The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-01

tell them that the ankeeS are IN the lo"h.
They reach the place, to find it swarming with
rebel soldiers.
CHAPTER VII.
Csptured-Accused of Being Ensine-Thieves.
Strongly Guarded Taken TO Bridgeport.
Exciting Interview with Gen. Lesdbetter.
Thrown into Prison.
Wood proposed that we should start and
run, but / saw that course would not an
swer, so we determined TO put on bold
front. and take our chances though We knew
we ran great risk. We met and spoke with
q number of soldiers. Some of the officers
noticed us carelessly, while others paid no
attention to us as we passed them. We
went into store and bought some tobacco,
and inquired for some other trifilng things,
and then started off as unconcernedly as II
we were a couple of country fellows, accus-
toned to visiting the town. We had gone
some little distance, when we were met 10y an
officer who stopped us and said that he would
have to inquire our business there, and who
we were. These were pointed questions, but
We knew it would be necessary TO meet them.
We told him who we were and all about 1T,
and he appeared well satisfied with our an
swers and was about TO dismiss US, when,
unfortunately for us, another man, think
citizen, came up, and. pointing to me, said !:
"That is one of the rascals that was
here last night. He rode through the town.
cutting ali the fiourishes he knew how.
know him. He dare not deny it, either"
In explanation of this mans singular, I'M
expected, and to Us fatal accusation, will
say that / afterwards learned that squad
of daring troopers from the 4th Ohio Cav.
had, on the previous night, made reckless
dash into the place. cutting and slashing on
all sides, stampeding the whole town, and
running out the few rebel cavalry stationed
there, who supposed that Gen. Mitcheis
whole column was upon them. After doing
this the troopers galloped out again, and left
the bewiidered rebels as much surprised be-
cause of their leaving as they had by their
unex pected coming. This also explains the
stories told us by the flying iugitives, who
had by their fright, beguiled US into the
rebel camp.
As soon as we were thus detained, ! d.
rected all my attention to destroying the map
In my possession, by teari>g it to pieces ia
my pocket. dropping portions of it, whenever
opportunity offered, and chewing up much
OF ii, until L finally succeeded, without de-
lection, in disposing of the whole of it. Had
this map been discovered in my possession,
it would have been strong evidence against
Us, and it was, therefore, great relief when
the las: vestige Of it had disappeared.
. This mans story ended all hope of our
getting away, and we were prisoners sec
ond time. No sooner was attention once
directed to us than we were surrounded, and
scores of fellows saw in our appearance
something suspicious. We told the most
plausible story we could invent, but it was
of no use. They now searched us and found
our reyolvers, which was evidence against
rs, but, fortunately, found nothing more
calculated to reveal our true characters. Ii
made but little difference, however, in the
end, for they were in a high state of excite
ment at that time, and in spite of our pro-
testations OF innocence, We were bundled of
under guard, put on a hand-car and run up
TO Bridgeport, where the commanding officer
was stationed.
We reached Bridgeport soon after dark,
and there We were again stripped and
searched. Boots, hats, coats, socks and
every undergarment underwent the strictest
scrutiny. They could find nothing, and
were about on stand as to what judgment
20 pass on our cases, when fate again turned
against us by interposing a circumstance
which ended all hope in our favor. An ex-
clted fellow, who came and stuck his head
in among he gaping crowd, who were star
ing at as, declared, in loud voice that we
belonged TO Andrews's spies and train
thieves.
All eyes were turned on him instantly
my own amtn g them. OF course, he felt
bound TO back up the assertion, although
believe he lied; at least, such were my feel.
ings. The spirit of resentment rose up
within me, until j could have killed him
without conjunction, if had possessed the
power, for in the next breath he said: 81
know those fellows! / saw them on the
train!n
The commanding officer stared at us with
look of exnltant surprise, and said: "I'll
bet any money that these are the two
men We have been looking after so long
These are two Of the villains that have no:
been captured
We were at once taken to the guard-house
and strong guard, with loaded muskets
and fixed bayoneis, encircled us during the
SntiEe night, at least SO soldiers performing
that duty. With their noise we could gel
but little Sleep and escape was wholly out
OF the question, although we kept vigilanl
watch for such an opportunity.
In all probability they had telegraphed Il
Gen. Leadbetter that night. who was al
Chattanooga, for he was at Bridgeport the
next morning, and our first acquaintance
with that official took place while we wer.
cooking our rations, some raw pork, at {
fire near the guard-house. While thus en-
gagged he came up 10 Us, and seemed anxiou,
to crafty a fiendish sort of curiosity anG
satisfy himself, on actual view, that we were
the right men. He took off our hats anG
carefully examined our compilations. He a
once pronounced us Yankees. He said W.
had been accustomed to wearing the little
round regulation caps in the Federal army
Said he: These fellows are q very good
prize. The last one of them shall he hung
toon
He told US that Andrews, the leader of tn,
gang. was to be hung that day, snd, prob