Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-04
SPYING AT CORINTH.

When Halleck was besieging Beaure-
gard at Corinth, or, rather, daily APP.
preaching the Confederate lines by a sys-
tenn of defenses, was in the trenches
one afternoon when the captain of my
company sent for me and ordered me to
report to the colonel. The colonel ordered
me to report at Gen. Halleck's head
quarters, and when / made my appear
ancc the general said:
"You have done some sccIting?"
Yes, SIR"
''Will you so as q spy2"
"Where tor
"Into Corinth. / want information
which only spy can secure. If you
come back you shall be well rewarded.
If you are detected you will be hung"
Il will try it."
"Very good. Return in an hour and
| will give you instructions. When can
you set out2"
"By midnight.
THAT will do"
went away wondering how on earth
Gen. Halleck had ever heard of me. and
it was a month later before l ascertained
the facts. One afternoon l was ''show-
ing off, to group of soldiers, and the
general and his chief engineer halted on
their round of inspection and became
spectators unbeknown to me. In my
palmy days could initiate any voice
heard; could put my face into almost
any shape; could work my ears like n
horse, and could throw 4 hat off my head
by working my scalp. When was only
"a years old could make my face look
like that Of a man of 70, and, as my face
was as beardless as a woman's, could
dress In female attire and defy any one
to detect my by my voice or gait.
The main thing was to get into Cor
NTH. The general had no suggestions 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 were beng
received by every highway. When set
out Just before shutdown | had $500 in
gold in my pockets and a bundle Of
clothing in my hand. At midnight,
when reached the point aimed at, q
bow backed old man Of 70, lame, gray
haired and toothless, might have been
seen sitting in fence corner of high
way to await the passage OF time. was
within seven miles Of Corinth, and my
plan was to go in with some vehicle.
Within ten miles of me were two great
armies getting ready for death grapple,
but Just then the frogs croaked, the in
sects buzzed, and peace spread her man
tie as in a graveyard. Indeed. was in
browse when heard the rattle of
wheels, and was only on my feet when a
young man. driving n horse to an open
buggy, came along. He had six jugs Of
milk in the vehicle, and was bound for
town.
"lley. your called to him. Cant
you give an old man a lift to town? My
boy has run of and iined the soldiers,
and must see him and try and get him
back"
WHO are you?" he asked.
Judge Lexington, of Guntown.
Started to come by rail, but the engine
broke down, and in trying to get ahead
: I've got lost, | reckon"
! IL should say you had You ain
anywhere near the railroad"
Reckon not. Pretty hard on the old
, man, but feel us if must get the boy
back. +"
We'll, jump in. suppose you've got
, pass"
'Oh yes"
lie was kind hearted, simple minded
young man, and had a pass, which eli.
{ ablcd him to come and go at pleasure,
5 We had not gone above half mile when
| suddenly discovered" that had lost
the important document which would
admit me into Corinth. He stopped his
horse while searched anew. but the pa
pei could not he found.
Is And what Wilt they do If don't have
pass?" | asked
1 Take you before some of the gen.
/. erals. and they may lock you up. They
are mighty careful of late. y
. "Nnd~l may not get to see my 6oyy'
> perhaps not.
+ took on for about five minutes in
t pathetic strain. and when | saw that
had enlisted his sympathies said:
My young friend don't want to be
delayed. You must help me. When
we come to the picket post ! am TO pass
rs your father who has come to town &c
look around. Even an hours delay may
take my boy away
"Oh, but | wouldn't dare. ="
: You'd dare n great deal for these"
said, as put a couple Of $40 gold pieces
into his hand
why -ycs--I-~l feel sorry for you,
and want you to get in. might say
; you was my father, but
. I'm chance the rest"
!. don't think he expected any trouble
for the matter did not seem to trouble
: him any. Whom we drove up to the
q first picket post lie halted the horse and
: was fumblirg for his pass, when one Of
!, the pckets said;
e That's all right-drive Oh. Oh. buI
, whc is that with your"