Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-07
AN ARMY SPY.
THE BOLD GAME TRIED ON GENERAL
ROSECRANS AT CHATTANOOGA.
Ten Confederate in Detroit Free Press

I
TEX-Contedcratc in Detroit Free Press.
When Bragg had Rosecrans shut up in
Chattanooga there were four of us scouts
from headquarters who penetrated the
federal lines almost daily. Every move
made was discovered and reported and
most of them checkmated.
About a month before Grants arrival
when things were at their worst with
who was rather new in business, having
been detailed only few weeks, was sent
in to try and ascertain certain things.
The federals were keeping a sharper look
out than formerly, and the young man
was instructed to exercise all possible
caution and take no extra risks. He rode
boldly into the city on an old horse,
claiming to have been commissioned by
certain refugees to look after their prop
erty. He was, of course, placed under
arrest and taken before the officer of the
day. He was ready for the ordeal. He
had the names of three citizens who had
fled the place; he pretended a lameness
which incapactated him for military SER
vice; he had the talk and actions of a
country lOut. He was questioned in the
closest manner, and when nothing could
be made out of him he was allowed to 90
his way. 1t is likely that he would have
secured his information and passed out
in N fat lItt ln hn1 Ia, Il,
town three hours an unfortunate thing
occurred. He was seen and recognized
by a deSerter from our lines-a man who
had formerly messed with him. and. of
course. knew him well.
The deserter saw RosSmore without
being seen himself and at once went to
headquarters and gave him away. When
brought face to face at headquarters the
scout must have realized that his doom
was sealed but he did not yield his life
without an effort He denied his identity.
He offered to send for people to prove he
was what he claimed to be, and he chal-
lenged the otlicerG think it was Rose
Grams himself) to send for surgeon to
inspect his lameness and pronounce upon
it. While his bold speech staggered the
deserter. the man could not doubt his
own eyes, and he persisted that Rossmore
was a spy from Bragg's headquarters.
WAS RossmOre lame:" asked the Off
Ger.
NO. sir
But this man is a cripple for life
"Well, | don't know how that comes. |
am certain, however, that he is the
man."
IF the surgeon says | have been lame
for years will you admit that you are
mistaken" coolly asked the scout.
why, I'll have to. viii Rossmore
was as sound as am"
Very well. general, send for the sur
geon." quietly remarked the scout.
He must have realized that the fraud
would be detected, bur it seemed to be
his only hope of blufling the deserter
down. If he had a thought that the sur
geon would not be sent for it was quickly
dispelled. The general felt that it was
a serious case, and he wanted bottom
facts. A surgeon came, Rossmore strip
ped off, and after Il brief examination the
medical man announced his opinion that
the scout was shamming. The little toe
on his right foot had been cut off at the
Joint in boyhood. The deserter had seen
the foot several times, and now he sud-
denly remembered the stump.
When Rossmore saw that he was DOOM
ed he owned up to his identity, and,
pointing his finger at the man who had
betrayed him, he said -
LEV Warner, listen to me- Through
you shall hang, but sooner or later my
death will be avenged upon YOU Gener-
al, am ready"
He was led away, to be hanged at sun
rise next morning.
Warner was from Tennessee, in the
of Knoxville. In August,
1865, he returned there to settle down.
and one evening, before he had been
home two weeks, some one fired bullet
through his heart As he traversed one of
the back streets.