The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-09-12
IDA MITCHELL-AN INCL
DENT OF THE WAR.
BY CAPTAIN JOHN TYLER cAMAcELL

q Immediately after the fall Of Yicks,
burg, in 1863, a portion of the Fedora
army under General Sherman marched
in pursuit of the 0onfederates under
General Joe Johnston to Jackson, the
capital of Mississippi. After a seige OF
probably a weeks duration, Johnston
evacuated that city; and it was im-
,mediately4 occupied by the Federal
forces, The vicksburg campaign was
then over, and the tired army at Jack.
son returned to the Big Black River,
over to the west bank and went into
camp about Twelve miles from Yicks-
burg, and tbe-lines were arranged so as
to guard the passage Of the Big Black
River, and prevent the Confederates
from attacking that city, L.
think the soldiers OF the niteen'n arlpy
co,ns ever had had more pleasant quar-
ters or Jared more sumptuously. 1t
was to them harvest Of rest and res
creation. and they spent their time be-
meath the shades of the magnolias that
blossomed around, in writing letters
readipg books of fiction and in the
social converse of the camp: One
evening while I was officiating as othoer
of the day, an incident occurred when
4 shsll now relate:
While at the guard post, about a q quar'
Ter Of mile in the rear of the pouto"n
br;5re over the Big Black, the sentinel
at the bridge reported that he had cap
tured t a spy. He said the person
whom be had halted had tried to give
him the slip and get to the enemy BE- be,
~ uond ur the river. In company with
Ssrreapt NorthAeet, who had charge o'
the 9 guard, went down to the bridge
to zee q about the matter. The night
was exceedingly pleasant. The moor
did not shine, but the million star
sparkled in the heavens and mlrrore'
themselves in the clear, winding ri'e'
at our feet The prisoner said not I
word I could not help gaEing !ntt
his face; it seemed to me that l hae
never ~, seen face SO handsome or eye
90 benutiful. And with long COLDER
hair partially covered up with tel
hat at least two sizes too large n
stood before US the picture of Absolum
He wore 8 soldiers blue blouse AM
''1IS sWhsrs @ are you goiog2' I asked.
4 want to 60 to jackson to see
friend near and dear to me- he replcc
Didn't you know that you mus
b,,s = mas to get through the liEes
Yes, but l was afraid they would re
fuse to give me pass and l wanted
90 90 bad. I am stranger to the o1
fieers at headquarters, and / did nc
have the courage to ask for the pass
The Young man began to cry an
beseed us to let him pass through a.
suring us that no harm could come OF +
and hat God would bless US all i'
'' Sergeant Northaeet called me asid
and told me that he had suspic'o1
about that young man. L told nun tI,1
,boueht I the yonug man was aspy. IN
s;r. Sou are mistaken replied the Sc
w oesnt. I then called the young ms
aside and after being seated upon a 10
on the roadside, he asked me if l wou
nromlse upon the honor Of q gensiem'
| to Keen the secreet no proposed to 7
veal. I told him I would to the deaf
Thereupon the prisoner said:
Although you behold me here as !,
man, I am a woman my name is L
= Mitchell. My father is Colonel
ths Union army; my mother, broth.
3 3 and m sisters are nov 10 ST.. Louis, Ehs
We have resided for the past year:
g ran of from home last week and arr'7
. at Vicksburg yesterday on the stea
boat Belle Memphis .tl.a
. She began weeping again. .,
,r well, where were you go'ngF
a. asked. e.,,o,
le She replied; / have a friend wno'
love better than life. His name
= Harry Deering, and he is Lleuten
in Loripc's division of the Coutsderr
L yunMnned- an