The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-02-27

regiment in question, and who has In his pos
session the map of the defenses referred to.l
That caution, to a rigid extent, was neces-
sary in time of war, is a fact upon which
we need not enlarge. But that this eau
ton was sometimes less rigidly exercised
than it should have been, is one which
comes to rs with equal force and certainty.
The til p. VS. We're in charge, under
Lieutenant-C Colonel L, Of all the de-
lenses commanding the southern approach
to Washington, in the spring of 1862.
As all our readers are aware, the strate-
gies which were resorted to on the part of
both Federal and Confederate forces were
numerous; and it is with one mode of in
trigue, perhaps less well known than some
of the major tactics engaged in by the
respective officers. that we have to deal.
One morning, when the soldiers were ly-
ing around inside the garrison, an aged man
came into one of the forts carrying a basket
or hamper which contained needles, pins,
buttons, thimbles, and the thousand and
one other little articles which were SO in
valuable to the motherless and wifeless
(for the time being soldiers, who were of
necessity compelled to be their own t%ailors,
bushelmen, etc.
After canvassing thoroughly the fort first
entered, the old man repaired to the one
next in line, and so on, until he had encom-
passed the entire line of defenses, when he
left as Ouietlv as he had come.
1t soon became, after this, no
occurrence for these peddlers to be seen
going the rounds, trying to sell their wares
to the men, 'ssorrow free and unmolested.'
The chaplain discountenanced these pro-
ceedings from the outset, and took occa-
sion to say as much at several times.
sit is not safe" he would say to Colonel
l.. 'Who knows but what these per-
ambulating junk shops may be spys?"
"Oh, no, Chaplain, " the Colonel would
reply, they are innocent chaps enough.
Let them make an honest penny if they
can
And so it would rest from time to time,
until late one afternoon as the sun was be-
ginning his gorgeous descent in the West,
a man Of this profession, resembling more
closely than anything else that biped gen.
orally designated by the term tramp"
appeared and gained admission.
He commenced. like the others, to offer
his goods to such as believed they needed
them-and, indeed, to any others who were
disposed to listen to him-and after having
sold all he could to those who were at the
fort in which the chaplain made his head
quarters, he meandered off to another of
the several forts inside the defenees. The
wary chaplain saw this man, as he saw
nearly all of his class who came, and, if
possible, was less pleased with this speci-
men than he had been with any of his
predecessors.
He pondered it; he studied it; he thought
over it again and again, but always with
the same conclusion, viz, that there vas
something about this customer hat he did
not like. IA presentiment, some one
says. Perhaps it was; but it was a decid-
eddy fortunate one, at all events. At least
so it eventually proved.
lie thought over it until quite dusk, then
he could let it rest no longer.
That peddler may be all right" he
thought, ''but it will do no harm to find
out what he is about"
So, hunting up the Colonel, he said:
Colonel, you saw that peddler who
came in this ~afternoon?i
"Why-ah-oh, yes" said the officer,
trying to remember.
"Well, he will bear watching
CLOVIS that?' coolly Intercepted the
Colonel.
''Why there's mischief in that fellow!'
'Oh, | guess not; but what makes you
think 500"
"Whys Because l saw it in his eyes!'
pooh! pooh! Chaplain; he's all right.
There are lots of those poor wretclles come
in here, you know"
Eyes, that is true, but there is a begin
ming to everything, you know; and there
is surely mischief in that mans BRAIN"
'You alarm yourself unnecessarily,
oLdpldiu. i see lO STuulluS IoI tlilS dp-
prehension."
"Well, Colonel, may l have an escort ?"
why, certainly, if you wish, sir"
Thanking the Colonel, the Chaplain left
him, and, after securing an escort, he
set out in the direction taken by the gen.
eral-utility vender.
GIVE the eountersign.' shouted the
stentorian voice of the sentry, as they ap-
preached the fort.
This being complied with, the Chaplain
enquired:
"Peddler passed here this afternoon ?"
YES, sir"
'Did he go out again?'
II think not, SIR
do you know where he is ?"
II do not, sir.
BY this time it had become quite dark.
and passing ON to the quarters OF the
officers in charge, the party stated their
suspicious, and learned that the man had
been ordered to leave the place q couple of
hours before, which it was supposed he
had done. A search was proposed, when
-: ... ,-.., A., IAN f,.4,ra;.