The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-05

Although so young, Marsh knew every
foot of the country between Washington
and Richmond we'll ;s he did the fields
of the farm up in Maryland where he wns
born.
Charley Marsh found the bridge he had
set out to burn guarded, but he collected
much valuable information, and with this
he was making his way back to the Union
lines when he ram into the enemy and was
captured.s
The papers found on the young scouts
person clearly established his character
and he was FASTENED on to Richmond
where n speedy trial and quick and igno-
minious death awaited him
So fearful were the Confederates- of his
escape that guard OF eight men, in COM
mand OF II sergeant, was sent on with him.
and in the possession Of the latter were
the condcmnatory papers.
On the way to Richmond. the sergeant
who was of convivial turn. succeeded in
getting cantcen full Of captured Yankee
whisky, and Oh this he got drunk and all
his men were more or less fllddled
watching his opportunity in the night,
Marsh, after he became convinced that he
could not escape, crept close to where the
sergeant was sleeping and succeeded in
taking from his pocket the papers that
meant death to the prisoner
1h"1 might the sergeant, guards and
prisoner were placed on train, and as the
cars rolled over the Ann river Charley sue
ceeded in dropping the. package out the
window.
The next morning the party was in Rich
mond, and the sergeant discovered that
his papers were gone, without being able
to account for their loss. Charley Marsh's
character had preceded him. and he was
sent to Castle Thunder to await informa-
ton from the front, and the careless ser
geant was very properly placed under ar-
rest.
1t would be only II few days at the far
thest till the information showing the
scouts character came and then would
follow the speedy trial and execution that
distinguished the southern treatment of
such characters.
Castle Thunder was ut this time filled
with suspects spies and political prisoners,
the latter principally Union men from
east Tennessee To Il few of these whom
he felt he could trust Charley Marsh re-
vealed his true character and intrusted
them with messages to his parents 'in the
event that the worst should come to the
worst"
To the casual observer there was not n
more careless or indifferent man in Castle
Thunder than the young scout. For two
out on the dirty floor, the black and white
men being buttons cut from the clothes of
dead prisoners.
The third night, just before the last visit
of the guards to the upper floor of the
prison, Tennesseean named Mccoy died
The dead mans acquaintance were for in
forming the guard SO us to have the BODY
removed, but Marsh restrained them with
1.-THE whispered command:
MY God, man, keep still! Leave him
there till morning; then will be dead!'
The other prisoners obeyed, though they
did not understand him; and the body of
the dead prisoner was kept concealed in n
corner.
AT daylight the next morning the guard
entered the prison for roll call. McCov's
name was called, and to the surprise of
those who knew the quick and the dead,
Charley Marsh answered "Heren
When the guard came to the name
CHARLES Marsh?" Charley himself drew
down ragged blanket from stark form
Mt his feet, and in n clear. strong voice called
out: Marsh? Oh, that fellow died last
night! Here he is" And he stepped aside
and pointed to the body of the man whose
name he had assumed
"Dead! exclaimed the Confederate
officer, as he looked down at the stark
features well, it is a id good thing
for him that he died natural death.
have orders TO take him out for trial, and
that would mean to him hanging before
the sun went down"
I'm sorry he disappointed YOU" said
Charlcy. But perhaps he knew what
was coming nud lit out"
The Confederate officer was completely
deceived, and those who had known the
dead man. and heard Charley Marsh plead
ing to keep the death secret the night
before, now 1lw clearly through his pur-
pose and prayed tina. his daring scheme
might win.
That morning the prison rolls OF Castle
Thunder bore opposite the name CHARLES
Marsh died"