Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-05

there was IN occasional upright post
left; the walks We're overgrown with
weeds and grass; the outhonses had
nearly all been torn down. The place
was a picture Of desolation Neverthe-
less the general who temporarily resided
there was making himself very comfort
able.
The wagon drew up before the house,
and the conducting trooper sent in word
to the general that a party, who had
come in from tho Union lines, were
waiting outside. desiring permission to
20 on south. An order came TO send tho
party all inside.
The three travellers entered the house
to find tall man with an iron gray
beard reclining in rocking chair with
as much apparent unconcern as II war
were simply pastime.
lyon have Just come from the enc
my's lines, hear. he said TO the
farmer.
"Yaas. sir. ["
What force did you see In the re.
gion through which you passed."
The farmer explained that he could
not answer the question. inasmuch as
he had been permitted to pass after tax.
ing an oath not to give any Information.
HIM. You are quite right not to
answer under the circumstances. OBJ
served the general did your daueh
ter take the same OATH
"Yaas, general. said Souri,
Surely they didn't administer an
oath to boy of your agel" he said.
turning to Jakey.
Reckon th thought | war too little
to swar. said Jakey. He thrust his
hands in his pockets. n sure sign that he
was steadyiug himself for conflict Of
wits and words But the general was
not acquainted with the peculiar char
acteris,ics Of Jakey Slack and prepared
20 question him rs unconcernedly as no
would pump water from well
What route did you come;' he ask
ed Of the farmer
II met the children ut Galletin. re.
piled Slack. Il driv' 'em from thar
through Lebanon and Liberty "
sonny" said the general, turning
to .Iakey, "oid you pass any troops on
the way?"
Lots "
Infantry"
whats thet?''
SOLDIERS who walk and carry guns
Didn't see none o. them kind "
"Did you see any artillery"
Don't know what them uus air.
"Men with great big guns-cannon.
"No. sir. Didn't see no 'tillery.
Then what you saw must have been
,avalry
Didn't see none o. them uns uuth
er 4"
The general looked surprised.
Then wha, did you see? That's all
the arms of the service | ever heard OF.
and | am an old soldier.
"Critter companies.
"Oh, | seo!" exclaimed the general,
remembering tho mountain Tennessee.
aus name for cavalry How many sol
diers belonging TO the 'crittcr compa'
mes, as you call them, did you soe'
WAL. counted 20. n thet's 5 fur
as | got at c0untin in skulo,
Sour was about TO remind her broth
81 that he had proved himself one ot
the best boys in the school at mental
arithmetic, but desisted
HIM" The general thought mo
ment and beat reveille with his tin
gers ON the arm of his chair
What were they doing within the
Federal limos Just before you left tbs
outpostsT'
WAL. only noticed one man. n he
war doin somep'n very partickeler
What was itr'
He war lookin n; the sky through
DAT round thing what looked like bis
squashcd apple. ="
Not fieldglass. was it''
mo, sir. Reckon 'twasn't thet- "
"Was the man Of high rankt'
Reckon he war de had stripes on
his arm. -
Tut int, he wore chevrons. He wa
only / lncommissioned officer Cant
you describe more nearly the object
through which he was looSing?"
"Waal, think hearn some un cal
IL n can--can =
Not canteen?"
Eyes, thet's it. "
The general looked sharply at tie
boy. who looked stolidly stupid Ho
determined to try another route through
which to lead Jakey's infantile mind
Were the troops you saw in camp
OF Oh the march, or in bivouac:'
Don't know what thet ar last air.
but the trees n brush war so thick ]
couldn' see plain.
Can't you tell me il you saw any
infantry Soldiers who walk and carry
guns, You know
II never looks at them kind o. So
jers, replied Jakey contemptuously
II only notices 'em wheu th're Oh
critters backs.
THAT will do. said the general
Then, turning to staff officer near him,
be said:
Captain, .ou may pass these people
south" and added in all undertone:
Ride over to division headquarters an6
say that nothing has yet been obtained
of the enemy's movements in this vicin'
ity by questioning citizens Only one
party has come throIgh-a farmer
with his son and daughter. The farmer
and his daughter took an oath not to
give any information concerning the
dispositions Of the enemy, and the boy
is profoundly stupid.
There was "A sound Of hoofs without
mingled with the rattle OF wheels.
Looking through an open window, an
officer was seen to dismount and hand
a woman frolu mud covered, paint
rubbed buggy. All recognized Miss
Elizabeth Baggs The general arose
from his chair and went out to meet
her at the front door. From there he
conducted her into a room where tLey
could confer together alone.
What luck?"
IL struck their wires within thei:
lines midway between Murfreesboro and
MacMinnville at midnight, and no one
was near / threw my wire over the
line and made my connections with my
instrument. WAITED till nearly day
light before any messages Of impor'
tance came along. though dispatches
were passing all the while. AT last one