The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-17

more necessary to check the Illicit com
merce as II was reported that visits were
being interchangcd at night be
tween the two camps for the purpose of
carrying II on,
with those instructions in view. General
John y. Gordon one afternoon in the early
days Of November, 1858 rode out 10 inspect
the outposts OF HIS division, accompanied
by his STAFF and body guard. HIS famous
command carried more battle scars than
bayonets, ana he hoped that there WAS no
VlOlntor OF General Lees order In It's
ranks. on arriving at an outpost near
the river bank, he questioned the captain
commanding IL ms 70 whether he had re-
ceived the order to prevent all trading
with the enemy, and was answered that
ne mad. N9twithstnndlng that 0fncer
assurance that he would he Vlgilnnt in
the enforcement Of the order General
Gordou's suspicious were aroused BY the
apparent confusion In the hummer OF some
of the men when the guard WAS turned
out to salute him. He could not explain
II on the theory that they were nbashed
by his presence for they were accustomed
TO that and they hnd often shown that
they were as devoted 10 their knightly com
- nder rs ever was Scottish Highlander
10 the chief OF his clan. The cause OF
general had scarcely ridden sixty yards
beyond the outpost when be noticed tina
the tops Of come Of the tall SLENDER reeds
on the lower bank Of the river were being
shaken. There was no Wind stirring 70
account for the notion and an cattle nnd
other rowing animals iu that section had
long since been dispoHed of by the an con
suinng soldiory Ne therefore ordered IL
sergeant Of his escort TO part The reeds
and zee what WIS IN them. Tie sergeant
hurried down me lower bank, and was
soon hoHrd TO c1Clalm: "By GGOrggi
Whnt ia this? Come out herep
Al the word there stepped out into
entity about twenty years OF 0ge He had
a very handsome face and ha fine physi-
cal proportions We're very plainly re-
asccnded the bank ana stood as straight
as an arrow before General Gordon, who
then said 10 him Ia severe tone; what
from"
lie answered the double question with
q trcmulous voice; MY name II james
Holly and I am private In company ~
Forty-second pennsylvania, volunteer In
fantry,"
Then" said the general. "you are
Spy. find you aecreted near one ~
my outpostH. within my lines, aud III
have you hanged as q spyw
The anawer % the generals grave
came. over from our camp to ylmt the
boys."
General Gordon. who was thoroughly
yersed IA military law, could scarce re-
able position, for he well knew that 70
constitute a Spy one must not only enter |
his enemyh lines for the purpose oi pro
curing military Intelligence through his /
observations, but he must do 80 In dis /
guise or under a false character But I
there stood the Union soldier IN puris /
clad only In natures cos
tune and With the stamp Of truth upon \
every word that he uttered. well, I
then" replied the general n WIN hold I
you a. q prisoner. But perhaps. you I
wish to desertf"
The decisive answer was; mo gen
ornl. neYeri / would rather die than de- I
sert my coioral But 4 VIII be very had I
On me to be prisoner for mg comrades 1
VIII una my uniform on the other I
side and think / have deserted. That