Telegram-herald., 1890-06-06
WHAT An OVERSIGHT
How a Clevsr Spy Was CAPTURED
IN the Ene@y's Cam

er2l kosScr1n>, had driven the Confed-
eFsts forces out of Mi1dlo tennessee
an8 lad revealed weakness OF the con
raissary and transportation ara O. the
Union army which mast Be remediea.
The Union cavalry was eonparatively
inexperieaced ard hs6 been unable 70
cops With Forrest and Mosgan. and, con-
sequeatiy, tho long lines % army wag-
ons and slender lines OF railway had
been very often the prey 0f the fitting
well-mounsed southern eeataurs. An
interval must now be used IN strength
ening our cavalry aad IN rehabiAtating
our crushed wagon trains
Radiating like the spokeS OF a wheel,
there ran from the capital, Nashville,
an admirable system OF turnpike roads.
In the yernaeglAr, they wess known as
the pixies" Over them rolled heavy
cotton wagons IN times OF peace, bat
while the war lasted they were the com
modious ard direct thoroughfsres FOR the
moving OF army wagons artillery aud
marching troops They wero duly
guarded and kept open by Union forces.
These fortified camps were connected
with each other by telegrsphic wires,
and as closely connected also by = daily
patrol OF cavalry. IL was or = dull.
dfizzly morning in the last days OF April,
1898, that u sergeant OF tho picket guard
came up the rise OF ground toward the
Headquarters % the Franklin Division
OF the army, followed by youthful
oRce- in infantry uniform mounted on
a b: bay horse. Evidently the officer
had been met OF tho picket line, and the
ser Ieant doubling tho validity OF his
pass, was taking him 70 the command
ing oficers ten: for farther orders.
Hating there the sergeant said to the
orderly pacing before it: Tell the Gen
eral would like 10 speak TO him"
The orderly stepped 10 tho flap OF the
tent and said in $ sing-song tone:
''Gineral, the sergeant Of the gua-s-rd
is to the fore. and wishes to spake wild
yez"
\ hearty laugh was heard inside. and
then the red, full faco of the command
ant came into view ct tho tent door.
The orderly stepped back and shoul-
dered his nuskct, touched it in salute
and resumed his beat The sergeant
saluted, came TO attention and said:
This officer came up tho pike and
was halted at an outpost near the rail
road. He has pass and brought him
to headquarters"
Perfectly right, sergeant Return
to your post; will attend to this" said
the General.
BY this time the young officer had
alighted, stood at attention, saluted and
then offered his pass to the General,
saying at tho same time with a smile:
81 am glad, General, TO find your men
on tho alert General Rosecrans has
sent me out on an inspection tour, and
he desired me in particular to note the
discipline and condition of the guards.
I must certainly report you as wide
awake at Franklin"
The General glanced at the pass and
then said:
"Ah, sec, YOU are Major White.
am glad to know you Mike, call up
Whipple to take Major Whites horse
Come in, como IN. Major!"
That's q splendid horse, too. for a
dough-boy officer 10 ride" said Mike, as
he seized the bridlo Mike was queer
character, selected by the General for
his rich broguo and his odd conceits, TO
act as orderly at his tcnt-door. The
General only smiled as he preceded
Major White into the tont Soon sounds
of merriment arose in proof that tho
commandant and his staff were making
Major Whites acquaintance, and were
finding him an agreeable companion.
In an hour or two tho party emerged
equipped with overcoats and pouches 70
make tho rounds of the fortified camp
at Franklin.
What do you wish TO see frst?"
asked the General.
Well, said the Major, easily, '1et US
look at the works. l perceive already
that you have made this quite strong
point"
Yes" said the General, II have a
West Point engineer with the Sixteenth
Regular Infantry and 30 has laid out =
oorics Of dofenses which would please
TTistram Shandy's Uncle Toby
Il Sec" said tho Major. ''and most Of
the escarpments are open and smooth
enough 70 bo charged By cavalry. let
alono infantry. What is your meaning
in that?'
The General laughed in . seli.satis9ed
manner. and said: 81 would like 70 see
Forrest AID al tis ragamurins charge
them once. Do you see those returns
en- the right and let there7 Well. we
havc six twelve Founders In embrasures
% rake this whole escaTpment"
go. sor' said the Msio-. taking his
notebook. making diagram of the
situation; that il excellent The
General will much admire T. I an
sure"
The counandant was pleased. Aud
said. You see tbe crest Of The ridge
yonder7~
'-Certsinl1." said Nz.o- VhitA
ard 10 7ou sec from here any iadi-
cation q heavy ordnance thsre?T
Not he Least
And YET said Re cou-andant,
prouilT. Z bsvs two = thirt7-.7vo-poun5-
srs and = sixty Pouai Parrot ran il
bs-bette up here
Mao v hite wss astonfshed. snd
hastily made n1o-a -otss On bis ds-
Frau Then he Sad. 7 trust ~-1 have
your uiszazias concealed 50 tAat fhs
enenT ar not throw 3 sheu into IL al
blow 3 ap.
hiTr1 T01 - vas the 7srT
~O1r Magazine is IN re hfusise d5~1
thsrs ~ tae rs5iresd s.sao1. TbsT
could never 1nd - ~ send a s5ot ito