Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-07-13

down 10 the river. and must have taken the
wrong road as came back, for | have only
been here little while, and don't know
much about the country"
Twenty third Mississippi! Its a good
two miles from here, way over to the west
ward. If you don't know the way, you'll
have a job to get there tonight, and perhaps
fetch up in guard-house Yen had better
come in and put up with Us tonight, ana
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 him about his camp life, his
officers, his fare, ana ike questions, all of
| which Gutter answered ghbly enough, with
out making very heavy draft on his magma
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:
Il wonder whht's become of them other
fellars. They ought to be at home before
thisg"
q heard Jim say" answered one, e 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.
"What kept you boys" said the Corporal.
Why, we went in swimming with the
Yanks, and some cussed seoundrel 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 bacs Of camp tonight; so | asked him
TO put up here for the morning"
"Twenty-Third Mississippi, be-" ex-
claimed the doleful and scantily clad rebel
who had been cycling the scout suspiciousiy,
and edging up toward him. "Ef them amt
my duds he's gct on, my name amt Jim
| Nudge. Here's my name writ in the hat"
said he snatching off Cutters head shelter.
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 twas 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. g was in
the river, and was in hurry to dress when
| came out, as L was mighty cold and sup
pose l must have changed clothes with this
gentleman. Mine must be living around there
somewhere.
"Lyin around h-l!" shouted the excited
and justly indignant Nudge. There wasn't
| another scrap of clothes anywhar about the
bank. Was there, boys?"
Then some one has stolen mine, or hid
them"
Ono more of yer lynn now. That won't
| go down. | know who you are You're
nothin' but cussed Yankee spy, that's what
| you are. Mighty cute way of gettin' into
| camp that was, hey? Uncommon queer,
I = -, i
/ 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
As they took hold of Cutter, a very sol
| emn feeling came over that adventurous in
| diEidual 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 a bad
/ job" Therefore he submitted to the cuffs
and curses that were freely bestowed upon
him, and quietly accompanied his captors.
." Hold on there p shouted the inveterate
| Nudge, as his companions were leading off
| the scout.
Bring that fellow back and take my
| clothes off of him"
| "Never mind, JIM" said the Corporal
| viii see that you have them tomorrow, at the
| Provost Marshall's office"
"Well, take him along, cuss him Eff | can
| see him hung, l don't care whose clothes he
wears when he dies"
| Warren Cutter was taken to the guard
| house, into which, after a brief conversation
1 /. IL
| guard he was thrust in. The guardroom was
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
TO 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 sort of bench, and sat down. The
building a slight one, and he saw that a
| strong man could easily break out hut he
knew that outside Of the boards a Gordon of
| sentinels formed "a living wall, through which
it would be impossible to pass. Notwith-
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 we're evidently on the outside
He placed his ear to a crevice, and soon heard
| enough to enable him to conjecture that an
/ oAAcSI, pLoodolE AISh III rank, was taking
with his orderly.
Be sure" said the voice which he sup
/ posed TO be that of an officer, that my
horse is in good condition, and yours too
/ ! GU had better bring Josh along with led
horse, for We viii have long distance to
I ride"
! s. Do YOU know how far sir?"
No but it viii be a hard march Nv bri-
! gade, with two more, with some artillery, are
/ 10 make demonstration on the enemy's front,
| while the cavalry cuts in on their trains
( You must be ready at my quarters by one
/ o'clock Wednesday morning, though we NAV
not start before two or three. Good night
and be sure TO bring around the whiskey in
the morning
" won't forget it, Sir"
Cutter started from his seat in such COM
motion of excitement, that be hardly knew
what he was about, until he had paced sew
eral times across the room. Here was a new
incentive to escape. He might have STAYED
around the Confederate camp week with
out gaining any such important information
a. had accidentally reached his ears. If he
could only get out Hearing u voice in front
of the building, he stepped TO the door, and
looked through the keyhoIe. They were
rhavcriErr nd He -