Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-21

engrayer out of work and when tools
were placed in his hands he knew how
to use them. He said he had done GER
tain work in Baltimore, and his state
ment was found to be correct There
We're lame spots in his story, however,
and when he was sent to the Old Cap
itOl prison a Southern refugee was
placed in the cell with him to gain his
confidence. When nothing came of this
after four weeks the man was turned
loose and released from espionage. One
day, a week later, he was at the office
of the prOvost-marshal for a pass TO
renew his peddling excursions when an
escaped negro slave who had reached
the city only an hour before, caught
sight CT him and called out a greeting
The negro had been the slave of the
spy's brother in Virginia. He explicit
ly identified him, and later on it was
proved that the man had been engaged
for a year in sending information from
Washington and the front. He was
sentenced to death, but before the day
of execution he committed suicide in
his cell.
The escape Of a man named Garrett
son, member of an Ohio regiment,
from the fate of a spy was as curious
a case as you will ever find in print
Having volunteered in the spring of
1863 to penetrate Lees camp, he took
the role Of an escaped Confederate
prisoner. He dressed in an old suit of
butternut, committed his programme
to memory, and then boldly set out for
the enemy's lines. There had been half
dozen skirmishes along the front dur
ing the past MONTH with d number of
CCnfederates captured and Garretson
was posted as to regiments and officers.
Re had decided to become a member Of
the Fifth Alabama, and he took the
name Of a prisoner captured from that
regiment. He did not at all resemble
the man in looks or build. and there
was a difference CT five years in their
ages, but he depended On cheek TO pull
him through. On reaching the pickets
he set forth his claim, and was passed
On to report to the provost-marshal
and be sent TO his regiment. So far as
GaIretsOn knew. that regiment might
be the very one which received him
He soon learned, however, that it was
stationed some miles away. His story
was unCUestiOned at first, but as he
was ready to be forwarded the Colonel
Of a Georgia regiment sent for him to
ask about men in his command who
had been captured at the same time.
As the spy was not posted about them
he fell under suspicion. When taken to
brigade headquarters for examination
he made a better showing, but was held
that his regiment might be communi-
Gated with. Then some very remark
able things happened. The Colonel at
! once declared GarretsOn all right. and
+ he was released and passed on. When
I he reported to his company he was re-
+ ceived without protest. and it was a
couple Of days before mis- identity as a
I Confederate was questioned
/ GaTetson he'd the advantage in the
fact that he man he represented was a
new recruit, who had been captured
within four or five days of his Joining
He put bold face on the matter, but
was placed under arrest and subjected
( to an examination lasting all day.
This was before the Colonel. It seemed
/ that five recruits had come down to-
I gether. and while they lived within
( fifteen miles CT enc another at home
they were not previously acquainted.
I Two of these man were positive that
| Garrets0n was all right, while the
other two emDhaticaliy declared him
an impcster. He was asked about the
town he came fron-the streets. the
people and the buildings ard his an-
swers we're fairly satisfactory. He