Connecticut western news., 1886-02-03
A SPY IN THE CAMP.
BY AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

S1 AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
 In the winter of 1864, when Johnston's army lay at Dalton in winter quarters, I made two or three excursions in the di- rection of Chattanooga, picking up moro or less valuable information, and was resting after one of these raids when the incident am about to relate occurred.
 That Yankee spies were penetrating our camps was we'll known fact. Two or three had been arrested, but it was only two or three out of dozen, and or ders had been issued to all regimental officers to be vigilant and alert in seek ing to detect the presence of strangers. All the scouts had, as matter of course, received the same instructions, but for week nothing resulted from this con- bined watchfulness.
 One afternoon, while sitting in the quarters of an old friend belonging to brigade band, crowd gathered outside, and heard the music of fiddle. Step ping to the door, I saw German about 40 years of age in the center of circle of soldiers seated on a cracker-box and play ing the fiddle in rude sort of a way as ii entirely unmindful of their presence. The man was in citizens clothes, and for what seemed very good reason His right arm had been amputated at the el- bow. looked him over closely as he sat there, eyes half-closed and keeping time with his foot, and I could not say that I had ever seen him before
 Give us song, cried a dozen men in chorus after he had played for spell, and he at once complied. The first verse ran. as follows:
 "Oh doan' you see my falling tears?
 Oh doan' you know dat vhas sad?
 Dot while you langh und merry yhas
 No home hsf to make me glad" He had not yet finished 1t when I was trying hard to remember where and when l had heard it before. His voice was soft and plaintive, and the air of the song was one to captivate soldier. They crowded closer and were silent while he sang the second verse:
 "Nopody vhaits to ecorne mo, Nopody cares which way go;
 vhalhs alone, adown life's path,
 My happiness vhas turned to woe"
 l was struggling like a prisoner to break his bonds. Years ago I had heard that song, and had not heard it since. It was in vain cudgeled my brain, but just when Twas in despair happened to no- tice how he was holding and playing the fiddle. His right arm was gone, as I have told you, but with the stump he was holding the bow by simple contri- vance and with his left hand he was fin genng the strings. Indeed, the soldiers were remarking on the novelty of it. I had not watched him thirty seconds when my memory came to my aid.
 In the summer of 1859 made trip to a watering place in Wisconsin-ab bridal tour. One evening, as my wife and I sat on the porch of the hotel this man came along, having little girl with him. and as he played that fiddle and sang she joined in the chorus and accompanied him on the banjo. This was one of the songs he sang that eveniug-seven or eight verses to it-and it was so sad and plain tive that we paid him to repeat it two or three times.
 Now I could not say that he was not Confederate, but the fact that he was not in our uniform, and that I had seen  him so far North, was enough to rouse a suspicion. As soon as he had finished his song he offered for sale from his pack, buttons, thread, needles, pencils and other small wares, and did rushing busi- ness for half an hour. He could have sold everything right there, but he sud- denly packed up and moved away, even when dozen customers had money in their hands. This action seemed queer, If not suspicious, and followed the man. In half an hour I was certain that he was aspy and had been making an estimate of our strength.
 Without entirely losing sight of the man, I communicated my suspicious to the officer the-day, and the result was an arrest. The man did not even change countenance when he found himself be- tween the bayonets, but marched off as i! such affairs were down on his programme
 Upon reaching the guard house he calmly submitted to thorough search 0! his person and pack. This lasted a fui hour, but we made no discovery of inl portance. The man denied that he wes sveR north of the Ohio River, and claimed