The Van Buren press., 1898-08-27

least partial peace from tne lear OF
soldiers watching to entr@p me to my
death. It is marvellous that ] was net
stark mad by that time. The next
morning as | wits getting out of the
barn l saw several infantry soldiers
out foraging. My actions had reused
their suspicious.
l wrote ON my slate that l was con-
federate peddler named Freeman, on
my way to Jackson to get new goods
for selling to the boys in gray.
30, that won't do" said one of the
soldiers. "I'Il bet he's another Yank
spy"
Then | learned from the conversa-
tion of my captors that two, of the
spies sent out from Grand Gulf at the
time l was had been caught and hanged
two days previously.
was taken to Gen. Kirby Smiths
tent. The general was informed that l
had been arrested without pass, and
that l was suspected of being a spy in
the guise of deaf and dumb peddler.
Gen. Smith said nothing.
Two or three officers in his tent went
and whispered to him. I knew they
were deyising schemes to catch me if l
were spy in Disguise.
One of the officers wrote me a mes
sage on bit Of paper While l was
writing an answer the man started
and ejacuated Look out!"
wonder NOW that my hand did not
start inyoluntarily. The officers and
others were looking at it closely.
For some minutes there was con-
versation on my slate concerning why
| had no pass in the confederate Enes,
whence I came, and where I was going.
I could see it was all done to disarm
me of any fear had.
An officer came forward and said:
This poor mute looks tired. It's
shame to keep hirl here" Then turn
ing to me he smilingly said: care you
hungry?'
1t was pretty ruse, but | simply
stared at his epaulets.
Then he tried to make me pale, and 1t
was frightful test.
was given seat while Gen. Smith
turned to other business, apparently
forgetful of me. The other officers sat
near me and smoked and chatted.
Presently they began talking about
some new orders that had been issued
to hang every federal spy Immediately
upon conviction.
They talked about how two spies
that had been hanged two days pre-
viously had acted as they squirmed in
death, and how the officers were look
ing for more spies to hang on the same
spot. My brain was in whirl. Every
thing swan before my eyes, but sat
with my face turned up to the military
diagrams and rules of camp on the
tent wall before me.
More whispering followed. I wrote
on my slate: 81 am hungry and tired.
Why do you keep me here?"
A colonel wrote: 1--WE think you are
deceiving us. If you are it will be death
to you" He watch ed my face as read
the lines.
wrote in reply: 81 have a very hard
time in getting living in this war. l
Please may go?"
In an hour was taken to shanty-
like affair and locked in. A young man
in federal uniform was lying on the
floor when | entered. He rose and
looking at me, said: "My goodness
gracious, have they got you, too?"
| looked vacantly at him. l wrote
| that ] was mute.
Then the stranger laughed and said:
so, it won't do you any good to keep
that trick up longer. We're going to
die together as union spies, and why
not be resigned to 1t? l was caught
| day before yesterday, and I've been
sentenced to be hanged. Now they'll
wait for you to go with me. Ha, ha,
We'll show the rebs how Yankee boys
can die game, won't we?"
l wrote on my slate that l was q
mute, and that it was useless to try
to communicate with me except by
signs or writing But the stranger
talked right along, and tried to appeal
| to my love for the union cause. He
would suddenly fling very natural
question at me.
Along in the middle of the night
when | was purposely breathing deep
and regularly, heard some one enter.
1t was pitch dark. was all attention,
but still breathing deep. l heard a
pistol drawn from his holder. Crash.
| bang. The weapon was fired an inch
above my face. 1t seemed as if light
ming had struck me.
At the same moment a dark lantern
was flashed in my face and my coun-
tenance studied.
1 slowly opened my eyes at the light
and rolled over as if to go to sleep.
! The pseudo union soldier went out
with the confederates. l could hear
them whispering about me and what
reason there was to suspect me as a
spy.
At seven o'clock next morning was
He'd to the cook tent and given meal.
My satchel was restored to me. A
colonel came and shook me by the
hand. He looked over my few remain
ing soaps, etc, and bought little.
Then turning to me he asked: "How
much are these?" l believe my lower
jaw did move. l was caught off my
guard for a trice. But / never spoke,
and the colonel was not looking at my
face.
He wrote me pass in the lines about
Jackson, and just as he handed it to
me he turned and said: "Let me see
that again." My hand almost moved
to obey such an agreeable gentleman,
but instead | folded the naner and