Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-10-04
IN BOTH CAMPS.
The Adventures Of Confederate Spy---A Story OF
Sherman's March.

The Adventures of Confederate spy-.-A Story of
Shermsn's March.
He had always lived on farm near
the Chattahoochee River, and knew all
the country around Kenesaw mountain
SO well that he could go to any place for
miles alone In the darkest night. Gen.
Hood was greatly perplexed after his de-
feat in the first battle of Kenesaw noun
tain, and believing that Gen. Sherman
would make move down the railroad
or around Lost Mountain, it was of the
greatest importance to know which. So
he sent for William, and asked him about
the country around, and he offered $500
In gold 20 visit the camp of the federals
and report what was going on.
William well knew that 1t was certain
death to be discovered, and after reluct-
antly accepting the offer, he made dep
osition of his property by will, half ex-
pectlng never to come back. Claiming
80 be a refugee, and one of the original
union men of Georgia, he got through
the lines without difficulty, and was sent
by the United States quartermaster to
Chattanooga. There he changed his
dress, shaved off his wh4skers, and cut
his hair short, aud applied to the SAM
tary commission for employment. He
claimed to come from the country, AID
telling cheap tale, he was hired. At
his own request he was sent to the front
to aid In the distribution of supplies.
Thus situated, he could do anything he
wished, and he at once set about getting
information. He visited Gen. McPher-
sons headquarters, at the right of the
Marietta road.
After learning from Mcpherson that
no more supplies had better be accumu-
lated at Big Shanty, as the armies were
soon to move, he started for Sherman's
headquarters. His credentials as an
agent of the sanitary commission were
3 sufficient passport anywhere, and al
though one or two regarded him with
suspicion, yet none stopped him. While
he was III Hooker's tent inquiring about
the supplies OF the division, an order
came from Sherman TO prepare two days
nations and move where, no one knew.
But Hooker remarked that as the third
brigade was TO move first it must be to
the southwest. This was all William
could expect to gain, and so, writing a
letter to the agent of the sanitary COM
mission, telling him that the sanitary
commission was of no further use to
him, as they might like loyal man bet
ter, he respectfully resigned. The
state Of his health demanded that he
should go south, and thinking that if he
stayed with the federal army he would
never get any further south, he had
concluded to leave them behind. This
letter was written In Gen. Thomas tent
and sent on by special messenger de-
tailed by the general himself.
That night after securing a pass to
take supplies to Gen. Blair's division of
the army of the Tennessee, he secured a
mule and box of medicines and started
for Marietta. He succeeded, after
great deal Of difficulty, in getting per-
mission to closs the main line, but with
the skirmish line pickets and videttes he
had more difficulty. They first positive
II refused him permission to pass, and
he rode for a mile, trying one after
another along the line before he found
way through, and succeeded only be-
cause he found an idiotic fellow who did
not know his duty. Then came the Skin
mish line. Leaving his mule and walk
ing deliberately up to a picket he IN
CURED where the man was who was hurt,
as he came to take care of him. The pick
ct said he had not heard of anybody who
had been injured, and asked William if
he mad any whisky. Telling him he had,
William sat down on the box and pro-
ceeded to divide it. Acting at a favor
able moment, William caught hold of the
soldiers gun as it rested on the ground
and wrenched it from the astonished
soldiers grasp.
Then threatening to shoot him if he
made any noise, so that the picket a
short distance away could hear, William
bade HIM be seated and started up for
the mountain. AS might be expected,
the disarmed picket set up a howl as
soon as William was out Of sight. The
other sentinels began to fire after him,
and one minnie ball passed through his
arm near the elbow, and another clipped
his ear. The confederate pickets, hear
ing the discharge, thought it must be an
advance. and began firing from their
SIDE This was an unfortunate circum-
stance for William, for when he shouted
to his own lines they took the direction
from which the voice came and sent the
bullets the faster. Finally hearing the
Union pickets nearing, he saw his only
chance was TO make a dash for it. And
shouting, "I'm deserter, surrender, +"
he ran towards the confederate line.
Volley after volley rang in his ears, the
smoke was suffocating him, but he
rushed on after the first charge until, as
he was passing the second picket, about
a dozen soldiers of the relief drew up in
front of him.
AS it was not SO dark but that his form
could be plainly seen, the corporal ex-
claimed: " Readyl We take no pris-
oners tonight. Fire!" Down went
William IN an instant with seven balls
IN his right hip and leg. Almost beside
himself with rage at this reception by a