The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-04-19

hdu W Ciall' tuaO was Ou my way W
Dalton after a new stock. / was ar
rested after entering the gap,
and the arrest came about through
corporal in battery of artillery, who
at first contended that he recognized
me as deserter named William
Ridges. 1t appeared that l closely re
sembled Ridges in build and look, but
as soon as the corporal had close
look at me he acknowledged his mis-
take. This occurred just before dark,
and the captain of the battery, who
was in command, sent me to Gen.
Wayne, in command of some
Georgia state troops. was not sus-
pected of being a Federal spy, but
having been arrested on charge, aud
being found without pass, it was
quite proper to make further investi-
cation.
There were several officers in the
generals tent when | was taken in and
reported on, and the facts III my case
had no sooner been announced than
one of them, who was surgeon in
Hoods command, held q whispered
consultation with the general, and / sus-
pected plot to test me. My suspi-
cions soon proved correct. The escort
retired and left me standing iG front
of the entrance inside, of course, but
just where was in the way of any
one coming or going. The whispered
consultation lasted about five minutes,
and then the general casually remark
ed to me:
"Take a seat and / will hear you,'
The surgeon was looking me full in
the face, and had / made the slightest
move he must have detected me.
| "Sit down." commanded the general
in louder voice.
l wos looking at his sword hanging
on the tent pole, and did not turn
my eyes until he wheeled around in
his chair and beckoned to me to ap-
prosch. handed him my tablet aud
pencil and he inquired why | had not
a PASS and where | wanted to 60. l
ex planned about the pass as before, and
told him wanted to go to Dalton or
Rome and secure more goods. The
general would have been quite salts.
| lied in five minutes, but the surgeon
was keen reader of human nature,
and he was convinced that l was in
disguise | heard him whisper his
suspicious to others, and their lack OF
belief made him all the more determin-
ed to expose me. l. had no fear of
any of the rest, but | realized that 1t
would take all my nerve and tact 10
hold out against the surgeon. Some
of the tests he at once put me to may
seem triHes to the reader until he can
put himself in the position l occupied
He rose up suddenly, crossed over to
me, and slapping me on the shoulder
he exclaimed:
"Let me see your tongueI'
had my teeth hard shut or my
jaws would have opened at the com
mand.
'Straighten up!" was the next com
maud l was bumped over, and th'
words went through me liks ballet
| did not move, however.
Take your foot off that sash!'
shouted the surgeon, but l looked
from him to the general and showed
my wonder.
"Come, now, but you're beaten,
laughed one of the officers, and as tn
others had some remark to make tn
surgeon was nettled. He looked a
me fixedly for long half minute, an'
then said TO his comrades:
81 won't give in yet, general. Pleas
hold on to him until we are certain o
him one way or the Other"
"Oh, certainly; but l think you hay
made mistake this time. A deaf ant
! dumb person always has an expression
not to be counterfeited. He has tolt
pretty straight story.
''That is true: but | want to stud
him little more. He aims to hav
lost his pass. want to ask him fo
| more details, What was the date?"
He turued and put this question L
me, and had not been looking ahea
for it or something of the kind, m
mouth would have got away with mt
II failure provoked another laugh
and wrote on the tablet:
"What does the officer say? Doe
he believe am deserter!"
"He says you are deceiving u.s.
S 81 have it hard enough now, with
out being looked upon with ridicule o
Q SUSPICION ! wrote, and the genera
l nodded his head TO me and said TO tn
surgeon:
81 wont keep him longer than moo
!, tomorrow. The poor cuss has har
row to hoe, and don't want to di,
courage him"
Thr guard was called and | was +,
moved to the guard house, which ws
: a log structure and quite comfortably
: 1t held prisoner, and had no doul
that he had beeu placed there for pu
pose. As soon as the door was shl
g behind me-, he came forward and too
J. my hand and said,
l. "Ahl and they have got you, toe
) both of US must die togetherl'
signe to him that l was det
e mute, but he replied;
"Come, no nonsense with me.
know you, and you will soon kno
?. me- | have seen you at Sherman
o headquarters dosen times. / a
y Jack Ross, Union spy, was a
a rested here week ago, tried by cou
IS martial, found guilty, and to.morro
n ! am to be hung
d He trapped himself right on Il
sta t. As had never been at Sh,
9 mans headquarters but once, l knt
d the name of every spy employed
y that army, and there was no su
d, name as Jack Ross He worked eve
way he could think of to trap me,
IN after couple Of hours he gave it up
a bad job. did not 60 to sleep IL
ne u ght, suspecting the surgeon wor
ID play me some trick. About mldnie
ut he came softly in with couple Of s
On diers, and at signal the men screa
ed in my ears, did not move. I'll
ut a musket was discharged over I
ed body, and the surgeon called oup
10. "You careless devil you hs
ps wounded him"
4 =.