The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-24
A TIGHT SQUEEZE.

When General Meade fell back from
Mine Run, in the fall OF 1858, he wen
into winter quarters between the RapidaI
and the Rappahannock, on his oil
grounds. This was about December |
On the 10Th Of the month received or
ders to cross the river, penetrate hi
camp, and pick up all possible information
IL WAS understood that he was sendini
troops oil West, and 1 was particularly
charged to discover If there was any foun
dation in the report.
left tho rebel cavalry outpost at II
o'clock one night, being on foot and wear
ing blue uniform throughout. There
was about mile Of neutral ground be-
tween tho outposts, and when had crept
down the highway almost to tho Union
videttes, took TO the fields and Aanked
'em. knew every rod oil that country,
and passing the vidette was a matter Of
no trouble.
1t was when reached the first line Of
senunelst that had to go "keerful." 1t was
now midnight and winter had set in.
There was no snow, but the wind was cold
and the ground frCzsn. 1t 30 happened
that | struck part OF French's corps.
knowing that Lee was going into winter
quarters, and knowing that strong picket
was out, the sentinels were not owe:
watchful. crept up until l located two,
and both were mUtll.d up against the cold
and thinking mora of keeping warm than
Il looking Tor spies. While was watch
ing for chance to skulk in, the two came
together and stood talking, and this gin
me the show wanted. rs mp from the
cold ground, bore oil little to the right,
and entered the gap without being seen.
10 ten minutes more was among the
tents and shanties.
must fad a place TO pass the night.
It was too cold to go proving round, say
ing nothing Of the danger to be incurred.
walked up one street and down anether,
looking for place 10 stow myself away,
and by-and.by saw soldier come out Of
\ tent and go Oft. reasoned that he was
IN guard and had come tn his tent on some
errand, and I was probably right.
II WAS hall tent uall shAnly, with fire
place in it. l crept in at the door and
found fire going and three men asleep
under the blankets. There was heap OF
wood at hand, and the best could do was
u stir up the fire and hover over it. l
didn't mean to fall asleep; that is, l was
bound and determined 10 keep awake,
but had no sooner got fairly warmed
through than went OF TO the Land O. Nod
and the next thing l knew it was day.
light.
None O. The chaps under the blankets
were awake and slipped out without dis
,urbing 'em. Everything would have
been all right 'cent for aman in tent
across the street. He had come out after
nooG and Was standing there as | appear
81. As both tents belonged to the came
company, and as all the men in each com.
pany knew each other, it was only natural
that |, a perfect stranger, should attract
his attention, Further, it was just as nat
ural that he should suspect me OF being
a thief. He was sour.faced, beetle.brow-
ed chap, and the mint looked into his
eyes knew we should have row.
sab. I caught your no grow!ed as J
foced him
s Ia, ,Snct 9u cooI,vasked.
"StsoI;n" ~ conrssI;
mYnn arc wrong. I wont in there TO cit
warm"
"Who be you?"
"George Smith"
"What regiment?"
sixth Maine"
that tho sixth Maine was In the Eight at
Rsnpahannock Station, about month
h" fnra Secamse I had talked with some
nr;sonera >'''''
..WNrre's vour reCiment9" he asked.
"That's what Pm looking Eor, )" replied.
az was took bv the rebs fiteen DAYS ago,
and havN inst escaped and come in"
7 answered S him 40 promptly, and told
him snch = straight story that he could
bo ,iu ' uo snanicions and NIGHT have cot
a~ay hut for an accident, He had brought
ant b;s cofIae.not and in moving away
feIi ovsr II He was aching ior a fuss with
sonohoav and that was q good excuse.
Ia ;n v Tor me without a word. | re-.
tnr1sS bis blow and then we cliuched
snd forahs M md down The street
7 MOO untfinU the nplt nj him. when We
,eiI m %no and wrecked a tent and began TO
afS% Sro sSord Ne V and pretty aeon an
ncIi,ar Voc comeS nm. spna rates ia and asks:
0't mwh I 10 tb;a row obomtPS
mf o .%s tb,s chan stealing" siprs ont
SS"stS t"-' 'P '''e'
ny 2 GpR e;nam
"WL t 30 ror pn os(,s Tho of,;car
up.;n,. az Eeoroo Smith NJ The Sixth
un;na T y; e0SO ' "
i" aVVho,o,s vorr rsoinentpp
mm " %gt' LTo vui s;E was csntured nv
.,,o Dohs ~ nH o",v and am Iookip" for nv
s sns reoo w away "A- "- '
Fes wsaS, d;d WIN emma in po
ct o nen n; "J 4 ~ S'
"uo Ss Al dia Tou nosa all tbe ontnosts and
oort;nsIs ." -
'eT Ta Sad mo there 7 had as pood as he.
A4G AttN SaASANs A%sA NA 6SSN@ ~ ~