The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-10-31

we fell upon and wrecked tent and
began to draw q crowd. In five min
utes there were fifty men around us, and
pretty soon an officer comes up, sepa-
rates us and asks:
"What is this row about9"
II caught that chap stealing" sings
out my opponent
''He les"
"Who are you?" asks the officer.
Private George Smith, Of the Sixth
Maine"
Where's your regimentP"
"Den't know, sir. was captured by
the 'rebs, got away and am looking for
my regiment"
"When did you come in?"
"Last night"
"How did you pass all the outposts
and sentinels?"
He had me there. had as good as be-
trayed myself by that one answer.
''Tll see to your caser' he growled,
and he called the guard and had me
marched off. The guard-house was
log stable, and as soon as he reached it
was stripped and searched. The next
move was to hunt up the Sixth Maine
and discover that l did not belong to
that regiment. l was then taken to
corps headquarters and Questioned.
changed my line of defense, claim.
ING to be deserter from the One Hun
bred and Twenty-fourth New York, who
was voluntarily coming back to his reg
iment, but the next day the Colonel of
that regiment came to look at me, and
he pronounced Inc liar and an impos-
tor.
Next day when court-martial was
convened, had no defense to offer.
They tried me as a spy, and while moth
ing could be proved, was condemned
and sentenced to be shot | was given
to understand that, but l reckoned that
some Of the officers were not quite sat
isiied. Instead of carrying out the SEN
tence right away, the findings were sent
to higher court for approval.
:. What am telling you in minute
consumed about two weeks. was
pretty comfortably fixed in the barn,
but so zealously guarded that there was
no possible show for escape The pa
pers had been sent off, and | was daily
expecting to near their approval, when
one night just before dusk, the chaplain
of Pennsylvania regiment came in to
console me- He was about my size and
age with the same colored hair, and the
mint l saw him l grasped at q plan.
When we had talked little l asked
him:
"How did you git in?"
"Why, 1 showed my pass to the
guard" he answered.
That was all | desired to know. He
talked for about quarter of an hour.
He advised me to give up all hope and
make my peace with God, and l gave
him to understand that / might be more
contrite on his next visit.
| tell you, that next day seemed a
week long Ihad plan, and it prom
ised success. When the day did begin
to fade away was so nervous and ex-
cited that could not keep still. The
chaplain came in just at dark, and, as
he grasped my hand, he said:
"Ihe papers have come back and you
must prepare to dien'
"Pray for mel" saysI.
DE knelt right down, and he had
skeeroely uttered word when had him
by the throat. 1t was so sudden, and ]
had SIGH grip on him, that he skeercely
kicked. didn't want to kill him, but !
choked him until he was like rag.
Then off with his coat, vest snd pants,
and was into 'em before he showed signs
of coming to. 1t was too soon to 90
out, and choked him some more.
Poor man! felt powerful sorry to dc
him SIGH injury, but my life was at stake
In about twenty minutes l felt it was
safe to 60 out. l dragged him into 8
corner, set him up on end, and ther
knocked at the door. II was opened al
once, and as l squeezed out the guart
shut it without even glancing in.
"How is he, chaplain?" asked the
guard as he locks the door.
Resigned, poor man." 1 answered
and off l goes.
As l afterwards learned, Ihad a gooC
J hours start. didn't head for tn,
! river, as might be expected, but for tn
/, North, and it was over month befor
.. l saw Lees lines again. A Washington
! paper had long story about my escape
| and it said / would have been shot mex
> day, and that the chaplain would b
+. laid up for month.-DetrOtt Ere
: Press.