The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-04-19
A DEAF AND DUMB SPY.


full and accurate reports. / was one
of the last sent out and the last to re.
turn, and had close shave of it. In
formation was required which obliged
me to enter the Confederate camps and
see with my own eyes, and as two or
three of our spies had been captured
and hung, and the Coniederates were
on the qui vive to prevent Others from
penetrating their lines, needed some
thing more than a disguise. After
canvassing the matter for awhile, /
adopted the suggestion of a regimen
tai surgeon to play the role Of "dum-
my" | was to be deaf and dumb, and
carry pencil and paper, and do my
talking that way. He coached me for
two or three days before the start, and
when | was ready to go l had master
ed the situation. The surgeon had
been assistant superintendent in a deaf
aud dumb asylum for several years,
and he was peculiarly fitted to teach
me my steps.
You may reply that any one can
''play deaf and dumb and deceive
people. Yes, any one can, up to GER
tain point. was to go beyond that
point. If it was discovered that | was
not what l claimed to be nv life would
pay the forfeit. l was provided with
bundle of stationery, some tobacco,
a lot of religious tracts, articles of
cheap goods aud few specialties, and
left the Federal outposts one dark
and rainy evening in good spirits. Oh.
structiug Sherman's advance was the
mountain barrier called Rocky Face
Ridge. The main gap through which
the railroad and highway ran and still
run, lis called Buzzard's Roost Gap
Our scouts and spies had reported this
gap so strongly fortified that Sberm
felt he could not force it, Further
south is Snake Greek Gap. One ot
my objects was to ascertain how this
gap was defended.
was we'll within the Confederate
lines before midnight, and at about tha
hour found shelter in barn, and slep
until two hours after daylight. When
turned out no one was in sight, and
had walked fully two miles along th'
highway before met any one. TheI
I encountered party of about thirty
cavalryman going to the front. | wa
in citizens clothes, had pack on IN,
back, and, of course, expected to b'
stopped The troop was commanded
by lieutenant, and as he came up h,
ordered a halt and queried of me:
"Who are you, and where are yo'
going7"
Here was the first test. The mel
had gathered around me, and ever.
one had his eye upon me. 1t was
compliment to me that one of the mel
called out before had made Sign:
'D'g gone him, he's dummy! He
got face like waShboard!'
| | wrote on my tablet: "What d.
| you want?" and the lieutenant wrot
in reply: "Who are you, and wher
are you goingF
| l gave my name az George Smith
and stated that was Confederat
peddler. l opened my bundle, present
ed him with some tobacco, aud seve
raj of the men made purchases. Th
officer asked for my pass, and | toll
him it was taken from me three day
before by some Yankee raiders VIII
had Captured me and turned me loos
again.
"Well, they'll overhaul him bac
there, anyhow he said TO his sergeant
aud, waving his hand to me, he CAV
me the order to ride on. was in fo
it now, and must push ahead. ooul
see an ,encampment down the road
and any attempt to flank 1t woul
create suspicion, 1t was we'll that
vent ahead, for one of the oavalryme
followed me clear back to the sentint
on the outskirts of the camp. Ii
walked hls horse directly behind me, s
close that the animals nose almo:
touched my back, but he did not cate
me off my guard. When the sentin'
stopped me handed him my nam
and occupation, and in few minute
| WIS ia the presence of the officer c
he guard. While he asked me for m
pass, he did not seem suspicious.
was escorted to the quarters of the o
fcer of the day, and here came a tes
made so carelessly thai if | had nc
had all my wits about ms lshould hav
been lost. As we reached the quarter
he escort sald;
"Here is a deaf and dumb man WI
has no pass. Capt. Harsher ordere
him here from the guard tent"
"All right replied the officer, WI
was not even looking at Us; and thel
as the escort started off he half turne
to me and said;
"S'aud aside for few minutes an
| will attend TO your case"
His tone was SO careless an his O
der so natural that caught my mu
cles moving to obey. Had | picke
up a foot | should have give
myself away. AS did not move, |
presently turned to me, seemed surpri
ed that ! was there, and began to i
quire about me. | gave him the d
tails, and while we were passing ii
tablet back a d forth a captain can
ur. The officer of the day said
Tim:
"We have captured a dunn
Mighty queer that he should take
peddiing among tie soldiers, but thu
are a queer lot, He says he had
pass from Polk, but that the Yam
gobbed it when they captured hi
the other day. Do You see that hlo
spot on his left cuff"
was looking the officer full in Il
face as he spoke. felt that he wou
try some trick, but he did it 80 neat
that he almost caught me. l winkt
but did not drop my eyes.
"You must have taken him for
impostor," laughed the captain.
"We can't be too CAUTIOUS was /
reply, and he took the tablet a
- wrote that ! might circulate abe
the camp until guard mount and II
report to the new officer of the day.
l got some breakfast, sold out alb
half my goods, and when | repor
and asked that might pass on no
lection was made. | found ,ro
tauanuphara NON an1 ha;Do. SO