Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1865-01-11
PIE FEDERAL CHAMELEON
An Interesting Story.

One evening, about an hour aftsr the
Sun had gone down, a couple Of stout men
dressed in soiled rebel uniforms, and Zach
holding in his hand good Austrian rife,
raped at the door Of small frame BALD
ing, near the c. road, in Virginia.
The knock was answered by an old we-
man whose face was almost concealed W
the tangled masses Of her grey, uncombed
and disheveled hair.
"And what may ye want, heah ?" she
exclaimed, as her deep-set eyes flashed on
the two men. 81 haven't the smallest bit
Of Johnny cake in the house, to offer ye,
for it was all -"
No, no." interrupted one Of the soldiers,
"we don't want anything to eat; but we
want you to tell us, and that in quick time,
too, whether or not you've seen slight
but strong looking slip Of man 80 by
here Of late" -
Dressed in blue and carrying double
barrelled rife" added the other.
"Hey! hey" cried the bag, lifting her
hands, and speaking in sharp, angry
voice, "If ye hadn't interrupted me !
reckon you'd heard me speak Of him beg
fore now, as that was the very man w
came here and bought ali my cakes II
was about two hours ago, and"
(Which way did he go after he left
you?" inquired both men, eagerly.
Before l answer that question you
must tell me who he is," said the old wo-
man, with the curiosity natural to her sex.
"Hs's celebrated Union scout whom
we call the "Federal Chameleon" because
he changes his uniform SO often. Some.
times it is blue, other times gray, and he
has even been seen wearing the. disguise
of an old farmer. He has shot more of
our men than is pleasant, and We have
rowing commission from our colonel to
go on hunt after him and capture him,
if we can, either dead or live. And now
as we have replied to you" continued the
speaker little impatiently, 1--WE demand
that you answer our question, and
Demand" interrupted the hag in
shrill, piercing tones. "Is that the proper
way to speak to woman, and an old wo-
man at thaty"
Come, come, answer US if you please"
cried the soldier in q milder tone. II
meant no harm-it is only my way Of
speaking"
"Well, perhaps may forgive and per-
haps not" said the old woman, shaking
her head
"How far is your camp from here?"
"What is that to you? What has
that to do"
"There you 60 again with your accur-
sed incivility ?" shrieked the hag, fierce
ly; "but you shall answer my question
before you get single word out Of me.
Now, then, how far is your camp from
here, and how many men have you in
and around it? Ifntend to carry your
fellows some corn-cakes, dye see, and l
want to know the number of mouths thai!
/ have to cook for"
"Oh, in that case," said the rebel, "
do not see any reason why / should
satisfy you. Our camps, then are abds
five miles from here, near the CrosA1
roads, and our number may be about Eve
thousand"
"That will do," cried the old woman
with grin Of satisfaction" yes, that
will do. And now you are sure that the
man who came here to buy q supper is the
one you are after?"
eve are sure of it, for although We
have never seen the mans face, we'd
know him by his double -barreled rife
as nobody else in the Yankee army car
ries weapon of that kind"
cay, ay, it's the right one, tbso," said
the bag, "Afsr he had finished and