Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-02-06

/ THRILLING ADV fNIt RI IN IHt CtNfkD
EEATE CAMPS
Sherman did not leave Chattanooga 10
| Atlanta without knowing all about th'
| route and its Instructions. His spies aut
scouts passed over almost every mIe 81
! the distance. and made full and accurate
| reports. | was one of the last sent out
and the last to return, and | had clo>t
shave OF 1t
Information was required which obliget
me 10 enter the Confederate camps and see
with my own ewes; and ~ two or three oi
our spies had been captured and hung, anc
the Corfedcrates wer" alert to prevent
others from penetrating their lines. need
ed something more than disguise. After
cauya>>ipg the matter for aw hile. | adopt.
ed the suggestion Of a regimentsl surgeon
u pay the role Of dummy" | WAS n
be deaf and dumb, and carry pencil and
paper, and do my talking that way. He
coached me for two or three DAYS before
the start and when was ready 10 go |
had mastered the situation. The surgeon
had been assistant superintendent In a
deaf aud mute asylum for several years.
and he vas peculiarly fitted 10 teach me
my steps.
You may reply that any one can play
Ncal ana Nuullt anu deceive people. les.
any one can. up Ia a certain point. If it
were discovered that | Was not what |
claimed to be- mv life would pay the for
felt was provided with bundle Of sta
tionery. some tobacco lnt of religious
tracts. articles Of cheap goods, and few
,peciallics, and left the federal outpost>
one dark and rainy evening in good spir-
its Ob-trucling Shcrmsn- adSanc was
the mountain barrier called Rocky Face
Ridge. The main gap through which the
railroad and highway ran and still run, j.
called Buzzard> Roost Gap Cur scouts
aud spies had reported this gap 50 strong
Is fortified that sherman felt he could not
force il Further south is Snake Greek
Gap One of my objects was To ascertain
how this zap was defended.
Wa We'll within the Confederate lines
befor. midnight, ard about that hour |
found shelter in barn, and slept until two
49, 80. i--t:-'-s- NN-i's" tu' "'" "rA
no one WAS in ht and had walked iui
" two miles along the highway before |
met any one. Then encountered rarty
~ about 80 cayalrymcn going 10 the front
i Wa in citizens clothes, had a pack on
N, back and Of course, expected 10 hc
stopped The troop was command 'd by a
lieutenant and a. he came up he o.dered a
who are you. and where sIe you go
ing"
Here was the first test. The men had
gathered around me, and everyone had hi~
eve upon me II wa> a compliment 10 IN"
thar one OF the men called out D~fore had
made sign:
Dog gone him, he's dummy He 5
got a face like a washhoard
wrote on III. tablet: Nv hat do you
WANT" and the lieutenant wrote IN reply
Who are you. and where are you gong
gave nv name a. George Smith, and
stated that VA. a Confederate p"ddler
opened my bundle, presented him with
some tobacco, and several of the mei
made purchases. The officer asked me for
my pass, and told him that il WAS taken
from me three day, before by some fau'
kee raiders VINO had captured me and turn
ed me loose again.
We'll. they'll overhaul him back there
ANYHOW =" he said 10 his sergeant, and wav'
ing his hand to me, he gave me the order
to pass on. | was in for it now. and mus
push ahead | could see an encampmen'
down the road. and ahy attempt 70 flank il
would create suspicion. IL was well thai
| went ahead. for one Of the cavalrymeI
followed me clear back to the sentinel oil
the outskirts Of the camp. He walked his
horse directly behind me, and so close
that the animals nose almost toucheo
nv back. but he did not catch me of my
guard.
When the sentinel stopped NE handtC
him nv name and occupation. and in few
minutes was in the presence of the OFF
Ger of the guard
While he asked for my pass, he did no
seem suspicious. was escorted to thu
quarters Of the officer of the day. and here
came a test made so carelessly That If
had not had all my wits about me shoull
have been lost. As we reached the quarters
the escort SAID
Here is deaf and dumb man who ha
no pass. Captain Har>her ordered hin
here from the guard tent"
IAN right" replied the officer, who wa
not even looking at US; and then as TIL
escort started off he half turned to me an'
said;
"Stand aside for few minutes and
will attend to your case"
His tone was SO careless that | Caugh
nv muscles moving to obey. Had pick
ed I'D a foot | should have given mysel
awav As did not move, he present.
turned to me, seemed surprised that | wa
there, and began to inquire about me.
gave him the details. and while we wer
passing the tablet back and forth car
tain came up. The officer of the day sal
to him;
We have captured dummy. Might
queer he should take TO peddling anon
the soldiers, but they are queer lot, II
saws he had a pass from Polk, but that tl
Yanks gobbled it when they captured hil
the other day Do you see that blood spC
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 that b
almost caught me. winked. but did Nc
drop my eyes.
You must have taken him for an impo
tor laughed the captain.
I'VE can't be too cautious was the r.
ply. and he took the tablet and wrote tn;
/ might circulate about camp until guart
mount, and then report to the new offict
OF the day.
got some breakfast sold out abot
half of my goods. and when | reporte
and asked that might pass on no obje'
tion was made / found troops ever,
where now, and being so far within IL
lines no one questioned my right to
there. | underwent but one more test b.
fore reaching the gap, and that was pr
pared for.
The soldiers accepted me for what
claimed to be, and while my condition e.
cited the sympathies of some, Others wei
inclined TO ridicule and joke. While
knelt 10 group joker held pistol clos
to my ear and fired it of l heard tf
click of the hammer and was therefor
prepared for the report. found the ga
covered by a weak body. with no defence
to speak Of, and got through. My good
were now all gone, and had to claim thu
| was on my way to Dalton after ne
stock.
was arrested after entering the gal
and ,be arrest came about through co