The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-05-17

The two men talked without restraint
till daylight. They were about to leave,
though it was still raining as if it had
only begun, when they heard shouting
and tramping near by, and the next in
stant a squadron of Wharton's s Eighth
Texas cavalry, known on their own side
as ''The Texas Rangers, were about
the building.
Escape being out of the question, the
Pennsylvania surrendered and was
treated as prisoner of war. Snow ex-
planned to the Texan captain how he
had lost his way the night before, and
in the darkness sought refuge in the
barn where he had been made prisoner
by the Yankee, who had taken his pis-
tol. For the truth of what he said, he
referred to General Bragg or any of his
staff. The Pennsylvania was quick to
take in the situation, and he corrobo-
rated all that Snow had said about the
capture.
The Texan was inclined to believe
Snow, but he very properly decided to
send him back to be disposed of as
the provost marshal at Murfreesboro
might think best. Just as the two pris-
oners were about to be sent to the rear
two wounded Confederates, who had
been concealed in the loft of the build
ing, crawled down the ladder, and one,
who had his arm in sling, pointed to
Snow, and said:
"That fellow is lying like thiefP'
Snow resented this with we'll assumed
Indignation; but, with a still fiercer
oath, the other Confederate, who was
shot in the foot, corroborated what his
comrade had said, and added:
81 heard him say that he had friend
who is connected with the telegraph and
signal corps who's in with him in the
spy business. -
The Pennsylvanian must have been as
brave as he was self possessed and sturdy,
for he faced the accusing Confederates,
and with string of oaths that made
theirs weak and puerile by comparison
he denounced them as pair of unmiti-
gated liars and horse thieves, whom no
man but an idiot would believe under
oath.
''This is none of my business" said
the Texan. "I'll send the whole of you
back to Murfreesboro, and there you
can have it out with the provost" and
he put his decision into execution at
once
1t was dusk that night before the two
wounded Confederates, the Pennsylva-
nlan and Snow, got back to Murfrees-
boro. They were confined in storehouse
near the center of the town, the place
being already packed with drunken Con-
federates and disconsolate Yankees.
The Texan captain had indicated in
his report the charges against Snow and
advised the provost marshal to examine
the men who claimed to have heard
Snow telling the Yankee that he was
deserter and spy, and that he had a
friend near the army headquarters who
was in entire sympathy with him. The
next morning Snow was taken from the
other prisoners and marched under
guard to the provost marshal's office.
On the way he saw Coleman and gave
him look that told of his own desper-
ate straits and gave his friend a hint of
the danger that threatened him.
The wounded Confederates had been
first with their story, for the provost
marshal showed in his examination that
he was prejudicad. He heard Snaw's ex-
planation, then said,
II don't believe you, sir. You might
as we'll know that you will be tried as
a spy within the hour