The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-03-14
CHAPTER Nv.
A GUERRILLA'S HOME.


"A dispatch for you, general -
An aid-de-camp entered, followed by
. tall, bronzed Confederate cavalryman
with very muddy boots and a southern
sombrero on his head. In his hand he
carried sealed envelope, on the left
hand corner of which was printed,
"Oficial business.
why not bring it yourself?'' asked
the general, evidently put out at being
interrupted at dinner.
The messenger says that he was in
structed to deliver it to no one but your
self. 1t is from general headquarters. I"
The man stalked in, his aocouter-
ments rattling as he did so, and remov-
ing his hat handed the general the COM
munication. He opened it, and seeing
that it was in cipher handed it to a
member of his staff who possessed the
key and directed him to unravel it. It
read as follows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
June n, 1862
To General -, Commanding Cavalry on Ex-
treme Right:
MIR rrwec lrddrx mexrr LII krxn m nbpy
kltvq gs ljssga mikkingmfy fc lvdzvkwvgc.
Egzi iwpxy tx bagw.
BRAxToN BRAGG, Com'd'g.
Scarcely had the general given the
dispatch over for Interpretation when
another from the same source, which
had come by telegraph, was handed
him also, evidently an inextricable
tumble of letters. This, too, was taken
up by the cipher officer. In the course
of half an hour he handed interpreta-
tions of both to his chief. The first read
as follows:
The enemy having taken the gaps, will
rear guard to troops retreating by University.
Move south at once.
Here is the second:
Enemy's telegram in cipher received. Can
not Miss Baggs secure information of the en-
emy's intentions as to following this army
across the Tennessee? Such information would
enable us to be prepared if he attacks in con-
centrated form cut him up in detail if he
divides.
The general gave the two messages a
few minutes consideration, and then,
dismissing the aid who had interpreted
them, directed him to inform Miss Baggs
that he would like to see her.
When she entered, the general handed
her the interpreted copies of the two
dispatches.
"Here is more important work fer
you than any you have yet attempted, ,"
he said.
She read both the dispatches and then
thought few minutes.
Il am ready to undertake it, gen.
eral,' she said, 'but without much
hope Of success. must first succeed in
taking off message in which the plan
Of the Yankees is given or limited at so
clearly as to be inferred, and then it
must be interpreted, for it will surely
be in cipher
''If you could succeed in both, you
would insure us victory in the west,
and that would be half the battle to the
cause
II will undertake it.''
"You will be exposed to a frightful
danger.
"You know, general, that have de-
voted my life to this work I consider
that as already sacrificed.
"We move from here at once, as you
see by the order just received. -
Il will go with you a part of the way
and watch an opportunity to slip back
behind the Union lines"
With that Miss Baggs went out, and
the general began his preparations to
cover the retreat of the right Of the
Confederate army.
No further attention was paid to
Farmer Slack and his family. Evident
~ there was business Of greater impor-
tance on hand. They went out on to the
doorstep, where they stood wondering
what was going on about them. Every
one was stirring. An orderly dashed up
to the door leading an officers horse
saddled and bridled. An aid ran out Of
the house, and mounting in hot haste
rode away. A man from an upper win
dow called out to him:
CONTINUED on TIN page5
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