The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-03-10
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE.

When johnson was falling back
before sherman's advance through
northern Georgia, and before The
conflicts at Lost and Pine noun.
tains, / was continually on the
front with a band Of scouts. We
penetrated the Yankee lines time
after time, but always to return tc
headquarters with the same report
Sherman had one Of tho grandesl
armies in the world, and he was in
such strength that be could fight
johnson in front and pass bis
TANKS at the same time.
One day, wherscouting between
Marietta and the E,owah river, The
Federal cavalry passed and cut Of
my retreat by the highways, and
for six or seven hours / was obliged
to sectete myself Ia a thicket. II
@asin leaving this hiding place
that l came across a dog which was
doubtless owned 10 the near yicin.
ity, but had been frightened into
the woods BY the skirmithing. He
took to me kindly, and had dogged
my heels for half an hour when be
suddenly leaped aside and began
paving the ground at the foot of Q
large beech. l halted for a mo
ment and saw that the earth wa,
fresh, as if a grave had been dug
It was but natural TO conclude thai
some one had been shot near BY
and that his comrades had giver
him burial.
Upon close examining the TIRE,
| found the fresh cut initials: I'D
S. g." They were not where on,
would have looked for them, bur
within three feet Of the ground.
had no doubt wla ever that doac
MAJ restsd there, and | picked W
q club and drove The dog away un
der the impression that be wa
hungry and determined to get a
the body. l succeeded after T;
couple of days in getting back int
the Confederate lines, aud the in
cident did not recur to me for Ion,
years.
Que summers day in 1870, while
| was going from Rome to Carriers
vile, l formed the acquaintance o
a stranger who gave his name a.
Charles Gaines, aud who claimed
to be a Virginian. He said he wa,
looking for improved land, and hut
been advised to locate near Mari
eta. This story was straighI
enough, except that 1 did not be
lieve he was a Virginian. HI
hadn't the look nor the dialect, ant
when | came to quiz him abonI
certain locations around Richmonc
he soon became confused.
l was then a detective in the em
plOY Of several railroad lines, ant
il was only natural for me TO ash
myself why this man had lied L
me. | took pains TO lei him know
that I was willing to answer all BIZ
questions, and directly he begar
asking about the section Of countr,
between Marietta and Etowah. H,
wanted to know the value Of land
if much forest had been cleared
since the war; if there had beef
any finds Of treasure around Mari
eta, and various other things. HI
worked the answers out Of me with
out seeming TO be more than gener
ally interested, and while l wa
somehow suspicious Of him, l coult
not exactly determine on what t,
place my finger. But he had lied
Why? l kept asking myself thi
question, but could not answer it
l had a ticket to Cartersville
and before We reached that place
had made up my mind to 60 OF
with him to Marietta. What deci
ded me was this: He sat on the out
side Of the seat, and passenge
going to the water cooler kuockeC
his hat of. 1t rested for q momen
in the aisle, and / plainly read th,
name "Boston" inside in gilt let
ters. The name Of the maker wa
above it, but l could not catch il
No hat sold in Richmond woul,
bear the name Of Boston. Wherr
did he get it2 By and by | made
careful examination Of his boots
He never bought them south Of th,
Ohio. decided the same in regar,
to his clothing. He was trying t,
deceive me. What object could b
have in viewH
When we reached Marietta boil
Of US went to the same hotel.
thought he began to fight shy @
me and l took pains to keep out o
his way. During tho evening b