The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-12

time,
1 was further treasured by the Doctor ex-
tending his hand in a hearty manner, saying:
Well, o. K, I'm id glad to see you are
on the right side.D
This helped me out nicely, and gave me an
opportunity to express my rebel sentiments.
To my question as to what they were doing in
Richmond, the Doctor responded gravely:
Oh, all the boys you knew are here. Our
regiment is encamped just over here pointing
over the hill). We have been into church, but
are going back to camp"
Then taking me by the arm familiarly,
" Come along; the boys will be mighty glad
to see you"
The invitation was so cordial, and was urged
by both with such earnestness to join them,
that could see at once that they did not sus-
pect my true character. 1t was evident that
neither of them had heard of my Fort Piekens
affair.
This chance meeting doubly increased my
danger, as | should now have to represent two
entirely different characters under different
names. AS long as ! could keep the crowds
apart there was not much risk, except that
some persons among the Texans might know of
my Pensacola escapade.
| must not, however, under any circum-
stances, become generally known in Richmond
under the name of the person who had been so
widely published as the Pensacola spy.
The rebel detective force in Richmond at this
time, as well as subsequently, was made up
principally of Baltimore police and detectives,
which had been imported by Gen. Winder from
his Baltimore force.
They had undoubtedly been furnished with
descriptive list of the Pensacola spy, and as |
had been the first spy on record in the war, the
chances were very much against me.
did not think of these things at the time,
and being so fayorably impressed by the cordial
greeting of my new-found friends, / could not
SlGf fbnir inv yyita Off tn "
them to their camp, especially as they seemed
to take it as an affront that | should hesitate
to embrace the opportunity of meeting with old
friends.
[ reluctantly started to accompany them in
their walk toward camp, talking familiarly and
cordially as they did about their delight at
finding me on the right side.
In this case
MY REBEL UNIFORM SAVED ME.
The road to the camp of the Texans led in
the direction of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks,
where Johnston attacked McCellan's left in
the following May, and the camp itself was not
far from that point
As we tramped along a pleasant chat was
kept up, and though | was on the alert to hear
if any suspicion attached to me for the Fort
Pickens matter nothing was said to indicate
that either one had ever heard Of the affair.
They were undoubtedly sincere in their cor
diality, and only desired to crafty their COM
panions in camp with their success in having
found one whom tley all knew so far away
from their Texas homes.
In the talk, gathered that one company in
! their regiment came from the neighborhood in
which my uncle lived and was com posed prin-
cipally of the very set of young fellows with
whom l had been associated there only the
| previous Winter. They gave me the names of
good many of the boys, and amused me with
the accounts of the journey they had made
| from Texas to Virginia in search of the war.
| The fact of my having an uncle in the South
would of itself have been sufficient
| ENDORSEMENT FOR MY LOYALTY"
| with most of these fellows, but l recalled to
myself that while amongst them in Texas
had got into trouble several times by my out
| spoken Northern sentiments during the Pre-
sidential campaign which was then going
on. The Doctor probably referred to this
| when he congratulated me so heartily on hav-
| ing found me on the right side.
We finally reached the camp was marched
| up the company quarters, and was generally
| recognized by the boys, who were as sincerely
glad to see me as if I was just from their home.
| was at home among them, everytL ing was all
right there, and | enjoyed renewing the friend
| ship of year previous. Among the boys was
| one fellow. to whom ] referred in the introduce
tion of this story as having a difficulty with,
the grandson of David Crockett, the hero of the
Alamo. Young Crockett, like most of his class,
had been taught to presume a little on the
glory of his ancestors This had made him
somewhat personally disagreeable to his asso-
ciates; but he kept away from me that day.
| / remained in camp until after dress parade.
| 1t was a regiment of as fine looking set OF
truly American men and boys as / have ever
seen in either army. Their war record, as the
lst Texas Rangers, will bear me out in this
opinion. Their Colonel was afterward the IA
| Ifir
! was urged TO stay for camp dinner The
boys with whom / had so often before been in
camps in Texas, while rounding up" their
stock, were al well up to the use Of the camp.
kettles and pots, and with the advantages of the
city close by them they were able 20 get up in
good style. first-class shape one of the good old
Western Texas dinners We were having q
good time all around. was being urged TO get
a release from my Maryland battery and join
the Texas Brigade.
saw that could not very well keep up this
dual character; the very cordiality of these
fellows would lead to their visiting me up in
the Maryland battery, and, once there, things
would become badly mixed up. / would never
be able to explain to the Maryland fellows thai
! was in reality another fellow altogether
and 1t would cause some confusion in the Texa!
camp to have to explain the other way to my
Texas friends.
These thoughts. however, detracted but lit
tie from the pleasure Of my visit, for us l fel
that somehow or other ! would get out Of the
difficulty, / did not concern myself for th,
moment.
It was mistake for me to have accompanied
the Texans to their camp, or TO say the least, i
was very indiscreet to place myself on exhi
{ bition among the spectators grouped in front 0
the regiment / am willing to admit that
made great many mistakes while spy il
Richmond, but this Sunday afternoons foolsl
Indifference
cAsIE so NEAR BEING FATAL IN IT'S RESULTS
that it had the effect of toning me down con
sideraby, and served to keep me more within
bounds during the rest of my stay in Rich
Inond.
In the presence of the unassurned sincerit,
, and earnest cordiality of the Texas acquaint
ances had found, had wholly overlooked til
little circumstances that had occurred the nigh
at the theater. / presume that a story write
would not allow himself to forget. such an in
cident, but | must confess that l did forget, o
at least became so well assured Of my safety
by the cordiality of my friends that I at las
became indifferent. / was rather suddenly re
minded of the occurrence as / sat at the cam
dinner with my friends. With consternatio
/ saw approaching me the very chap whom
| had snubbed in the vestibule of the theatel
The appearance of this tall fellow at the time
in his gray clothes, had about such All effect o.
me as sat at the table in broad daylight tina
ghost might have on ME now somewhere nea
midnight. lie had his staring eyes fixed righ