Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-02-24
OVER THE TENNEssyE.

| ~ Oech TRANSFORMED bt tne fNde t0rch 0l
! war. 1t was moonlight on the lofty SUNNI,
OF Lookout Mountain, on which, at long in.
tcrvals, were seen pulfs of smoke and fash.
es Of flames. followed by dull, heavy re-
port, and then by the harmless bursting Of q
shell in or over the Federal encampmcnt -
II was moonlight on the far off crest Of Mis-
sionary Ridge, where little more than ts
dim outline could be distinguished. 1t was
moonlight in the belcagucred town or Chat
tanosgn, and moonlight in the great Federal
encampment that lay stretched for miles
along and back from the river, On the 9th
er side. the moonlight showed the scattered
tents ef the rebel~, where they were encamp.
ed upon the slopes and ridges, seemingly in
pnrpoScless confusion. To the uniti.'cd, |,
wonld have appeared easy to throw n column
suddenly across, and cut of one of those
apparently 7un"onnected camps; but ouI
! leaders knew better. They knew that every
pass was guarded, and that any moment or
der could be educed from tha. seeming cha.
os: they knew that then the rebels had nc
weak point, and that it one could be found
we were not strong enough to strike as yet
| They waited, gathering their strength, as
the tiger crouehes for n spring, and when
|
told. But at that time the town and camp
was belesguered. our communications were
temporarily cut oif--partially, it is true, hu
sufficiently SO to cause much suffering, cs
pecially among the cat,le-the want Of 70
rage being severely felt. Something mrs
be done to eNtrCatc us from the unpleasant
position, and III due time, as We know, some
| thing was done and that ciIcctually.
1t was moonigh, on the Tcnncssec, and .
beautiful night, although cloud, now anc
then, came across tie face Of the moon. Or
the other side Of the river the rebel picket.
patrolIed the bank, and on our side tn,
! Union pckets aud soldiers did the same; III,
two parties shouting across the stream anr
exchanging the usual "chail," sarcasm AM
Iepartec.
A little back from the river, out Of tn,
hearing of the laughing and shouting sol
diers, two men were walking, and convers
| ing in lew tones One wore shoulder. straps
aud the gold stripe on his panlaIoens indi
Gated that he was n staff officer The othe
was clad in the uniform of private soldier
dark blue blouse, light blue pantaloons. anC
foragng cap. lie was not a remarkable
man in his appearance, but his, keen gra,
eyes, solid chm and compressed lips, be
spoke him man Of shrewdness, tact ant
determination. ...
"This thing must be DONE Gutter" sait
the officer, as they walked slowly along, "by
somchody, ahd in some way. but must con
fess tina. am unable to say how it is to b,
done, or whether it can be done at all.
don't say that you must do it, nor do | asl
you to do it for know the peril, and
know how much you have already done.
merely tell you what is urgently needed
and leave You to do as you think proper"
- am not saying that won't do it, Cap
tain, nor that don't want to do it, Whcl
| went into the service took my life int,
my hands, and | am always ready to lose i
| if the loss can benefit the cause. was on
IL thinking whether it would pay for tn
risk for am tolcrably cautions before q,
into any tBing, and generally count the cos
and calculate the profits. Now. ! have bee,
all around them, and through them, too, 70
that mattrr; but haven't been able to ge
at the heart Of them, and am afraid The thin
can't be done, for they keep cverythin
mighty close over there" s..
~" II yoh could contriye to get among thcr
aud stay there awhile, your sharp ears an
eyes might learn something"
f" It's n risky business, Captain; bat If
can be done, yol may be sure that will d
it, though don't see my way clear vet,
| you don't hear from me again you may con
cludc that they have strung tne up"
~ hope not, my friend,'' sad the officer
as he shook the rough band Of the soldier
| "for we can't spare you now" "s..... ....s.
The soldier was Warren Cutter, of Indi
/ .l tl..,
intrepid scouts Of the Cumberland lie hac
often been employed upon dangerous an,
delicate business, and had always acqut,ec
! himself hrH2ely and well. ...s ... ..'....
! lie walked down to the river, where th
! pickets and others were engaged in chat
ing each other across the stream. and min
gled with them. They had nearly exhaust
ed their wordy artillery, and were caslin,
about for some other amusement
Say, Secesh!' shouted one, don't 20,
want to take dip in the river? Ir you'll
bring me over hunk Of tobacco I'll NEE
you half way with some letter paper
"All right, Yankee. and see tina, YOU dom
wet it, was heard from the other side.
Z" Come, boys said the first speaker. "le
us all go in and have swim," and he begar
to strip. .rafss,. sr........s. .g.-.
! The suggestion was readily acceded to ant
the soldiers commenced diyestng themseye,
! Of their uniforms, and their example bein.
| followed by the bntternut gentry; and in
few minutes some twenty or thirty Of both
sides were in tho river, meeting and com
mingling at the middle Of the stream, ex
charging commodities, taking, laughing
wrestling in the water, and splashing about
n ,.h nth tha, ic
mics, nor expected to be-.
Warren Cutter had thrown off his clothe.
with the rest, and after speaking few words
IN low voice to comrade, he plunged into
the river. At first he swan up the river
and kept little distance from the rest bu,
when they bad become thoroughly inter
miXed, 50 that friend could not be distin
guished from foe, he loa,cd down among
them. After executing few dives and SO
nersaults. he swan Slowly to the shore on
the rebel side.
Did you find the water cold. nsigl,bor."
asked a rough looking rebel picket, as Cut.
ter came painting up. ~
MOI very cold, but am afraid am 90.
ing to have chill, and must dress as soon
as can, and get back to camp"
The scon. then stepped to tree, under
which lay n pile Of clothes, and hastily don
ned the buIternut Uniform as il it was his
own. at s.#.,..F ..,r TIL;
:" wish you would give me the counter.
sign" !ie said to the picket, as he finished
dressing himself my conrade out there
has it, but can't wait for him"
"All right; Morgan, is the word"
Cutter then buried away up the road to
the rebel camps. When he came to the
frst, hs was challenged. gave the counter,
sign, and passed on. Thus he passed thro'
two camps, and entered the third, where.
from the flag that was flying, he supposed
the headquarters of some general oiiicer to
be situated. Here he walked on, unit, he
saw some confederate soldiers lonnging In
front Of arude hut constructed of logs and
brush. Stepping up 70 the hat, nc a:cosled
them. k "@lT
Z Boys, can yor teii 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 baek, for 1 have
only been hero little while, and don't know
mucEr about the country.n Ha
"Twenty.Third Mssissippll T,'sa good
two fnilct from here, way over to the west.