The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-24
A THRILLING ADVENTURE IN THE
CONFEDERATE CAMP

for Atlanta without knowing all ABOUT
the route and its obstruction. His spies
and scouts passed over almost every mile
of the distance, and made full and accur-
ate reports. was one of the last sent
out and the last to return, and | had
close shave of it. Information was re-
quired which obliged me to enter the
confederate lines and see with my own
eyes; and as two or three of our spies
had been captured and hung, and the
confederates were on the qui riUe to pre-
vent others from penetrating their lines,
l needed something more than disguise.
After canvassing the matter for awhile,
adopted the suggestion of regimental
surgeon to play the role of dummy"
was to be deaf and dumb, and carry
pencil and paper, and do my talking in
that way. He coached me for two or
three days before the start, and when l
was ready to go had mastered the stu
alton. The surgeon had been assistant
superintendent in a deaf and dumb
asylum for several years, and he was
peculiarly fitted to teach me my steps.
You may reply that any one can play
deaf and dumb and deceive people.
Yes, any one can up to a certain point.
was to go beyond that point. If it
were discovered that were not what l
claimed to be, my life would pay the for
felt. was provided with bundle OF
stationery, some tobacco, lot OF relg-
ious tracts, articles of cheap goods, and
a few specialties, and l left the federal
outposts one dark and rainy evening in
good spirits. Obstructing Sherman S
advance was the mountain barrier called
Rocky Face Ridge. The main gap
through which the railroad and highway
ran, and still runs, is called BuzZard' $
Roost Gap. Our scouts and spies had
reported this gap so strongly fortified
that Sherman felt he could not force it.
Further south is Snake Creek Gap. One
of my objects was to ascertain how this
gap was defended.
was well within the confederate
lines before midnight, and at about that
hour l found shelter in barn, and SLEPT
until two hours after daylight. When
turned out no one was in sight, and
had walked fully two miles along the
highway before | met any one. Then
encountered party of about 30 cavalry
men going to the front. Twas in citizens
clothes, had pack on my back, and, Of
course, expected to be stopped. The
troop was commanded by lieutenant
and as he came up he ordered halt ant
queried of me:
"Who are you, and where are you go
ing?'
Here was the first test The men haC
gathered around me, and everyone hat
his eye upon me. 1t was compliment
to me that one of the men called out be
fore l had made sign:
DOG gone him, he's dummy! He'i
got a face like a washboardn'
l wrote on my tablet: what do yol
want?' and the lieutenant wrote in re
ply: "Who are you, and where are you
going?'
gave my name as George Smith, anC
stated that | was Confederate peddler
/ opened my bundle, presented him will
some tobacco, and several of the mel
made purchases. The officer asked fo
my pass, and l told him that twas takei
from me three days before by some Yam
kee raiders who had captured me ant
turned me loose again.
''Well, they'll overhaul him back there
anywhere" he said to his sergeant, ant
waving his hand to me, he gave me tn
order to pass on. was in forit now ant
must push ahead. | could see an en-
campment down the road, and any at
tempt to flank it would create suspicion
1t was well that went ahead, for one o
the cavalrymen followed me clear bacl
to the sentinel on the outskirts of tn
camp. He walked his horse directly be
hind me, and so close that the animal
nose almost touched my back, but he di'
not catch me off my guard.
When the sentinel stopped me | handle,
him my name and occupation, and in
few minutes was in the presence of tn
officer of the guard.
While he asked for my pass he did no
seem suspicious. l was escorted to tn
quarters of the officer of the day, an
here came test, made so carelessly tina
if l had not had all my wits about me
should have been lost. As we reaches
the quarters the escort said:
Here is a deaf and dumb man VIII
has no pass. CAPTAIN Harsher ordere
him here from the guard tent"
''All right" replied the officer, VIII
was not even looking at us; and then, a
the escort started off he half turned t
me and said;
'Stand aside for few minutes and
will attend to your case"
His tone was so careless and his orde
so natural that l caught my muscle
moving to obey. Had picked up foe
| should have given myself away. AS
did not move, he presently turned to mi
seemed surprised that l was there, an
began to inquire about me. | gave hiI
The details, and while we were passin
the tablet back and forth captain cam
up. The officer of the day said to him
1--WE have captured dummy. Might
queer that he should take to peddlin
among the soldiers, but they are quet
lot. He says he had a pass from Poll
but that the Yanks gobbled it when the
captured him the other day. Do 70
see that blood spot on his left cuff?"
was looking the officer full in the fac
as he spoke. | felt that he would tt
some trick, but he did it so neatly tia
he almost caught me. winked, but
did not drop my eyes.
"YOu must have taken him for an in
postOr," laughed the captain.
''We can't be too caution" was the n
ply, and he took the tablet and wrot
that | might circulate about camp unit
guard-momt, and then report to the ne
officer of the day.
l got some breakfast, sold out abor
half my goods, and when reported an
asked that might pass on no obiectio
was made. l found troops everywheI
now, and being so far within the line
no one questioned my right to be there
underwent but one more test befOI
reaching the gap, and that was prepare
for.
The soldiers accepted me for what
claimed to be, and while my cOnditio
excited the sympathies of some, other
were inclined to ridicule and joke. Will
knelt in group joker held pistC
close to my ear and fired it off. | hear
the click of the hammer and was there
fore prepared for the report.
/ found the gap covered by wea
body, with no defences to speak of. an
got through them without trouble
though my goods were now all gone, an
l had to claim that was on my way t
Dalton for a new stock. was arreste
after entering the gap, and the arres
came about through corporal in bal
terry of artillery, who at first cOntende,
that he recognized me as a deserte
named William Ridges. 1t appeare
that l closely resembled Ridges in bull
and look, but as soon as the corporal ha
close look at me he acknowledged hi
mistake. This occurred Just before dark
and the captain of the battery, who wa
in command, sent me to General Wayne
in command of some Georgia Stat
troops. | was not suspected of being
Federal spy, but having been arrested Of
charge, and being found without pass
it was quite proper to make further in
vestigation.
There were several officers in the gen
erals tent when | was taken in and re
ported on, and the facts in my case ha'
no sooner been announced than one o
them, who was a surgeon in Hood
command held a whispered consultation
with the general, and | suspected plo
TO test me. My suspicious were sool
proved correct The escort had retire.
trance, inside, of course, but just wher
was in the way of anyone coming o