Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-11-04

most dariuE ana SUCCESSFUL scouts, nau
rather singular and ludicrous adventu. c
soma days ago lie was captured by the
enemy and sent to City Point as a spy
Fortunately, he had papers on his person
TO prove who and what he was Having
been captured several times before, be did
not lose lis self possession. but looked
about him to see whether he could not make
good his escape as he had done on SO many
previous occasions. He was not long in
discovering newly draftedell man, whose
appearance showed he was we'll to do in the
world, and whose melancholy visago told
Enthusiastically his dislike Of the army
Blake made up to him Immediately, and,
entering into conversation, soon learned
that h. was the most anxious Of living
Yankees to return ''to hum" and willing
to run considerable risk to accomplish his
purpose. Bake's ready wit and cool head
quickly concocted plan. They slipped
behind house and exchanged clothes,
Blake assuming tie Yankees name and
the Yankee Blake s. the Yankee intend
ing to 90 down to Fortress Monroe as a
prisoner IF war, take the oath Of allegiance,
d return to the bosom Of lis family and
pumpkin patch.
Just then It occurred to Blake that he
had gotten himself iuto decidedly bad
scrape. SAID he to himself, eff 60 to
this man 3 company and try to 'pali.s myself
OF as him, will certainly be detected, and
forthwith hung as spy. That won't be :
gin to do will walk up the road and see
If something won't turn up" No sooner
said than done. rIe had walked but a few
hundred yards before he met Yankee,
molntea On horse AVID leading two Others.
Where Gid you get these horses enquired
Blake stcrply. Gotten up the road a
bit" said the Yankee; ''they are stray
hcrseE," he added apologizingiy. Blake
PIT ON his most peremptory manner.
Stray devils ~ he cried; "you know they
are not str,y horses If you don't get
;, down this instant, you rogue, III report
you to headquarters aud have you shot for
a thief"
The Yankee jumped down as quick al
Lightning. Blake took his place, and after
some little trouble in avoiding the enemy's
pickets, brought two of the horses safely in
to our lines. What become of the poo,
dcyet with whom he snapped clothes it i:
impossible to say. We fancy him making
his appearance before Grants or Butler.
Provost Marshal. lie is, Of course, crcs
questioned very closely, and, being ex
tremely green in all matters pertaining te
the army, md especially to the Confcdera
cy, from which he pretcnds to hail, be be
comes confused, Lesl.ates, bunglcs, blum
Gers, aontradicts himself every moment. ane
finally, in despair of getting oat of hi
trouble any other way, makes clean breas
, Of it, tells how he exchanged clothes wstl
: Blake intending to take the o@tA Of allie
glance and to get QUO of the detestcd ar
, my. This story only makes matters worse
, lie is necessarily regarded as a spy;
drumhead court martial is held, and shor
work is made of him. We think it more
than probable that he has already beef
hung, and that Dlal1e's adventure, howeve
funny it may have been to him, has had
? trag;ck termination The misery Of thi
: business is the fact that Dlake's friend wa
: a McClell;n man. fsis vote will never b
recorded for the little Napoleon, and the al
sence Of that single vote may be the 'caus
:. Of Lincoln's reelection Blake bad lit.
? idea what trouble be was bringing upon hi
!, country (ae mean the United States, {
u course, when BE orat Yaukecd the Yankee
IL EIanliEcr.