The Portland daily press., 1895-05-11
A Mad EXPLOIT.
By ALFRED R. CALHOUN.
copyright, 1895, by the Author.l
CHAPTER I.

Union post at FRANKLIN, Ienn AL Gnab
time General Rosecrans, commander of
the Army of the Cum berland, had his
headquarters at Murfreesboro, and
Brigadier General James A. Garfield,
afterward president of the United
States, was his chief of staff. General
Bragg was to the southeast, between the
Union forces and Chattanooga, entirely
on the defensive and fully informed as
to the strength and purpose of his oppo-
nent, so that there was no good reason
why he should send any of his officers
to play the spy within the Union lines
Nor is it reasonable to believe that he
did SO, for every citizen in that part Of
Tennessee was willing and able to sup
ply him with all available information.
About dark ON the evening of the 9Th
two men - young, handsome, well
mounted, and dressed in the uniforms of
Federal oficers-rode boldly into the
town of franklin. The equipments and
dress of these men indicated that they
were staff officers. They put up at no.
tel, and at once reported to Colonel
AO pOAlOl, wiz w hS q u01l 4A1d
Of about 80, introduced himself as
stColonel Anton. inspector general. "
and his companion as ''Major Dunlap,
assistant ." These men were easy and
soldierly in their bearing, and they
smoked Baird's cigars and drank his
whisky while they chatted informally
about the condition of the post
Colonel Baird was so confident that
these officers were what they professed
to be that he did not think at the time
Of asking Colonel Anton for his orders,
yet that officer, when he rose to end his
informal call, laid an official envelope
containing his authority on the desk.
The two officers then went to the hotel,
where they made themselves at home.
and at or2e became friendly with the
soldiers stopping at the same house. Both
men professed to be West Pointers and
officers of the regular army, and their
familiarity with the records of officers
on both sides bore this out During the
evening they drank, but not to excess,
and Colonel Anton, by way of passing
the time, took a hand in a game of
poker and had excellent luck. 1t would
have been well for him and his compan-
ion, who was about five years his Junior,
had they limited their ventures to cards.
While the colonel and the major were
making themselves at home with the
Yankees at the hotel Colonel Watkins
of the Sixth Kentucky cavalry happened
in. Colonel Watkins had heard of tho
strangers and was anxious to meet the
inspector general, but as that officer
was playing cards he engaged Major
Dunlap in conversation. The major was
manifestly nervous, and his effort to
conceal it made him more SO, but at the
time this did not particularly attract
the attention of Colonel Watkins. In
response to the colonel's questions
Dunlap said that they had been inspect
ing the outposts of the Army of the
Cumberland; that they had just come
from Murfreesboro via Triune and that
they were in hurry to reach Nashville.
"How long have you been with the
Army Of the Cumberland" asked Colo
mel Watkins, who had drawn the young
man away from the crowd about the
card table.
"We came direct from Washington
about two weeks ago and reported to
General Rosecrans for duty and have
been hard at it ever since" was Dun
laps reply.
Where did you serve before coming
here?"
1--WE were both on the staff of the in
spector general at Washington. Colonel
Anton was on the staff of General Win
field Scott up to the time of his retire.
ment
''Then you have had an easy time of
t."
eyes, colonel" responded Dunlap,
shut we expect to make up for it by
our service out here. /"
''Did you meet General Granger at
Triune?"
Eyes, he is still in command at that
point. In the old service he was regard
ed as brilliant officer, and I am glad
to see that he is keeping up his repusa-
tion." And the young man handed
Watkins cigar and tried to change the
conversation.
Colonel Watkins smoked and studied
the stranger, and afterward he had a
talk with the older and more adroit
man. This conversation with Anton in
creased the Union officers uneasiness
till finally his suspicious We're aroused,
but he had the tact to hide his feelings
and to lead the inspector and his assist
ant to think he believed they were ev-
erything they professed to be.
Colonel Watkins left the hotel about
$3.50 to go to his own quarters for the
night he said, but instead of doing so
he at once sought out Colonel Baird,
whom he found looking over the days
reports with his adjutant
"Helio. Watkinsl We are to have
post inspection" was Baird's saluta-
ton.
$50 I understand" said Watkins as
he drew his chair up to the table,
"Have you met Colonel Anton and
Major Dunlap"
st have"
''Fine looking fellows.