The Osceola times., 1885-10-31
A TIGHT SQUEEZE.
An Ex- Robers Adventure Within
the Union Lines.

Mine Run. in the fall of 1868, he went
into winter quarters between the Rap
idan and the Rappahannock. on his old
grounds. This was about December 1.
On the 18th of the month | received
orders to cross the river, penetrate his
camp and pick up all possible informa-
ton.
II was understood that he was send
ing troops of West. and ! was particu-
lary charged to discover il there was
any foundation in the report.
left the rebel cavalry outpost at ten
o'clock one night, being on foot and
wearing blue uniform throughout.
There was about mile of neutral
ground between outposts. and when |
had crept down The highway almost to
the Union videttcs | took to the fields
and nankod 'em. knew every rod of
the country, and passing the vidette
was matter Of no trouble.
II was when | reached the first line
Of sentinels that had 90 go keerful. Ii
was now midnight, and winter had set
u
was cold and the ground frozen 1t so
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
we're not over. watchful. crept up un-
Ill located tho, and both were muflled
up against the cold and thinking more
,t keeping warm than of looking for
spies. While l was waiting for n chance
to skulk in. the two came together and
stood talking. and this gin me the show
WANTED. lriz up from the cold ground
bore off little to the right, and entered
the gap without being seen. In ten
minutes more | was among the tents and
shan,ies.
must find a place to pass the night.
II was too cold to go prowlng round,
saying nothing of the danger to be in
rurred. ] walked up one street and
down another, looking for place to
stow myself away; and bye and bye
saw soldier come out Of tent and go
off reasoned that he was on guard. and
had come to his tent on an errand, and
Twas probably right.
ltwas halt.tent, ha,f-shanty. with
fireplace in it, crept in at the door
and found fire going ana three men
.sleep under the blankets. There was
,heap of wood at hand. and the best
could do was to stir up the fire and
hover over it. I didn't mean to fall
asleep; that is, was bound and deter
mined 10 keep awake, but had no
sooner got fairly warmed through than
went of TO the land o. Nod. and the
next thing knew it was daylight
None o the chaps under the blankets
we're awake. and slipped out without
disturbing 'em. Everything would have
been all right 'cept for man in n tent
scross the street He had come out
after wood, and was standing there as
appeared. As both tents belonged TO
the same company. and as all the men
In each company knew each other, il
was only natural that /. perfect
stranger, should attract his attention.
Further, it was jist as natural that he
should suspect me OF being thief He
was sour-faced beetle-browed chap,
and the mint | looked into his eyes l
knew we would have row.
"Ah.I caught youl" he growled as /
faced him.
"At WHAT" coolly asked.
Stealing. of courser
You are wrong. went in there to
git warm"
"Who be you?"
George Smith"
"What regimentp"
Sixth Maine"
was answering at random. Iknew
that the Sixth Maine was in the fight at
Rappahannock Station about q month
before, because had talked with some
prisoners.
where's your regiment" he asked.
That's what I'm looking for" | re-
piled. Il was took by the rebels fifteen
days ago. and have just escaped and
come in. :"
answered him so promptly, and told
such straight story, that he could
have no suspicious, and ] might have
got away but for an accident. He had
brought out his cofiee-pot, and in NOV
ing away fell over it. He was aching
Tor fuss with somebody, and that was
good excuse. He jumped for me
without word. returned his blow.
and then We clinched and fought up and
down the street.
Twas getting the best of him. when
We fell upon and wrecked n tent and
began to draw 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 aboutP"
II caught that chap stealing" sings
out my opponent.
HE liesr'
"Who are youP" asks the officer:
Private George Smith, Of the Sixth
Maine,"
Where's your regiment"
Don't know, sir. was captured by
the 'rebs. got away and am looking for
my regiment"
when did you come inf"
last night"
"How did you pass all the outposts
and sentinelsP"
He had me there. had as good as be-
uayed myself by that one answer.
III see to your easel! he growled'
and he called the guard and had me
marched oil. The guard house was q
Jog stable, and as soon rs he reached IL
was stripped and searched. The next
move was to hunt up the Sixth Maine
and discover that did not belong 10
mat regiment. / was then taken TO
corps headquarters and questioned.
changed my line of defense, claim
lng to be deserter from the One Hun
wed and Twenty.iourth New York, who