South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-08-14
HOW THE SPY ESCAPED.

Whiie sheridan was massinp h,s
forces IN front OF Early at winches.
ter and making ready for that Sam
temoer day battle. i was inside OF
Ills line al least q half dozen timss.
playing the spy in troad day licht
and not seeming TO be suspected bv
any one. Five days before the battle
General Early had close figure. on
every branch Of Sberidan's army. +
got The total strength of the army
within three hundred men. and every
piece OF artillery sss correctly nam.
Ell and reported. Many Of the Fed.
eral soldiers, particularly Ohio and
Michigan troops. may call to mind The
OLD Quaker who wandered about
their camps for Q week inveiehing
against war. but hoping the blueooats
would win IL battle must be fought
The old man gave many tracts. sold
postage stamps and offered TO write
letters homo for The sick. That old
Quaker and your humble servant were
The same. aud hereby return nv
thanks Tor tho kind treatment they
extended one. The mem Of the Mlch:.
igin cavalry brig ids were afiicaiar<
~ friendly. and at later period IL
fell TO me to do three Of them a
good turn while they were Oh their
way to Richmond as prisoners of war
My last trip into aud out of Sher-
idan's lines was made on the night
OF the second day before the battle.
l came in on his left aud wss going
out again that way. L had passsd
the camp sentinels aud videttes. and
was as believed, on. of danger. /
was then to the left of Perryyills
pike and was picking my way across
an old field, wheu man rose upr be.
lore me and presented csrbine at
my breast. 1t Was not 80 dark, and
| made MIN out 10 be O Federal cav.
alryman. was in my Quaker RIG.
and as soon as | could get my breath
/ said:
Friend tLes hast made mistake.
am but an humble citizen.
That's all right, old broadbrim. hut
you can't pass here
Tnen, friend Bluecoat. will
cheerfully move to the right or left.
You try it and I'll blow your head
OIL You are my prisoner.
Friend thee doth not seem to un-
derstand the situation. am a man
otpeace and on my way to the house
OF friend. Thou hast no cause 10
halt me.
haven't ehf You sit down ON
that log until tue relief comes out. IL
you've got pass you can show 1t
then.
Verify, will sit down If it plesseth
thee, but there is no occasion Tor hard
words.
There's occasion TO look after
every burned old reb in the county
and don't you forget III
II was plain to sight and smell that
the man had bsen drinking and was
in an irritable condition. II was his
duty 10 take me back 70 the relief.
but as the time for his post to be re-
lieved was only quarter of an hour
away he bad decided on holding ma
| there.
Ii l went back TO the prir under
suspicion, | was sure to hanI for q
spy, as a search would b ing To liRht
proof OF my vocation, aud I m ode up
| my mind that l must take de- perata
chances. The soldier stood about
six feet 10 f.ont'of me, leaning on
his gun, ard made q pretense OF
feeling in my pocket. and thon said:
Friend. let US be civil IN ,ch 9th.
er. Perhaps thee would like some
tobacco.
Tobaccol Well. I don't mind, ho
| replied, in bali civil tone. r.
rose with my hand extending. as
1T TO hand b IN something, aud rs I,
got near enough, planted q blow on
his nose that kaooked him Eat. Be-
\ fore be could move kicked bis Gun
aside and was upon him. He wac
dszed by the blow and be scarcsly
struggled as worked at him. In Eva
minutes ] had him gage and Tied
band and foot, and then braced him
up against the log andsa.d:
kriendS this iss very ;ehaDgesblo
world. The dog that is on top toe
day may be underneath TO morrow.
Ho could not reply except with q
groan.
Apd remember, friend, that il Is
not always meet and IN good taste
70 address one Of my persuasion e.
broad brim' and old uan
He groaned again.
And as farewell word TO thee
would advise the to be more gentle
IN thy speech. A civil word costs
nothing and sometimes brings great
I reward. Good by thou man Of blue.
Thy friends wilt be along presently.
ADD l trust thou wilt not deny that 4
broadbrim, unarmed anil unaided
laid thee on thy back and bound thoe
like q yearling lamb.
With that lef. BIN, and was
not twenty rods awsy before I heard
The relief How he explained mat
GER | never knew. but be probable
came out Of it with flying colors.