Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-08-04
pieces into his hand.

1 don't think he expected any
trouble, for the matter did not seem
to trouble him any. When we drove
up to the first picket-post he halted
his horse and was fumbling for his
pass when one of the picket said:
"That's all right-drive on. Oh,
but who is that with you?"
"The old man. He fit in the Next
can war and wants to see how things
look in Corinth."
"And if / was ten years younger
I'd shoulder a musket," l added.
"Bully for you" shouted the three
or four men on the post, and they
were laughing as we drove on.
The inner picket did not stop us at
all, and we drove into the town in
the gray of the morning. Although
the hour was early, everybody was
astir and the streets almost blocked
with army vehicles. During the last
half mile of the drive the young man
inspected me very closely, and when
finally left him he dill not seem al-
together satisfied as to my identity.
He asked me several questions about
Guntown which had to answer at
random, and my account of how "my
son" had left home was not as clear
as it might have been. My first move
after losing sight of the milkman
was to 60 to a hotel. There l boldly
registered as "John William Rich
ardson, Mobile" and dropped hint
to the clerk that | was furnishing
Beauregard with supplies. AS soon
as | went to my room | peeled off
my outer suit, removed wig and
spectacles, took out three of my false
teeth, which were on plate by
themselves, blackened my eyebrows,
and in ten minutes / was in new
disguise. | went down to breakfast,
and then slipped over to the other
hotel and registered and took a room
as professor E. G.. s. LaDue, New
Orleans" l had the French twist to
my speech, and | also had the dis
covery relating to new explosive.
l had come to the front to put it into
practice.
1t was about 10 o'clock when /
started out, and who should l run
against the very first thing but my
friend of the milk business. He had
sergeant and three privates with
him, and as they passed me he
said:
ooh, can tell him half a mile off.
His gray wig got rumpled up, and l
saw light hair under it, but he was
off before l knew what to do"
/ followed them to the hotel where
l had first registered, and entered ii
just as they went up stairs to my
room. They thought they had their
man, but were doomed to disap.
pointment. Two of the men were
left in the Office, however, while the
other two, accompanied by the milk.
man, went out to look for me on the
streets. This was on the Goth of May
Beauregard had concentrated every
thing on the short line and the Con-
federates believed they had dead
: sure thing in case they were attacked
} in their intrenchments. l picked UP
the acquaintance of dozen army
officers before night, and the subject
of a new explosive proved interesting
to all. They pumped me for par
: ticulars, of course, but my reply was
"In day or two 1 hope to make 6
test and surprise the Yankees"
Through the influence Of Captain
Johnson, belonging to Marmaduke';
command, and who had beer
wounded and carried his right arm ir
sling, l secured pass to carry me
about Corinth, and on the SECOND
day of my arrival l posted myself il
many details. Everything was ex
element and hubbub, as everybody
: thought great battle imminent, anC
> nobody paid any attention to me. A
i my solicitation Captain johnson
e reported my arrival to Beauregard'
y adjutant, and asked permission fol
/ me to experiment. He came bach
e and said:
e 81 found him upside down and h
felt like ordering me under arrest TO
disturbing him"
On the afternoon Of the third day
while was returning from Confeder
/ ate left, provost patrol picked m
D. up. My pass was all right an,
secured my liberation, but it CAV
y me an uneasy feeling to observe tina
the milkman was among the guard