Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-22

wrote in reply "Who are you,
and where are you going ?"
l gave my name as George
Smith, aud stated that l was a
Confederate peddler. opened my
bundle, presented him with some
tobacco, and several of the men
made purchases. The officer asked
for my pass, and | told him that it
was taken from me three days be-
fore by some Yankee raiders who
had captured me and turned me
loose again.
"Well, they'll overhaul him back
there, anyhow he said to his ser
geant, and waving his hand he
gave me the order 20 ride on. l
was IN for it now, and must push
ahead. could see an encamp-
ment down the road, and any at
tempt to flank It would create sus-
piclon. 1t was well that | went
ahead. for one of the cavalrymen
followed me clear back to the SEN
tinel on the outskirts of the camp.
He walked his horse directly be-
hind me, and so close that the AMI
mails nose almost touched my back,
but he did not catch me of my
guard. When the sentinel stopped
me | handed him my name and oc-
cupation. and in few minutes l
was in the presence of the officer
of the guard. While he asked for
my pass, he did not seem sus-
picious. | was escorted to the
quarters OF the officer of the day.
and here came a test, made SO
carelessly that if l had not all
my wits abo me l should have
been lost. AS we reached the
quarters the escort said
"Here is a deaf and dumb MAI
who has DO pass. Capt. Harshel
ordered him here from the guard
tent
GAIL right" replied the officer
who was not even looking at us
and then, as the escort started of
he turued to me and said
"S:and aside for few minutes
and | will attend to your case"
His tone was so careless and hl'
order so natural that l caught my
muscles moving to obey. Had
picked mp a foot l should have
gwen myself away. AS | did no
move, he presently turned to me
seemed surprised that was there
and began to inquire abOut me.
gave him the details, and while w
we're passing the tablet back anC
forth a captain came up. The Off
Ger o: the day said to him
awe have cap tured dummy. -
Mighty queer that he should tak'
to peddliLg among the soldiers, bu
they are queer lot. He says h'
had pass from Polk, but that th'
Yanks gobbled it when they cap
tured him the other day. Do yo'
see that blood spot on his LET
cuff 2"
was looking the officer full il
the face as be spoke. 1 felt tha
he would try some trick, but h'
did it so neatly that he almoS
caught me. | winked, but / di'
not drop my eyes.
"You must have taken him TO
an impOstOr," laughed the captain
{ awe can't be too cautious" wa
the reply, and he took the table
aud wrote that l might circulat
, about camp until guard mount ant
, then report to the new officer G
. the day.
} l got some breakfast, sold on
, about half my goods, and when
. reported and asked that | nigh
} pass on no objection was made.
3 found troops everywhere now, an
2 beng so far within the lines n
one questioned my right to b
! there. underwent bat oDe NOR
: test before reaching the gap, an
4 that | was prepared for. The so
diers accepted me for what | CLAIM
ed to be, and while my condltlo
D excited the sympathies of some
others we're inclined to ridicule an
f Joke. While | knelt in group
{ Joker held a pistol close to my ea
D and fired it of. heard the clio
of the hammer and was therefor
< prepared for the report. l foun
J. the gap covered By a weak bod,
Q with no defenses to speak of, and
4 got through them without troubl
}, though my goods we're now a
] gone, and I had to claim tn at l wi
j arrested after entering the gap,ar
s the arrest came about through
o corporal in a battery of artiller
/ who at first cOntended that
T recognized me as a deserter name
# William Ridges. 1t appeared tn
v closely resembled Ridges ia 0ul
and look, but as soon as the CO
= poraI had a close look at n
d he acknowled ged his mistake. Th
n occurred just before dark, and Il
g captain of the battery, who was
d com Dand, sent me to Gen. Wayn
d in command of some Georgia Sta
o troops. l was not suspected
- being a Federal spy, but haylI
If been arrested on a charge al
o being found without a pass, 1t W
8 quite proper to make a further
<, vestigatiOn.