National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-07-26
On Duty as a Spy.

I y
dore's dispatch. | was feeling very
stiff and but little refreshed with
my slumbers, as | opened my eyes
and saw head pOked into the tent,
which ] recognized as that of our
elderly sergeant.-'Get up at once,
: he says. Gen. P-haS sent for
you. The bugles have sounded
hours ago, and all the camp has
| been astir for some time
Il didn't know you had returned
from your trip, for we all thought
that most likely you would get shot
on the road. The orderly says that
'Old Bull Dog (the name by which
/ the commander of our corps was
known is swearing like trooper
this morning, and in a laundering
rage, so YOU had better LOOK sharp
In few minutes was onsmy way
to headquarters-frst, however, go
ing to saddle my little horse, but !
! found so my sorrow,p poor Punch was
so stiff that he could hardly move.
So | Jumped on one of the extras,
| and was soon in the Generals pres
encc. He Had a far from amlablc
/ look. and when | was shown into
/ the room he was abusing a colonel
OF volunteers. 1t must have been a
/ blessing to the colonel, my arrival.
/ .Who are YOU ? the General said,
+ when he saw me stAnding to atten-
/ ton.
Sargent S. replied whom
/ Nou sent for
'Oh, You are, are YOU! Very
we'll, sergeant, | want YOU to cross
the river tonight with Lieutenant
Wilkins and a couple of men, and
torcport to me the number of the
the cucmy'S guns at,--and any
force that they may have collected
there. If Nou do as well as You did
last night, I'll remember yoH Now
20 and come here again at about
i've o'clock. with two good men
/ whom you can depend upon
went back to camp, had my
breakfast. reported to the captain
! that | was detailed for special ser
vices that night. looked at my horse.
. (who very much feared was Grip
plcd.) walked him about little to
loosen his Joints. and began to
think whom J should select to take
with me on my expedition.
sex \ host Of naWes presented them ~!
either too rash or too cautious toI
this risky service. | was wonder
inc whom to chose when my friend
scott came up to a picket rope tol
his team. If he'd o Wy 20, he was
the very man. Yes, he was right
enough for anything and so !
booked him for one. There was AZ
Englishman in another company
whom | secured, and at five o'clocb
precisely the trio were all mounted
and at the place appointed Ih'
lieutenant. who was waiting our ar
rival. sprang on his horse, and mo
. tionIug us to do the same, we start
ed ON trot down the MlSSour
bank If the MiSSippi. ! dld no
like the looks Of this officer at all
lie rode ahead Of rs rs ii too prou'
10 Sp,ak to amy one who had no
shoulder straps on, and seemed T.
la.s that manly confidential teelin
toa 1rd us which those who ar
! s,i on dangerous crrand usual
rA.ibit one to another. To kec
:, aloof i'm this way was evidence OF
mean spirit: and this, coupled Wit
a peculiarly sucaking look he Ina
about him, induced me TO concluo
hr was either Il tuol oracoward.
once | tried to speak to
about our arrangements, and he %
ly replied by SAYING it would !
time enough for me to speak whc
spoken to.
Hes donkey said Scot; al
L if he does not behave himself Y
nr will 30 on our own hook !
.CusS him. said Tom Robinso
Ill warrant hc'Sn not uptu the wOr
m mhe For sixteen miles we rode alol
of tLcifvcr side. every now ana tn
plmging into the fields to esca
observation from the rebel gun boa
At the end of that distance
came TO some heavy woods, III
H.. which we penetrated for about II
+ = mile. when we arrived at SIN
crccl, and there found canoe mo
ed to "A tree. Here we dlsmolnt
hitched our horses to the trees a
sat down waiting for orders,
officer keeping long way oil IT
- his men. 1t got quite dark, an
y very heavy fog settled upon
lbs. Mississippi, SO that boat co'
not be seen from the opposite sh
any distance from the land.
\ long time we waited, until
w." grew SO inpatient that, putting
bold face on the matter, | went
~" to our commander and asked
when we had better cross.
lie as i don't feel very well, sergea
asiy he said. i think that ! hurt my
on the ride down. We ought t.
BBS of now
INN Looking hm very hard III
T.. face. | saw that he was rs pale
u ,mG sheet. 81 | said. 'lou are ri
air; you are very i'll and unii
=. cross. can let you know ev
RY thing that passes, and you cal
port from our accounts" d,
VS.. 'Thank you,' he said very j
600 bly Il am hardly equal for
900 work, but still ! will go with y
@ ""o He was trembling violently,
,slcd | knew that he was airaid