Morris tribune., 1892-09-14

cars rolled over the Ann river Charley sue
ceeded in dropping the package out the
window.
The next morning the party was in Rich
mend, and the sergeant discovered that
his papers were gone, without being able
10 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 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 at this time filed
with suspects, spies and political prisoners,
the latter principally Union men from
east Tennessee To few of these whom
he felt he could trust Charley Marsh re-
vealed his true character and intrusted
them with messages to his parents Gin the
event that the worst should come to the
worst"
To the casual observer there was not a
more careless or Indifferent man in Castle
\ Thunder than the young scout. For two
days he played checkers on board marked
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, q Tennesseean named Mccoy died.
The dead mans acquaintance were for in
forming the guard SO as to have the body
removed, but Marsh restrained them with
the whispered command:
ssMy God, man, keep still! Leave him
here till morning; then will be deadp'
The other prisoners obeyed, though they
did not understand him; and the body of
the dead prisoner was kept concealed in a
corner.
At daylight the next morning the guard
entered the prison for roll call. McCoy's
name was called, and to the surprise of
those who knew the quick and the dead,
| Charley Marsh answered Here" NJ
When the guard came to the name
CHARLES Marsh?" Charley himself drew
down ragged blanket from a stark form
at his feet, and in 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 s-
.Deadw exclaimed the Confederate
| officer, as he looked down ut the stark
features. "Well, it is a id good thing
for him that he died a natural death.
have orders to take him out for trial, and
that would mean to him hanging before
the sun went down."
'Pm sorry he disappointed you," said
Charley. But perhaps he knew what
was coming and 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 a secret the night
before, now saw clearly through his pur-
pose and prayed that his daring scheme
might win.
That morning the prison rolls of Castle
Thunder bore opposite the name Charles
Marsh'-''died"
AS "DicB Mccoy" the young scout re-
manned in prison for four months, being
finally exchanged in March, 1863
AS soon as he reached Washington, he
reported to General Hooker, then in COM
mand of the army, and at his own request
was at once assigned to his old duties.
Subsequently Marsh entered Richmond
twice during the war, but not as prisoner
He seemed to have charmed life and to
succeed best where the chances were the
most desperate.
When peace came he was given a promi-
nent position in the secret service of the
government. last saw him in Washing
ton in 1872, and that the gallant fellow
may still be alive and prospecting is my
| sincere hone ..h-