The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-30
A TIGHT SQUEEZE.
An Ex-Rebers Adventure Within
the Union Lines.


When General Meade fell back from
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 l.
On the 18th of the month received
orders to cross the river, penetrate his
camp and pick up all possible informa-
ton.
1t was understood that he was send
ing troops off West. and 1 was particu-
larry charged to discover if there was
any foundation in the report.
left the rebel cavalry outpost at ten
O'Clock one night, being on foot and
wearing a blue uniform throughout
There was about a mile of neutral
ground between outposts, and when I
had crept down The highway almost to
the Union videttes l took to the fields
and fanked 'em. knew every rod of
the country, and passing the vidette
was matter of no trouble.
1t was when l reached the first line
of sentinels that had to 60 keerful. 1t
was now midnight, and winter had set
in. There was no snow, but the wind
was cold and the ground frozen. 1t so
happened that struck a part of French's
corps. Knowing that Lee was going
into winter quarters, and knowing that
n strong picket was out, the sentinels
were not over watchful. crept up I'M
til located two, and both We're muffied
up against the cold and thinking more
of keeping warm than of looking for
spies. While was waiting for chance
to skulk in, the two came together and
stood talking. and this gin me the show
wanted. Iriz up from the colo ground.
bore off a little to the right, and entered
the gap without being seen. In ten
minutes more was among the tents and
-shanties.
| must find a place to pass the night.
IT was too cold to go prowling round.
saving nothing of the danger to be in
Cured. l walked up one street and
down another. looking for a place to
SLOW myself away: and bye and bye
saw a soldier come out of tent and 60
of. lreasoned that he was on guard, and
had come to his tent on an errand, and
/ was probably right.
1t was half-tent, haif-shanty, with q
fireplace in it. l crept in at the door
and found fire going ana three men
asleep under the blankets. There was
a heap of wood at hand. and the best l
could do was to stir up the fire and
hover over it. didn't mean to fall
asleep; that is, was bound and deter
mined 20 keep awake, but l had no
sooner got fairly warmed through than
! went off to the land o Nod. and the
next thing knew it was daylight.
None o the chaps under the blankets
were awake. and slipped out without
disturbing 'em. Everything would have
been all right 'cept for man in tent
across the street He had come out
after wood, and was standing there as l
appeared. As both tents belonged to
the same company, and as all the men
in each company knew each other, it
was only natural that l. perfect
stranger, should attract his attention.
Further, it was jist as natural that he
should suspect me of being thief. He
was a sour-faced, beetle-browed chap,
and the mint l looked into his eyes
knew We would have a row.
"Ah!I caught you"' he growled as I
faced him.
AT WHAT" coolly asked.
Stealing. of courser'
You are wrong. Invent in there to
git warm
"Who be you?"
George Smith"
"What regiment?"
''Sixth Maine
was answering at random. knew
that the Sixth Maine was in the fight at
Rappahannock Station about a month
before, because had talked with some
prisoners.
where's your regiment" he asked.
That's what I'm looking for" re-
piled. II was took by the rebels fifteen
days ago. and have just escaped and
come in.'
answered him SO promptly, and told
such a straight story, that he could
have no suspicious, and l might have
got away but for an accident. He had
brought out his coffee-pot, and in NOV
ing away fell over it. He was aching
for fuss with somebody. and that was
a good excuse. He jumped for me
without a word. returned his blow.
and then we clinched and fought up and
down the street.
was getting the best of him, when
we fell upon and wrecked tent and
began to draw a 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 about?'
81 caught that chap stealing" sings
out my opponent.
HE lies!''
"Who are you?" 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 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.
''gu see to your case!' he growled,
and he called the guard and had me
marched of. The guard.h 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 did not belong to
that regiment. l was then taken to
corps headquarters and questioned.
l cnanged my line of defense, claim.
ing to be deserter from the One Hun
0red and Twenty-fourth New York, who