The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-05
FORREST ON THE WAR PATH.
How His Men Trapped q Border Spy.
Rouo tse Roskossse Ame1scaa.

tion, avoiding all engagements on
your journey. Pay no attention to
anything behind goa. I have that all
arranged. Tonight I trust to your
own Judgment ForuardG'
Lieutenant Bedford s orders we're to
report at the house Of our fair young
spy for orders.
As the detail rode away one of the
soldiers shouted out: "Boys, make
your wills and leave your saddle blan-
kets to your sueethearts. Another
muttered under his breath: 'SThat
daredevil Bedford would charge hell
itself if old Forrest ordered!"
Fhe ride was long and tedious
one, but at o'clock halt was called
and the destination had been reached.
Lieutenant Bedford repaired to the
young lady's home, as directed, and
he afterwards said he 'shad the devil
of time to make that little woman
believe he was who he was. For his
uniform consisted Of an old pair of
blue pants and Union coat, and he
was very suspicious looking object
even to himself.
The rir) Informed him of the lOca-
tion Of jenkins house, however, and
he was instructed by her as to the
best approaches, for it must be re-
membered the Federal camp was not a
quarter Of mile distant. Then, at
ter an hours rest, the horses were
left in charge Of one of the men with
instructions to fire his gun in case he
was attacked, and the rest started on
the perilous expedition, each taking a
circuitous route. Each man was ac-
curately instructed by Lieutenant
Bedford, the house was described IN
detail. and a certain position at the
different doors and windows was as
signed to each man. 1t was under
stocd that jenkins was not to escape,
and he must be taken before general
Forrest, dead or alive.
Then, turning to the largest man in
the detail, Bedford said: "You will
go with me, break down the door
while / stand ready to enter, and We II
get jenkins or have merry time try
ing Then to the others: ''Boys,
cool heads! 60 where have ordered
forward
Then. with the lights Of the enemy
camp AickeriDgin the distance, these
men set out to do or die. From the
windows of a Southern home far in
the rear the bright CLEAN Of lamp
was just visible to the eye, and the
soldiers knew that woman S prayers
were with them. One by one they ar
rived at the home Of jenkins, took
their stations, cooked their carbines,
and when all were in waiting the
word was passed to Bedford in a whis-
per: "All is ready
The door was broken in with a
crash, and in an instant Bedford was
on top of the bed in which jenkins
was supposed to be. His man struck
match, aud imagine the chagrin OF
the young lieutenant when he found
in mis- merciless grip the throat OF a
woman, her hair disheveled. her face
blue with fear and the tears brimmlng
from her eyes. 1t was jenkins wife
Her husband had heard the slight
noise on the outside and had attempt
ed to escape through rear window
but was held by the man stationed
there.
Not word was spoken above q
whisper, not Il gun was fired, and with
the prisoner we'll bound and guarded
the detail made their escape, but not
without spologising profusely to Mrs
jenkins for the rough handling she
had received at the hands of the lieu
tenant.
sit was one of the most daring
deeds of the war, said the old vet
eran, land we stayed about that place
long enough to convince Miss =
that he was no Dluejackct, and if yo1
ever go down in that part of the coun
try now, maybe you will stumble on ;
little family of Bedfords, and if yol
have the good luck. as | have, to en-
10y taste of good old Mississippi
hospitality in that home. maybe Bed
ford sill tell you how he came to mar
ry a. spy.
.'And what became of Jenkins
the reporter inquired.
Cob, he went where all good men q
his kind went in those days-ur
limb.
Letting Him Down.
Il am sclf-madc man. graudilo