The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
ORDEAL OF A UNION SPY.
4 sERG FAINT VINO PLATED DUArArR
AMONG THE CCINFED CRATES.
Pistols Pied, Questions Asked suddsnIy. and
May Artinces USED 10 Take Him ~ sur
late Prison ana Threat
encd, but Never Pitts ~ched-FtnAIiy Let Go.

May ArttuCea Naea 10 Thke HIN ~ SUR
~priuc-Thrown late Prison ana Threat
encd. but Never Pitts ched-FtnaIIy Lot Go.
From the San Rranctsco cdt.
Col. William W. Jefhords of Company A,
Thirty.thlrd Regiment Of Pennsylvania Volun-
teers, wns sent South Ms a spy under ~instruc-
lions from Gen. Grant in 1863. Jefrords was
First Sergeant in CompanyND, Seventh Pennsyl.
vania Volunteers, when he was called upon to do
the work Of obtaining information in tho lines
Of the enemy. FollowinR,is his account Of tho
undertaking:
'Col. Raymond told inc that Gen. Grant
wished to talk with the men who were TO go as
spies. Tho Colonel led us about half a mile
away to n dilapldated house'whero Grant made
his temporary headquarters Gen. Grant left a
table full Of maps and drawings, and came to
speak with us In the yard. He explained that
Wo had been chosen because Of our reputation
for GOODNESS. nerve, and daring. He told us that
II any ono of us had any hes itancy or doubt Of
our courage in engaging in the spy work in n
region and at a time when we would be sum-
mArlly hanged II caught, thntAono should decline
the service then and there.
THAT afternoon each of usuwas instructed in
the particular information lie was to get, and
the respective part no was to play as a civilian
In the enemy's camp. had tho task of observ-
ing some typographical facts and seeing what
artillery Gen. Johnston's army had. l was in
utructed to be a deaf mute. The surgeon on
Gen. Grierson's staff had been the head OF a
deaf and dumb school at Cleveland. and he spent
several hours in drilling me rs q dummy. was
20 20 over to jackson with n satchel full Of
shoe blacking, shaving soap, paper collars, and
notions, apparently earning my livelihood by
Belling my wares to Confederate soldiers. A
pencil and slate were my iuode of communica.
ton. started out from the Grand Gulf late on.
the night of May 8. l knew that i would be sus-
spected of being n spy, and that the least indica-
zion that my hearing was at all good would for
felt my life. l was within the enemy's lines by
noon tho next day. 1 ate under n cowshed.
while tho rain drizzlcd down. In the afternoon
] was going along n road near a hamlet known
as Griggsby's. I heard n troop OF cavalry COM
ing down the road behind me-. l put on a blank
expression and trudged along with my black
Batchel over my shoulder. A Lieutenant rode
up to me and called:
"'Hello. there! Where are you going1'
Il had had time to prepare myself for this'test.
] started, as il at the appearance of the horse
under my eyes, and looked, vacnntly up at the
cavnlrymnn, lie repeated his question. In a
second ! had my pocket slate out, and handed 1t
courtoously to the officer. Tho others in the
troop laughed and said:
"'Oh, he's a fool dummy
The Lieutenant wrote on myIslate, Who are
you and where are you golngP l wrote that
/ was Daniel Freeman. and that / was bedding
for n living. Several of the troGps remarked
that it was foolish to waste time on such a dumb
mutton. head as !. for I'd be caught anyhow,
Il saw a camp Of fully 1000 Confederates
down IN a valley; knew that my presence
% NIpymen be a Te9q IF wdS al f be- to3Iy TT g9 b 6y the a c Say1
II i were really seeking trade. | was stopped
by &y = senti mel S SSSH n the on s% mY I wT Ts i for him
something about lunkhead dummies wander
t so;t ae sIssv en- l SSr m sim TO- 4 tRs S SSrsniG of the Inc by Sya thn
The sentinel explained that l was deaf and
den9IS; R Rna wG that " tbey role e6 of d G1t1SGT n %as G not
uncommon with up.to-datc spies,
"'Stand over there n second till l finish this
said he to me, in the most artful, oh-hand, easy
manner;
stepped a foot. But I caught myself. while the
cold chills chased up and down my spine at my
almost forgetfuIness, and resolved not to risk
Your hand is bloody said he. turning care
lessly to me. l stood like a post, looking va
Some of the cayolrymen ! had seen on the
road came in. aud knew from the expression
ne tested for my deafness. i stood indifferent to
my, environment. looking at a picture on the
ing was being prepared at my rear. Suddenly
ono Of the cavalrymen drew his sword and
Dam this Yankee: I've u good mind to put
him to tho. wall right here
"'Stab him!' cried another.
II knew that my every muscle and nerve was
being, watched by every one in the apartment.
The least twitch or turn of the head would
Hes about as dumb as they make en- said
the officer of the guard when 1t was seen how
obi yious was to, all their tests of my hearing:
Isn't 1t strange that such a poor cuss should
go peddling around the lines OF warfare. He'll
him some of these days
Il was dismissed. | went peddling about the
camp, all the time keeping my eyes open for
typographical and armament information. Two
my's country. had met hundreds Of Confed-
crate soldiers on the way, but the fact that I
had passed an outlying camp all right was an
indication that l was "A genuine fool dummy. l
got II mass of and had hourly sim.
Pie tests Of my hearing a nI%6 or rather a { q. my nonIhSsr.
vous prostration from the strain OF ceaseless
precaution j had to exercise lest ! reveal my
hearing. l was standing in the door of a shanty
cookhouse in a camp and without a moments
water over my head and shoulders. l shudder
now when l think how near l came to cusslng
the Confederate soldiers who stood about to
watch me-. Instead. of saying a word | gurgled
a lot of inharmonious sounds of fright and
looked the more like a thing of wood.
ground, mechanically showing my soups and
saw by a soldiers eye that some test OF my
the click Of a pistol heing brought to cock. The
weapon was discharged within three inches of
more than then. i slowly turned my head and
booked inquiringly about at the smoke of the
"When ! reached Con. Johnston's main camp
about jackson. ! knew that crucial tests would
the information j WISHED for Gen. Grant and
my plans were how, TO get back TO the Federal
any camp, where I could have at least partial
peace from the fear of soldiers watching to en-:
was not STARK mad by that time. The next
morning as l was getting out of the barn ! saw
actions had ro1sod their sHspicionS.S i wrote
on my slate that | was a Confederate peddler
named Freeman, on my way to jackson to get
new goods for selling 10 the boys in gray;
% oh. that wont do said one Of the soldiers.
Ill bet he's another Yank spy
"Then / learned from, the conversation OF my
captors that two of the spies sent out from
eaInght and hanged two DAYS previom slyl Try and s0dt
Imagine what my thoughts were as the sol
oilers marched me- across Il cotton field to the
headquarters. In my four years OF warfare
LiWt was the nearest ] ever saw death before
me. II seemed perfectly homeless to brave out
my's.iines, without a pass in my pocket ana no
one to women for me. ! was taken to Ger.