Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-16

"Boys, can you tell me where the camp of
the Twenty-Third Mississippi is have been
down to the river, and must have taken the
wrong road as came back, for l have only
been here a. little while, and don't know
much about the conntry.n 50 -
"Twenty-third Mississippi It's a good
two miles from here, way. over to the west
ward. If you don't know the way, You'll
have a fob to get there tonight, and perhaps
fetch up in a guard-house. You had better
.eome,in and put<up with us tonight, and
hunt for your camp in the morning."
The invitation was gratefully accepted, and
the scout entered the cabin, where he was
supplied with seat and pipe, and sat down
to talk and smoke with his new acquaintan-
ces. They asked himabout his camp life, his
officers, his fare, and like questions, all of
which Cutter answered gIibly enough, with
out making very heavy draft on his imagina-
ton; and then they talked of home, OF the
last fight, of the prospect of another, and
such other topics as form the staple of a SOL
dier's conversation.
As they were preparing for sleep, a corpo-
raj, who seemed to rule the mess, said:
q wonder whht's become of them other
fellars They ought to be at home before
81 heard Jim say" answered one, " that
they are going down to. the river"
As he spoke three men came into the cab
in, two of them laughing and the other ST.
lent and woebegone. Cutter noticed that
this man wore only an overcoat and pair of
ragged pantaloons.
sWhat kept you, boys" said the Corporal.
"Why, we went in swimming with the
Yanks, and some cussed scoundrel stole jim
Mudge's clothes, and we had to wait till we
could get something for him to wear. Who's
your friend, Corporal ?" he continued, nod
ding at Cutter.
'sHe's stranger-belongs TO the Twenty
Third Mississippi, has lost his way, and can't
get back of camp tonight; SO asked him
to put up here for the morning"
aTwenty-Third Mississippi, bel" ex-
claimed the doleful and scantily clad rebel
who had been eyeing the scout suspiciousiy,
and edging up toward him. "Ef them amt
my duds he's got on, my name amt Jim
Nudge. Here's my name writ in the hat"
said he snatching off Cutters head shelter.
20 And see here, boys, his hairs wet, too"
All rushed up to the stranger and looked at
him, at Nudge and at the hat. The scout
saw that he "was in for it," but thought it
worth an effort to try to get out.
well boys, this is strange" said he, as
he looked down at the clothes. /" ] was in
the river, and was in a hurry to dress when
came out, as was mighty cold saRd sup
pose must have changed clothes with this
gentleman. Mine must be lying around there
somewhere Il
| fssLyin around h-lfp shouted the excited
and justly indignant Nudge There wasn't
another scrap of clothes anywhar about the
bank. Was there, boysf"
'sThen some one has stolen mine, or hid
them"
No more of yer lynn now. That won't
so down. n know who you are. r You're
nothin' but cussed Yankee spy, that's what
you are. Mighty cute way of gettin' into
csmp that was, hey? Uncommon queer,
some of you Yankee chaps be, and you're up
to all lodges, amt We Come, boys, let's take
the burned thing around to the guard house,
and if he amt spy, he can prove it in the
morning"
"All right" said the Corporal "Bring him
| along, boys" 7iA $500
As they took hold of Cutter, a very sol
emn feeling came over that adventurous in
diyidual. If ever he felt like cursing his
luck, it was at that moment; for it was the
very worst kind of luck that had brought. the
very man whose clothes he had taken to the
very spot where he had thought himself safe
for the night. But so it was, and there he
was, and he could only endeavor to keep a
stiff upper lip, and "make the most of bad
job" Therefore he submitted to the cuffs
and curses that were freely bestowed upon
him, and quietly accompanied his captors.
Hold on therer" shouted the inveterate
Nudge, as his companions were leading off
the scout.
Bring that fellow back and take my
clothes off of him."
s.a''Nexer mind, Jim" said the Corporal l
will see that you have them tomorrow, at the
Provost MarshalPs Office"
q t.Wefl, take himsalong, cuss himi Ell can
see him hung, don't care whose clothes he
wears when he adies.w Z =
Warren Cutter was taken to the guard
house, into which, after brief conversation
| between the Corporal and the officer of the
guard, he was thrust in. The guardroom was
a pretty large room, in a rough board build
ing, and it had only three or four occupants
when Cutter entered'it. He did not attempt
70 address any one, as his thoughts were of a
very serious nature, and he felt not at all like
talking. He walked to a corner, where there
was IA sort of bench, and sat down. The
building was slight one, and he saw that a
strong man could easily break out but he
knew that outside of the boards Gordon OF
| sentinels formed living wall, through which
it would be impossible to pass. Notwi:h-
standing the peril of his situation, he felt
drowsy, and closed his eyes to sleep. He had
dOzed but a short time, when he was aroused
| from troubled dream by the sound of voices
near him. He rubbed his eyes and listened.
The voices were evidently on the outside
He placed his ear to a crevice, and soon heard
enough to enable him to conjecture that an
! officer, probably high in rank, was talking
with his orderly ~ -
posed to be that of an officer, "that my
horse is in good condition, and yours too
You had better bring Josh along with~a led
horse, for we viii have a long distance to
ride"
do you know how far sirs" a .a
"No, hut it will be a hard march. W bril-
gade, with two more, with SOME artillery are
| to make demonstration on the enemy's front,
while the cavalry cuts in on their trains
You must be ready at nv quarters by one
O'Clock Wednesday morning, though we may
not start before two or three. Good night,
and be. sure to bring around the whiskey in
the niorhingnl = tA3 - ~
II won't forget it, Sir" s1salF -
Gutter started from his seat in such COM
motion of excitement, that he hardly knew
what heswas about, until he had paced sew
eraf times across the ROOM Here was new
incentive to escape. He might have stayed
around the Confederate camp a week with
out gaining any such important information
as had accidentally reached his ears If he
could only get out. Hearing voice infront
of the building, he stepped to the door, and
looked through the keyhole. They were
n