The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-09-23

l wanted of them. l then gave my revol-
vers thorough overhauling, brought out
and put keen edge on fine knife which
had been presented me few days before,
and my war preparations were complete.
1 next brought out my boots, pair which
/ had CONSTRUCTED" to order in Wash
ington. The heels were made to screw
on, the soles could be sprung open to
admit a paper, there were pockets in each
bootleg, and, altogether, the boots were
wonderfully and fearfully made" and
had stood me more than one good turn.
gave them thorough greasing, drew
them on, and then there was only one more
preparation. l wanted the uniform of a
Confederate officer. OF course, any reader
will understand that could not have
moved about in the Confederate camps in
Federal uniform, and would not be
hung any quicker if caught playing Con-
federate than l would if arrested in plain
clothes AS said BEFORE it was to be all
spy and no scout.
A few days before Confederate lieuten-
ant Of infantry had been captured by some
Yankee raiders, and was then in camp
waiting to be forwarded to Washington
He was in full uniform, as well as in
new one, and was conducted to his quar-
ters. He had refused parole, and was
confined as closely as any of his men would
have been. Being admitted to his pres
ence, prevailed upon him to exchange his
uniform for suit of blue. He murmured
considerable at being forced to don gar
ments so entirely misrepresenting his SEN
timents, but, as the alternative was no suit
at all, he made the exchange like sensi-
BILE fellow, and walked out of the hut
Confederate officer. never saw the gen.
tleman afterwards, or had chance to beg
his forgiveness, and so do it here, desir-
ing him to understand that the suit came
as near causing my death as he could have
hoped for, and that bear him no ill-wll
for the epithet which he hurled after me
as went out and left him trying to solve
the question as to what use he could make
of the extra two feet of pant legs with
which he was provided. If that particular
pair of pants were two feet too long, Uncle
Sam had thousands of other pants two feet
too short.
The pickets at the river were of the opin-
ion that could not cross at the ford, ow-
ing to the vigilance always exercised at
that point by the enemy. There had been
lively rainstorm day or two previous,
swelling the Rapidan until should have
to swim for it, and so it mattered very little
where l crossed as far as the getting over
was concerned. Half mile below the
ford the banks were high and covered with
brush, and taking a last observation just
at dark, made up my mind to shun the
ford, and risk my chance below. BY land
ing on the south bank, anywhere below
the ford, would not find the pickets at
the waters edge, and would have little
time to recover myself after the cold swim.
The night came OH all that could be de-
sired. There was half gale blowing, the
sky was covered with black clouds, the air
was damp and full of mist, and one could
not see a white tent over three rods away.
1t was just such night as ] wanted and
an hour after dark / was on the bank
ready to cross. One of the scouts and the
generals orderly were with me to assist
me in my arrangements, but there was lit
tie to do. All l wanted was something to
float me as an aid in crossing the river,
and this we had brought along, in the
shape of two wide boards made fast to-
gether, forming raft about seven feet
long and four feet wide. The water was
cold as ice, and I could not dip my hand
into the stream without shiver. How
ever, / removed my uniform, rolled it up
in tight bundle, had the scout lash it to
the top of my head, and in a few minutes
was ready to take to the water
"You will be back before morning, be-
cause you can't even get into Stevensburg,"
remarked the scout, as / stepped into the
water. "If you are not back, wen know
that you were captured and put through"
The good-by did not warm the water
any, for the first moment after pushed
OF, | thought ! should speedily freeze
My legs were SO numb that could hardly
move them at first, bnt got little used
to the sensation before had drifted far
down, and headed my float diagonally
across the stream. II was the coldest job
] over had, reaching the other bank, and if
it had not been for my float l should have
gone down like a bag of sand. AS it was,
] kept my head and shoulders above water,
gripped the boards tightly, and floating and
swimming, at last bumped the south bank