The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-04
Playing for Life.
BY AN EN- REBEL.
Detroit Free Press.

When Gen. Early made his great raid
on Washington l was scouting between
his advance and the city, and was cap
tured within the city limits twenty four
hours before his battle-nags appeared in
sight. I was dressed in citizens cloth.
ing, pretended TO be deafand dumb, and
claimed to havo been driven cut of Rich
mond, because l had written threatening
letters to Jefferson Davis.
had been inside the Notifications for
half a day, and was slowly working out,
when couple of young men, both of
whom were considerable the worse for
liquor, halted me and wanted TO fight. /
had a pencil and a block of paper with
me, and wrote:
ri am deaf and dumb"
That made no difference with them.
Indeed, they declared that it would be
novel idea to lick deaf and dumb man,
and one of them gave me cuff on the
ear.
In those days I weighed lG0 pounds
and had the muscle of a prize fighter. I
tried to get away from them without
further trouble, but when they seemed
determined TO have row gave them
all they wanted, and wasn't many min
ules about it. A crowd of soldiers and
civilians collected, the provost guard
came up, and the result was as 1 had
anticipated. / was arrested and carried
off TO a guard-house. One of the young
men, who afterward turned out to be re.
lated to a member of the Cabinet, fol-
lowed me to the Office of the Provost
Marshal and charged ME with being
spy. No one seemed to entertain q
doubt that l was deaf and dumb, as l
claimed, and my examination was car.
lied on in writing. was asked my
name, age, where born and hundred
ether questions, and then searched.
They found nothing on me ola crimi.
mating nature, and 1 reasoned that I
would be detained until after the excite
ment had passed and then turned loose.
After being detained three days an
officer entered my quarters one morning
and said to me:
swell. dummy, you can pack up and
get out"
The minute I heard bis step outside I
vas on my guard, but he spoke in such
natural tone that came near giving my
solfaway. On three different occasions
during the war 1 played the part of a
deaf aud dumb man, and | tell you it
takes all the nerve and presence of mind
man can call up. 1 sat facing the door,
and, while heard his words, made no
movement. He came closer to me and
said K:
"Come, pack up your traps, you arc to
be turned loose"
looked him straight in the eyes with
out winking, and after bit a look of
chagrin stole over his face and he mo.
toned for me to follow him. He took
me to the Provost Marshal's office, and I
vas ushered into private room where
the Marshal and three or four other off,
cials were seated On the way to the
office, as we crossed wide street, the Off
Ger suddenly exclaimed:
There's runaway horse-look out |"
fl hadn't been expecting some such
thing on his part I must have betrayed
myself. AS I gave no sign, continuing
on with my head down, | heard him
growing
'They think they've got sucker, but
they'll find out their mistake p
r.entered.the office, knowing that every
trick would be resorted to break me down,
and my nerves were braced as ifto charge
battery of artillery. 1 was left stand
ing by the door for moment, when one
of the officials looked up and quietly
said
"Take seat, sir, and we'll. attend to
you in moment"
made no move, but looked around the
room in stupid sort of way. was
looking out Of the window on to a roof
when the same official said:
"You may come forward and take this
chair"
Istood like stone, aud he rose up,
came over to me, and led me to chair
at the table. When I WAS seated one Of
the Others remarked
"Writc your name, age and last place
of residence on slip Of paper"
That was trick number three, and it
failseas the others had done. BY and
by The Marshal wrote on slip of paper ::
"Wbo arc you, and where from"
wrote in reply:
81 am Charles Jones, of Richmond" !"
"But you are Union man." suggest
ed one of the officers aloud.
saw his lips move, but he got no sign
from me- The examination continued
in this manner for full hour, using
every artifce to trap me, but they failed
to score single point. | knew they
would reserve the sharpcst trick to the
last, ard was therefore neryed up for it.
At length the Marshal pushed back in
his chair, pointed his finger at my breast
and angrily exclaimed:
"Nhere did that Confederate button
come from?''
1t was another failure. Then he turn
ed to his companions and said:
"C;entlemen, it's no use. The man is
certainly deaf and dumb and q d-n fool
besides p