Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-14

Boys, can you tell me where the camp Of
the Twenty Third Mississippi is? have been
down tothe river, and must have taken the
wrong road as,I came back,efor l have only
been hero little while, and don't know
much about the country." z %s
- wenty third Mississippi! its a good
two miles from here, way overato the west
ward. IF you don't know the way, your
have job to get there to-right, and perhaps
fetch up in a guard-house. You had better
come 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 land, pipe. and sat down
to talk and smoke Will his new acqualntan-
ces They asked him about his camp lie, MS
officers, his fare, and like questions, all OF
which Cutter answered gllbly 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, ane
such other topics as form the staple OF sol
dier's conversation.
As they were preparing for sleep, corpo-
raj, who seemed to rule the mess, said:
g | wonder whht's become of them other
fellars. They ought to be at home before
this? ." At# u
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.y &}
''What kept you,=boys," said the Corporal.
"Why, we wehfin 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 2" he continued, nod
ding at Cutter. s. ~
"He'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"
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 buds he's got on, my name amt jim
Nudge. Here's my name writ in the hat,
said he snatchingl 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 g was in for it," but thought il
worth an effort to try to get out.
"Well boys, this is strange" said he, as
he looked down at the clothes. " l was in
the river, and was in hurry to dress wher
7 came out, as | was mighty cold, and sup
pose must have changed clothes with this
gentleman. Mine must be lying 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?" a'@e.=- #
s'Then some one has stolen mine, or hiG
them"
No more of yer lynn now. That won
90 down. | know who you are. You're
nothin' but cussed Yankee spy, that's wha
you are. Mighty cute way of gettin' int
camp that was, hey? Uncommon queer
some of you Yankee chaps be, and you're VI
to all lodges, amt We ! Come, boys, let's TAXI
the burned thing around to the guard house
and if he amt spy, he can prove it in the
morning. .T.-a -
"All right" said the Corporal "Bring hin
along, boys" E .s.,.- ae
As they took hold of Cutter, very sol
emn feeling came over that adventurous in
dividual. If ever he felt like cursing hi
luck, it was at that moment for it was the
very worst kind of luck that lad brought.th
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 hi
was, and he could only endeavor to keep
stiff upper lip, and "make the most of ba(
job" Therefore he submitted to the cuff
| and curses that were freely bestowed upol
| him, and quietly accompanied his capturo.
= Hold on therel" shouted the inveterat
Nudge, as his companions were leading OF
the scout
Bring that fellow back and take m,
clothes off of him."
"Never mind, jim said the Corporal.
will see that you have them tomorrow, at the
Provost Marshall's Office" "
"Well, take him along, cuss him Eff cal
see him hung, don't care whose clothes HI
wears when he dies" "..a
Warren Cutter was taken to the guard
house, into which, after brief conversation
! between the Corporal and the officer of tn,
guard, he was thrust in. The guardroom wa
a pretty large room, in a rough board build
ing, and it had only three or four occupant
| when Gutter entered it. He did not attemp
TO address any one, as his thoughts were of
very serious nature, and he felt not at all lil1
| talking. He walked to a corner, where Their
was sort of bench, and sat down. Th
| building was a slight one, and he saw that
strong man could easily break out but h
knew that outside of the boards Gordon O
sentinels formed a living wall, through whicl
it would be impossible to pass. Notwith
standing the peril of his situation, he fel
drowsy, and closed his eyes to sleep. He ha,
dozed but a short time, when he was arouse
from a troubled dream by the sound of voice
near him. He rubbed his eyes and listened
The voices we're evidently on the outside
He placed his ear to crevice, and soon hear
enough to enable him to conjecture that a
officer, probably high in rank, was talkin
with his orderly.
/ ''Be sure" said the voice which he SUP
posed to be that of an officer, "that m
horse is in good condition, and yours too
You had better bring Josh along with lie
! horse, for we will have long distance t
bride"
/ "Do you know how far sir?" .E
"No, but it will be hard march NV br
gade, with two more, with some artillery, ar
| to make a demonstration on the enemy's from
while the cavalry cuts in on their trains
You must be ready at my quarters by on
o'clock Wednesday morning. though we ma
not start before two or three. Good nigh
and be sure to bring around the whiskey
the morning"
81 won't forget it, Sir"
Gutter started from his seat in such a con
motion of excitement, that he hardly kne
what he was about, until he had paced Sc,
eral times across the room. Here was me-
incentive to escape. He might have stage
around the Confederate camp week will
OFT gaining any such important informatio
as had accidentally reached his ears. If h
could only get out. Hearing voice in fror
of the building, he stepped to the door, an
looked through the keyhole They wer
changing guard He waited until the forme
guard had gone, then advanced to where hi
I fellow prisoners we're lounging upon benches
opened his lips as if to speak to them, the
suddenly threw up his hands, uttered louc
4 unearthly shrek, and fell on the fat of h
back upon the floor, his fall shaking tn
building. - o..--.-.-r--