Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1885-10-30
A REBEL SPY.
Desperate and Successful Rush for
Life.

Life.
Now let mo tell you that in time Of
hurry aud excitement, like that which
prceedes 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 disposi-
ton to sympathize with victims. / say
this in cold blood now. but once upon
n time l felt that drum-head court
martial was murder in the first degree.
You will remember that when Bragg
evacuated Chattanooga he set trap
for Rosccrans. Rosecrans took tho
bait, and tho battle Of Chickamauga
was the result. At the time l was a
scout at Bragg's headquarters, and
while Rosccrans was strung out over
line Of country forty miles long, each
corps isolated aud inviting destruction,
all our scouts were kept busy bringing
In news.
had been sending in reports from
McCook troops. Dressed as a Federal
Second Lieutenant had mingled with
various regiments without being sus-
pcctcd. 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 uniform his right-hand COM
rado wore. gave Bragg fair idea
Of tho strength of several divisions.
number of batteries, esprit du corps Of
the 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.
/ always found il 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 day
| had been asked the name of my regi-
mcnt and company. but had ready an
swcrs. Icould name half dozen diff
fercnt regiments, and had avery reason
able excuse for being ahead or behind
my own.
The men halted at noon to prepare
coffee, and as passed 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. had no
alternative but to accept and make tho
best Of t. They were a jolly set, being
Captains and Licutenants in the same
regiment, and it was evident they took
me for an officer In one Of the other
regiments In the brigade. The conver.
sation related wholly to the coming
battle, and was acting my part as
we'll as could be expected, when sud.
denly caught sight of a face which un-
settled me in moment.
| Opposite me was Federal Captain
who had not spoken word since
joined the group. He not only had q
peculiar face, but there was film ovel
bis left eye which rendered it sightless,
while the other had u strange way ol
glaring 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 suddenly lost my ap
petite. l made pretense Of eat
Ing, however, and was hoping to gel
away from the group without being
questioned, whcn the Captain leaneC
forward and. in a voice which rasped
and grated on the ear. inquired:
What regiment do you belong TOP
1.-THE Fifth, nreplicd. 81
"What Fifthp"
"lllinois."
"Humphl"
answered him by chance, not know
ing whether such a regiment was il
the corps or not Did he knowp Wha
did he mean by "humphPn
| None Of the other officers seemed +,
have any interest in the case, but
was not yet ready to 60 chen the Cap
tain left the circle. Was he going !,
consult some superior officer regardin,
my arrestp The fear that he wa
caused me to act at once. He was n
sooner out of sight than 1 hastily OK
cused myself and hurried down tn
road. The troops were on the marcl
again, and / pushed along at brisl
pace and was soon mixed up with an
other brigade. 81
When night came l must be with tn
advance. 1t would be quite easy the
to evade the pickets and reach Confed
crate territory. By mld-afternoon
was with the advance brigade, and haI
almost forgotten the circumstance G
the Captain with the wicked look
q when / suddenly found him at my e.
bow He was trudging along the sam
as myself, and as much unnoticed.
You may believe that my heart CAV
. n wild jump. Was / mistakenP
hoped and believed so, but as l took
second look there was no room t
doubt that my first glance had ident
lied the man. 1t was that Captain
sure enough. He did not seem to Sc
I me, but ho moderated or increased hi
pace by mine. He did not look at me
nor did he open his mouth to utter
single word He simply hung on lik
q bloodhound, satisfied that l was h
victim -
The helpless feeling that first owe
came me soon gave way to one of al
noyance and anger Did he rememb,
meP was satisfied that he did, Di
he suspect me Of being in disguised
not why did he follow meP WI
didn't he denounce me at oncep WI
didn't he interrogate or accuseP VIII,
was he waiting fofP y l1S.'5N > as'
Hour after hour that silent speed