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

corps, the number of troops in the i'm
mediate vicinity, the number of batteries,
and during our hours conversation l
gained much valuable information from
him.
He had said that he must return to
camp, and all the commissioned officers
had left the hotel, when two halfdrunken
soldiers got into hot dispute about the
battle of Sharpsburg, and one of them ap-
pN led to me to decide if the battle was
not victory for the Confederates. re-
piled that the fight had always been con-
sidered "draw," when lie Immediately
blustered up and shouted
"Who in - are you? never saw you
before !"
" don't want you to talk that way to
me, sir P' replied, rising up, and looking
at him in threatening way.
"You don't, eh?' he replied, being just
drunk enough not to care what he said or
did. Well, aoM talk that way, and I
should like to see you stop me p'
I" If you repeat your words will have
|
claimed, looking around as if about to
carry my threat into execution.
"No you don't % he replied, throwing
off his overcoat, and getting mods of en-
couragement from half score of his COM
panions. "You don't belong here and
don't know as you are lieutenant, at all |!
I'd as quick believe you to be Yankee
spy p'
1t needed only this declaration to set
nearly every one in the room against me.
| While the man had no reason to believe me
spy, and did not utter his words from
any such belief, the rank and file of the
army always had a certain antipathy for
officers, arising, perhaps from jealousy,
and the men in the room hoped to see a
fisticuff fight between us two.
That's it, Tom Go for him Smash
his nose He's-a Yankee r' were ex-
pressions heard all around the room and
l saw that serious trouble was coming.
"The men are drunk, lieutenant" whis-
pered the sergeant, " and that fellow is
going to make you trouble. Back into the
corner, and I'll stand by you ~
He drew his sabre, drew out my
"Colt," and we retreated until it was not
possible to attack us except in front. The
movement put every man in the room
against us. Some had guns, some sabres,
and nearly all had revolvers, and the wea-
pons came out with haste. Holding a
heavy sabre in his hand, "Tom" headed
the crowd now advancing across the room,
and row seemed imminent.
"Tom Ferguson, you'd better look outr'
warned the sergeant, as their sabres were
about to cross. cit will be death to you
and all the rest if you strike the lieuten-
ant p
The words were timely, and the men no
sooner realized their force than they ceased
to crowd forward, and there was chance
for parley. Seeing an opening, was not
long in taking advantage of it by saying
" AS for this man, shall have him ar
rested and court-martialed. The rest of
you are not so much to blame /; and if any
of you believe that am Yankee spy, as
he has asserted, here is the proof to the
contrary"
put up my revolver, brought out the
pass having the signature of Uncle Rob-
ert, handed it to the nearest man, and in
two minutes they had me at the bar drink
g,and were nearly crowdiug me on top of
it. Not one of them doubted the genuine
| Of ha oio ft1ra hut all I
must be in good standing to be able to se-
cure pass directly from General Lee. All
was excitement for the next fifteen min
utes, and not until would agree to forgive
and forget, would they let me go. Just as
we were getting ready to leave soldier
came in with the information that the man
Tom Ferguson, who had caused all the
trouble, had been shot. Fearing that /
would carry out my threat to have him
court martialed, he had snealsed out of the
hotel, made for the ford, and was shot by
the Confederate pickets while in the act
Of deserting to the Union lines.
| When the men had all left had a short
conversation with the landlord, who claim
ed to be my friend all the way through the
trouble, and then was tucked away for
the night in one Of his best rooms. I had
made my debut had passed an "examin-
ation." and, as could see little of Stevens
burg during dark night had made up
my mind to have a rest, and to prosecute
my observations by daylight. For expe-
rience had convinced me that bold
"brassy' course was the best course for a
a spy in the enemy's camp.