Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-23
From the Dssroit rFibans.
A Disabled HerO-.lnteFrestlng Narrative
Of an Invalid Spy..IIIg Capture and
Escape..A fIangman Brought 20 Grief

n DfH4DAEA AAtEW@eIHtLEEENA40A N8I84kuE
Of an Invalid Spy~IIIg Capture and
Escape-.A iIangnlaH Brought 70 Grief
Quite accidentally, yesterday. alady friend
called our attention 70 an invalid occupying
a room n the Soldiers Hcme We called
upon him this morning and found him phi
losephizing hopefully upon military move.
meata nssd changcs A portion Of his mar
rntive was 30 interesting that we will en-
deavor 10 reproduce Il for the entertainment
Of our readers.
my name Is Joshaa Il. Wood. I ain
twenty -four years Of age. and native of
Philadelphia. Ieniisted in the 18th Illinois
infantry, Colonel John B. Wyman. IN April,
1861 After participating, with my regi-
lncnt, in the action &C Camp Jackson. Mis-
souri, and the battle Of Pea Ridge, / entered
the secret service.
SIN order 70 ascertain the political status
Of the Indian tribes, was dispatched 10 the
Indian rendezvous, about one hundred miles
from oar entposts. successfully played the
rebel, and returned ia one month with the
desired information. Ny seeond trip was
mp the ST. Francis river, and was devoid Of
sensations. The details Of my third trip
are vet fresh in my memory. In my state
mttal Ol AaPtS. Nnu " III dtoEONEI ttlt fE&SOl
IL had proceeded without difficulty to
Fayetteville, Ark, when l was recognized
By rebel who knew me. and was aware of
my vocation He apprised Gen. Hindmsn
of my presence, who immediately posted a
chain picket 70 capture iae. Carefully Sc:
lecting my line of retreat, negro was dis
patched from plantation residence to in
form me that kas upon tie wrong road.
and Was requested to disrnouiit and larry
knew this advlee could only emaHate from
friend, and therefore complied The plan
ter shook my hand heartily, and observed
that there was but one route for me to es-
cape the piekets--a gap four mites distant
being the kcf theretCs He accompanied me
thus far, and wished me success. | rode
twenty miles as soon as possible. Here, in
the name Of the Southern Confederaey,
demanded from q fine planter a fine bay
horse. which be possessed. This wss viii
Hngly exchanged for my exhausted gray,
and gavemy rich black whiskers hasty
burial in Maud. Another ride Of twenty
miles brought me to hospitable mansion,
whore | stopped for the night
Il was tkoroiighis conscious of Tire fact
that detachment Of rebel cavalry was in
pursuit. and an hour had scareely elapsed
ere they arrived At mS resting place. Stiih-
ulatud BY excitement and maddened by my
escape, they hastily asked information rcia.
tive To a Yankee spy with heavy black whiss
kcfs and 4 gray horse. My host was so
deeply exercised By their iReohereat qaes-
tons that be entirely forgot hia guest They
informed him OF my escape, and stated that,
the negroes owned By my beneiaetor near
the gap had confessed. under pain Of sam
mary execution, that their master bad aided
mo to evade their hospitality, whsreupoR he
was shot at once Receiving the answer
that horsemail had passed IN great haste
that afternoon, they spurred forward-first
my ultimate escape
This reliable information relative 10 my
purshors vas quite refreshing 70 ne.
started onward after breakfast, but missed
nv Intended route, and came upon an aIn-
baah, whore about thirty rebels were IN
waiting | dashed past them At lightning
speed, receiving no injury either from their
bulletsrnr eafAss. Theys plrsped mes With
no success. reached Hetcna, 81. Fraheis,
and at last, Iatile Rick, In safety.
.'iiere was iAaugaruted dstiaet era IN
taf history. was Immediately captured
BY the fxth Texas having been reeos aiseSi
by one OF the members OF that regiment -
| vas hanflrafsed. plaesd In = dungeon IN
the fail where / ceuid not stand erect, and
fed ap0n brad and water. AfteF en- inn
pfispnment OF three months. ] WIS court
inartialei a. Yankee spy Not appreeia2
ting fAy devotion Co the Yankee ettase, ere
court sentenced iae % be hung General
Hindfnan approved the nsutsAee, asld gave
ma Gye days ts prepare Ter exeeations
HQn October l3, 1864 The seatfbld was 10.
readiness In the State House yard, Nearly
fifteen thousand citi1aDs were collected 10
witness my dying agoaies. andtIi military
were formed In hellowezf squaso. aFuangi mys
apparent daatA-hed.. 1wAs 80 zseak that
could not walk % ihe srAlalds and was ae
ccrdingly conveyed thftief upon b dray. !
AnHsy / eat apoa NJ ssEsn with tbe usual
grace. iisf IIreftaraa death y , iangeas.
| Na6 helped Upon she scalilads and the,
black cap adjusted ever my eyes, Fa1fher
proceedings would havp been iRsleA nllelY
pfsstpohski 81 my aSrepeanee 81 the tati Of
allegiance; bat ] Wal always uafiasak and
nrefaered he die 1hnl.
AT shis Interesting period Gen. Hind
man Appeared at the place nf sxeeptiahs he
was accompanied 81 Zen Joe Johnston.
who kai jsa sfslfs 20 lahe toitHsaila g
aThs Iss.sr Va j OF ssqaaiasahss 81