Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-04
WHAT AN OVERSIGHT"
How a Clever Spy Was Captured
in the Enemy's Camp.

no" OloVeI 0py \" us OapCuT0O
In the Enemy's Camp.
The spring Of 1868 found the Western
army in this condition. The battle of
Stone River, successfully fought by Gem
eral Rosecrans, had driven tho Confed-
crate forces out OF Middle Tennessee
and had revealed a weakness Of the COM
missary and transportation arm OF the
Union army which must be remedied.
The Union cavalry was comparatively
inexperienced and had been unable to
cope with Forrest and Morgan, and, con-
sequently, the long lines OF army wag-
ons and slender lines Of railway had
been very often tho prey of tho fitting
wellmounted Southern centaurs. An
interval must now be used in strength
ening our cavalry and in rehabilitating
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 vernacular, they were known as
the ''pikes." Over them rolled heavy
cotton wagons in times of peace, but
while the war lasted they were tho COM
modious and direct thoroughfares for the
moving of army wagons, artillery and
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,
1858. that sergeant of the picket guard
came up the rise Of ground toward the
headquarters Of the Franklin Division
Of the army, followed by 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 sing-song tone:
General, the sergeant of the gua-a-rd
is to 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 1T An outpost near the rail-
road. He has pass and brought him
to headquarters"
Perfectly right, sergeant. Return
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 smile:
II 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.
I must certainly report you as wide
awake at Franklin"
The General glanced at the pass and
then said:
"Ah, see, you are Major White. I
am glad to know you. Mike, call up
:Whipple to take Major Whites horse.
Come in, come in, Major!'
''That's splendid horse, too, for
~dough-boy officer to ride," said Mike, as
he seized the bride. Mike was q 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 tho tent. Soon sounds
of merriment arose in proof that the
tcommandant and his staff were making
Major Whites acquaintance, and were
finding him an agreeable companion.
In an hour OF 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 flrst?"
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, Il have a
West Point engineer with the Sixteenth
Regular Infantry and he has laid out a
cries of defenses which would please
Tristram Shandy's Uncle Toby"
!. II see," said the Major, land most of
the escarpments are open and smooth
Ienough to be charged by cavalry, let
alone infantry. What is your meaning
IN that?''
/, The General laughed in self-satisfed
manner, and said: II would like to see
Forrest and all his ragamuff1ns charge
them once Do you see those returns
ION the right and left there? Well, we