Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-09-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bragg and Rosencrans.

When Bragg had Rosencrans shut
up in Chattanooga, says an eS-Con-
federate in the Detroit Free Press.
there were four of US scouts from
headquarters who penetrated the Fed
eral lines almost daily. Every move
was discovered and reported, and
most of them check-mated.
About month before Grants ar
rival, when things were at their worst
with Rosenc-ans, scout named Will
Rossmore, who was rather new in the
business, having been detailed only
few weeks, was sent in to try and
ascertain certain things. The Fed
erals were keeping sharper lookout
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 commits
stoned by certain refugees to look
after their property. 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 lameness
which incapacited him for military
service: he had the talk and actions
of country lout. lie was questioned
! in the closest manner, and when
nothing could be made of him he was
allowed to go his way. 1t is likely
he would have secured his information
and passed out in safety, but before
he had been in the town three hours
an unfortunate thing occurred. He
was seen and recognized by de-
serter from our lincs-a man who had
formerly messed with him, and of
course knew him well.
| The dcsertcr saw ROssmore with
out being seen himself, and at once
went to headquarters and gave him
away. When brought face to face mt
! 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
challenged the officer { l think it was
Rosencrans himsclf) to send for
surgeon to inspect his laneness and
pronounce upon it. While his bold
speech staggered the descrter, the
man could not doubt his own eyes,
and he persisted that Rossmore was
a spy from Bragg's headquarters.
ttWas Rossmore Iame?" asked the
officer.
g No, sir"
but this man is cripple for life" "
| "Wcil, l don't know how that
comes. 1 am certain, however, that
he is the man"
.'If the surgeon says have been
lame for years will you admit that you
are mistaken 2" coolly asked the scout.
80 Why I'll have to. Will Ross
more was as sound rs / am
g Very we'll, General, send for the
surgeon, quietly remarked the
scout. ...-
He must have realized that the
/ fraud would be detected, but it
seemed to be his only hope of bluffing
the deserter down. If he had a
thought that the surgeon would not
be sent for it was quickly dispelled.
The General felt that it was Sc
rious case, and he wanted bottom
facts. A surgeon came, Rossmore
stripped oil, ana aILer 4 DTleI eSiiih-
ination the medical man announced
his opinion that the. scout was sham
ming. The little toe on his right foot
had been cut off at the joint in boy
hood. The deserter had seen the foot
several times. and now he suddenly
remembered the stump.
When ROssmcre saw that he was
doomed he owned up to his identity,
and pointing his finger at the man who
had betrayed him, he said:
Lew Warner, listen to mel
Through you shall hang, but sooner
or later my death will be avenged
upon ycu! General, am ready"
He was led away to be hanged at
sunrise next morning.
Warner was from Tennessee, in
the neighborhood 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 the back streets.