The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-02-16
The Story of a Spy

When Hslleck was besieGing Beauregard
At eorintb, or, rather, daily approaching
The Confederate lines BY system of de-
iense, l waa In theitrenches one afternoon
when the captain of my company sent foi
ne and ordered me to report to the colonel.
rhe colonel ordered me to report at Gen.
Hallecks headquarters, and when l made
my appearance the general said:
you have done some scouting?"
"Yes, sir"
"Wil YOU go as spy?"
"Where TOP"
"Into Corinth. want information which
only spy can secure. If you come back
on shall be well rewarded; if YOU are de
ected you will be hungp'
81 will try it,"
Every good. Return in an hour and
viii give you instructions. When can you
set out?"
''BY midnight"
"That will do"
went away wondering how on earth
zen, Haleck had ever heard of me, and
vas month later before l ascertained tn,
acts. One afternoon was Showing off
'cfore group of soldiers, aud the genera
nd his chief engineer halted on their round
inspection and became spectators unbe
,nown 10 me. In my palmy days coud
initiate any voice heard. / could put my
,ce into almost anv shape; could worl
my ears like horse, and could throw p
hat off ny head BY working my scalp, and
when I was only "a years old could make
my face leok like that OF man of 10. AS
my face wss as beardess As woman's l
could dress in female attire and defy any
one to detect me by my voice or gait.
The main thing was to get into Corinth.
The general had no suggestions to make on
suat polLt, and the work 10 be done when
nee inside seemed easy enough. The wa
nto Corinth by the south and west wa,
Till open, and milk, vegetables, hay anc
ther stuff were being received by ever,
highway. When l set out just before sun
lown had $500 in gold in my pockets ant
1 bundle of clothing in my hand. Atmid
hight, when l reached the point aimed a..
! bow backed old man of 20, lame, gray
iaired and toothless, might have been seer
sitting in fence corner of highway t.
await the passage of time. was within
seven miles of Corinth. and my plan was t.
70 in with some vehicle. Within ten mile
# me were two great armies getting read,
for death grapple; but just then the frog
'reaked, the insects buzzed and peace spreac
her mantle as in a graveyard. Indeed
vas in browse when l heard the rattlin,
IF wheels. and was on my feet, when I
Young man driving = horse 10 an open bugg'
,ame along. He had six jugs of milk il
The vehicle and was bound for town.
"Hey, vour' / called to him. "Can'
YOU give an old man e lift to town? NJ
hoy has run of snd joined the soldiers ant
[ must see him and try and get him back.
''Who are your"
"Judge Lexington. of Guntown: starte,
10 come by rail, but the engine broke down
and in trying to get ahead I've got lost,
reckon"
II should say you hadl You aint any
where near the railroad"
''Reckon not. Pretty hard on the old man
but l feel as If must get my boy back"
swell, jump in. suppose you've got
passr'
"Oh, yes."
He was q kind-hearted. simple minde
oung man, and had pass, which enable
him to come and 60 ct pleasure. We ha
not gone above half Elila when suddenl
discovered that he'd lost the importaI
document which would admit me mi
Corinth. He stopped his horse while
searched anew, but the paper could not
found.
"And ha' will they do If don't have
= passP" 1 asked.
Take you before some of the genera
and they may lock you up. They are We
careful Of late"
, Sand may not get to see nv boyp"
"Perhaps not"
took on for about five minHtes in a 7
thetic strain, and when l saw that b
enlisted his sympathies, said; "My you
friend / don't want to be delayed. Y
must help me. When we come to the picl
post am to pass as your father, who /
4 come to town to look around. Even
4 hours delay may take my bov away"
"Oh. but wouldn't darer'
!, "You'd dare a great deal for these,
said as put a couple of $40 gold pie
into his hand.
"Why-yes-I-I feel sorry for you, o
! I want you to get in. might say you '
my father, but"
81 chance the rest"
don't think he expected any trouble,
the matter did not seem to trouble him a
When we drove up to the first picket r
Us, he halted his horse and was fumbline
his pocket for the pass, when one of
pickles said:
lp "That's all right, drive on. oh. but =
u is that with youp'
THE old man. He ct in the Mexi
war. and wants to see how things looi
Corlnth."
N0' "And il was ten years younger
C shou der musket,' added.