The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15

he was as pale as ghost. He was 30
scared that he could hardly stand straight
upon his feet.
''Gen. Wheeler then told me to get the
men from his command
From what State do you want them?
he asked
Tennesseans,' was my prompt reply.
Gen. Wheeler said he would give his
permission 10 get the detail OF men from
Col. Smiths regiment. Col. Smith was
stationed at Eagleville. We were then at
Columbia. En- route TO Eaglevlle, we had
to pass through Tullahoma. | went to
ten. Bragg's headquarters and made in
quifies concerning Dirks. The adiutant-
general, whose name j cannot now recall,
said OF course II was all right. | saw Dirks
draw, Sl4O, one months pay as captain OF
cavalry. .-eial l.s-
"'what command?' asked the quarter
master.
On Gen. Bragg's staff, replied Dirks,
and received the $40 Wethen went on
to Col, Smiths, near Eaglevile. En- route
TO Eagleville we were halted by squad of
Confederate cavalry and placed under ar
rest. The captain arresting us said he had
spotted Dirks as Yankee spy and knew l
was all right. Strange that every one
should detect that this man was spy and
yet that Gen. Bragg should be 80 easily
duped by him. When we arrived at Col.
smiths headquarters that officer on learn
ing how matters STOOD at once ordered me
from under arrest, saying il there ever was
a southern man | was. | told him the OBJ
ject OF our visit was to get about fifteen or
twenty men TO go with ms on our danger
Gus mission, and he agreed 10 20 out with
us the next morning and see il we could
get the men. We got the men easily. The
Tennessee troops did not stand back be-
cause there was danger ahead and he had
q fine corps OF picked men, all well mount
ed and armed with Colts rifles, and all
prepared TO sell their lives ms dearlyas pos
sible, II the occasion required. Col Smith
placed them under my charge, saying they
were TO obey Dirks unless | countermand-
ed the order. lie said they were fine
body OF men, and h, did not want them
sacrificed. Dirks looked sullen, and want
ed TO know what il meant.
1t means, replied Col. Smith, that
know Capt. Brown, and that he will take
good care OF my men,
I'm reply, Dirks muttered under his
breath that Col. Smith evidently consid-
cred me very game man.
1--WE started out in good spirits. Dirks
was riding q bay mare, which he said be-
longed TO the government. At Shelby
vile, however, he snapped IL Oft for dun
colored horse. lie said horse was
horse, and the government did not care
what kind OF horse il had Just 10 II was
horse. He said was too CONSCIENTIOUS.
| found out afterward that the horse was
the private property OF Gen. Pope's quar-
termaster and that he had simply loaned
II TO Dirks. We kept OH TO Columbia.
When within two or three miles Of Column
bia noticed that one OF the men had a
very fine mule, and found out
that the man had ridden 1t for sew
eral miles before | saw II. Dirks said
he had pressed ii into service; that he had
orders from Gen. Bragg 10 press every
horse into service he required. Wepached
Columbia in the evening and spent the
night there. The next morning We started
out for the mouth OF Harpeth river. At
Columbia We were joined by Lieut.. Miller
and Capt Lcascbcr, who were going along
with ms 10 hunt up strsgglcrs and con-
scripts. We had proceeded about eighteen
OF twenty miles, and ] was riding in the
rear, when noticed they had fine stall
lion, which Dirks said he had pressed into
service for my special benefit, and that he
had got II from Wcems' Springs. / told
him | would ride no stolen horse, and he
said he would.
eve then went on 10 Col. Ben Robert
sons, four miles from the mouth Of Har-
peth river. There we found TO our sorrow
and surprise papers from Washington,
Nashville and other cities, which stated
that Andrew johnson was then In Wash.
ington and would remain there for several
weeks. ! said to Dirks that our expedition
had failed.
Don't you pay any attention 10 what
those papers say, he replied, Andy john
son is in Nashville, but they have TO keep
il quiet 10 keep us from coming after him.
let us keep right on, and we will get him
sure
81 replied: Then you give Inc credit for
being bigger fool than | think am II
you imagine am going TO 20 to Nashville
and put my head in moose when the
Yankees know We are coming.
81 became firmly convinced then that
he was a SPY and had made up the plot 10
draw us into snare. During the night
communicated my suspicious 10 Col. Rob.
ertson and told him had the nerve 10
arrest Dirks. Dirks begged 10 be allowed
10 20 ON 10 Nashville 20 sec II Andrew
johnson was there, but would not con-
sent unless two men went with him 10 see
that he did not communicate with the
Yankees and bring them on us. told
Dirks we would go on 10 the narrows OF
Harpoih, and walt there till W. could hear
that johnson was In Nashville. Dirks
objected, but | told him he had better
keep cool. The men generally suspicioned
Dirks ~ n spy from his strange conduct,
and Il was al could do 10 keep them
from killing him when Il was made
thus plain that he had been deliberately
leading a squad Of twenty men
10 certain capture and death found Q
Confederate soldier named Hale who Wa
away from his command on furlough
and | engaged him 10 pilot our squad q
the narrows Of Harpcth, where Il was re-
tired and we could stop without Interrupt
ton until We could ascertain that Andrew
johnson had really returned 10 Nashville
or until We could at least find out whether
or not he was really In Nashville, but on
later consideration we determined 10 plac,
Dirks under arrest aud take him bach
10 Gen. Bragg and denounce him NJ
a spy, prciorring regular charges agains
him. i was riding In the rear and tolt
Hale when he got 10 the forks Of the roat
leading 10 the narrows 10 stop. Dirk
made a great objection 10 this, but ] toll,
him that he had better keep cool or
might not be able 10 keep the mcr
from dealing out 20 him th'
strict Justice that he deserved. This cooled
him down somewhat, but he rcmarke,