Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-09-03
A REBEL SPY.
Desperate and Successful Rush for
Life,

Now lot mo tell you that in time Of
hurry and excitement, like that which
precedes battle, the life of single
man seems of no more value than the
snap of finger. There is no time to
waste in storytelling, and no DISPOSE
ton to sympathize with victims. say
this in cold blood now, but once upon
. time l felt that drum-head court.
martial was murder in the first degree.
You will remember that when Bragg
evacuated Chattanooga he set a trap
Tor Rosecrans. Rosecrans took the
bait, and the battle of Chickamauga
was the result At the time 1 was a
scout at Braggs headquarters, and
while Rosecrans was strung out over a
line of country forty miles long, each
corps isolated and inviting destruction,
all our scouts were kept busy bringing
In news.
l had been sending in reports from
NcCook troops. Dressed as Federal
Second Lieutenant l had mingled with
various regiments without being sus-
Pected. The Federal army was strain
ing every nerve to concentrate, and
IN the great excitement and anxiety
one would scarcely have noticed what
sort OF a uniform his right-hand COM
rade wore. l gave Bragg a fair idea
of the strength of several divisions,
number of batteries, esprit du corps of
tho rank and file, etc, and twelve hours
before the fight opened at Chicamauga
L was ready to leave the blue coats and
return to the gray.
L always found it easier to get into
the enemy's camp than to get out. 1t
was certainly so in this case. l had
marched all day with Sheridan's in
fantry. Several times during the dav
had been asked the name of my regi-
ment and company. but had ready an
swers. could name half dozen diff
ferent regiments, and had a very reason
able excuse for being ahead or behind
my own.
The men halted at noon to prepare
coffee, and as passed q group of Of
fcers by the roadside they called out for
me to join them for the hasty meal.
pretended not to have heard, and the
invitation was renewed. l had no
alternative but to accept and make the
best of it. They were jolly set, being
Captains and Lieutenants in the same
regiment, and it was evident they took
me for an officer in one of the other
regiments tn the brigade. The CONVEX
sation related wholly to the coming
battle, and l was acting my part as
well as could be expected, when l sud-
denly caught sight of face which un-
settled me in a moment.
Opposite me was Federal Captain
who had not spoken a word since
joined the group. He not only had a
peculiar face, but there was film over
his left eye which rendered it sightless,
while the other had strange way of
glazing at me. When looked up
felt that he had been scrutinizing me
from the first moment. There was
something about which whispered of
evil to me, and l suddenly lost my ap-
petite. made a pretense of eat
ing, however, and was hoping to get
away from the group without being
questioned, when the Captain leaned
forward and, in a voice which rasped
and grated on the ear. inquired:
What regiment do you belong TOP"
The Fifth" replied.
"What Fifth"
"Illinois."
''Humph!"
1 answered him by chance. not know
ing whether such a regiment was in
the corps or not. Did he know? What
did he mean by ''humph?"
None of the other officers seemed to
have any interest in the case, but 1
was not yet ready to 60 when the Cap
tain left the circle. Was he going to
consult some superior officer regarding
my arrest? The fear that he was
caused me to act at once. He was no
sooner out of sight than I hastily ex-
cused myself and hurried down the
road. The troops were on the march
again. and l pushed along at brisk
pace and was soon mixed up with an
other brigade.
When night came must be with the
advance. 1t would be quite easy then
to evade the pickets and reach Confed-
crate territory. BY mid-afternoon I
was with the advance brigade. and had
almost forgotten the circumstance of
the Captain with the wicked look.
when suddenly found him at my ell
bow. He was trudging along the same
as myself, and as much unnoticed.
You may believe that my heart gave
a wild jump. Was l mistaken? l
hoped and believed so, but as l took
second look there was no room to
doubt that my first glance had identi-
fled the man. 1t was that Captain,
sure enough. He did not seem to see
me, but he moderated or increased his
pace by mine. He did not look at me.
nor did he open his mouth to utter
single word. He simply hung on like
a bloodhound, satisfied that was his
victim.
The helpless feeling that first over
came me soon gave way to one of an
noyance and anger. Did he remember
me?. Twas satisfied that he did. Did
he suspect me of being in disguise? If
not why did he follow me? Why
didn't he denounce me at once? Why
didn't he interrogate or accuse? What
was he waiting forp
Hour after hour that SILENT speech