Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-05-04

did not drop my eyes.
@You must have taken him for an inn
postor,a laughed the Captain.
I'VE can't be too cautious" was the
reply, and he took the tablet and wrote
that might circulate about camp until
guard mount and then report to the
new officer of the day
I got some breakfast, sold out about
half my goods, and when reported and
asked that might pass on no objection
was made. / found troops everywhere
now, and being SO far within the lines
no one questioned my right to be there
I underwent but one more test before
reaching the gap, and that I was pre-
pared for. The soldiers accepted me
for what l claimed to be, and while my
condition excited the sympathies Of
some, others were incline to ridicule and
joke. While I knelt in group joker
held pistol close to my ear and fred it
off. I heard the click Of the hammer
and was therefore prepared for the re-
report. found the gap covered by q
weak body, with no defences to speak
of, and I got through them without
trouble, though my goods were now all
gone, and had to claim that was on
my way to Dalton after new stock. 1
was arrested after entering the gap, and
the arrest came about through cor
poral in battery of artillery, who at
first commended that he recognized me
as deserter named William Ridges.
It appeared that I closely resembled
Ridges in build and look, but as soon as
the corporal had close look at me he
acknowledged his mistake. This oc-
Cured 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. I was not
suspected Of being Federal spy, but
having been arrested on charge, and
being found without pass, it was quite
proper to make further investigation.
There were several officers in the
Generals tent when was taken in and
reported on, and the facts in my case
had no sooner been announced than one
of them, who was surgeon in Hoods
command, held a whispered consulta-
ton with the General, and suspected
a plot to test me. My suspicion were
soon proved correct. The escort had
retired and left me standing in front of
the entrance, inside, of course, but just
where was in the way of any one COM
ing or going. The whispered consulta-
ton lasted about five minutes, and then
the General casually remarked to me:
"Take seat and will hear you"
The surgeon was looking me full in
the face, and had I made the slightest
move he must have detected it.
"Sit down." commanded the General
in louder voice. ....
Il was looking at his sword hanging
on the tent-pole, and I did not turn my
eyes until he wheeled around in his
chair and beckoned to me to approach.
I handed him my tablet and pencil and
bel inquired why I had not pass and
where wanted to go. explained
about the pass as before, and told him
I wanted to go to Dalton or Rome and
secure more goods. The General would
have been quite satisfied in five min
utes, but the surgeon was keen reader
of human nature, and he was convinced
that I was in disguise. heard him
whisper his suspicious to others, and
their lack of belief made him all the
more determined to expose me. I had
no fear of any of the rest, but I realized
that it would take all my nerve and
tack to hold out against the surgeon.
Some of the tests he at once put me to
may seem trifes to the reader until he
can put himselfin the position I occupied.
He rose up suddenly, crossed over to
me, and slapping me on the shoulder
he exclaimed:
"Tet me see your tongue!"
Il had my teeth hard shut or my jaws
would have opened at the command.
"Straighten up!" was the next COM
mand. I was bumped over, and the
words went through me like bullet.
I did not move, however.
Take your foot off the sashw shouted
the surgeon, but looked from him to
the General and showed my wonder.
Come, now, but your beaten!"
laughed one of the officers, and as the
others had some remark to make the
surgeon was nettled. He looked at me
fixedly for a long half minute, and then
he said to his comrades:
II won't give in yet, General. Please
hold onto him until we are certain of
him one way or the other"
ooh, certainly; but think you have
made mistake this time. A deaf and
dumb person always has an expression
not to be counterfeited. He has told a
pretty straight story"
"That is true; but / want to study
him little more. He claims to have
lost his pass. I want to ask him for
more details. What was the date?
He turned and put his question to
me, and had l not been looking ahead
for something of the kind, my mouth
would have got away with me. His
failure provoked another laugh, and I
wrote on the tablet:
what does the officer say? Does he
believe am deserter?"
HE says you are; deceiving u.s."
81 have it hard enough now, without
being looked upon with ridicule and
suspicion" I wrote, and the. General
nodded his head to me and said to the
surgeon:
II won't keep him longer than noon
tomorrow. The poor cuss has hard
roe to hoe, and I don't want to discour-
age him"
The guard was called, and I was re-
moved to the guard house, which was a
log structure and quite comfortable. 1t
held a prisoner, and I had no doubt
that he had been placed there fora pur-
pose. As soon as the door was shut be-
hind me, he came forward and took my
hand and said: