Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-24

carbines and revolvers. An attempt to
escape would have been very hazardous
even if he had desired to make it, but
under the circumstances he, of course,
gave himself up Immediately.
80 you're up here spying around the
pickets, are you 2" said the Lieutenant.
81 cannot be treated as spy" said
Bell "because / am in my uniform. |
was on my way to West Tennessee.
well" said the lieutenant, "you
have arrived in West Tennessee now, and
you will probably be furnished with quar-
ters at Memphis" tft
He took possession of Bells revolver,
and placing him in charge of guard,
sent him to the rear. They continued
three miles down the road in the direc-
tion in which Bell had come. They had
been sent out by Hurlbut to look for a
body of rebels which had been annoying
the pickets. " lA
On returning to Memphis, the lieuten-
ant took Bell Immediately to Gen. Hurl-
butts headquarters, and on gaining ac-
cess to the office, said:
General, have got rebel officer
here, who, believe, is the commander
of the guerrillas who have been firing on
our pickets." 4"
The General looked at Bell With quiz-
zical smile and replied:
"Well, leave him here with me. / wish
to question him. / am glad you have
been so successful. No doubt you have
caught the ringleader, and / will take
caro- that he is attended to.
The Lieutenant left the apartment
much gratifed.
"What does this mean ~" said the
General. "What did you come up to our
lines in that uniform for 2"
II came NJ" replied Bell, with the
intention of being captured and brought
in to you. ! have been sick, and would
like to 90 home on furlough, and l
thought it would be better to be sent up
the river as a rebel prisoner"
The scout then proceeded to detail his
adventures since leaving Memphis the
last time, including his visit to Grant and
Shermsn, and what he had done in inter-
cepting the dispatch for the arrest of Jor-
dsr, the Union spy.
Bell then requested that he might be
sent to st. Louis on the steamer which
sailed the next evening, as a prisoner,
and that, after visiting his parents at
Galesburgh, he might be allowed to es-
cape from prison, and again make his
way to Chalmers. General Hurlbut said
he would be allowed to do as be desired,
and further stated that he would have an
account of his capture published in the
morning paper, 80 that 1t might be seen
by Chalmers.
In the morning Hurlbut gave Bell the
following leave OF absence:
HEADQUARTERS 18TH ARMY CORPS, :
MEMPHIS, TKsN., July 2s. )
Charles S. Bell is in my employment
as a scout, and has rendered valuable
services to the United States on repeated
and dangerous expeditions. He has now
leave of absence for thirty days to visit
his home in Galesburgh, Illinois, at the
expiration of which time he report to the
officer at Memphis.
s. A. HURLBUT, Major General.
The morning paper contained the an
that the notorious rebel
Lieutenant Pierson, formerly of West
Tennessee, and late of Chalmers COM
mand, had been captured while lurking
in the vicinity of the pickets, which he
was no doubt preparing to attack. 1t
further stated that be would be sent to
81. Louis that night in charge of guard.
In the evening Bell went on board the
steamer Belle of Memphis, bound for St.
Louis, in charge of a lieutenant and two
men. The lieutenant was in the conf
leuce Of General Hurlbut, and had been
that Bell was not actually a
Confederate officer, but that it was neces-
,ary that he should be made to appear to
be so. He acted his part admirably,
keeping an apparently close watch on his
prisoner.
The river on the way is broad and shut |
N by high bluffs and forests of cotton
woods, and the current is swift, forming |
'snd-5srs very rapidly in new and unex-
oected places, so that the pilots have to |
Seep careful and unrsmitting lookout. |
But few stoppsges were made except at
he wood yards, where additional fuel
vas taken on board. They occasionally
net and passed a steamer, or gunbost
ying with its black hull rising grimly out
If the muddy waters.
There Rere quite number of passen.
,ers on board, including several ladies,
Mostly Of secession sympathies, who of
course did all they could to show their
Idmiration of the young Confederate
,iiicer, and their hatred of the Yankee
to which he was now q pris-
,ner. Still the trip might have been
nonotonous but for the acquaintance
Ehich Bell formed of very beautiful
'oung lady from Memphis. ..
As he learned afterward, she was on
Ter way to St. Louis, to try and obtain an
Interview with her brother, who, though
mere boy, had been in the rebel service,
nd had been captured and sent to the
iratiot street prison. Loving her brother
nd the cause for which he was suffering
cry much, and imbned with certain
hivslric notions of Southern pride and
she was Of course an ar
ent little rebel herself, and had q rea-
enable desire to form the acquaintance
{ an officer who was also about to be
aken perhaps 10 the same prison in
lhich her brother was iucarceraied.
She had large, dark. honest eyes, that
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