Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-18


because of the promotion it gave me-"
"Tell us about it, Major" said I;
"these stories will pass away the
time"
"All right; here goes" and the A.
"A. G.. continued as follows:
We had made rapid advance from
iHalltown Heights, just outside Of
Harper's Ferry, and after running
fight covering several days, we went
quietly into camp in the deserted
meadows at the foot Of Cedar Noun
tain, where Sheridan afterward made
his famous ride.
The cavalry had done most of the
iskirmishing during our advance, the
,Confederates offering very little op-
position beyond the occasional firing
of q field-piece, or sudden furry
among the pickets, in order to gain
time and give their trains chance to
put safer distance between them and
our main column.
General Custer commanded at that
time what was known as the Iron Brig
ade, composed mostly of Michigan
regiments. He had gone on as far as
Front Royal, up in the mountains
somewhere, and enjoyed sharp brush
with the Confederate cavalry, which
happened to be in tolerably strong
force in that neighborhood. On their
return the brigade passed through a
+ little bit of village called Painted
Post, not far from Cedar Greek. While
the command was tramping through
the dust that lay hoof-deep in the road,
one of Clusters officers captured tall,
tine-looking man in one of the houses,
and they brought him on to camp.
had ridden over that evening to see
George, my old chum at West Point,
and was sitting with him and his staff,
round the campfire, after supper, Just
as we are doing now. when I noticed
that he was distracted and thoughtful.
"What's the matter?" said I. "You
seem sad"
II have good reason to be, my dear
fellow. Yet see no other course open
to me-" he added, as he kicked small
log into the fire.
"What do you mean? Is it another
move or army secret I should not
know Z" asked.
"Oh, there's no secret at all" replied
Custer. "You know that man was
captured in the village down the
Iroad?"
"Yes; what Of him?'"
"Only that my Adiutant General
has recognized him as one of the Con-
federate guards who escorted him and
the rest Of our men taken prisoners at
the fight we had at Brandy, last sum-
mer, near Beverly Ford. He has gone
with two other officers who were cap
tured at the same time to see him
again"
"You think the man was there as q
spy, then?"
"That's just it," exclaimed Custer,
rising to his feet, "and if he is spy,
by his looks and demeanor he is o dan
gerous one. We are surrounded by
spies in this Valley"
At that moment the three officers
came up to make their report.
"Well, gentlemen" said the Gener-
al, shave you seen the prisoner, and
what do you think of him?"
"They both recognized him at once
as one of our old guards" answered
the Adjutant General; "and they we're
given no hint from me, as you ex-
pressly desired"
ais this so?" queried Custer, in
anxious tone, and as he spoke he
gazed intently into the face Of the two
officers.
II would know him among fifty, !"
said the latter of the two, big, broad
shouldered, gentlemanly man, whose
rusty shoulder-straps showed his rank
to be that Of Lieutenant Colonel.
$50 would T." remarked the other ;
shat blue powder-mark on his chin
recalled him to my mind at the first
glance.