Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-03-19
MisceIlanenMs.
A CONFEDERATE SPY.


When Gen. Early made his great raid
on Washington was scouting between
his advance and the city, and was cap
tured within the city limits twenty -four
hours before bis battle-ilags appeared in
sight. / was dressed in citizens clothes,
pretended to be deaf and dumb, and
claimed to have been driven ont Of Rich
mond, because had written threatening
Letters to Jefferson Davis.
had been inside the Notifications for
half day, and was slowly walking out,
when a couple of young men, both Of
whom were considerably the worse for
liquor, halted me and wanted to fight
/ had pencil and block of paper with
me, and | wrote:
81 am deaf and dumb.
That made no difference with them.
Indeed they declared that il would be
novel idea to lick deaf and dumb man,
and one of them gave me cuff on the
ear
In those days | weighed 100 pounds
and had the muscle Of prize fighter.
| 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 minutes
about it. A crowd Of soldiers aud civ
Hans collected, and tho provost guard
came up, and the result was as | had
anticipated. | was arrested aud carried
of to guard-houso One of the young
men, who afterward turned out 10 be re-
lated to member Of the cabinet, followed
me TO tho Office Of the provost marshal
and charged INC with being spy. No
ono seemed to entertain u doubt that
was deaf and dumb, as claimed, and
my examination was carried on 10 writ.
ing. | was asked my name, age, when
born aud hundred other questions, and
and then searched. They found nothing
on INC Of eliminating nature, and | rea-
soncd that would be detained until
after tho excitement had passed and then
turned loose.
NEARLY THROWN OFF HIS GUARD.
After being detained three days an off,
Ger entered my quarters one morning and
said TO me:
swell. dummy, you can pack up and
got out"
The minute ! heard bis step outside |
was on my guard, but he spoke in such a
natural zone that came near giving
myself away. On three different occa-
sions during the war | played the part
Of deaf and dumb man, and | tell you
it takes all the nerve and presence Of
mind man can call up. sat facing
the door, and, while | heard bis words,
| made no movement Escame closer to
me and said:
Come, pack up your traps, you arc
to be turned loafe."
| looked hZS straight in the eyes
without winkiMs, and after bit look
Of chagrin stole over bis face and he
motioned for me TO follow him. He took
me to the provost marshals Office, and I
was ushered into a private room where
the marshal and three or four other off,
Gals were seated On the way TO the
Office, as We crossed wide street the o FL
Ger suddenly exclaimed:
There's a runaway horse out u
III haden't been expecting some such
thing on bis part must have betrayed
myself As govs>no sign, continuing
on with my bead down, ! heard MIN
growing; 81
"rhey think they've got a sucker, but
they'll find out their mistake ~
leptered the Office, knowing that every
trick would be rcsortcd to 10 break me
down. aud my nerves were braced as II
to charge a battery o. artillery was
left standing by the door for a moment,
when ono OF the officials looked up quiet
ly ard said:
Take scat, sir, and wen attend 10
you 10 moment"
| made no move, but looked around the
room in stupid sort Of way was
looking out Of the window on TO roof
when the same official said