The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-22

when the guard escorted me 20 my quarters, / |
interview.
The next morning brought Mr. Brock to my |
loft, evidently sent to sAtisfy himself fully that |
i was Sam Munson. delicate and difficult |
Task was before me, and the result to my own |
mind very doubtful. Brock hoseyer, was |
talkative, willing to carry on the conversation,
and evidently quite sure that he was not mis-
taken in his man. ] knew something of the
Munsons and localities in Knoxville, and, by
the aid of imagination, could fill any pauses In
Brooks conversation; eight years OF aosence
excusing failures in memory. Brock asked
leading questions, saying, for Illustration, "You
know se-and-so.h "Oh, yes, Responded, tho0gh
1 bad not the remotest knowledge of the person.
Then Brock would refer to something very
ludicrous, and would burst into laughter, as
though at the recollection, while Brock, greatly
enjoying il, would unconscously tell the whole
stony. so that | could put in fitting remark
here and three, which seemed to come naturally
from recollection. Brock went away entirely
satisfied, and reported to JEFF. Davis. Two days
later, commissioned officer entered the room
with parole, pledging myself not to leave the
city of Richmond without orders from the FRO
vost Marshal. ] signed It,, and was released
nom confinement With the freedom OF the
city, continued my observations:
Walking through a street one Sunday morn
ing, 10y high board fence covered with posters
concerning regiments being organized and other
military announcements, from which CLEANED
additional Information, a man came up and
slapped me on the shoulder with
"Hallo, Bakeri What are you doing hereW
cumstanoes. / was startled, but, looking
around, calmly said:-
Il guess you are mistaken sir. Ny name is
MunsOn."
"Ain't your name Baker?"
"No, SIR"
"Didn't you go to California in 1850 ~
mo, sir. l have lived in California, but l
cd not go there till 49,"
why, didn't you 90 across the Isthmus with
me in,Aprll, 1885, when we had the fight with
the natives N
"No, sir. 1 guess you have mistaken the
a. am
''Wen, would have sworn that you were
Baker; Didn't you have brother thereW
81 had brother there, but he came home
in 6S
well, l." said he, turning away, 'lrs all right,
suppose; but never saw two men look so much
In the meantime had obtained information
OF military movements and plans, learned where
be enemy had stationed troops or were build.
ing forti6cations and what they were doing at
the Tredegar Works. l had obtained the know
ledge for which came, and was anxious to re-
lun North. Through the influence OF Hayes,
got from the Provost Marshal a pass to visit
fredericksburg, making an appointment to
meet the former, which, of course, l did not
keep Arriving in Fredericksburg, made three
or lour Intellectual attempts to get INTO the coun-
try, and finally, by the aid OF negro, crossed
the Rappahannock one morning four miles
below the city. To reach the Potomac would
tax all my powers to the utmost, but the case
was desperate, and / must go forward. As
when entering upon my Southern tour it was
indispensable to success that | should even
among my friends be incog., so now must
return with the precious epistles in my pocket
through the Confederate lines, on my own ac-
count, having only the chances of escape which
any wanderer at large might have
My face was towards Washington, and the
only question remaining was, whether the sue
cess in the attempt to reach it would equal that
OF my journey towards Richmond
Tle Potomac was the goal of my solitary
travel through forest and over open fields; for
on its northern banks lay the Union army, and,
once across its waters, was safe. My appear.
ance was that of common citizen, and hoped
TO pass unnoticed any persons with whom a
meeting was unavoidable. Scarcely two miles
were travelled, when, by the side OF woods which
horseback appeared, and too near to give me
time to seek concealment in the forest.
The officer reined up before me and inquired:
-.Have you got pass, sir"
"Let me see it.n
With the promptness of assurance l drew
forth and handed him the pass from Richmond
to Fredericksburg. If able to read hoped he
might be satisfied with glance at the paper,
and let me proceed. He studied 1t awhile, till
his eye caught the word fredericksburg" he
then said:-
~ don't think this will do, sir!"
'"IiS all right"
''Well, it may be, but you'll have to 60 back
with me to Frederlcksburg.n
My locomotion had not been observed, and,
with pitiful limp, remarked that it was hard
for lame man to be compelled to walk that
distance; and that, if attempted it, must
necessarily defer my Journey till another day.
| made painful effort to walk, and so far
moved the compassion of the officer that he
offered TO take the pass to the commanding
General and leave me in charge of the soldier.
When he was gone, after little pleasant con-
veIsation, the day being warm, proposed to
my guard that we 20 into the shade of the
woods. Tying his horse to small tree, he
threw himself down on the grass. Half an hour
was spent in pleasant chat, and the officer did
not make his appearance.
"Ugh!p said the guard, stretching, Chow
sleepy am. didn't sleep wink last night"
This fact, with the inviting greensWard and
shade, disposed him to snatch a nap; and soon
he was Oblivious to everything around him. 1t
was no pleasure to me to subject him TO punish
law OF seltprotection necessarily overruled my
regard for the unwatchful guard, and, carefully
approprlating his revolver, unloosed aud
mounted his horse. Riding lesurely along the
pain snort time, turned suddenly into the
WOoosi put the ground was rough, and the
pushes almost impenetrable making progress
dlstresslngly slow. As the sun was sinking be-
hind the trees, havingitravelled halEa-dozen
mlies, emerged into clearing, where a white
halred old man. who evidently had reached
his threescOre years and ten, was MAKING
shingles. S
With respectful salutation, inusired,
NWtn you tell me the shortest road TO the
POtomacn W 'A0
surprise. / said again:-
PThe rver-the Potomac river-whicb wav
is it3" ""1
~ never heard of it in my life.n
A'How long have you lived here?n
always; was bonn here.n
"And don't know where the Potomac river ls2D
81 never heard about such river"
He was equally ignorant OF the existence OF
Aqua creek, or any OF the streams or places
along the river