Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-02-05
How GENERAL BANKS WAS FOOLED
UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF 1862.

-
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR NEVER Bl
FORE PUBLISHED, WRITTEN FOR
THE SPECTATOR.
! Now while "reminiscences of the 'lat
unpleasantness" are being written An
re- written, chiefly for the delectatio
of those who we're most too young t
remember much about it, but also q
a source of the greatest pleasure t
| the old veterans, the following inc
dent may be of interest.
The war was yet in its incipiency i
| 1862, and the rules and regulation
which afterwards were enforced S
vigorously, were often disrt 5arded. O
observed in so loose manner as t
lamount to very little at the time GU
l6toFy opens.
Charles Raymond, as we shall intro
duce him. principally because that wa
not his name, was at home in Harr
sopburg on a furlough, and, eve
though Geperal Banks with his fedora
troops Wa at this time occupying tn
town on their first raid up the valley
Raymond had thus far been unmolesi
ed, and while keeping as much out Q
sight of the Yankees as possible
and trusting to the sublimity of luck
he was allowed to remain with hi
family. Feeling especially happy il
the consciousness of having done hi
duty on the field of battle as a soldie
and a patriot, he was enjoying his pc
culiar privilege of looking through
m dnm on6 xno AL 4 !, y -, - 40
ments of the troops as they rode her,
ran in and said man with great bis
cloak around him was at the back door
and wanted to see his father. Charle
Raymond. while ordinarily a brav.
man, on this occasion was visibly af
fected. He felt instinctively thai
something was about to happen;-thal
perhaps he had been reported, and
was about to be made prisoner. But
door.
As it was yet early, and cloudy
morning, he looked out without at first
seeing any one, but sudden move
ment under vine hatched arbor at
one side of the yard attracted his at
tention, and he saw STOPPING and
very tall, slender and wearing one of
the conventional long army overcoats.
The man at first beckoned to Ray
mond to come to him, as it appeared
he did not want to be seen. But Ray
mond stood in the door, and waited
for his strange visitor to come to him,
which he finally did-still in this
crouching attitude. When within a
few feet of Raymond the mysterious
stranger pressed his finger upon his
lips and by a waive of the hand seem
ed to invoke the utmost silence and
secrecy, then in suppressed voice,
full OF emotion, either real or assumed,
he asked Raymond what he would IN
dertake a horseback ride to Staunton
and return for. He said his brother
must be apprized of the approaching
death eof their mother; that he dare
not go himself; that he. Raymond, had
been recommended as an honest man,
a soldier on furlough, and finally offer
ing $1,000 in gold, fast horse furnish
ed and all expenses paid, if he would
undertake the trip.
Such temptation. even in ,s'62",
when flour had not reached $125 90 per
barrel, nor ginger cakes $4,000 apiece,
was not to be lightly refused; SO after
a few moments parleying the bargain
was made.
A letter sealed and directed to q
gentleman in Staunton, was handed
Raymond with full directions as to the
cautious steps he should take in order
to insure its safe delivery. Then he
was told where to find the horse, tied
to tree IN the suburbs of town, sad
died and ready; and, after few other
preleminaries, including the payment
OF the $1,000 in gold, a hearty hand
shake was given, to which was added
: 'God bless you," and the stranger
Preparations were quietly and
quickly made for leaving his family in
! town surrounded by the enemy, but
assuming that he could be of no posi-
,le protectiOn-as one against five
housand-and besides that he might
perhaps save his own scalp by going. |
IL lost no time in getting out of town.
# evading the guards, and finally of |
'etting well on the way up that gently |
lndulating road of the VALLEY Pike I
Having gone perhaps three or four
niles he suddenly came upon an ad-
ance guard OF the enemy, leisurely
iding in the very direction he was
ow SO anxious to take. To his con
therefore, the commanding
Ulcer directed that he should be made
guide for the expedition, and he
stensibly agreed. But after explain
lg his mission, telling the officer it
'as to bring a son to the bedside of a
ying mother that he was hurrying on
, fast, he was allowed to proceed.
He now congratulated himself on his
God fortune, urged his horse to it's
tmost speed, and had gotten as far
q the road as Fort Defiance, when
n, honors! What should he see
head, but a band of gray coats ad-
ancing In precisely the same manner
that of the blue coats whom he had
, recently left behind. But he as
lined careless attitude and road on ,
meet them, just as if he were a ,
lrmer OF the neighborhood. and was
2 route to Staunton on business.
Meeting the Company, Captain. l.
'ked why he was not in the army
nd whether he had any papers. Raw
ond at once showed him his fur. :
ugh, when the officer looked it over.
nlled, glanced at Raymond in hand
g. 1t back and said; s'You are one
cky devil!''
His subsequent ride and entrance q
to Staunton, was without event :
left his horse at a convenient livery 9
able, hunted up the man whom he,l G
"a ridden at the peril of his life to 9
ID, and handed him the letter. 2
In nicely furnished private Office. G
the rear of certain store which I
en- stood on " Street, we next see 2
larles Raymond and the merchant !.
whom he took the letter,-both 9
ated. Raymond watched the mer- r
ant while he read the letter. Hell
ticed that the mans hands clutched
e letter convulsively; his fingers Z
itched and worked nervously, while =
whole frame was SO agitated that y
swayed in his chair, and finally
med back, stuffed the letter in his !.
'ide coat-pocket, covered his face Z
tn his hands and for fully five min =
IS said not a word. Then looking
rarely at Raymond he said; ssWho m
We you this letter ?n =,
Why, your brother, of course. ;,
q Raymond, "Does he'' 49, and
LIKING all at once that he had been v,
ped he quickly changed the ones :,