The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-09
A SOLDIERS DOUBLE.
DY CHARLES d. LEWIS.

Confederates and brought them int
camp. Ny own company was a par
Of the Federal force, but as 1 was ol
detached duty that week / was no
with them. The first / knew of thl
capture was when l heard the story
that had deserted to the Confederate
and been reeaptured and would be shot
/ visited company headquarters t
ascertain what the talk meant ant
there met with a strange reception.
was there, wearing a blue uniform
and yet was in the guardhOuse hal
a mile away wearing the butternut
I had been on duty at division head
quarters, and yet l had been captured
on the advance lines 1 was at ones
placed under arrest, and it was an houI
or more before the mystery was solved.
Then it was found that one OF the
Confederate prisoners was my double.
As the case excited a good deal of COM
ment at the time l viii give you the
full particulars. My double was 8
member of an Alabama regiment.
When placed side bg side, We were
twin brothers. Each of us was p
years old; each feet inches high; each
weighed lS7 pounds. Our eyes and
hair were of the same color. Even our
voices were the same, except that he
spoke with more of a drawl. The name
of the young man was John Wake
field. and we were born 1000 miles
apart and were in no way related.
We were as much astonished as the
officers and surgeons who were called
in 10 gaze at US. No twin brothers
ever bore a closer resemblance, and
they declared that even our gait was
the same.
l had not yet recovered from my as
constituent when the suggestion was
made that l go into the Confederate
camp as a spy on the strength of the
wonderful resemblance. l was g.gen
three days in which to pump Wake
field. He did not know my object, or
| should credit him with having told
me less, although he was tired of the
war and rather glad he had been cap
tured.
1 first got his family history COM
plete, then the town from which he
hailed, the names of many people and
the situation Of streets aad public
buildings, then the names ofhis officers
and comrades and incidents of cam
paigning. Having nothing else to do,
and my aim being to acquire infOrma-
ton, got from him almost every in
cident OF his life in those three days
and nights
As my life would depend upon my
being thoroughly posted, we canvass
ed the most trivial incidents of his life
at home and as soldier. He was a
ready talker and had a good memory,
and of course these things helped me
wonderfully. When was quite ready,
l took his suit of clothes complete, and
he was given another.
Then / was taken down to the front
aud made bolt for it. In other words,
one Of the Confederate prisoners es-
capped and dashed across the space
which separated the opposing lines.
Not half dozen men were let into the
secret, and as 1 ran was fired upon
by half a regiment.
They had promised me differently,
and / still cherish bitter cling
against the officer who had charge OF
afairs and Obliged me TO run such a
risk. The bullets whizzed overhead
aud tore up the earth at my feet, and it
was nothing short Of miracle that |
escaped being hit.
L ran at full speed straight for the
Confederate lines, and, on dashing over
a breastwork, l found myself in the
midst of a Louisiana brigade of in
fantry. A colonel questioned me as to
my name, regiment, when captured,
ETC., and 1 answered so promptly that
[ supposed everything was all right.
It wasn't, however. Federal spies had
played the game before, and Confeder-
ate wit had become sharpened.
l was sent to the headquarters of
General Mahone, vino was subsequent
ly celebrated in Virginia and national
politics. He asked me the same ques-
tions which the colonel had put to me
an l many others in addition. l saw
thas he was suspicious, and, Drawing
all at one stroke, requested that my
captain be sent for.
The Alabama regiment to which l
was supposed TO belong was stationed
two miles away, and it was about Q
o'clock before the captain arrived.
Previous to his appearance / had been
asked his name, which l gave correct
ly. and had also described his person.
When be reached headquarters, / was
sent for, and as l stood before him and
two or three headquarters officers Gen
eral Malone asked:
Captain Thorn, this man claims to
belong to your company. Is he q
member or not?p
"Yes, sir" was the prompt reply.
whats his name?"
"John Wakefield, sir"
"When was he captured?"
''Four days ago, along with several
men,"
"Are you positive that this is your
man?'
Certain, sir. knew him before he
enlisted, and he has been in my COM
pany for year"
That settled it. We were dismissed,
and / followed Captain Thorn TO the
regiment. On the way related the
particulars Of my capture and escape,
and he seemed considerably puzzled
that General Malone should have been
so suspicious OF me. There were about
40 men in Company ID. They all gath
cred around me as appeared and gave
me welcome, and young man named
David Canny, who had been Wake
fields terminate. pat his arms around
me and shed tears in his gladness over
my return.
/ had learned my part so thoroughly
that was ''at homer from the first.
Next day met every member of the