St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-11

age is where one is thrown entirely on
his own resources. and his nerve is the
outcome of deliberate thought
Arson Watts was a private IN the
Eleventh Kentucky Union cavalry. He
was of good family in Hardin county.
and might have had commission when
the regiment was raised in 1862 had be
been so inclined, but he chose to serve
in the ranks.
Watts was well educated. a good
horseDan and as brave as they make
them, But the incident in eonsidera-
ton shows an amount of nerve that ap-
pals when one considers that there
was really 10 good reason for running
into such a danger.
Watts was captured at Campfell'S
Station IN East Tennessee, and had he
not been wounded he might have been
eht directly Oh to Belle Isle with the
wo or three hundred men taken in that
action by Longstreet's advance in
October, 1868.
Like many Of the other prisoners,
Watts had been despoiied of his boots,
hat and tune, and compelled TO attire
himself in the gray but dilapidated
clothing of his captors.
He was wounded in the head. and,
affecting greater Illness than he felt.
he was left at the house of miller
named Murdoch, between Rinegold and
Tunnel Hill. This man was originally
from Ohio. and cousin of James Muir
doch, the famous actor, whose Union
sentiments he shared, though it was
prudent to keep them TO himself. He
had three pretty daughters. all good
cooks, SO that his place was popular
resort for the Confederate officers going
between Atlanta and Bragg's army at
Missionary Ridge.
Almost from the first Watts was re-
garded as Confederate, bat the family
knew his secret, and they soon provided
him with a good grey uniform. The
more his wound improved. the sicker
he pretended TO be, and he was kept III
a room by himself. About a week after
reaching Murdoch's a young man from
BTagg's army stopped there. He~waS a
Texan named Bell, and be had trans
purtation and papers from Gen. Bragg
authorizing him to go on TO Richmond
and get the Endorsement of the war de-
partment there TO his transfer. on &C
count of i'll health, to the command of
Gen. Magruder in Texas, where his
parents lived.
The young Texan had a burning fever
when he reached Murdoch's, and forty
eight hours afterwards he died. Watts
did not make his purpose known to MIR.
Murdoch or his family, but they must
have understood il. He changed clothes
with the dead man, took his papers. and
started for Atlanta as Joshua Bell.
He had changed characters from a
prisoner of war TO spy, and he knew
that detection meant death He avoided
observation as much as possible, but
not so much as to excite attention.
When lie reached Richmond he ex-
amined his papers, or rather BelPs
papers, carefully, and he was shocked
to learn that the man whom he repre-
scented had an uncle, colonel in the
war department, who was awaiting his
arrival, and was ready TO help him
through.
To meet this man would be disas-
trous. SO he changed his mind, and de-
termlned to examine the ground and
make his way through as soon as posi-
bic 10 the Union lines.
He put up at retired hotel, where be
remained quietly for week, and then,
one stormy night in early November. he
started to make has way through TO
Fortress Monroe oi
The story OF his adventures on this
trying journey would make a most in
tclCotinS OOOhs 81 icis tus dIl6T Dellig
out ten days and nights, he ran into the
Union picketS near Williamsburg Oh the
peninsula.
He was taken in as deserter, but
after time he succeeded in establishing
his identity, and was sent on 10 WASH
Ington. from which point he suisse
Quentiy rejoined his command. Saa to
relate he was killed few months after
wards. EZRA t. BILLINGS, NJ. ID.