The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-11-10
ASPYS STORY.
New York Sun.

rev lork sun.
When Halleck was beseiging Beau
regard at Corinth, or, rather, daily
approaching the confederate lines by
a system of defences, / was in the
trenches one afternoon when the cap
tain of my company sent for me and
ordered me to report to the colonel.
The colonel ordered me to report at
General Halleck's headquarters, and
when made my appearance the Gen
eral said:
"You have done some scouting?"
"Yes, sir"
"Will you go as spy?"
"Where tor"
'1nto Corinth. want information
which only spy can secure. fyou
return you shall be well rewarded. If
you are detected you will be hung"
ri will try it"
every good. Return in an hour
and I will give you instructions.
When can you set out?"
"By midnight"
"That will do"
Invent away wondering how on
earth General Halleck had ever heard
of me and it was a month later be-
fore l ascertained the facts. One aft
ternoon l was showing off, to q
group of soldiers, and the general
and his chief engineer halted on their
round of inspection and became spec
tators unbeknown to me. In my
palmy days l could initiate any voice
hear. l could put my face into al
most any shape, could work my
ears like a horse; and could throw q
hat off my head by working my scalp;
when was only twenty-four years
old could make my face look like
that eff q man of seventy, and, as my
face was beardless as woman's l
could dress in female attire and defy
any one to detect me by voice or
gait.
The main thing was to get into
Corinth. The general had no sug-
gestions to make on that point, and
the work to be done, when once inside,
seemed easy enough. The way into
Corinth by the south and west was
still open, and milk, vegetables, hay
and other stuff was being received by
every highway. When set out just
before sun down / had $500 in gold
In my pocket and d bundle of cloth
ing in my hand At midnight, when
=, u reached be point aimed at, a
.o~-packed @ld man of 70, lame,
S S%ed and toothless, might
Teen seen sitting in a fence
Corner Of q highway to await the
passage OF time. / was within seven
miles OF Corinth, and my plan was to
go in with some vehicle. Within two
miles of me were two great armies
getting ready for a death grapple,
but just then the frogs croaked, the
insects buzzed, and peace spread her
mantle as in graveyard. Indeed l
was in a browse when l heard the rat
tie of wheels, and was only on my
feet when a young man driving a
horse to an open buggy, came along
!. He had six jugs in the vehicle, and
WAS bound for town.
'Hey you'll" called to him.
"Can't you give an old man a lift to
town? My boy has run off and
jined the soldiers, and / must see him
and try and get him back"
who are your" he asked.
"Judge Lexington of Guntown.
Started to come by rail, but the en-
CINE broke down and in trying oget
ahead I've got lost / reckon"
81 should say you had! You amt
anywhere near the railroad"
Reckon not. Pretty hard on the
old man, but l feel as if l must get
the boy back"
"Well, jump in. I suppose you've
got pass?"
ooh, yes"
He was a kind-hearted, simple
minded young man, and had pass
which enabled him to come and go at
pleasure. We had not gone above
halt mile when / suddenly discov-
ered' that had lost the important
document which would admit me in
to Corinth. He stopped his horse
while / searched anew, but the paper
could not be found.
"And what will they do i'll don't
have the pass?" / asked.
"Take you before some of the gen.
erals and they may lock you up,
They are mighty careful of late"
"And l may not get out to see my
boy?"
perhaps not"
I"took on" for about five minutes
in a pathetic strain, and when saw
had enlisted his sympathies l said.
my young friend, l don't want to
be delayed. You must helpme. When
we come to the picket post / am to
pass as your father who has come
down to look around. Even an
hours delay may take my boy
away"
ooh, but wouldn't dare"
"You'd dare great dealfor these"
! said, as l put couple of $40 gold
pieces into his hand.
"Why-yes-I-feel sorry for you,
and l want you to get in. l might
say you was my father. but"
ON chance the rest"
/ 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 pickets said:
"Thatls all right-drive on. Oh,
but who is that with your"
"The old man. He fit in the Next
can war and wants to see how things