Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-02-06
DURING THE WAR.
Heroism OF Two Spies, One OF
Whom Dies in the Service.

Ten days before Rosecrans moved from
Nashville TO attack Bragg at Murfrees-
borO, ne knew the Confederate strength to
a man and "a gun. On the other hand,
Bragg was receiving hourly information
from a hundred different sources, and his
estimate of the Federal strength was found
To be only one hundred and fifty-two out of
the way.
1t was required of me to enter Murfrees-
boro and remain for couple OF weeks to
get the headquarters gossip. Such point
ers as picked up were to be forwarded to
a certain spot on the Nashville pike by
young man who accompanied me to act as
messenger His name was Charles Jack
son, and he was private In an Ohio regi-
ment. 1t was arranged that L should hail
from Louisville and he from Lexington,
and for two days before leaving Nashville
we were busy posting up on the streets,
prominent people, public buildings, etc, of
the cities named. 1t was an easy matter to
get into the town, but it cost Uncle Sam
considerable cash in advance. 1 was fur
nished with twenty-five revolvers as proof
that was the agent of firearms house in
Louisville, and jackson got in with three
fine horses to sell for Lexington specu-
lator.
tered upon the dangers of an expedition
the perils seem to lessen. 1 took up my
quarters at hotel, and made no attempt
10 avoid any one. Jackson put his horses
into the hotel stables, but took up his own
quarters at a private clearinghouse.
There was much confusion and excitement,
and no one seemed TO give US any attention.
Tn the first day of my arrival sold re-
volver TO an infantry Captain named
Williams, and ne informed me that he
would return next day with couple OF his
friends. l was in no hurry TO sell out my
stock, as l calculated on stay Of ten days
at the least, and l made no advances to
the many officers coming and going l
kept my eyes and ears open for pointers,
and something worth saving was picked up
every hour. jackson put such high
price on his horses that he found no takers
on the first day, but on the second sold one.
On the second day, about mid-afternoon,
n singular adventure occurred. l sat talk
ing with a lieutenant of cavalry, who
was anxious for me TO get him a saber of
particular style, when saw q civilian enter
the bar-room and look furtively around.
Intuition told me that his business was with
me and that his presence was a menace.
Bragg knew that his camp was overrun
with spies, and he had appointed number
of picked men to move about and spot every
suspicious character. They had written
authority 10 interrogate and make arrests.
and their hunt was so vigorous that several
II our men were speedily driven out. There
v ere other civilians about the hotel, but
OWNED that this man had come to inter-
view me, and he had no sooner located me
in the corner where sat, than l rose and
went over TO him and said:
al was expecting you, and am willing to
give you all possible information. Have a
cigar and SIT down. Here is my card, and
in my room up stairs have a consignment
of revolvers. Please excuse me, Lleuten-
ant, and if you will call again I'll give you
a decided answer"
IL had had an ordinary man to deal with
that speech would have knocked him out at
once, but the chap before me, as after
ward learned, had been "A detective in New
Orleans for several years, and was as cum
ming as a fox. Tie had a stern, unreliable
face, and as glanced at his compressed lips
and set jaw, felt that he would show me
no mercy.
"Why were you expecting met" he
presently asked, not lighting the cigar
had handed him.
because / was told by army officers yes
terday that all civilians had to be identified,
and that any remaining after today must
have a permit from headquarters"
And low did you know had come for
the purposep
"why, didn't you signal me that you de-
sired to speak TO met"
"No, sir"
"You didn'tl Then l beg your pardon,
sir. You are probably contractor or agent,
like myself, and l am sorry for the mistake
Please accent my apologies"
$50 you are from Louisville?" he queried,
lighting the cigar and seeming somewhat
Modified.
YES, SIR"
"How long have you lived there"
lover five years"
''Then you must know many OF the bust
ness menu
" All Of them, sir"
He smoked away for couple Of minutes,
and | knew he was setting a trap for me.
While he kept silence l ratified away about
the growth OF tho city and the improve
ments made and contemplated, but he was
not TO be turned from his purpose
ais Colonel - able to be out YETI" hs
finally asked, In very careless way
II saw him ON the street week ago"
s'Sure Of thatl
"Of course am"
"Colonel r.. q. -, mean.n
Certainly, the steamboat man"
And YOU saw him on the street week
agap
~ I'D, sir, and. more than that, intro
dneed him 20 Cincinnati gentleman"
1I,ook here, friend" he said, as he
tapped me on the arm, Colonel - was
KILLED by a locomotive at the depot in Louis
vile six months agop'
Had he trapped met Al that moment the
cavalry Captain TO whom had sold the re-
volver on the previous day entered with his
friend Luckily for me, the Captain was
very mellow and very good-natured BE
came directly up TO me and gave me both
his hands, and exclaimed:
"My dear, dear, old fellah, but how do
you dC"
nv interrogation.
"Know hinil Bless your old soul, but
I'VE known him for twenty years, and he's
the best fellow in the world Why, I've
shared his bed in Louisville fifty timesr
Say, Captain, is Colonel -, Of Louis
vile, deadY' j asked.
"Deadi Neverl I saw him two weeks
agoP
Tbe detective looked puzzled and an
moved. 1 could see that he was not salts
fed. and yet had beaten him at his own
came. He soon took his departure, telling
me that / was right in believing him to be
a contractor, and l saw no mvre of him.
Hung on to my stock of revolvers as long
as possible, but at the end of the seventh
dav the last one was gone. Then had to be
locking for a second CONSIGNMENT and