The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-06-25
A LUCKY MISTAKE.

A LUCKY MIS- lAKt,
Within month after Fort Sumter
was fired on, two young men from
| Pennsylvania enlisted in the Union
army. These young men were
twins, Tom and |. We were very
much alike in size, feature, voice
and Misunderstanding indeed,
and the only persons who could
always tell which was Tom and
which was were the twins them
selves. We did not join the same
branch OF the army, Tom en1isting
in the cavalry, while | Joined the
secret service.
At the investment of NIcksburg,
and when the Union forces were
each day digging nearer the city,
was sent to make an inspection OF
the Confederate tort.fcations.
succeeded in passing the Con
federate lines and entered the city
of Nicksburg, where, dressed in
civilians clothes, l was reasonably
free from suspicion. But it took me
a full day before desired know
ledge and started back towards the
Union lines under cover OF dark
ness.
passed the guard safely and was
perhaps third of the way to camp
when heard sharp Halt! who
goes there? accompanied by the
click of cooking weapons.
Escape was out of the question,
and moment later | was a prisoner.
Which camp do you belong to7
quered the leader OF the men who
had captured me.
Neither, l answered, but | am
staying at Vicksbure.
How came you SO far from the
lines tonight
was just wandering around and
thought | would go until l reached
the outer guard, | answered.
This is very strange-if true, said
my questioner, turning to his com
rades; but probably it is all lie.
Then to me: We will just take you
into camp and sift that yarn of
yours.
The yarn sifted so poorly that l
was convicted as spy and sen.
fenced to death.
One day after my conviction some
young ladies of the city visited the
prison where the Yankees we're con-
fined, some to see the strange
animals of the north, who they
believed had horns and hoofs like an
elephant, as one of the young
women expressed it; others to leave
flowers or iruit for the unhappy
prisoners. The number OF the latter
was small.
As a condemned spy l was an
object OF especial hatred or com,
miseration, according to the feelings
of tha {, ir visitors
Is he really spy2 asked one
young girl OF gushing class and age.
Yes, answered the guard, he is a
genuine Yankee spy.
Oh, isn't i, awful! said the girl.
How can you tell? He doesn't look
like a spy, and il you hadn't told |
me l should say he was real nice.
You can't tell anything by looks,
replied the guard. Some of the
brightest and handsomest men in
the service are spies. This un looks
we'll enough, but he is a sneaking
spy, just the same.
How strange. And what do these
dreadful spies do? What did this
one do?
He came to look over our fortifi-
cations so he could tell the Yanks
where it would be easiest to break
through them and capture the city.
Oh, dear! you don't think the
Yankees will capture Vicksburg, do
you? If they should they would kill
us all, wouldn't they? Oh, how
dreadfully awful it would be.
| don't think they will ever take
the city; it is too we'll fortified and
too strongly defended
My attention was soon attracted
to three young ladies who we're dis
tribu!ing handsome little bouquets
to some OF the prisoners, whom they
appeared to know, and | was sur
prised to see the Mortified stare
which followed one young girls first
glance az me. She looked a second
time, searchingly, her face pale and
startled, then turned away with her
companions.
The next day she came back again
bringing flowers, and | had chance
to watch her for some moments.
She brought me small bouquet,
and when handing it TO me accom-
panied it by glance apparently tull
of meaning, and yet utterly bewil-
dering and untranslateble.
Surely, | thought, have never
seen her before. Not a look or
question, or movement is familiar.