The Portland daily press., 1895-08-17


TO fear as long as he wore gray uni
form and did nothing to rouse the sus-
picion of his companions. He had made
up his mind not to go back with the
troopers to Bragg's army. Fortunately
Tor his purpose, just at daylight the fol-
lowing morning the camp of the Con-
federate scouts was surrounded by bat
TALON of the First Kentucky Union cav
airy under the command of Captain
Adams, and without firing a shot the
former surrendered.
Coleman was at once sent back to
Nashville with the other prisoners. At
that time prisoners were held only until
such time as arrangements could be
made for their exchange, which was
matter of constant occurrence, SO that it
was with much surprise as we'll as
alarm for his safety that Colem an S
Confederate companions saw him one
day singled out and removed from their
midst They did not know that the
young man had communicated his Sc
| cret to Andrew johnson, then the mill
tary governor Of Tennessee, with head
quarters at Nashville, and that instead
of being harshly treated, as they imag-
lned, he was received with the greatest
consideration and at once taken before
the man who at that time was the fore
most representative of the Union ele-
ment in the south.
Governor johnson was quick to ap-
preciate the value of Coleman's infor-
nation, and although naturally sus-
picious man it would seem that from
the first he never entertained doubt of
the young mans fidelity to the Union.
The governor provided Coleman with
citizens clothing, made him shave off
his whiskers and then sent him with
letter to General Roseorans, whose head
quarters had been changed to Murfrees-
boro
General Rosecrans examined Cole
man, whom he might have regarded
with suspicion and SO kept under guard
had it not been for the chance entrance
of General McCook. McCook recalled
Snow, whom, it will be remembered,
he met in the course of Bragg's Ken
tuoky campaign. He also recalled his
talks with the young New Englander
about Coleman and the entire accuracy
Of the signal code he had brought
through with him.
1t was at my suggestion, said Gen.
eral MoCook, 'that Snow was permitted
to go through to the enemy again, and
have been surprised at not hearing
from that daring fellow during the
campaign just closed"
"You would have heard from him
and to the advantage of the Union
army % replied Coleman, chad it not
been for his discovery while trying to
get through the lines on New Years
night" and then he told of the execu-
tion of his comrade.
After Coleman had expressed his read
mess to communicate the Confederate
code to the signal officers of the Army
of the Cum berland, General Rosecrans
said in effect:
''You could be of the greatest help to
our cause if you enlisted in the Union
army or became attached to our secret
service but you must be aware that un-
der the circumstances we have no right
to command you.
81 understand the situation fully"
said Coleman, land if l had been
north at the outbreak of the war /
should have enlisted among the first in
the Union army, but think that can
now be Of greater service than if fought
in the ranks OF had commission.
On being asked to explain he contin.
ued: s@At 4
81 am satisfied that before I left the
Confederate service I was regarded
with suspicion. My absence under the
circumstances will confirm this suspi-
cion into certainty, SO that if I again
fell into the hands of my past friends
the chances are that would speedily
share the fate Of poor Snow. In addition
to my knowledge of the Confederate sig
nal service and the fact that have my
self invented the best of their ciphers
am, think, good telegraph operator,
and l can read by sound better than
most men can with the aid Of the tape.
1t is for you to say how my knowledge
can De used TO the best advantage. After
have paid brief visit to my old home
in Ohio shall be at your service. !"
This was satisfactory to the Union
general, but as intelligent deserters
from the enemy were by no means rare
Coleman's story about his friends in
Portsmouth and Cincinnati was COR
roborated by direct communication be-
fore he was permitted to go north.
Two weeks after leaving Nashville
Coleman was visiting his parents, who
by this time had moved to Newport,
KY, just across the river from Cincin-
natl, when he received communication
asking him to report to General Sher-
man, then at Memphis, where prepara-
tions were being made for the Vicks-
burg campaign. General Sherman, who
was an excellent judge of human ma
ture. was quick to appreciate the re-
markable abilities of Coleman, and,
with his customary energy, he set about
testing them at once The young man
was sent to Corinth, from which point
he entered the enemy's lines and came
back with a lot of messages stolen from
fhe talaoropl, IipaS hefwaan Granada