River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-06-05
How a Clever Spy Was Captured
in the Enemy's Camp.

there ran from the capital, Nashville,
an admirable system of turnpike roads
In the vernacular. they were known as
the pixies" Over them rolled heavy
cotton wagons in times of peace, but
while the war lasted they were the com
modious and direct thOroughfares for the
moving of army wagons, artillery AID
marching troops. They were duly
guarded and kept open by Union forces.
These fortified camps were connected
with each other by telegraphic wires,
and as closely connected also by daily
patrol of cavalry. 1t was on a dull,
drizzly morning in the last days of April.
1868, that sergeant of the picket guard
came up the rise of ground toward the
headquarters of the Franklin Division
of the army, followed by a youthful
officer in infantry uniform mounted on
big bay horse. Evidently the officer
had been met on the picket line, and the
ser seant doubling the validity of his
pass, was taking him to the command
ing officers tent for further orders.
Hating there the sergeant said to the
orderly pacing before it: Tell the Gen
eral | would like to speak to him.
The orderly stepped TO the flap of the
tent and said in singsong tone:
General, the sergeant of the gua-a-rd
is 10 the fore, and wishes to spake wild
yez''
a hearty laugh was heard inside, and
then the red, full face of the command
ant came into view at the tent door.
The orderly stepped back and Shout
dered his musket, touched it in salute
and resumed his beat. The sergeant
saluted, came to attention and said:
This officer came up the 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 the same time with a smile:
Il am glad. General, to find your men
On the 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.
/ must certainly report you IA wide
awake at Franklin"
The General glanced at the pass and
then said:
"Ah, see, you are Major White. !
am glad to know you. Mike, call up
Whipple to take Major Whites horse.
Come in, come in, Majorl"
That's splendid horse, too, for a
dough-boy officer to ride" said Mike, as
he seized the bride. Mike was queer
character, selected by the General for
his rich brogue and his odd conceits, to
act as orderly at his tent-door. The
General only smiled as he preceded
Major White into the tent Soon sounds
of merriment arose in proof that the
commandment and his staff were making
Major Whites acquaintance, and were
finding him an agreeable companion.
In an hour or two the party emerged
equipped with overcoats and pouches to
make the rounds of the fortified camp
at Franklin.
What do you wish to see irst?'
asked the General.
WELL" said the Major, easily, ''let us
look at the works. ] perceive already
that you have made this quite a strong
point"
YES said the General, Il have
West Point engineer with the Sixteenth
Regular Infantry and he has laid out
series of defenses which would please
Tristram Shandy's Uncle Toby"
Il see," said the Major, and most of
the escarpments are open and smooth
enough to be charged by cavalry, let
alone infantry. What is your meaning
in that?"
The General laughed in a self-satisfed
manner, and said: Il would like to see
Forrest and all his ragamuffins charge
them once. Do you see those returns
ION the right and left there? Well, we
have six twelve-pounders in embrasures
to rake this whole escarpment"
so. so!'' said the Major, taking his
notebook, making a diagram of the
situation; that is excellent The
General will much admire it, ] am
sure"
The commandant was pleased, and
said: "You see the crest of the ridge
yonder?"
Certainly" said Major White.
''And do you see from here any indi-
cation OF heavy ordnance there?'
mot the least"
And yet" said the commandant,
proudly. II have two thirty-two-pound-
ers and a sixty-pound Parrot gun in
barbette up there"
Major White was as5Ouisbed, and
hastily made more notes on his dia-
gram. Then he said: Il trust you have
your magazine concealed SO that the
enemy can not throw shell into it and
blow il up"
Right you are" was the reply.
Our magazine is in the hillside down
there by the railroad station. They
could never lind it, or send a snot into
it,"
you are certainly in splendid shape
for an attack said the Major How
many men are fit for duty?"
Fifteen thousand, and a reinforce
ment of brigade are on their way here
now from Nashville"
Indeed" exclaimed the inspector
''and a brigade on their way here now.
Why, you are wide-awake."
Il need to be. you See" said the Cen
oral DO you hear that firing on the
picket line, and there comes Colonel
Brownlow now"
Colonel BrownIow rode up the slope
on sweating horse. On his head was
a Tapping gray slouched hat. He wore
no other uniform than the blue blouse
of the private soldier. and slung at his
back as he rode. carbine. 1e saluted
the group and said: s1t looks to me,
General, as if there was going TO be
trouble. We have stirred up a big
hornets nest over there On the pike, and
think there is infantry back of the
skirmish line. You might send out a
light piece of artillery and see what il
is. It looks to me like an attack"
Thank you, Colonel. Now. Major if
you have inspected the works sufficiently
TO report to General Rosecrans, We viii
20 down TO dinnerr'
'sIh.t suits me, sir. / see nothing
more to inspect But ii occars TO me to