Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-11-26


s.wHAR's YOU UNS GWINE?'
had every reason to believe that my
nerves were proof against shock, but
when I heard the Confederate officer
calling my companion Bell by name
felt for the instant more alarmed than
had ever been before or have ever been
since, and if I had had to respond | am
very sure my voice and manner would
have betrayed me.
Up to this time our greatest trouble
was to avoid the search parties who
were securing the country for Confeder-
ate deserters and horse thieves, but here
we were in the enemy's camp, disguised
in his uniform and pretending to belong
to his army. Detection now meant that
we should be treated as spies, and we
both knew how relentlessly men Of that
character had been executed by both
sides. My back was to the window,
which was to my advantage, but Bell
faced the light, and there was a set to
his lips and a CLINT in his gray eyes that
assured me that he at least was not de-
moralized
well" said the Confederate heuten-
ant, after my companion, with a flood
of original and rather startling profanity,
had declared that he was not Tom Bell,
the Yankee scout, but his cousin, s'I1l
have to allow that I'm mistaken, for a
man ought to know himself, but I'd have
been willing to bet against big odds that
you are the Bell who has been raising
hell with our people over round Bun
combe."
''Look me over" said Bell, and he
drew himself up for inspection. ..Now,
do you uns think look like id foolg'
The officers laughed and declared he
appeared to be as sensible and brave a
man as they had ever met.
''But if was Tom Bell of Bunconbe
and come trapesing ovah heah, I'd be
the cussedest fool God Almighty ever
made. Tom Bell Of Buncombe's my
cousin, and that amt to his discredit;
but up to the time he joined the Yanks,
no man ever dared to look him in the
eye and say he was a fool or coward
cowardice don't run in the blood, whether
we uns fight fo' the Confed'racy or agin
hit.''
This and much more Of the same kind
Bell rolled off with an earnestness and
vehemence that carried conviction with
it. My cnly fear was that he would
oyerdo the matter by protesting toe
much. The officer apologized for his
mistake; one of the four produced g
canteen and proposed that we drink tc
better acquaintance, which we did, but
felt that this was only truce and thai
the best thing we could do was to shake
the dust of Gainesville from our feet as
soon as possible.
After supper proposed a walk to Bell
and we went down past the little court
house, about which were drawn uI
scores Of wagons that had come in with
the tax in kind felt certain that We
were being watched and that it would
be courting death to 60 back to the tav
ern. knew some men in Chenowith's
regiment, two squadrons of which were
then in the town and others were expect
ed before morning. If | were recognized
the suspicion already directed to Bel
would become certainty and we should
be arrested and treated as spies.
All this | explained to him, and ht
agreed with me that our only hope lay
in getting away from Gainesville al
speedily as possible. 1t was now night
with half moon overhead, and we were
in good condition for a twenty -foul
hours march. We had just passed tht
wagon camp when we heard quicl
step behind us and voice calling out:
''Hello, boys! Whar's you uns off tor
turned, expecting to see man with
musket, but to our great relief our chal
lenger was Sim Sleigh, the teamster
with whom had ridden into town. Thii
man had been SO outspoken in his denun
citation of the Confederate authorities
and SO eager to have the war brought t.
an end and so very kind, that on the i'm
pulse Of the moment | determined tt
take him into our confidence, so far a
was consistent with the story we had al
ready told him. | pointed out that tn,
chances were that Bell and myself woult
be made prisoners il we returned to tn,
tavern, and that while we had nothin,
to fear from an honest investigation, tn,
result must be to us great deal OF un
necessary hardship and useless trouble
then asked for his advice.
To our surprise Sim Sleigh told us tina
he had heard it limited that we We're spies
and that he was hunting us up to tell u
Of the danger when he met us. He as
sured us that he had unbounded faith il
us, and that he had explained to other
where and how he had picked us up, an,
that it was through his urging we La,
come on to Gainesville. All this Sin
Sleigh told-us with all the emphasis tina
profanity could add to his statement
then he gave us each hand and said:
"By Cd, I'll see you uns through
Make fo' old Habersham. Once you un
is in the hills of old Habersham, hitll b
like home"
Acting on his advice, we sat down un
der tree beside the road, but within
full sight of the camp fires in the cour
house square. 1t was half hour, an
a very anxious one, before Sim Sleigl
returned, and then his appearance
startled us, for he came silently iron
the rear, accompanied by another man
Each carried Burnside carbine an
belts plentifully supplied with ammuni
ton. The arms and equipments ha'
been purloined from two drunken troop
ers, who were then sleeping hit Off il
one Of the wagons.
1 Hits blazin pity couldn't hook
couple Of critters fob you uns to ride Of
on" explained Sleigh, "but by keepi
yer off eyes peeled you uns may be abl
to pick some up"