The Jamesburg record., 1889-09-21

officer OF the udy.
1 got some breakfast, sold out about
half my goods, and when l reported and
asked that / might pass OH, no objection
was made.
found troops everywhere now, and
being so far within the lines no one ques-
toned my right to be there. l under
went but one more test before reaching
the gap. and that | was prepared for.
The soldiers accepted me for what
claimed to be, and while my condition
excited the sympathies of some, others
were inclined to ridicule and joke. While
knelt in group joker held pistol
close to my ear and fiied it off. heard
the click of the hammer and was there
fore prepared for the report. / found the
gap covered by weak body, with no de-
lenses to speak of, and got through them
without trouble, though my goods were
all gone, and / had claimed that was on
my way to Dalton after a new stock. /
was arrested after entering the gap, and
the arrest came about through corporal
tendeded that he recognized me as deser-
ter named William Ridges. 1t appeared
that closely resembled Ridges in build
and look, but as soon as the corporal had
close look at me he acknowledged his
mistake. This occurred just before dark,
and the Captain of the battery, who was
in command, sent me to General Wayne,
in command of some Georgia State troops.
L was not suspected of being federal
spy, but having been arrested on charge
and being found without pass, it was
quite proper to make an investigation.
There were several officers in the
Generals tent when 1 was taken in and
reported on, and the facts in my case had
10 sooner been announced than one of
them, who was surgeon in Hoods COM
maDd, held whispered consultation with
the General. and suspected plot to test
me. My suspicious 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 coming or going.
The whispered consultation lasted about
five minutes, and then the General casual
ly remarked to me:
"Take seat and l will hear you."
The surgeon was looking me full in the
face, and had made the slightest move
he must have detected it.
'.Sit downi" commanded the General
in a louder voice
was 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 approach. 1 handed
him my tablet and pencil and he inquired
why l had not pass and where / wanted
to go. l explained about the pass as be-
fore, and told him wanted to go to Dal-
ton or Rome and secure more goods.
The General would have been quite salts
fled in five minutes, but the surgeon was
a keen reader of human nature, and he
was convinced that L was in disguise. 1
heard him whisper his suspicious to
others, and their lack of belief made him
all the more determined to expose me. /
had no fear of the rest, but realized that
it would take all my nerve and tact to
hold out against the surgeon. Some of
the tests he at once put me to may seem
trifies to the reader until he can put him.
self in the position l occupied. He rose
up suddenly, crossed over to me, and
slapping me on the shoulder he ex-
claimed
"Let me see your tongue ?''
/ had my teeth hard shut or my jaws
would have opened at the command.
Straighten upl'' was the next COM
mand. I was bumped over, and the
words went through me like bullet. /
did not move, however
"Take your foot off that sash ~ shout
ed the surgeon, but looked from him to
the General and showed my wonder.
"Come, now, but you're beaten -
laughed one of the officers, and as the
other had some remarks to make the
surgeon was nettled. He looked at me
fixedly for long half minute, and then
said to his comrades :
a." won't give in yet, General. Please
hold on to him until we are certain of
him one way or other"
"Oh, 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
pretty straight story"
That is true; but l want to study
him little more. He claims to have
lost his pass. l want to ask him for
more details. What was the date ?''
He turned and put this question to me,
and had l not been looking ahead for it
or something of the kind, my mouth
would have got away with me. His fail
ure provoked another laugh, and l wrote
on the tablet,
''What does the officer say? Does .he
believe | am deserter 2"
He says you are deceiving u.s..
$ have it hard enough now, without
being looked upon with ridicule or sus-
picion," wrote, and the general nodded
his head to me and said to the surgeon I.
81 won't keep him longer than noon