Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-25
In Close Quarter.

In Close Quarter.
One OF the most singular men
ever met With was . priyste soldier
in the 18th New York Infantry
which regiment was brigaded with
the I'd and Sd Michigan and Cd
Massachusetts, during the first year
or 30 of the war. Seen ct one time
you would say that Dan Harrison
had blue eyes. Five minutes after.
wards you would make oath that
they were black, as Indeed they
were.
Dan also had wonderful control
over his voice. He could mimic the
voice of any man In the brigade.
He could bark like dog, bray like q
mule, whistle like bird. and was the
wonder OF the camp. On one occas.
Ion our wsgon.master was asleep in
his wagon, with six mules roped near
by. Dan crept behind q bale OF bsy
and brayed loud and long. The
wagon-msster awoke and jumped
down and pounded the nearest mule,
growing out as he re-entered the
wagon:
There, blast ye--I guess you'll
feel humble for q WHILE"
In about two minutes Dan repeat
ed the words. The voice no ex.
actly the same that a dozen of us,
who were hiding near by, thought it
was the wagon-master again. The
latter individual stuck bis head out,
looked around in surprise, and then
said:
well, it took the echo long time
to get around this wagonr
There were yet other reasons why
Dan was considered greater than q
menagerie. He could drop one
shoulder three inches lower than the
other. He could walk as though one
leg was shorter than the other. He
could work his ears like horse. He
could cramp his hands until they
seemed to be drawn out of shape by
rheumatism. He could make it ap.
pear that he had a squirt in either
eye, and he could raise his eyebrows
clear up into bis hair. He was q
farmers son, genial, brave. and good
hearted, and he was never tired of
doing something to amuse us.
Soon after Heintzelman made his
reconnaissance from in front OF Alex.
andria down towsrd Centerville, he
sent for Dan Harrison, and the re-
suit of the interview was that Dan
was engaged by the Government as
spy. His curious physical struc-
ture and his natural GOODNESS and
bravery fitted him for such danger
GUS work, and / may say here that
for three years he was accounted
the most successful and daring spy
in the service.
One lonely, rainy night in the be.
ginning OF 1862, Dan Harrison set
out to work his way into the Con
federate intrenchments around Gen.
terville, and hear everything that
might be turned to value to the Fed.
eral cause. Dan had no particular
makeup except the dress of vir-
ginia farmer, and no story to tell ex.
cept that he was (when he got there)
within the Confederate lines to Sc.
cure some sort OF compensation for
three horses seized By q party of
Confederate riders. Circumstances
might alter his plsns snd his story,
but if so, he would have TO have
somethisg else at his tongues end.
The spy left the Federal outposts
and headed directly for Centerville
He met with no adventure that night
laid in the woods all next day, and
advanced under coYer of them, and
at night again took the highway. He
knew that danger lurked in every
fence-corner for one who skulked
along, and he therefore put q bold
face on the matter and walked brisk
~ forward, passing quite number of
negroes and several white men with.
out being disturbed. Just then many
elaves were trying to reach the Fed.
eral line, and this fact got Dan into
trouble.
About nine o'clock, as he stepped
briskly along.a patrol, consiating of
:hree men, sprang from bushes and
confronted him. supposing him at
FIRST to be q negro, when, finding
that he was q white man the leader
Of the patrol began asking questions
and insisting upon prompt replies.
For some reason Dan thought best
to change bis plans. Dropping his
left shoulder and humping bis back,
he replied to their questions 10 a
whining, drawing voice, in imita-
ton Of half wit.
Laid for niger, and captured q
fool 7 growled the leader, as Dan
began 10 ask silly questions and
dance around.
We'll, suppose we'd better give
him q kick and let him CO. said the
leader. He don't know enough to
be soldier, and we'd better hurry
him along
Il 0ot's know about that re.
marked the third man, who had all
along been silent. Il don't know Of
any fool 10 this neighborhood, and
we should not let this chap 90 until
We have had . closer look ct him.
Here you internal idiot, do you
know any one about here p
'1issus Brown-Missus Brown 7
replied Dan, using the frat name
that csne 10 bis way.
'Wsll,it's only q step down there
said the man, and if she knows him
it is all right
So there waj Mrs. Brown close
at hand! No one could have been
moro surprised than the Spy, and
be feared that he had 60. himself
into bad scrape There was no
chance for him but to 60 along, and
go he did, amusing the men with
strange antics and silly talk. Mrs.
Brown was q widow, living in .
very comfortable, though . small,
farm house, and Dan Was marched
straight to her door. She was .
woman Of about fifty wears of age,
with kindly face and motherfy