The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-02-26
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@ One Of the Adventures of Col Baker in N
the Civil War "
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nURING the time when the army of
IL the Potomac was gathered about
Washington, learning the art of war, a
confederate scout by the name of Mar
shall, known famiiiarly as Tom Mar
shall, himself we'll know by his success
in penetrating the union lines, was com
uniting depredatiops, and obtaining
information of our movements for the
use Of the south. His exploits in this
capacity were of the most audacious
character, and every effort that had been
made toward his capture had signally
failed. Various ingenious plans had
been laid to circumvent him, but he had
baffled all such attempts by his own
cunning and courage, He would very
frequently come into the heart of Wash
ington in open daylight, leave some in
dubitable evidence of his presence, and
escape just in time to do so with safety;
having, in some mysterious manner,
gone back and forth through our lines
and so disguised himself that his iden-
tity had not for a moment been sus-
pected,
Col. Baker, who had heard much of
the doings of this scout, was one day
listening to a recital of one of his fear
less adventures of the day before in en-
tering Washington.
When the story was told Col. Baker
said:
"If Tom Marshall can get into Wash
ington and go back to Berk's Station
can go to Berl's Station and bring Tom
Marshall with me to Washington"
Col. Baker got upon his horse and
rode down in Virginia. The army ex-
tended across Balls Cross Roads, and
some distance down the Leesburg rail-
road Gen. Blenker's forces were at
the outskirts doing picket duty. Berk's
Station was 12 miles from Alexandria,
and it was from this place that Marshall
was known most frequently to come.
Ills house was only short distance out
into the confederate country. The
southerners were running the cars as
far as Berk's Station, and had a tele-
graph Office there in the depot. Col.
Baker passed ON horseback through
federal piekets with no very great diff
fieulty, and rode on to a grove of pines
within about two miles of Berk's Sta
ten, and between the piekets of the
two armies. He then put on confed-
crate jacket and a slouched hat which
partly concealed his face. He was eff
feetually disguised, and had the general
appearance of a confederate soldier.
He tied his horse to a tree in a dense
forest of pines, and walked deliberately
into the village. He strolled leisurely
into the railroad depot and listened to
the conversation of the people around
about. There were about 1890 south
ern troops in the vicinity, and numbers
of these were Longing about the place.
The colonel entered into conversation
with one of the confederates, who said
his name was 10, and went with the sol
der upstairs to the telegraph office,
which was in the second story of the
| DullulIlR. llt yum W lhlA VI ~ -
officers and soldiers, and the colonel
was not noticed except as one of them.
He had been there about half an hour,
when, happening to be near the tele-
graph apparatus, which was in one cor
ner of the room, he heard the operator
call out:
"Where is Capt. Ritchie?
The captain came forward, and the
operator handed him dispatch. He
glanced over it moment, and then
called the attention of the soldiers pres
ent while he read it to them. They
pressed forward to hear it-Col. Baker
among the rest. 1t was a dispatch from
the provost marshal at Manassas, stat
ing that information had been received
that a northern spy had passed through
the lines and was supposed to be at or
near Berk's Station. A full, though not
very accurate description of Col. Baker
was given, and every effort was urged
| for his capture.
"We'll get Tom Marshall out" said
one of the soldiers, rand he can find
/ the Yankee if anybody em." .. .5---r
I Col. Baker took shis sue from this.
T He caught 10 bXs the shoulder and
r looked as though he thought of some
| thing important -. .......
! "Tll bet anything" said he, that I
know where that fellow is. As | was
] out near the Incl saw man sneaking
among the pines who answers this de-
seription. l didn't think anything of it
at the time, but now l call it to mind,
that must be the very spy they are
watching for"
Lets go after him." said 10.
"He must be pretty well armed" said
Col. Baker. suppose we get Tom Mar
shall to 90 along with US"
That's just the ida-a," saidJo.
Col. Baker went part of the way to
Marshall's house and sent 10 on TO call
! him out. Marshall was at home, and
! had heard from some soldiers who had
lust stopped at his house that search
was being made for a spy. When Jo
told him that there was a man outside
who had seen the Yankee his spirit of
adventure took possession of him, and
buekling on the belt containing his SIX
shooter he came out and met Col.
Baker. s.
The latter greeted him as though he
! knew him, and gave him minute pariic-
ulars Of where he had seen the supected
persou he had mentioned 10 10, and eX-
planned wherein the description coin
| riled. He was careful to color the de