The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-15

| The officers generally talked in low
| tones, but sometimes would become ex-
cited, forget that there were darkies
around, and speak their minds freely.
When had been there a few hours, had
obtained the very inferma ton for which /
| had been sent. had heard the plan OF
| the morrow discussed, the number OF
| troops at several Important points, and
| the number expected TO arrive during the
| night; and this, too, from the lips of the
| Commanding General and his staff.
| The rebel lines were guarded so strongly
| and so faithfully, that did not dare to
| return that night, but waited anxiously
| Tor the dawn Of the morrow.
| Early on the following morning, while
| assisting the cook to carry in breakfast /
| removed Il coat from camp-Stooi which
stood in my way, and q number OF papers
fell from its pockets, which instantly
! transferred to my own. | then hurried
/ any arrangements in the tent, lest the
documents should be missed before ]
could make my escape. Breakfast was
announced, and suddenly disappeared.
| Going toward the picket-Iine nearest
| the Federals, and seeing an old house III
| the distance, went and hid myself in the
cellar. Soon, firing commenced in differ
ent directions, and grew hotter and hotter,
tuntil the shot and shell began to shake
! the old house in which l had taken
refuge, and by and by it came tumbling
down around me-
| part of the floor was broken down, but
still remained unframed, and did not
| attempt to leave the ruins. | remembered
that COED old Elijah remained in the cave
during the tempest, the earthquake and
| the fire, and afterward came the still
small voice. So | waited patiently fer the
still small Voice, and felt secure; knowing
! that the Lord. was sure refuge, ana
could protect me there as well as in q
drawing room in the quiet city.
| 1t was not long before deliverance came,
a d ha 70 hal m fall hacI.
and take new position. When the firing
ceased, | was safely within the Federal
| lines. | went Immediately to Headquar-
| tcrS, and reported myself as having Just
| lation OF nay experience, and delivered the
| documents which / had brought from
| rebel Headquarters. These proved to be
orders intended fer the different corps
commanders, with instructions how and
| when to move, so as to act in concert with
| the entire plan Of the morrow, and insure
the capture OF Washington.
During those battles and skirmishes of
| Pepe's memorable campaign, visited the
rebel Generals three times al their own
campfres, within period Of 10 days, and
| came away with valuable information,
unsupported and unmolested.
SECOND BULL RUN
While the second battle of Bull Run
was III progress | was u part of the time
with the ConfederateS, and then back
again to the Federals, having made my
escape while the battle ragged most
| fiercely by concealing myself in a ravine,
and watching until the rebels charged
upon battery. While they were en-
gagged in q hand -to-hand fight escaped,
| unobserved by friend or foe.
| The last of these visits was made the
| night before the battle Of Chantilly, in
| which the brave kearny was killed. |
was within a few rods Of him when he
fell, and was in the act of returning to the
| Unien camp under cover OF the extreme
darkness Of tEat never be forgotten
night. / saw him ride up 10 the line, but
| supposed him to be a rebel officer until
| the pickets fired at him. and even then
| thought they had fred at ne, until saw
him fall from his horse and heard their
| Explanations OF Joy when they discovered
who he was; for the 0ne-armed General
was known throughout both armies for
his bravery and brilliant career, and the
name of Kearny had become word of
terror to the rebels.
When learned who was their victim,
regretted that il had not been me instead
of him whom they had discovered and
shot. would willingly have died to save
such a General to the Union army But
he was taken, while |, poor, insignificant
creature, was left; but left with a heart
and soul as fully devoted to the Union
ability to accomplish the same results.
BURYING A PICKET.
lost no time in making good my escape
while the attention OF the pickets was
drawn in another direction. When | came
to our lines ! found it almost as difficult
to get through as | had found it on the
other side. The night was so dark | could
not make any sign by which the pickets
could recognize me, and i was in the
depths Of the forest, where the rustling OF
the leaves and the cracking of dry
branches under my feet betrayed my foot |
steps as | went along. However, after |
crawling up pretty close TO the line, and |
getting behind IA tree to screen me from
the bullets, ii they should fire, managed |
to make myself understood. The picke t |
said, "All right" and passed through in |
safety.
Coming within the lines, i saw a group |
OF men kneeling ON the ground digging a |
grave with their bayonets, with the leas t |
possible noise; for the picIset-lin were |
within half musketshot OF each other |
One of their comrades had been killed |
and they were thus preparing his last |
resting place.
They buried him darlly at dead of night, |!
The turf with their bayonets turning"