Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-08-04
A SPY'S STORY.

regard at COrlntn, UT, Tdlner, udlly
approaching the Confederate lines by
system of defenses, | 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 I made my appearance the gen.
eral said:
"You have done some sceuting?"
eyes, sir"
"Will you go as spy?"
"Where to?"
"Into Corinth. 1 want information
which only spy can secure. If you
come back you shall be well reward
ed. If you are detected you will be
hung"
81 will try it,"
Every good. Return in an hour
and will give you instructions.
When can you set out ?"
"By midnight"
"That will do"
went away wondering how on
earth General Halleck had ever heard
of me, and it was month later before
| ascertained the facts. One after
noon was Showing off" to a 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 al
most any shape; i could work my
ears like horse, and could throw a
hat off my head by working my
scalp, when was only "a years old l
could make my face look like that of
a man of 20, and, as my face was as
beardless as. a wOman's, | could dress
in female attire and defy any one to
detect me by voice or gait.
The main thing was to get into Cor
NTH. The general had nosuggestions
to make on that point, and the work
to be done, when once inside, SEEM
ed easy enough. The way into Cor
NTH by the south and west was still
open, and milk, vegetables, hay and
other stuff was being received by ev-
cry highway. When l set out just
before shutdown | had $500 in gold in
my pocket and bundle of clothing
in my hand. At midnight, when |
had reached the point aimed at, a
low-backed old man of 20, lame, gray
haired and toothless, might have
been seen sitting in fence corner OF
highway to await the passage OF
time. / was within seven miles oil
COrinth, and my plan was to 60 in
with some vehicle. Within two
miles of me were two great armies
getting ready for 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 rattle Of
wheels, and was only on my feet
when young man, driving horse
to an open buggy came along. He
had six jugs in the vehicle and was
bound for town.
"Hey, youW l called to him
Cant you give an old man a lift t.
town? My boy has run off and jinet
the soldiers, and | must see him anC
try to 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 tryin' to ge
ahead Pve got lost l reckon"
81 should say you had You aim
anywhere near the railroad"
Reckon not. Pretty hard on tn,
old man, but / feel as if | must ge
the boy back"
"Well, jump in. suppose you'v
got a pass ?"
"Oh, yes"
He was a kind-hearted, simple
minded young man, and had a pas
which enabled him to come and go a
pleasure. We had not gone abov
half mile when l suddenly dis
covered" that / had lost the import
ant document which would admit m
into COrinth. He stopped his hors
while / searched anew, but the pape
could not be found.
"And what will they do if l don
have the pass ?" asked.
"Take you before some Of the gel
erals, and they may lock you W
They are mighty careful Of late."'
"And l may not get to see m
boy?"
SDarho no NOT -