Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-01-27
A SPY IN THE CAMP.
BY AN EX-CONFEDERATE.


In the winter of 1864, when ,Tohnst1u's
army lay at Dalton in winter quarters, |
made two or three excursions in the dl-
rection Of Chattanooga picking up more
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 well known fact Two
or three had been arrested, but it was
only two OF three out Of dozen, and or
dcrs had been issued to all rcgimcnlal
officers to be Vi liant and alert in seek
ing to detect thc presence of strangers.
All the scouts had, as matter Of course,
received the same instructions, but for a
week nothing resulted from this com
bined watchluncss.
One afternoon. while sitting in the
quarters Of an old friend belonging to
brigade band, a crowd gathered outside
and heard the music Of Il fiddle. Step
ping to the door, l saw a German about
40 years of age in the center OF circle OF
soldiers seated on crackeT-bo and play
ing the fiddle in rude sort of way us
if entirely unmindGul of their presence.
The man was in citizens clothes, and for
what seemed a very good reason. His
right arm had been amputated at the ell
bow. looked him over closely as he sat
there, eyes half-closed and keeping time
with his foot, and could not say that |
had ever seen him before.
Give us u song, cried dozen men in
chorus after lie had played for a spell,
and he at once complied. The first verse
ran as follows;
"Oh doan' yOu see my falling tears?
Oh toan you know dat vas sad?
Dot While You laugh und merry yllas.
No home huf to make inc glad"
He had not yet finished it when / was
irving hard to remember where and when
[ had heard it before. His voice was
soft and plaintivc, and the air of the
song was one to captivatc soldier. They
crowded closer and were silent while he
rang the second verse:
/ "Norody what's to welcome me,
Nopody cares which way go;
Iylalls alcnc. adown lie'S PATH
Ny happiness vilS turned to woe"
l was struggling like prisoner to
break his bonds. Years ago had heard
that song, and had not heard it since. 1t
was in vain | cl;>' gcled 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
have told you, but with the stump he
was holding the bow by a simple contri'
vance and with his left hand he was fin
gering the strings. Indeed, the soldiers
were remarking on the novelty Of it.
had not watched him thirty seconds wher
my memory came to my aid.
In the summer of 1859 made trip tc
a watering place i'll Wisconsin, brida
tour. One evening" as my wife and
sat on the porch OF the hotel this mar
came along having little girl with him
and as he played that fiddle and sang shC
ioined in the chorus and accompanied
him on the banjo This was one of th'
songs he sang that evcning-scven or eigh
verses to it-and it was SO sad and plain
tive that we paid him to repeat it two o
three times
Now | could not say that he was no
a Confederate, but the fact that he wa
not in our uniform, and that | had secl
him so far North, was enough to rouse
suspicion. As soon as he had finished hi
song he offered for sale from his pack
buttons, thread, needles, pencils ant
other small wares, and did . rushing busi
ness for half an hour. He could hav
sold everything right there, but he sud
denly packed up and moved away, eve
when dozen customers had money
their hands. This action seemed queer
if not suspicious, and | followed the mar
In half an hour was certain that he wa
spy and had been making an estimate
our strength,
Without entirely losing sight of tn
man, | communicated my suspicious
the officer-of- of-the-day, and the result ";
an arrest The man did not even chang
countcnance when he found himself bt
tween the bayonets, but marched of as
such affairs were down on his programm,
Upon reaching the guard house /
calmly submitted to thorough search {
his person and pack. This lasted Il iu
hour, but We made no discovery of in
portance. The man denied that he WI
ever north of the Ohio River, aud elaine
New Orleans as hisresidencc. He learne