and necessary articles of diet fox the moving hospitals. Through all that long and pain- ful march from Harper's Ferry to Fredericksburg, those wagons constituted the hospital, larder, and kitchen for all the sick within reach. At Warrenton Junction she left h ^r train in charge of a friend like-minded with 310 ARMT LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. herself, and hastened to Washmgton for fic^h supplies, with which she soon rejoined the army at Falmouth. Tlie great and disastrous battle of Fredericksburg waa approaching, and she felt that there was ample work for her to do. The Lacy House, at Falmouth, where she had her quarters at ftrst, was a mark ibr the enemy's lire, and more than one sliell crashed through the house, and passed her as she was engaged in her work of mercy, but she was too calm and fearless to be disturbed by them. At the time of the attack of the 11th of December, she was at the bank of the river, and received the wounded Union men, as well as the Rebel wounded who were brought over as prisoners. An incident which occurred at this time may serve to show the spirit oi the woman. Among those who were brought to the hither shore of the Rappahannock was a rebel lieuten- ant, mortally wounded, a man of culture and intelhgence. Her sympathies and ministrations were bestowed alike upon friend and foe; that a man was wounded and suffering was ever a suflBcient passport to her kindly offices. Thus it happened that this young rebel officer was tenderly cared for, and though it was evident that his life could not be prolonged, his pains were assuaged, his suffering alleviated, and the passage into the dark valley smoothed by her care and attention. He waa deeply grateful for these kindnesses received from the hands of those whom he had regarded as enemies, and, seeing that she was about to cross the river to Fred- ericksburg, where her services were needed to organize the temporary hospitals there, he beckoned to her, and, in a voice broken by the pangs of dissolution, implored her not to go over. He unfolded to her, in gratitude ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 341 for her kindness, the plan of the rebel commander to draw the Union army into a trap, by withholding his fire till they had all crossed the Rappahannock, and then ojDcning upon them from all his batteries, which oovpred every point of their progress. lie assured her that to cross over was to go to certain death, and begged, that for his sake and that of the thousands of wounded sure to need her services, she would remain on that side of the Rappahannock. Of course she could not reason with him, but her mind was made up that she must cross the river ; the soldiers of the Ninth Army Corps, to whom she had so often ministered, were there, and she could not let them fall in the fierce battle that was impending, without being near them to minister relief and comfort to soul and body. Accordingly she went over, and was received with the most cordial of welcomes by the Ninth Corps, who regarded her as almost their guardian angel. She at once organized hospital kitchens, provided supplies for the wounded, and when the wounded men were brought in, sought to alleviate their sufferings. While thus engaged, one day, Bome soldiers came to her quarters, bringing an elegant Axminster carpet, whose great weight almost crushed them to the ground. " What is this ?" asked Miss Bar- ton. ''A carpet we have brought for your quarters," answered the soldiers. " Where did you get it ?" asked Miss Barton. " Oh ! we confiscated it !" the soldiers replied promptly. "No! No!'* said Miss Barton, "that will never do. Government confiscates, but soldiers, when they take such things, steal ! I thank you for the kind spirit which prompted you to bring it to ra€, and am very sorry, but you must carry it back 342 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. to tne house from which you took it." The soldiers pcratched their heads, looked sheepishly at each other,but finally gathered up the carpet, and with infinite pains tugged it back to the house from which they had taken it In the skilfully managed retreat from Fredericksburg, she remained till the wounded were mostly across, and then tripped across the pontoon bridge just before ita removal. On the Falmouth side she established a private kitchen and hospital for the wounded, and oc- cupied an old tent, while her train was encamped round her, performing the cooking in the open air, though it was midwinter. When the wounded from the attack on the rebel batteries were recovered by flag of truce, fifty of them were brought to her camp at night. They had lain for several days in the cold, and were badly wounded, famished, and almost frozen. She had the snow cleared away promptly, large fires built, and the men wrapped in blankets. An old chimney was torn down, the bricks heated in the fire, and placed around them. She prepared warm and palatable food and hot toddy for them, and they were allowed to partake of both freely enough to insure them a comfortable night's Bleep, and in the morning the medical officers took them in charge. Soon after General Hooker superseded Gen- eral Burnside, Miss Barton went to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to be present at the combined military and naval attack to be made on Charleston on the 7th of April. That attack, it will be remembered, was a failure, though not accompanied with much loss of life. Miss Barton remained at Hilton Head for several weeks, visiting the hospitals, and caring for the welfare of a iear brother, who was an officer in the army there ; but ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 343 when General Gillmore moved on his expedition against Morris Island, she could no longer remain away from her work, and accompanied Llie expedition. Pitching her tent on the sand of Morris Island, and herself en- gaging in the drudgeries of the kitchen, she ministered to the soldiers, who, amid the burning heat of the Southern sun, were besieging simultaneously Fort Sum- ter and Fort Wagner, and awaited the fierce and bloody assaults which she knew were coming. When Wagner was stormed and the assault repulsed, she went to the relief of the wounded, wading through the deep sand, and putting the cool water and the refreshing restora- tives to their parched lips, while she staunched their bleeding wounds, and brought life and healing to those that were ready to perish. Throughout that long, hot summer, when all who could fled to cooler climes, she toiled on. " Some one," she said, " must see to these poor wounded and fever-stricken men, and, as others could not or would not, it seemed to be her duty to do it." More than once her health seemed about to give way, but she held out, and did not leave the island till winter, when, she said, she had become so accustomed to the shriek of the shells from Gillmore's monster guns, that she could not sleep at first, when no longer lulled to slumber by their music. In January, 1864, she re- turned to the North, and after a brief visit to her friends m Massachusetts and New York, returned to Washing- ton, and employed herself in preparation for the great cami)aign of the summer of 1864. Her great services were recognized by the Government, and she was as- signed to a position of usefulness and responsibility in conncv^ion with the Army of the James, in which. 344 ARMY LIFP. IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. with the liberal supplies at her command, she was able to accomplish perhaps as much for the soldiers' comfort during this protracted campaign as in all her previous history. In January, 1865, she was recalled to Wash ington by the sickness and death of a brother and nephew, and did not again join the army in the field. She could not rest, however, while the soldiers were suf- fering, and after spending some time at Annapolis in the care of the poor fellows who had suffered so cruelly in the rebel prisons, she returned to Washington, and, with the sanction of President Lincoln, commenced the work of making a systematic record of the missing soldiers of the Union armies, and ascertaining their whereabouts, condition, and fate. The organization of this bureau of correspondence in relation to the missing soldiers required records, and the employment of six or eight clerks, beside an infinity of labor on her part. At the request of the Secretary of War, she visited Andersonville with Captain James M. Moore and Dorrence Atwater, a soldier who had been a prisoner there, and superintended the establishment of a cemetery there, and the erection of headboards for the thirteen thousand Union dead there, the greater part of them murdered by the inhumanities of rebel ofl&cers and guards. In this bureau of cori'e- spondence and her previous labors in behalf of the sol- dier. Miss Barton had exhausted her own patrimony and resources, and partly in payment for these expenditures, and partly to enable her to keep up her organization, which was of very great value to Government, especially in regard to pensions, Congress made an appropriation 10 her, in January, 1866, of fifteen thousand dollars. To few persons, however heartily disposed they may ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSPITAL. 345 have been to undertake the work, has been vouchsafed BO firm a constitution, and such rare executive ability as have been granted to Miss Barton ; and these gifts, added to a sound judgment, a clear head, and a zeal which Dever flags, have enabled her to accomplish a vast imount of good for the army. History will record few examples of higher, more earnest, and more continuous patriotic endeavor, than those which have graced the name of this young and gifted woman. To lior belongs pre-eminently, the noble title, often bestowed ii[)()n her, of "The Soldier's Guardian Angel." Military Etiquette. — Lieutenant , of the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, at one of the posts in the Department of the South, while on duty in a carriage, had the kindness to favor a staff officer with a ride. On meeting a private of a colored regiment, who paid the required salute, which was properly returned by the lieutenant, the following dialogue, in substance, ensued : Staff Officer. — " Do you salute niggers?" Lieutenant. — " He is a soldier ; and he saluted me." Staff Officer. — " I swear that I wont salute a nigger.** Lieute?iant. — " The regulations require you to return # salute." Staff Officer. — " Curse such regulations ; I'll never sa- lute a nigger ; and I don't think much of a man that will.** Lieutenant — (coolly reining in his horse.) — " You can get out and walk, sir." The official was consigned to shoe leather and the Band, with the reflection, we could hope, that he was less of a man than a soldier. 346 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. A HEROINE AND MARTYR. From the anti-revolutionary period of our country*fl history few families have wielded a more potent influ- ence than the Breckinridges. Intellectually and physi- cally vigorous, they had never been wanting in patriots ism until the outbreak of the late Rebellion, when a scion of the house on whom the nation had showered its honors far beyond his deserts, a man who for four years had presided over its Senate and occupied the highest position but one in the Republic, took the fearful leap into treason, and, after doing what injury he could to the nation to which he owed so much in the Senate chamber, completed his infamy by entering the army of the rebels, where he soon became a major-general, though without achieving any considerable success. Like Lucifer of old he drew downward with him the third part of his family, and led them with him into the mire of rebellion ; but the old Spartan spirit yet remained in the family, bred by a mother who, in the time of the Revolution, sent her sons forth to fight for their country with the injunction, " Come back to me Hving or dead, as God may will it, but never with a wound in your acks !" There were a considerable number of clergymen in the different generations of the family, and for the most part they belonged to the church militant; men of great logical power, and loving dearly to fight a giant wrong. Among these was the presei t patriarch of the family, Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, who, during the ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AXD HOSPITAL. 347 war. with all the energy and ability of his great Intel lect, has fought against secession and rebellion. Such a spirit, too, were many of his kinsmen — sucl. would have been his brother, Rev. John Breckinridge, had he lived to see the day of trial, and such was the spirit of the children of that eminent departed minister. One of these, Judge Samuel Breckinridge, of St. Louis, has been one of the most earnest Union men of that region ; a man who has striven earnestly to undo, so far as lay in his power, the wrongs which his cousin, John C. Breckin- ridge, has done to his country. But among all the members of the family there was none who combined more perfectly the characteristics of the heroine, the saint, and the martyr, than the sister of the judge. Miss Margaret E. Breckinridge. She was highly educated, and gifted beyond most of her sex with intellectual ability, of fragile form, but attractive in per- son and manner, and possessing a soul all aflame with the holiest patriotism, and at the same time of the most angelic purity. Her love of her country and of its cause knew no limits, for it she was willing to sacrifice her property, her health, her life itself; and she counted no sacrifice dear which should enable her to fulfil the duty whach she felt she owed to its gallant defenders. From the first she had wielded her eloquent pen in its be- half, and early in the spring of 1862, she determined to consecrate herself to the work of caring specially for the sick and wounded soldiers. Her first experi- ences of hospital life were in the Baltimore hospitals, where she contracted the measles, and was sick for some time. Thence she went to Lexington, Ky., when it was in the possession of the rsbel General E. Kirby 348 AUMT LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. Smith. Her loyalty blazed out even while under the 8way of the rebels. Thence she went to St. Louis, where, afler some time spent in the hospitals, she pro- ceeded down the river in a hospital steamer to bring up the sick and wounded soldiers from Vicksburg and other points. After two of these trips, in which she went beyond her strength in her zeal for the poor stif- fering soldiers, she returned to St. Louis, to endeavor to recover her health, sadly impaired by her labors, and would visit the hospitals every day. In March, 1864, she went eastward to her friends, in hope of re- covering so far as possible, that she might again serve her country, or as she expressed it, in her communica- tion to the Sanitary Commission, " Do a little to atone for the great evils which some of her kinsmen had in- flicted upon her beloved country." Here, after some rest, she went into the Episcopal Hospital, Philadel- phia, and took lessons from the surgeons in the dress- ing of wounds and the medical care of the wounded, les sons which she hoped to be able to make serviceable on the field, but it was not so to be. Her brother-in-law, Colonel Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls, N. Y., had fallen in one of the fierce battles of that terrible cam- paign from the Rapidan to the James, and frail and ill as she was, her friends feared to communicate the sad event to her. At last they were obliged to let her know it, and she went at once to meet the family, who had come on to receive the body of the dead hero. She returned with them to Niagara, where, after an illness of five weeks, she fell ashep, whispering to a friend in her last conscious moir ints, " Underneath are the everlasting arms." ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 349 No memoir can do justice to the noble and patriotic spirit which so vivified and glorified every act of this young and gifted woman, but a few incidents, gathered by friends or culled from her letters, of her experience! in hospital life, may be of interest to our readers. Of her zeal for her country's cause and defenders, even when surrounded by its enemies, some idea can be formed from the following incident related in a letter to a friend : "At that very time, a train of ambulances, bringing our sick and wounded from Richmond, was leaving town on its way to Cincinnati. It was a sight to stir every loyal heart ; and so the Union people thronged »-ound them to cheer them up with pleasant, hopeful words, to bid them God speed, and last, but not least, to fill their haversacks and canteens. We went, think- ing it possible we might be ordered ofi* by the guard, hut they only stood off, scowling and wondering. "'Good-by,' said the poor fellows from the ambu- lances. * We're coming back as soon as ever we gel well.' " * Yes, yes,* we whispered, for there were spies all around us, *and every one of you bring a regimeni with you.' " When she first began to visit the hospitals in and around St. Louis, she wrote : " I shall never be satisfied until I get right into a hospital, to live till the war ia over. If you are constantly with the men, you have hundreds of opportunities and moments of influence in. which you can get their attention and their hearts, and do more good than in any missionary field." Once, on board a steamer, near Vicksburg, during o50 ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. the fearful winter siege of that city, some one said to her : "You must hold back, you are going beyond your strength, you will die if you are not more prudent." " Well," said she, with thrilling emphasis, " what if 1 do ? Shall men come here by tens of thousands and fight, and suffer, and die, and shall not some women be willing to die to sustain and succor them ?" A friend, who had been associated with her in her work of love, speaks of her thus : " With her slight form, her bright face, and her musical voice, she seemed a ministering angel to the sick and suffering soldiers, while her sweet, womanly purity, and her tender devo- tion to their wants, made her almost an object of worship among them. ^Aint she an angel?' said a grayheaded soldier, as he watched her one morning, while busily get- ting breakfast for the boys on the steamer ' City of Alton.' ' She never seems to tire, she is always smiling, and doii't seem to walk. She flies all but — God bless her !* Another, a soldier boy of seventeen, said to her, as she was smoothing his hair, and saying cheering words about mother and home to him, 'Ma'am, where do you come from ? How could such a lady as you are come down here to take care of us poor, sick, dirty boys ?' She answered : ' I consider it an honor to wait on you, and wash off the mud you've waded through for me.' Another asked this favor of her : ' Lady, please write down your name, and let me look at it, and take it home to show my wife who wrote my letters, and combed my hair, and fed me. I don't believe you are like other people.' " In one of her letters, she says : " I am often touched with their anxiety not *^o give trouble, not to bother^ as ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 351 the}- Fay. Tliat same evening I found a poor, ex- hausted fellow lying on a stretcher, on which he had just been brought in. There was no bed for him just then, and he looked uncomfortable enough, with his knapsack for a pillow. ' I know some hot tea will do you good,' I said. ' Yes, ma'am,' he answered, * but I am too weak to sit up with nothing to lean against ; it's no matter — don't bother about me;* but his eyes were fixed longingly on the smoking tea. Everybody was busy, not even a nurse in sight, but the poor man must huve his tea. I pushed away the knapsack, raised his head, and seated myself on the end of the stretcher, and, as I drew his poor tired head back upon my shoulder, half holding him, he seemed, with all his pleasure and eager enjoyment of the tea, to be troubled at my being so bothered with him. He forgot I had come so many hundred miles on purpose to he * bothered.'" Early in January of '63, Miss Breckinridge de- scended the Mississippi to Vicksburg, for the purpose of attending to the sick and wounded there, and rendering aid in bringing them up to St. Louis. It was a trip at- tended with great peril, because of the guerillas lying in ambush, and the bands of rebels ever on the watch for the steamers and transports as they passed, but her mission was too important to allow herself to dwell upon danger. She reached her destination in safety^ and returned to St. Louis on a small hospital boat, on which there were one hundred and sixty patients in care of herself and one other lady. A few extracts from 5ne of her letters will show what brave work it gave her to do : "It -w as on Sunday morning, 25th of January, 352 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. that Mrs. C. and I went on board the hospital boat which had received its sad freight the day before, and was to leave at once for St. Louis, and it would be im- possible to describe the scene which presented itself to me as I stood in the door of the cabin. Lying on the floor, with nothing under them but a tarpaulin and their blankets, were crowded fifty men, many of them with death written on their faces ; and looking through the half open doors of the state-rooms, we saw that they contained as many more. Young, boyish faces, old and thin from suffering, great, restless eyes that were fixed on nothing, incoherent ravings of those who were wild with fever, and hollow coughs on every side; this, and much more that I do not want to recall, was our welcome to our new work ; but, as we passed between the two long rows, back to our cabin, pleasant smiles came to the lips of some, others looked after us wonderingly, and one poor boy whispered, ' Oh, but it is good to see the ladies come in !' I took one long look into Mrs. C.'s eyes, to see how much strength and courage was hidden in them. We asked each other, not in words, but in those fine electric thrills by which one soul ques- tions another, ^Can we bring strength and hope and comfort to these poor, sufiering men ?' and the answer was, ' Yes, by God's help, we will.' The first thing was to give them something like a comfortable bed, and, Sunday though it was, we went to work to run up our sheets into bed sacks. Every man that had strength enough to stagger was pressed into the service, and by night most of them had something softer than a tarpau- lin to sleep on. 'Oh, I am so comfortable now!' some of them said ; ' 1 thii k I can sleep to-night,' exclaimed ARMY LIFE IN CAMl', FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 353 one little fellow, half laughing with pleasure. TV t next thing was to provide something that sick people could eat, for coffee and bread was poor food for most cf chem. We had two little stoves, one in the cabin ai J one in the chambermaid's room, and here, the whoh time we were on board, we had to do the cooking for a hundred men. Twenty times that day I fully madd up my mind to ny with vexation, and twenty times that day I laughed instead ; and surely, a kettle of tea was never made under so many difficulties as the one ] made that morning. The kettle lid was not be found, the water simmered and sang at its leisure, and when I asked for the poker, I could get nothing but an old bayonet, and, all the time through the ^lalf open door behind me, I heard the poor, hungry fellows asking the nurses, * "Where is that tea the lady promised me ?' or ' When will my toast come ?' But there must be an end to all things, and when I carried them their tea and toast, and heard them pronounce it •' plaguey good,' and ' awful nice,' it was more than a recompense for all the worry. " One great trouble was the intense cold. We could not keep life in some of the poor, emaciated frames. 'Oh, dear! I shall freeze to death!' one poor little fellow groaned, as I passed him. Blankets seemed to have no effect upon them, and at last we had to keep canteens filled with boiling water at their feet. " There was one poor boy about whom from the first I had been very anxious. He drooped and faded from day to day before my eyes. Nothing but constant stimulants seemed to keep him alive, and at last I summoned courage to tell him — oh, how hard it was !- - that he could not live many hours. *Are you willin'^ 23 554 ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. to die ?' T asked him. He closed his eyes and was silent a moment ; then came that passionate exclama- tion which I have heard so often — ' My mother ! Oh, my mother !' And to the last, though I believe God gave him strength to trust in Christ, and willingness to die, he longed for his mother. I had to leave him, and, not long after, he sent for me to come, that he was dying, and wanted me to sing to him. He prayed for himself in the most touching words ; he confessed that he had been a wicked boy, and then, with one last message for that dear mother, turned his face to the pillow, and died. And so, one by one, we saw them pass away, and all the little keepsakes and treasures they had loved and kept about them, laid away to be sent home to those they should never see again. Oh, it was heart-breaking to see that !" After the "sad freight" had reached its destination, and the care and responsibility are over, true woman that she is, she breaks down, and cries over it all, but brightens up, and looking back upon it, declares : "I certainly never had so much comfort and satisfaction in any thing in all my life, and the tearful thanks of those who thought in their gratitude that they owed a great deal more to us than they did, the blessings breathed from dying lips, and the comfort it has been to friends at tome to hear all about the last sad hours of those they love, and know their dying messages, all this is a nch and full and overflowing reward for any labor and for any sacrifice." And again, she says, "There is a soldier's song of which they are very fond, one verse of which often comes back to me : ARMY LIFE IN CAMl". FIKLD, AND HOSPITAL. 355 " 'So I've had a sight of drilling, And I've roughed it many days; Yes, and death has nearly had me, Yet I think the service pays.' ** Indeed it does — richly, abundantly, blessedly, and I thank God that he has honored me by letting rae do a little and suffer a little for this grand old Union, and the dear, brave fellows who are fighting for it." Early in June, 1864, Miss Breckinridge reached Niagara on her way to the East, where she remained for a month. For a year she had struggled against disease and weakness, longing all the time to be at work again, making vain plans for the time when she should "be well and strong, and able to go back to the hospitals.' With this cherished scheme in view, she went, in the early part of May, 1864, into the Epis- copal Hospital, Philadelphia, that she might acquire experience in nursing, especially in surgical :ases, so that in the autumn she could begin the labor of love among the soldiers more efficiently and confidently than before. She went to work with her usual energy and promptness, following the surgical nurses every day through the wards, learning the best methods of baud- aging and treating the various wounds. She was not satisfied with merely seeing this done, but often washed and dressed the wounds with her own hands, saying " I shall be able to do this for the soldiers when I get back to the army." The patients could not understand this, and would often expostulate, saying, "Oh, no, miss, that is not for the like of you to do !" but she would playfully insist, and have her way. Nor was she satisfied to gain so much without giving something 350 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND IIOSI'ITAL. in return. She went from bed to bed, encouraging the desjDondent, cheering the weak and miserable, reading to them from her little testament, and singing sweet hymns at twilight — a ministering angel here as well aa on the hospital boats of the Mississippi. THE FARMER'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHIOAQO SANITARY FAIR. The Sanitary Fair at Chicago, in October and Novem- her, 1863, was the first of the series of great outpour- ings of the sympathy of the nation for its brave de- fenders, which were held successively at Boston, Cincin- nati, Brooklyn, New York, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, and which yielded such abundant resources for the Sanitary Commissions, in the prosecution of their work of mercy. Rev. Frederick N. Knapp, one of the secretaries of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, was present at Chicago, when, on the first day of the fair, the long procession of teams, extending many miles, came in from the country laden with provisions and other articles for the fair, and thus describes an incident which came under his notice : Among these wagons which had drawn up near the rooms of the Sanitary Commission to unload their stores, was one peculiar for its exceeding look of poverty. It was worn and mended, and was originally made merely of poles. It was drawn b^ three horses which had seen ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 357 much of life, but little grain. The driver was a man past middle age, with the clothes and look of one who had toiled hard, but he had a thoughtful and kindly face. He sat there quietly waiting his turn to unload. By his side, with feet over the front of the wagon, for it was filled very full, was his wife, a silent, worn-look- mg woman {many of these men had their wives with them on the loads) ; near the rearof the wagon was a girl of fifteen, perhaps, and her sister, dressed in black, car- lying in her arms a little child. Some one said to this man (after asking the woman with the child if she would not go into the Commission rooms and get warm) : "My friend, you seem to have quite a load here of vegetables ; now I am curious to know what good things you are bringing to the soldiers ; will you tell me what you have ?" " Yes," said he ; " here are potatoes, and here are three bags of onions, and there are some ruta-bagas, and there are a few tur- nips, and that is a small bag of meal, and you will see the cabbages fill in ; and that box with slats has some ducks in it, which one of them brought in." "Oh I then this isn't all your load, alone, is it ?" " Why, no ! our region just where I live is rather a hard soil, and we haven't any of us much to spare any way, yet for this business we could have raked up as much again as this is, if we had had time ; but we didn't get the notice that the wagons were going in till last night about eight o'clock, and it was dark and raining at that, so I and my wife and the girls could only go around to five or Bix of the neighbors within a mile or so, but we did the best we could; we worked pretty much all the night, and loaded, so as t ^ De ready to get out to the main 858 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITA*.. road and star: with the rest of them this morning ; but I can't help it if it is little, it's something for those sol- diers." "Have you a son in the army?" "No," he answered, slowly, after turning around and looking at his wife. " No, I haven't /ioio,but we had one there once; he's bulled down by Stone River ; he was shot there — and that isn't just so either — we called him our boy, but he was only our adopted son ; we took him when he was little, so he was just the same as our own boy, and (pointing over his shoulder without looking back) that's his wife there with the baby ! But I shouldn't bring these things any quicker if he were alive now and in the army ; I don't know that I should think so much as I do now about the boys away off there." It was in turn for his wagon to unload, so with his rough freight of produce, and his rich freight of human hearts with their deep and treasured griefs, he drove on — one wagon of a hundred in the train. A Romantic Incident of the Wak, — Governor Cur- tin, of Pennsylvania, was called upon at the Continental Hotel at Philadelphia, by a young lady. When she was introduced into the parlor she expressed her great joy at Beeing the governor, at the same time imprinting a kiss upon his forehead. " Madam," said he, "to what am I indebted for thi? unexpected salutation ?" " Sir, do you not know me ?" " Take a chair," said the governor, at the same time extx^nding one of the handsomest in the parlor. ARMY LirE IN CA\rP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 359 " Shortly after the battle of Antietam you were upon that bloody field," said she to the governor. " I was," replied the governor. " You administered to the wants of the wounded and tlie dying." " It was my duty as a feeling man." " You did your duty well. Heaven alone will reward you, sir, for in this life there is no reward adequately expressive of the merit due you. You, sir, imparted consolation and revived the hopes of a dying soldier of the Twenty-eighth Ohio. He was badly wounded in the arm ; you lifted him into an ambulance, and, the blood dripping from him, stained your hands and your clothing. That soldier was as dear to me as life itself" "A husband ?" said the governor. <*No, sir." "A father?" " No, sir." *'A lover?" " No, sir." * Tf not a husband, father, brother, son, or lover, who, then, could it be ?" said the governor, at length breaking the silence, " this is an enigma to me. Please explain more about the gallant soldier of Ohio." " Well, sir, that soldier gave you a ring* — C. E. D. were the letters engraved upon the interior. That is the ring now upon your little finger. He told you to wear it, and carefully have you done so." The governor pulled the ring off, and sure enough the l*»tters were there. " The finger that used to wear that ring will never •CO ARMr LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. wear it any more. The hand is dead, but the soldier etill lives." The governor was now more interested than ever. " Well, madam," said he, " tell me all about it. la this ring yours? Was it given to you by a soldier whom you loved ?" " I loved him as I love my life ; but he never returned that love. He had more love for his country than for me ; I honor him for it. The soldier who placed that little ring upon your finger stands before you." So saying, the strange lady rose from her chair, and stood before the governor. The scene that now ensued we leave to the imagina- tion of the reader. A happy hour passed. The girl who had thus introduced herself was Catherine E. David- son, of Sheffield, Ohio. She was engaged to be married, but her future husband responded to the call of the President, and she followed him by joining another regiment. He was killed in the same battle where she fell wounded. She is alone in the world, her father and mother having departed this life years ago. She was the soldier of the Twenty-eighth Ohio who had placed the ring upon the finger of Governor Curtin, for the kind attention given her upon the bloody field of Antietam. Unacceptable Gratitude. — Lieutenant J n, lat« »f the Sixteenth Regiment, was a few days ago walking down Main street, when he was accosted by a fellow, half soldier, half beggar, with a most reverential mOi- tAr) salute : ARMY UFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 361 "God bless your honor," said the man, whose accent betrayed him to be Irish, "and long life to you." "How do you know me ?" said the lieutenant. "Is it how do I know your honor?" responded Pat. "Good right, sure, I have to know the man that saved my life in battle." The lieutenant, highly gratified at this tribute to hia valor, slid a fifty cent piece into his hand, and asked him, when ? "God bless your honor and long life to you," said the grateful veteran. " Sure it was Antietam, when seeing your honor run away as fast as your legs would carry you from the rebels, I followed your lead, and ran after you out of the way ; whereby, under God, I saved my life. Oh ! good luck to your honor, I never will forget it to you." A CORRESPONDENT with the Army of the Cumberland, narrates the following incident : A certain wealthy old planter, who used to govern a precinct in Alabama, in a recent skirmish was taken prisoner, and at a late hour brought into camp, where a guard was placed over him. The aristocratic rebel sup- posing every thing was all right — that he was secure enough any way as a prisoner of war — as a committee of the whole, resolved himself into " sleep's dead slum- ber." Awaking about midnight, to find the moon shining full into his face, he chanced to " inspect the guard," when, liorror of horrors, that soldier was a negro I And, worse than all, he recognized in that 302 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIEf.D, AND HOSPITAL. towering form, slowly and steadily walking a beat, om of his own slaves 1 Human nature could not stand that ; the prisoner waa enraged, furious, and swore he would not. Addressing the guard, through clenched teeth, foaming at the mouth, he yelled out : " Sambo !" " Well, raassa." " Send for the colonel to come here immediately. My own slave can never stand guard over me. It's a d— d outrage ; no gentleman would submit to it." Laughing in his sleeve, the dark-faced soldier promptly called out, " Corp'l de guard !" That dignity appeared, and presently the colonel fol- lowed. After listening to the Southerner's impassioned ha- rangue, which was full of invectives, the colonel turned to the negro with : "Sam!" "Yes, colonel." " You know this gentleman, do you ?" " Ob course j he's Massa B., and has a big plantation in'Alabam'." "Well, Sam, just take care of him to-night,** and the officer walked away. As the sentinel again paced his beat, the gentleman from Alabama appealed to him in an argument. " Listen, Sambo !" "You hush dar; I's done gone talkin' to you now. Hush, rebel !" was the negro's emphatic command, bring- ing down his musket to a cl arge bayonet position, by way of enforcing silence. AKMT LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD. AND HOSPITAL. S65 THE VICKSBURQ SCOW. A BALLAD. Brave Porter deals in hard, dry pokes, He's also good at a clever hoax ; Of all his deeds, in fight or fun. That queer old scow is " Number One." Abandoned by the river's marge, She had served her time as coaling barge ; Of refuse planks he shaped her roof Like iron-clads, quite cannon-proof. Pork barrels old, with ne'er a head, As twin stacks rose, in chimnies' stead; These vomited, to aid the joke. From hearths of mud, a dreadful smoke. In place of turret, on this raft, (Oh, was not she the drollest craft !) He rigged, from some plantation stript, A small outbuilding, nondescript. Two guns of log, of frightful size, Frowned from her ports in grisly guise ; To fit this monster of the stream To scare the rebels' guilty dream. The moon was neither bright nor dim, When Porter loosed this flat boat trim, And let her drift, her course to steer, With pilot none, nor engineer. On Mississippi's eastern side. The sentries soon her coming spied, They raised alarm at dead of night — All Yicksburg waked in deadly fright. 364 ARMY LIFE TN CAMP, FIELD, AND IIOSriTAL, Drumm2rs and generals, boy and man, And gunners too, to quarters ran ; Oh, how they feared the awful ark That loomed so large through midnight dark I As fast as she in range drew near, Their batteries roared with rage and fear ; Brimful when she began to float. No balls could sink this mystic boat. They marvelled much she did not sink ; " She's shot-proof, sure !" the rebels think ; Who ever heard of Yankee trick That worked than this more 'cute and slick t The Butternuts waste shell and shot, Their cannonade gets loud and hot. They burn their powder, burst their guns, And shake the shores with deafening stuna. Louder than powdt., on our side, Our soldiers laughed until they cried ; Some held their ribs, some rolled on grass, To tnlnk Secesh was such an ass. Noi was this din of laugh and gun, The choicest part of Porter's fun. The Queen of the West, that captive ram, Eacaped by flight a dreaded jam. Away she went, we know not where I But hers was not the biggest scare, — For down the stream, their valued prey, The captured Indianola lay. They thought to fit this costly prize, To run and " blast the Yankees' eyes ;" But blew her up, as the scow drew near— Blew her to shivers, in their fear. ABMT LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. And 80 let all their projects burst And blow to atoms Treason curst ; But long live all our jolly tars, The UNION too, with the Stripes and Stars! 365 MISS MEL VINA STEVENS, THC EAST TENNESSEE HEBOINK. The position of East Tennessee during the Rebellion was different from that of any other portion of the Southern States except Western Texas. A majority of its inhabitants were loyal but the rebels controlled the coimtry by their troops, and had a sufficient number of sympathizers among the inhabitants to make the posi- tion of the Union-loving citizens perilous. But so thoroughly outspoken and defiant was the loyalty of the people that it constantly found expression in their acts. The men capable of bearing arms were almost univer- sally enlisted in the Union army or acting as scouts for it, and the women, with a heroism above all praise, let slip no opportunity of benefiting the Union cause. For the Union men who were " lying out," as it was termed, f. e., concealing themselves by day to avoid the ruthless conscription, or the murderous violence of the rebels, they had always words of cheer and acts of kindness, feeding them from their own scanty supplies, and shel- tering them whenever it was safe to do so. When, as was the case in the later years of the war, the Union prisoners who had escaped from Richmond, Salisbury, Wilmmgton, Charleston, Millen, and Anderson ville. 366 ARMY lh^ in camp, field, and hospital. began to find their way over the Black and Cumberland mountain ranges, these faithful Unionists, both men and women, guided and escorted them, concealed them by day or night, and led them by secret routes past the rebel troops which were hunting them, till they were eafe within the Union lines. A single guide, Dan Ellis, brought through between four and five thousand escaped prisoners in this way. Among those who assisted actively in this good work was the young and beautiful girl, long known as " the nameless heroine," whose services we here record. She was from a loyal family, and avowed openly her earnest sympathies with the North, but her youthfulness, grace, and intelligence, made her so widely and universally beloved and petted, that the rebel officers, many of whom were much fascinated by her beauty and pleasing manners, never suspected her of giving active aid to the escaped Unionists or to the Union army. Yet she had obtained from them information in regard to their plans and expectations, of which she made most efiectual use for the Union cause. Night after night, too, did she escort the escaped prisoners past the most dangerous pomts of the rebel garrisons and outposts, doing this from the age of about fourteen, at the risk of her liberty and life, from no other motive than her ardent love for her country and its cause, and in spite of the flatteries and persuasions of the secessionists, who would gladly have won a maiden so gifted and so well educated to their cause. The correspondents of the Tribune and the Cincinnati Gazette — Messrs. Richardson, Browne, and Davis — were indebted tc her guidance for their escape from the rebels. ARMY UFE IN CAMP, FIELD. AND HOSPITAL. 367 SOMEBODY'S DARLING. Into a ward of the whitewashed halls, Where the dead and dying lay, Wounded by ba3'onets, sheila, and balls, Somebody's Darling was borne one day- Somebody's Darling, so young and so brave, Wearing yet on his pale, sweet face. Soon to be hid by the dust of the grave, The lingering light of his boyhood's graoe. Matted and damp ai-e the curls of gold, Kissing the snow of the fair young brow, Pale are the lips of delicate mould — Somebody's Darling is dying now. Back from his beautiful blue-veined brow. Brush all the wandering waves of gold ; Cross his hands on his bosom now — Somebody's Darling is still and cold. > Kiss him once for somebody's sake. Murmur a prayer both soft and low ; One bright curl from its fair mates take — They were somebody's pride, you know ; Somebody's hand hath rested there — Was it a mother's, soft and white ? And have the lips of a sister fair Been baptized in the waves of light ? God knows best I he has somebody's love : Somebody's heart enshrined him there; Somebody wafted his name above. Night and morn, on the wings of prayer. Somebody wept when he marched away. Looking so handsome, brave, and grand; Somebod3''s kiss on his forehead lay. Somebody clung to his parting hand. 368 AiiMv LIFE IN' r\yu\ kikld, and hospital. Somebod3''8 waiting and watching for him — Yearning to hold him again to her heart; And there he lies with his blue eyes dim, And the smiling, child-like lips apart. Tenderly bury the fair young dead, Pausing to drop on his grave a tear ; Carve in the wooden slab at his head, " Somebody's Darling slumbers here." RALLYING A FLYING BRIGADE. When a body of troops are panic-stricken, and break and fly in confusion, military men agree in 8a3dng that it is almost an impossibility to rally them so as to make them immediately of service. The next day, or perhaps, if their panic occurred in the morning, on the evening of the same day, they may have so far recovered from Its effects, as to be ready again for a fight, and to con- duct themselves as well as any troops in the field. But the attempt to rally them when flying almost invari- ably proves a failure. They may stop for a few moments, but presently they will be edging off in another direction. In the attack of Sherman's troops upon Fort Buckner, in the battle of Chattanooga, how- ever, an exception to this general rule occurred. A flying brigade was stopped in its flight, and turned again and marched instantly upon the enemy. An eye- witness thus relates the incident, which has nc? parallel save Sheridan's turning back his flying men at Middle- iown: It was a partial repulse, but that momentary episode ARilY LIFE IxV CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 369 of the battle will reflect undying honor on the army of which those reiDulsecl troops formed a part. I know not the cause — the rebel artillery may have been concen- trated upon it, but one brigade broki -broke in utter confusion, I thought, as I saw it, and the men came rushing down the hill. The others still stood, and the reinforcements continued to move forward. But the re- treating troops did not fly to the foot of the hill, for at the moment they were passing the reinforcements an oflicer sprang foiward among them, seized the standard of one of the regiments and stuck it in the ground. I saw him wave his sword once over his head, and point up the hill. I could not hear his voice, but the men did, and as if by magic — which will be forever a mys- tery to me — that routed column turned, turned in- stantly, and in a single second was marching up the hill, as firmly and as strongly formed as that of thr newly arrived troops, and apparently forming a part o{ tlrem. Not a man went further than where the rein forcements were met, and there all turned and re-charged as if it were a movement they had been practicing for years. And then this whole line pushed forward a^iiain — cer- tainly the most wonderful display of human nature under thorough discipline I have ever beheld or imagined. Both brigades had broken once ; yet now, after half an hour's fight, they again returned to the fight by the side of a third leader. It is to me, writing it, perfectly incomprehensible, and I turn to my notes to see if my memory is not at fault. But no — the wonder- ful achievement is there in black and white — the very hour marked and roted. 24 870 ABMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. NIGHT SCENE IN A HOSPITAL. It was past eleven, and my patient was slowly weary- ing himself into fitful intervals of quietude, when, in one of these pauses, a curious sound arrested my attention. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a one-legged phantom hopping nimbly down the room ; and, going to meet it, recognized a certain Pennsylvania gentleman, whose wound-fever had taken a turn for the worse, and, de- priving him of the few wits a drunken campaign had left him, set him literally tripping on the light, fantas- tic toe " toward home," as he blandly informed me, touching the military cap, which formed a striking con- trast to the severe simplicity of the rest of his decidedly undress uniform. When sane, the least movement pro- duced a roar of pain or a volley of oaths ; but the depar- ture of reason seemed to have wrought an agreeable change both in the man and his manners ; for, balancing himself on one leg, like a meditative stork, he plunged into an animated discussion of the war, the President, lager beer, and Enfield rifles, regardless of any sugges- tions of mine as to the propriety of returning to bed, lest he be court-martialed for desertion. An}^ thing more supremely ridiculous can hardly be imagined than this figure, scantily draped in white, its one foot covered with a big blue sock, a dingy cap set rakingly askew on its shaven head, and placid satisfao- lion beaming in its broad, red face, as it flourished a mug in one hand, an old boot in the other, calling them oanteen and knapsa^A' whi e it skipped and fluttered in ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 371 the most unearthly fashion. What to do witli tlie creature I didn't know : Dan was absent, and if I went to find him, the perambulator might festoon himself out of the window, set his toga on hrc, or do some of hia ricighbors a mischief. The attendant of the room was sleeping like a near relative . of the celebrated Seven, and nothing short of pins would rouse him ; for he had been out that day, and whiskey asserted its supremacy in balmy whiffs. Still declaiming, in a fine flow of eloquence, the demented gentleman hopped on, blind and deaf to my graspings and entreaties ; and I was about to slam the door in his face, and run for help, when a second saner phantom, '' all in white," came to the rescue, in the likeness of a big Prussian, who spoke no English, but divined the crisis, and put an end to it, by bundling the lively monoped into his bed, like a baby, with an authoritative command to " stay put," which received added weight from being delivered in an odd conglomeration of French and German, accom- panied by warning wags of a head decorated with a yellow cotton nightcap, rendered most imposing by a tassel like a bell-pull. Rather exhausted by his excur- sion, the member from Pennsylvania subsided; and, after an irrepressible laugh together, my Prussian ally and myself were returning to our places, when the echo of a sob caused us to glance along the beds. It came from one in the corner — such a little bed ! — and such a tearful little face looked up at us, as we stopped beside it ! The twelve years old drummer boy was not sing- ing now, but sobbing, with a manly effort all the while to stifle the distressful sounds that would break out. "What is it, Teddy?" I asked, as he rubbed the tears 372 ARMY LIFE IN" CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. away, and checked himself in the middle of a great sot t-o answer plaintively : " I've got a chill, ma'am, but I aint cryin' for that, 'cause I'm used to it. I dreamed Kit was here, and when I waked up he wasn't, and I couldn't help it, then.*' The boy came in with the rest, and the man who wa4i taken dead from the ambulance was the Kit he mourned. Well he might ; for, when the wounded were brought from Frederickitburg, the child lay in one of the camps thereabout, and this good friend, though sorely hurt himself, would not leave him to the exposure and neglect of such a time and place ; but, wrapping him in his own blanket, carried him in his arms to the trans- port, tended him during the passage, and only yielded up his charge when Death met him at the door of the hospital, which promised care and comfort for the boy. For ten days, Teddy had shivered or burned with fever and ague, pining the while for Kit, and refusing to be comforted, because he had not been able to thank him for the generous protection, which, perhaps, had cost the giver's life. The vivid dream had wrung the childish heart with a fresh pang, and when I tried the solace fitted for his years, the remorseful fear that haunted him found vent in a fresh burst of tears, as he looked at the wasted hands I was endeavoring to warm : *' Oh ! if I'd only been as thin when Kit carried me as I am now, maybe he wouldn't have died ; but I was heavy, he was hurt worser than we knew, and so it killed him ; and I didn't see him to say good-by." This thought had troubled him in secret; and my assurances that his friend would probably have died at all events, hardly assuaged the bitterness of his regret- ful irrief. ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 373 At this juncture, the dehrious man began to shout ; ihe one-legged rose up in his bed, as if preparing for another dart; Teddy bewailed himself more piteously Ihan before; and if ever a woman was at her wit's end, that distracted female was nurse Periwinkle, during the space of two or three minutes, as she vibrated between the three beds, like an agitated pendulum. Like a most opportune reinforcement, Dan, the handy, appeared, and devoted himself to the lively party, leaving me free to return to my post ; for the Prussian, with a nod and a smile, took the lad away to his own bed, and lulled him to sleep with a soothing murmur, like a mammoth bumble-bee. I liked that in Fritz, and if he ever won dered afterward at the dainties which sometimes found their way into his rations, or the extra comforts of his bed, he might have found a solution of the mystery in sundry persons' knowledge of the fatherly action of that night. HOW THE SOLDIERS " TOOK THEIR EASE IN THEIR INN." The mad spirit of destructiveness and the love of mischief, were often displayed in the army, especially in tliat portion of it under General Sherman's command, when any position was captured which had served as un abiding place or headquarters of the officers of the rebel army. This disposition was very vividly illus- trated at " Big Shanty," a station on the route between Chattanooga and Atlanta, in Sherman's Atlanta cam- 374 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. paign. A correspondent of the Tribune thus describes the scene : At Big Shanty, on the Atlanta line of railroad, stands quite a respectable looking two-storied wooden hotel^ which in peace times was used as the dinner station for the famished passengers travelling from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Georgia. On Friday, while some of our cavalry were out on a reconnoissance, shelling the woods, one of our shells passed through a part of the hotel, entering a large sleeping apartment containing some eight or ten bed- steads, and passing through the bedstead out of the south side of the room, the shell burst in the yard. At this time, several rebel officers were partaking leisurely of a sumptuous dinner, and, without waiting for orders, they changed their base, retiring in the wildest confu- sion. Several ladies were in the hotel at the time this unruly " Yankee" messenger entered, and one of them was in the room through which the shell whizzed on its deadly errand, but fortunately the fuse was long enough to prevent its explosion for several seconds, thereby saving the terrified woman's life. Upon the arrival of our advance at Big Shanty, this hotel, which was quite well furnished for this section of the country, was guarded. The owners having aban doned the property the guard was relieved, and in les» than half an hour the rooms were filled, yes, the hotel was fairly besieged with soldiers representing every arm of the service, with a sprinkling of negro servants, the rough crowd all intent upon getting "something good to eat," while another portion was bent upon mis ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND UOSriTAf.. o75 chief. Such scenes as were there enacted, and such a terrihle realization of Pandemonium, no artist's facile pencil, or this feeble pen, can half portray. Up-stairs, down-stairs, inside, outside, kitchen, dining-room, parlor, and bedroom, all shared the general tumult, and not a cobwebbed nook escaped overhauling from these inquisi- tive " mudsills." In the parlor was a fine piano, drummed and played upon alternately, with a boisterous crowd of soldiers leaning upon it, each one shouting for some particular tune expressive of their musical tastes. " Give us Glory Hallelujah," shouts one. " No, that's played out," saya another. "Play Rally Round the Flag." "Pshaw! give us a jig," and thus it went, a perfect jargon of sound filling the apartment, while m one corner of the room two soldiers were at work winding up and causing an old clock to strike. Look into the entry with me, and see the scrambhng of fifty soldiers over a barrel of flour and a barrel of sugar and molasses, while feather beds are torn to pieces. One mischievous fellow has found the dinner bell, and yells out " Fifteen minutes for din- ner." Another has discovered a string of cow bells, and at once strives to drown the inharmonious sounds of his rivals. With the drumming of the piano, the striking clock, the blowing of horns, the rattling of dishes, the ringing of cow and dinner bells, the clatter of a sewing mar- chine, and the wrangling of soldiers over the spoils, the ear was appalled and deafened, furniture, bedding, cooking utensils, books, pictures, chinarware, ladies* wearing apparel, hoop skirts and bonnets, were thrown together in promiscuous heaps with all sorts of dirty mbbisb. 876 ARiir LIFE tX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. INCIDENTS OF GRIERSON'S RAID. While several of the Union scouts were feeding their horses at the stables of a -wealthy planter of secession proclivities, the proprietor looking on, apparently deeply interested in the proceeding, suddenly burst out with : " Well, boys, I can't say I have any thing against you. I don't know but on the whole, I rather like you. You have not taken any thing of mine except a little corn for your horses, and that you are welcome to. I have heard of you all over the country. You are doing the boldest thing ever done. But you'll be trapped, though; you'll be trapped ; mark me." At another place, where the men thought it advisa- ble to represent themselves as Jackson's cavalry, a whole company was very graciously entertained by a strong eecession lady, who insisted on whipping a negro because he did not bring the hoe cakes fast enough. On one occasion, seven of Colonel Grierson's scouts stopped at the house of a wealthy planter, to feed their jaded horses. Upon ascertaining that he had been doing a little guerilla business upon his own account, our men encouraged him to the belief that, as they were the invincible Van Dorn cavalry, they would soon catch the Y^'ankees. The secession gentleman heartily ap- proved of what he supposed to be their intentions, and enjoined upon them the necessity of making as rapid marches as possible. As the men had discovered two splendid carriage horses in the planter's stable, they thought, under the circumstances, they would be justified ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 377 ia malving an exchange, which they accordingly pro- ceeded to do. As they were taking the saddles from their own tired steeds and placing them on the backs of the guerilla's horses, the proprietor discovered them, and at once ob jected. He was met with the reply that, as he waa anxious that the Yankees should be speedily overtaken, those after them should have good horses. "All right, gentlemen," said the planter ; " I will keep your animals until you return ; I suppose you'll be back in two or three days at the farthest. When you return you'll find they have been well cared for." The soldiers were sometimes asked where they got their blue coats. They always replied, if they were travelling under the name of Van Dorn's cavalry, that they took them at Holly Springs of the Yankees. This always excited great laughter among the secessionists. The scouts, however, usually wore the regular " secesh" uniforms. ♦ 11 ^ .« » FORAGING. Nothing in the excitement of army life has been the cause of more sport than the hberty given under certain circumstances, and taken under others, for the private soldier to "forage." In civilized warfare, ordinarily, the supplying of the troops with necessary food from the enemy's country is supposed to be a systematic business operation, conducted by the officers of the army of occu- pation, by requisition, either in money or produce, for 378 ARMY LIFE IN CA5IP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. which receipts of greater or less value are given. In a civil war, the supplies are to be paid for, according tx) thie tenor of the receipt, on proof of the loyalty of the party furnishing them to the government of the captors. But in actual practice, there is a large amount of private plundering, which army officers, though they may cen- sure, find it convenient to wink at. The men may have been on hard and unpalatable fare for days or weeks, and it is nearly impossible to prevent them from taking pigs, chickens, etc, when they are in a vicinity where they abound. The plunder and destruction of other valuables, such as watches, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, books, and the burning of houses, etc., as it was practiced by the " bummers" or camp followers of Sherman's army, is an outrage on civilized warfare, and is a just ground of bitter reproach to the adminis- tration of that very able commander. Some of the foraging stories are, however, full of humor, and could hardly be otherwise regarded than as excellent jokes, even by the suJQferers themselves. We subjoin a few. Drawing Rations. — There are some episodes in the life of a soldier provocative of laughter, and that serve to disperse, in some manner, the ennui of camp life. A farmer, who did not reside so far from a camp of " the boys" as he wished he did, was accustomed to find every morning that several rows of potatoes had disappeared from the field. He bore it for some time, but when the last of his fine field of kidneys began to disappear, he thought the thing had gone far enough, and determined to stop it. Accordingly, he made a visit to camp early next morning, and amused himself by going round to see ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. 379 whether the soldiers were provided with good and wholesome provisions. He had not proceeded far, when he found a '' boy" just serving up a fine dish of kidneys, which looked marvellously like those that the good wife brought to his own table. Halting, the following col lo«|uy ensued ; *' Have fine potatoes here, I see." *' Splendid," was the reply. " Where do you get them ?" "Draw them." ''Does government furnish potatoes for rations?" •* Nary tater." " I thought you said you drew them ?" " Did. We just do that thing." " But Juyw ? if they are not included in your rations." "Easiest thing in the world — wont you take some with us ?" said the soldier, as he seated himself opposite the smoking vegetables. " Thank you. But will you oblige me by telling how you draw your potatoes, as they are not found by the commissary ?" "Nothing easier. Draw 'em by the tops mostly 1 Sometimes by a hoe — if there's one left in the field." " Hum ! ha ! Yes ; I understand. Well, now, see here ! If you wont draw any more of mine, I will bring you a basketful every morning, and draw them myself 1" " Bully for you, old fellow !" was the cry, and three cheers and a tiger were given for the farmer. The covenant was duly observed, and no one but the farmer drew potatoes from that field afterward. 380 ARMY LIFE IX CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. That Pig. — A few niglits since, as two of the legi- ments were at Annapolis Junction, on their way here, a mischievous soldier, who was placed on guard at some distance from the main body, as he was walking his rounds, shot a pig. A member of the otlier regiment, hearing the report, hastened to the spot, and demanded that the pig should be divided, or he would inform his officers. The prize was accordingly " partitioned," and served up to the friends of each party. The officers, however, observing the bones, soon found out the guilty party ; and, on questioning him, he replied that he did it in obedience to the orders he had received, '' not to let any one pass without the countersign." He saw the pig coming toward him, and challenged it ; but, receiv- ing no answer, he charged bayonet on it, and, the pig still persisting, he shot it. The officers laughed heartily at the explanation, and sent him to find the owner, and pay for the pig, which he states was the hardest job he ever performed. In the summer of 1861, a regiment of light infantry from the vicinity of Norway, Maine, were encamped in Washington for a few days. Two of the men had be- come dissatisfied with their fare, and they conceived the sublimely impudent idea of foraging on the President's rations. How they did it is related as follows : They proceeded directly to the President's house. "Without ceremony they wended their way quietly into the broad kitchen — " bowing to a tall man" on their pas- sage — and carefully selecting what they thought would '* go round," made the following speech to the cook : *' Look here ; we've sworn to support the govern m<5nt ; ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AXD DOSPITAL. o8l for three days we've done it on salt junk ; now if yon would spare us a little of this it would put the thing along nmazlnghj. It is needless to say that the boys had an abundance that day. ITow A Yankee Soldier kept a Hotel in Dixie. — "When General Banks' amiy moved on up the Shenan- doah valley from New Market, Quartermaster- Sergeant Reuben W. Oliver, of Cochran's New York battery, had to be temporarily left in a barn, on account of injuries he had received. Soon after our departure he made application at the lady's house adjoining for board ; but he was informed, in true Virginia style, that she did not board "Yankee barbarians." "Very well," replied Oliver, ^"if you wont board me I shall keep a hotel in your barn, but shall probably call upon you occasionally for supplies ;" and he hobbled baek to the barn. Oliver was every inch a soldier, and he went to work at once. Taking a revolver, he shot madam's finest young porker, which his assistant immediately dressed. Ilis able assistant next went to the apiary and " took us" a hive of bees, and transferred the honey to the bam. He then went to the lot and milked a pail of milk from her ladyship's cows. Then, going to her servants' house, he made a "requisition" for a quantity of fresh corn-dodgers that had been prepared for supper. The addition of these articles to his ordinary rations placed him far beyond the point of starvation. True to his Yankee instincts, he invited the lady to take tea with him, at the hotel across the way — at 382 ARMY LIFE IN CAMP, FIELD, AND HOSPITAL. which she became spitefully indignant. But Oliver wad as happy as a lark, and for the time almost forgot his injuries. Soon he had several sick soldiers added to his list of boarders; and in due time a sheep, and another young porker, and a second hive of bees, were gathered under the roof of his " hotel ;" and furthermore, not a cock remained to proclaim when the morning dawned. By this time her ladyship thought she could '• see it," and sent for Oliver, who, as promptly as the nature of his injuries would permit, reported at the door. " See here, young man,'* said she, " I perceive that it would be cheaper for me to board you in my house — and, if you will accept, you can have board and a room fiee." " Thank you, madam, thank you," replied Oliver, re- moving his cap and bowing politely ; " but I prefer boarding at a firstrclass Yankee hotel to stopping at any secession house in Virginia at the same price. You will therefore be so kind as to excuse me for declining your generous offer, as it comes too late !" And back he hobbled to the barn — and actually remained there two weeks — taking in and boarding every sick soldier that came along ; making frequent " requisitions" upon her for supplies. Her ladyship was mightily pleased when Oliver's Yankee hotel was discontinued; but it taught her a valuable lesson, and Yankee soldiers never thereafter applied to her in vain for food and shelter. They always got what they wanted, she evidently not relish- ing the Yankee hotel system. ARMY LIFE IN CAMF, FIELD, AND nOSFITAL, 383 Foraging for Whiskey. — The appetite for strong drink w