Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-11-28

and have learned this much, that tn
spy has all his plans and specification
arranged, and that he will conceal ther
on his person tonight. and leave th
city for Bragg's camp. This much hav
l impaired to the chief of army police
but there is one thing that did no
inform him of, which is, that the spl
will leave on the Lebanon road. Ever,
taveDue leading from the city will b
carefully guarded; but as 1 shall watcl
the Lebanon road, l think my chance
are decidedly the best for success. Ii
what shape the crafty fellow will trav
el, l have no idea. Ny men were to bt
ready at nine O'Clock. We will go tC
the rendezvous" AS the hands of my
watch designated the hour of nine, oul
party was enroute. 1t was composed
of ten persons, the captain, myself
and eight cavalrymen. improvised into
policemen for the occasion we were
well mounted and armed. Our desti
nation was point two miles from the
city, upon the road leading from Leh-
anon. We rode quietly along in the
dun starlight, converting, if at all, in
low and guarded tones. After a while
we reached a strip of wood. that came
up to the road on either side. Here
we dismounted and led our animals a
few rods into the wood, and secured
them to young saplings. We then re-
turned to the road.
Six men were posted il the shadow
of the wood, three on each side. while
the other two, with the Captain and
myself, seated ourselves upon fallen
log. by the road side, with ears and
eyes open. We felt confident that
although the spy might elude the pick
cts between US and the city, who were
not on the watch for him particularly.
he would inevitably fall into our hands.
In short time a party of three horse
men were seen coming up the road
We remained motionless until they
had entered the gloom which the trees
cast across the highway, when at sig
nal from the Captain, our party deploy-
ed in front of and behind the horse
men. The movement was so promptly
and perfectly executed that the new
corners were surrounded at once.
"Haltw ordered Markham, in a
stern voice.
"What is the matter2" asked enc of
the horsemen, in a tone that betrayed
a good deal of uneasiness. I'VE haint
robbers, be ye?"
Silence, sirs! Dismount, continued
the Captain.
For the Lud's sakes don't kill us, )"
implored the first speaker. in a piteous
tone. "Ef We wants the critters, take
'em, an welcome, but spare our lives"
Silence! Didn't you hear me?"
"Ohl On"
The three men dismounted, and
stood evidently much agitated in our
midst. The Captain placed a dark
lantern 10 the face of each one in sue
removed the slide for second
20 as to throw the light into their faces,
md then said in disappointed tone.
Mount and begone"
THANK We thank"
'..Begonel L Isay," interrupted Mark
nam. Don't stop to palaYer me. Clear
,ut."
The horsemen, who were inhabitants
If the adjacent country, thanked their
ucky stars, no doubt, for their escape
rom midnight assassins, and rode off
S fast as the darkness and their rack
-bone steeds would allow.
Several pedestrians. and one or two
persons in carts and buggies, passed
long the road all of whom were sub
ected to rigid scrutiny but without
uccess,
1t was now near midnight. The air
rev chilly, and the dampness of the
lew had saturated our garments, SO
hat we began to feel decidedly out of
pirits
Can it be that the wretch will
scape us?" said the Captain. in a tone
therein traced touch Of desponden- {
Provoking if he does" l replied. |
But he will naturally wait until late I
our"
mo. he won't" said Markham. "He /
bold dog, and he knows he would
e less liable to suspicion. if he passed
t an early hour of the night. Hsrk
bat is thai?"
We listened. The faint sound of
heels was heard in the distance. Il
rev louder as the vehicle approached
s. Soon the dim outlines of horse
nd wagon were visible. There were
vo men riding in it.
By the usual maneuVre we brought
le wagon to a stop. and surrounded
. 1t was an old fashioned. one-horse
Imber wagon, without springs-the
en- both sat on a piece of board
aced across the fore part of the box.
n old bed quilt was thrown over some
ling in the bed of the wagon. h
A soldier seized the mare, powerful ,
own beast, by the head, while the
hers stood ominously around with
rbines ready for instant use. The
lptain ordered the two men to get ,
It of the cart, which they did rather
luctantly, showing signs of much !
ar. The light of the lantern was
rown full upon the faces of the
rangers, but their eountenances were ,
known.
What does this mean?" asked one :
the strangers, in tone of some i'm !
rtance. "You are Federal soldiers, 4
d we are good Union men. Why :
you then stop us?" q
''No matter" replied Markham, ab- .
pity. "What have you in the cart, :
Vered up so carefully?"
"A coffin" O
The deuce !" calculated Markham, :
dying me in the Sides" "Let's see f,
boys" q
he then caught hold of the bed Quilt . .
4 drew it from the wagon. The rays =
the lantern revealed large coffin !,
ng in the bottom of the cart. The :
plain was evidently disappointed; he
i expected something else. T
What's in the coffni" he asked. :,
"A corpse" -
Dead man, eh? Whose body?'' -
The body of Thomas Moff4tt, SIR" - =
'Moff4tt, eh? Whowas he, pray tell?" a,
"A soldier in the Federal army. He a.
J a Tennesseean; his folks live about !,
J miles from here. He died in the
ipitsl last night, and we got leave to 81
e his body to his friends tonight w
ely you do not object to that?" ar
! don't want to be inquisitive,r h,
| Markham, in a quiet tone, "but ~
| deem it my duty to ask 70
avor of you. You will please open
coffin, that 1 may be positive that
Moffatt is dead. If he is dead, it =,
be no harm; if he is only pretend Gl "a
. a little fresh air might assist him." -
he men seemed 10Th to omen the VI