Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-09-29

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 go to
a hotel There boldly registered as
''John William Richardson, Mobile, !" and
dropped a 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 spec
tacles, took out three of my false teeth,
which were on plate by themselves,
blackened my eyebrows, and in ten
minutes was in new disguise. Invent
down to breakfast, and then slipped over
to the other hotel and registered and
took room as Professor E. G. s. La
Due. New Orleans" / had the French
twist to my speech, and also had dis
covery relating to a new explosive. !
had come to the front to put it in practice.
It was about 10 clock when started
out, and who should ! 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:
"Oh, can tell him mile of. His
gray wig got rumpled up, and saw
light hair under it, but he was off before
knew what to do"
I followed them to the hotel where /
had first registered, and entered it just
as they went up the stairs to my room.
They thought they had their man, but
were doomed to disappointment. Two
of the men were left in the Office, how
ever, while the other two, accompanied
SOD ~ 1<~~Jr Co.
me on the streets. This was on the Goth
of May. Beauregard had concentrated
everything on the short line, and the Con-
federates believed they had sure thing
in case they were attacked in their in
trenchments. picked up the acquaint-
ance Of a dozen army officers before
night, and the subject of the new ex-
plosive proved interesting to all. They
pumped me for particulars, of course,
but my reply was: ssaa y.s
I'm day or two hope to make
test and surprise the Yankees"
Through the influence Of Capt. John
son, belonging to Marmaduke's COM
mand, and who had been wounded and
carried his right arm in sling, secured
pass to carry me abol& Corinth, and on
the second day of my arrival / posted
myself in many details. Everything was
excitement and hubbub. as everybody
thought great battle imminent, and no.
body paid any attention to me. At my
solicitation Capt. johnson reported my
arrival to Beauregard's adjutant, and
asked permission for me to experiment.
I He came back and said:
II found him upside down, and he
felt like ordering me under arrest for dis
turbing him."
On the afternoon of the third day,
while was returning from the Confed-
crate left, provost patrol picked me
up. My pass was all right and secured
my liberation, but it gave me an uneasy
feeling to observe that the milkman was
among the guard. He had evidently
pointed me out for arrest, for heard
him mutter to the officer:
Il may be wrong. but can't get shut
OF the feeling that he's the man. No
two men could have such eyes"
knew should be under surveillance
now. and the first thing / did after
reaching the hotel was to replace my
teeth, rub the black from my eyebrows,
part my hair in the center and give
new twist to my mustache, and as l de-
scended to supper my left eye had
slight squirt. After supper, as sat in
in. the office smoking, observed the
milkman moving about as if looking for
me. l went directly up to him and said;
My friend, were you looking for me9'
mo sir, was his prompt reply.
''Pn. you were with the man who ar
rested me this evening" 500
'tWhatl Are you the fellowwe picked
up near the depot9" }asHatH
Il am" zr a.. .sg5i1ftl .ts..
He looked me from top to toe with
puzzled expression on his face. and re-
marked:
II overheard you say something about
my eyes. Is there anything wrong with
them2"
.N-no, SIR" su 81
"But why did you point me out to the
guardf Indeed, why are you civilian,
tramping about with the soldiers? pre-
sumo you hold yourself accountable for
any trouble you may cause gentle
man2'
He turned pale in an instant, and ask.
ing me to step aside, he explained:
"There was an old man rode in with
me the other morning. He called him.
self Judge Lexington and said he lived at
Guntown. No such man has ever lived
there. This man also wore gray wig
to conceal his natural hair, which was a
little reddish t1sf3e if5ift3 't''z''
''Well7"
well, he told an affecting story, and
passed him in as my father. believe
he was spy"
Eyes"
"And the soldiers believe it, and want
to find him."
And I hope they will. But you, my
friend, must use more discretion. If You
insult gentleman you must be pre-
pared to give him satisfaction feel
that''-
Say. I'm sorry about this thing, and
hope you'll let itdrop. Come and have
drink 4.n41F .4
held on for awhile and then bridged
the yawning chasm, and when he was
ripe for it said: sessas
II have brother here-a citizen
who is just able to move about after a
long illness. want to get him away
before the battle occurs. How far out
do you live." -
"About nine miles9" %
If paid for it. couldn't you take him
home for week or two?'
I'm take him without pay, and be
only too glad to do you a favor"
But wouldn't have it that way. I
bargained with him that he should re-
ceiye $40 for his trouble and that he
should call at the hotel the next evening.
Nothing was said about pass, but in
tended to see to that. The next day
Marmaduke's captain helped me to secure
1t. What saw in Corinth satisfied me
there would be no fight. While the
Confederate were shortening their lines
and intrenching, and while the great
mass of soldiers believed that Beauregard
was aching for an attack, the railroad
tracks told the story. saw that he was