Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-27
COURTlNG In THE ARMY
Carpenters Story of His Experience
With the Rebels.
A Union Man Acting as Private Secre-
tary for a Rebel General.

gray uduAtl SuIEis gnu AOIoC OCo"CSD
MY legs, aad am ready for the business
of the day. I am to meet Captain
Charley Carpenter, and we are to take
the advance and keep our eyes open for
Johnnie Rebs.
Only few days before Carpenter and
J had gone into Harrisonburg together,
and something which occurred there
made rs lasting friends. How nice it is to
be free and independent, to have
chance to lie down anywhere you happen
to halt. No fuss about taking off your
clothes; no hotel clerks or walters 10 boss.
Get right off your horse, hitch him to
tree, unrou your blanket, turn in and
sleep. Plenty OF fresh air, no trouble
about ventilation, and to turn out In the
morning and run your fingers through
| your hair, wash, if you have chance, and
| then be so kindly received, and break
tasted by some F. F. v, who loves you
because you are from down East. Or
perhaps it is not this love for you that
prom pts the act. 1t may be they don't
love you, brit love your money. Is it any
wonder [ lelt like a lord that beautiful
morning?
Hark! What is that I hear? The
song of bird? No. The melody OF
| flute? No. On, now I know; it Is Car
penter trilling the mountain song of the
| TyrOl peasant OF Austro-dnngary. Now
| he comes into view, and the song ends as
| he sees me- and swings his hat IN aoknoW-
| ledgement of salute.
quick canter covers the intervening
distance, and I clasp the hand of one OF
the most noted men of the West IN the
first days of rebellion. A clear road be-
fore Us ard no particular work ahead,
satisfaction with all about US, am to
have the pleasure of hearing something
of his past.
'Well, to begin with, Davy q was know
as Davy to almost everyone II our com
MANDY. you must not expect anything
brilliant from me; but mere goes. When
near Mem phis i6 became the desire of
our commander to learn something of
what was going on in the camp of the
enemy and the general asked for volun-
teer. [ offered myself and was accepted.
An interview with the officers at head
quarters revealed the fact that they de-
sired someone to go into the heart OF the
rebel camp and report the conditions of
our gray back ne1ghbors. [ was TO be
furnished with plenty of money and
freedom to act as I pleased. L wished
no Instructions or directions
and at the time I had no plans. Leav-
ing camp dressed in civilians clothes 1
made my way to the hotel of an adioin
ing town, sat down to smoke cigar and
take my chances.
"The sentiments of the people all
through this part of the country were
decidedly mixed, with an abundance of
leaning toward the south, entered into
conversation with them and made my
al a hnI Nv oil 4
two was sufficient to gain the confidence
of the leaders and secure from them let
tiers of Introduction to parties in towns
further south. With these 1 went on my
journey, and from this point my task was
comparatively easy. My letters made
my way smooth.
''From each point gathered strength,
as the sentiment grew stronger, the near
or got to my objective point. So also
grew in strength my letters. My plans
began to develop and take form, and I
gave them an airing. I represented my
self as DESTROYS of finding employment as
clerk or secretary for some officer in
the Southern army"
Here will interrupt Carpenters story
for moment, to give you al explanation
as to why he would be likely to succeed
in this direction. All the South was in
arms. Every man who was able was
found, mnsket in hand and ready
TO do or die. There we're no hangers
back, no stay at-homes. "FalI in for
duty" was the popular order. and duty is
meant in every sense of the word. The
common man was wanted TO shoulder
gun, and the man of education and stand
ing was needed as an officer. It was
different IN the North. Many a man in
the ranks was the superior of his com
manding officer, both in birth and edu-
cation. And this made it diffiuIt to secure
good clerks, men capable of doing the
writing for an army.
little incident will demonstrate. I
had a cousin in an OHIO regiment, Major
Leroy Crockett. A few days previous to
the battle OF Plttsturg Landing, while
making reconnaissance with 800 men, he
was attacked by overwhelming numbers
aud obliged to retreat. Being made of
that kind of stuff he saved all his men,
but was captured himself. Before this
was accom- plished by his oaptors, he had
with his sword wounLed five of the mum
Der. For his bravery they gave HIM a
parole of honor ana allowed him his side
arms. In a short time he was exchanged,
but in less than three months he was for
the second time a prisoner. This time
ne was also treated as at first. Again he
was exchanged, and still again, and for
the third time was he in the hands of the
enemy. By this time the commander,
Gen. Price had become, as he thought,
quite well acquainted with him, but the
sequel shows no.. He proposed that the
major should assist him in his duties by
doing some writing for him. The propo-
cit %
indignation By the kin of Ola Davy.
Major c. was thrown into prison, and
there contracted a disease which Slapped
his strong, manly system, and death was
the result.
Perhaps you will appreciate the quality
of the stock if I tell you of another one
of this family. One who at the breaking
out CT the war was living in Missouri, had
his house and buildings burned because
be was Union man, left there for the
home of his boynood, enlisted in the
Eighty-second or Eighty fourth Ohio
Regiment I am not certain as TO the
number), refused q promotion, but at
tie second Bull Rn- fight was in com
mand of his company, was severely
wounded, telegraphed to his brother in
Ohio, who came immediately-to take
care of hims No, but to get his soldier
| clothes, shoulder his brothers gun and
keep it warm, and make it warm also for
| the rebels, until the wounded brother was
able TO resume his place in the ran :.
Ole DavY himself would like to take the
hand of such as he and claim him as his
kin.
Now we hear the balance of Charlev's
story. ARRIVING in Memphis" he went
en-, sit took ms but short time to find