The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-13

morning as | was getting out Of the
barr | saw several infantry soldiers out
foraging. My actions had reused their
suspicious.
l wrote on my slate that / was q con-
federate pedler named Freeman, on
my way to Jackson to get new goods
for selling to the boys in gray.
20, that won't DO" said one of the
soldiers. "Ill bet he's another Yank
spy"
Then 1 learned from the converse
ton of my captors that two of the spies
sent out from Grand Gulf at the time 1
was had been caught and hanged two
days previously.
l was taken to Gen. Kirby Smiths
tent. The general was informed that l
had been arrested without a pass, and
that l wss suspected of being a spy in
the guise of a deaf and dumb pedler.
Gen. Smith said nothing.
Two or three officers in his tent went
and whispered to him. 1 knew they
were devising schemes to catch me IL |
were a spy in disguise.
One of the officers wrote me a mes
sage GU a bit of paper. While / was
writing an answer, the man started and
CALCULATED, "Look out!"
L wonder now that my hand did not
start ~involuntarily. The officers and
others were looking at it closely.
For some minutes there was a con
versation on my slate concerning why
l had no pass in the confederate lines,
whence l came, and where l was going.
l could see it was all done to disarm
me of any fear l had.
An officer came forward and said :
"This poor mute looks tired. It's a
shame to keep him here" Then turn
ing to me smilingly said, "Are you
hungry"
1t was a pretty ruse, but 1 simply
stared at his epaulets.
Then he tried to make me pale, and
it was a frightful test.
l was given a seat while Gen. Smith
turned to other business, apparently
forgetful of me. The other officers sat
near me and smoked and chatted.
Presently they began talking about
some new orders that had been issued
to hang every federal spy Immediately
upon conviction.
They talked about how two spies
that had been hanged two days previ-
ously had acted as they squirmed in
death, and how the officers were look
ing for more spies TO hang on the same
spot. My brain was in a whirl. Every
thing swan before my eyes, but 1 sat
with my face turned up to the military
diagrams and rules of camp on the tent
wall before me.
More whispering followed. 1 wrote
on my slate: 81 am hungry and tired.
Why do you keep me hert?"
A colonel wrote: "We think you are
%deceiving US. If you are it will be
death to you" He watched my face
as 1 read the lines.
l wrote in reply II have a very hard
time getting a living in this war. l am
with the confeds with all my soul.
Please may l go?"
In an hour l was taken to a sbanty-
like affair and locked in. A young
man in federal uniform was lying on
the floor when l entered. He rose,
and looking at me, said, "My goodness
gracious, have they got you, too?"
L looked vacantly at him. l wrote
that l was mute.
Then the stranger laughed and said
10, it won't do you any good to keep
that trick up longer. We're going to
die together as union spies, and why
not be resigned to il? 1 was caught
day before yesterday, and I've been
sentenced to be hanged. Now they'll
wait for you TO go with me. Ha, ha,
We'll show the rebs how Yankee boys
can die game, won't we?"
1t was a trying moment, and l did
want TO open my heart and mouth to
such a jolly federal man, while my case
seemed pretty hopeless. 1 could not
tell what opinion the men at General
Smiths headquarters had formed Of
my actions.
l wrote on my slate that 1 was a mute
and that it was useless to try to com
municate with me except by signs OF
writing. But the stranger talked right
along, and tried to appeal to my love
for the union aus He would sud
denly fling q very natural question al
me.
Along in the middle of the nigh,
when l was purposely breathing deer
and regularly, l heard some one enter.
1t was pitch dark. l was all attention
but still breathing deep. heard a pis
toll drawn from his holster. Crash
bang! The weapon was fred an inch
above my face. It seemed as if light
ming had struck me.
At the same moment a dark lantern
was flashed in my face and my coune'
nance studied.
l slowly opened my eyes at the ligh,
and rolled over as IT to 60 to sleep.
The pseudo Union soldier went out
with the Confederates. l could heal
them whispering about me and wha,
reason there was to suspect me as g
spy.
At sever O'Clock next morning ]
was led to the cook tent and given 6
meal. My satchel was restored to me
A colon ! came and shook me by the
hand. He looked over my few remain
ing soaps, etc., and bought a little