The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-23
.DHAF AND DUMB SPY.

the route and its distractions. Hi
spies and scouts passed over almost ever
mile OF the distance, and made full ant
accurate reports, l was one OF the las
sent out and the last to return, and
had a close shave OF 1t, Information
was required which obliged me TO entel
the Confederate camps and see with my
own eyes, and MS two or three OF ouI
spies had been captured and hung, |
needed something more than q disguise.
After canYassing the matter for n while
l adopted the suggestion OF q regimental
surgeon to play the roll OF a dummy
| was to DO deaf and dumb, and carry
pencil and paper, and do my talking
that way. l was provided with u bum
die OF stationery, some tobacco, q lot Of
religious tracts, articles OF cheap goods,
and Il few speCialties, aud ! left the Fed
eral outposts one dark aud rainy even
ing in good spirits, 0bstruCting Sher-
mans advance was Nthe mountain bar
rier called Rocky Face ridge. The main
gap, through which railroad and high
way ran, and still run, is called Buzz
cards Roost Gap. Our scouts and spies
had reported this gap so strongly forti.
fled that Sherman felt hO could not
force 1t. Further south Is Snake Creek
Gap. One OF my objects was 10 ascer-
tain how this gap was defended.
l was well within the Confederate
lines before midnight, and at about that
hour ! found shelter in barn, and slept
until two hours after daylight, When l.
turned out no n was in sight, and |
had walked fully two miles along the
highway before l met any ono. Then /
encountered u party OF about thirty cav.
alrymen going to the front. / was in
citizens clothes, had a pack on my back,
and, OF course, expected to be stopped.
Tho troop was commanded by q lieuten.
ant, and us he came up he ordered n halt
md gueried Of me:
"Who are you, and where are you so.
ingT
Hero was the first test. The men had
gathered around me, and every one had
his eye upon me. 1t was n compliment
10 me that one OF the men called out be.
fore had made a sign:
"Dog gone him, he's q dummy! He's
got a face like n wash-boardl"
l wrote on my tablet: "What do you
want2" and the lieutenant wrote in re.
ply: "Nho are you and where are you
goingP"
l gave my name as George Smith and
stated | was n Confederate peddler. l
opened my bundle, presented him with
some tobacco, and several OF the men
made purchases. The officer asked for
my pass, and l told him that It was taken
from mo these days before by some
Yankee raiders who had captured me
and turned INC loose again.
"Well, they'll overhaul HIM back
there, anyhow" he said to his sergeant,
ind, waving his hand to me, hs gave me
the order to ride on. l was In for it now,
aud must push ahead. | could see an
enCampment down the road, and any
attempt to flank it would create sus.
piCiOn. 1t was well that | went ahead,
for ono Of the C%alvarymGn followed me
clear back to the sentinel on the out
skirts OF the camp. Tie walked his
horse directly behind me, and so close
that the animals nose almost touched
my buck, but he did not catch me OF
my guard. When the sentinel stopped
mo | handed him my name and ocCupa-
ton, and In q few minutes | was in the
presence OF the officers OF the guard.
While he asked for my pass, he did not
seem suspicious. l was escorted to the
quarters Of the officer Of the day, and
here came n test, made so carelessly that
II | had not had all my with about me !
should have been lost. AS we reached
the quarters the escort said:
"Here Is n deaf and dumb man who
has no pass. Captain Harsher ordered
him here from the guard tent"
"All right" replied the officer, who
was not even looking at us, and then, as
the escort started oil he half turned to
me and said:
"Stand aside for n few minutes and l
l will attend TO your case"
His tone was so careless and his order
80 natural that / caught my muscles
moving to obey. Had | picked up n foot
| should have given myself away. AS
did not move, he presently turned to
me, tReemed surprised that | was there
and began to inquire about nc. l gave
him the details aud while We were pass.
ing the tablet back and forth u captain
came up. The officer Of the day said TO
him.
"We have captured a dummy. Mighty
queer that he should take to peddllng
among soldiers, but they are n queer lot.
lie says ho lad a pass from Polk, but
that the Yanks gobbled 1t when they
captured him the other day. Do you see
that blood spot on his left cuff"
l was looking the officer full In tho
face rs he spoke. l felt that he would
try some trick, but ho did II 80 neatly
that he almost caught me. l winked,
but / did not drop .ny eyes.
"You must hive taken him for IN i'm.
positor," laughed the captain.
1--WE can't 10 too cautious" was the
reply, and he took the tablet and wrote
thAtl might circulate about camp until
guard mount aud then reportto the now
officer Of the day.
lgot my breakfast, sold out about half
my goods, and, when | reported and
asked that l might pass on no objection
was made. ! found troops everywhere
now, and being 80 far within tile lines,
/ no one questioned my right 10 DO there.
| underwent but ono moro test before
reaching tho gap, and that I was pre-.
pared for. The soldiers accepted me fol
= what / claimed to be, and willie my con.
dition excited the gynpathles Of some
others wGrc Inclined 10 ridiCulu and
Joke. While ! knelt In a group q joker
held q pistol close 10 my ear and fred /
OIL. / heard the click Of the hammer
and was therefore prepared for the 70.
port, / found tho gap covered by d
weak body, with no deiOnses 10 speak Of
and l otthrough them without trouble
though my goods were now all gone, aut
had 10 claim that | was on my way Il
. Dalton after a new stock, l was arrested
after entering tho gap, and the atrcs
v came about through a corporal In a bat
, tory Of artillery, who at first Contendet
h that he recognized mo al a deserte
named William Ridges. II appeafeI
4 that / closely resOmblOd Ridges ID built
I and look, but ~ soon as tile corporal La
y d close look al Inc hO acknowledged M
Il mistake. This occurred lust before dAfh
: and the captain OF the battery, who wa
I In command, sent me 10 Gen, Wayne
! In command Of some Georgia StAt
. troops, was not suspected Of being
y Ia-N.a.N .nss NA.N t.aAla.la.. aak.alasI Z.