The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-03-21
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hURING the time when the army q
IL the Potomac was gathered abou
Washington, learning the art Of war, {
confederate scout by the name Of Mar
shall, known fami4iarIy as Tom Mar.
shall, himself well know by his success
In penetrating the union lines, was com.
mitting depredations, and obtainire
information of our movements for the
use CT 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 circumyent him, but he had
bafiied all such attempts by his own
GINNING 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 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.I
can go to Berk'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 Reads, and
some distance down the Leesburg rail-
road. Gen. Blenker's forces were at
the outskirts doing picket duty. Berk's
Station was u miles from Alexandria,
and it was from this place that Marshall
was known most frequently to come.
His 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 tee
graph Office there in the depot Col.
Baker passed on horseback through
federal pickets with no very great diff
ficulty, and rode on to a grove of pines
within about two miles of Berk's Sta
tion, and between the pickets Of the
two armies. He then put on a confed-
crate jacket and a slouched hat which
partly concealed his face. He was eff
fectually disguised, and had the general
appearance of a confederate soldier
lie tied his horse to a tree in dense
forest of pines, and walked deliberately
into the village. He strolled ieisurely
into the railroad depot and listened to
tie conversation Of the people around
about. There were about 1,200 south
crn troops in the vicinity. and numbers
CT these We're Longing about the Place.
The colonel entered into conversation
with one of the coufederates, who said
his name was 10, and went with the sci
Tier upstairs to the telegraph Office,
which was in the second story of the
building. The room was full of southern
1fiicers and soldiers, ard the colonel
Sas not noticed except as one of them.
He had been there about half an hour,
when, happening to be near the teIe-
graph apparatus, which was in one cor
Ter of the room, he heard the operator
all out:
Where is Capt. Ritchie?p
The captain came forward, and the
operator handed him a dispatch. He
danced over it moment, and then
allied the attention of the soldiers pres
mt while he read it to them. They
PRESSED forward to hear it-Col. Baker
.mong the rest. 1t was a dispatch from
he provost marshal at Manassas, stat
ng that information had been received
hat a northern spy had passed through
he lines and was supposed to be at or
lear Berk's Station. a full. though not
cry accurate description of Col. Baker
vas given, and every effort was urged
or his capture.
Wen get Tom Marshall out" said
ne of the soldiers, land he can find
he Yankee if anybody can
Col Baker took his cue from this.
lie caught 10 by the shoulder and
ooked as though he thought of some
hing important.
I'll bet anything" said he, "that |
now where that fellow is. As was
ut near the line I saw a man sneaking
mong the pines who answers this de-
cription. didn't think anything of it 3
I the time, but now call it to mind
hat must be the very spy they are
for"
Lets go after him." said 10.
she must be pretty well armed" said
oil. Baker. Suppose we. get Tom Mar
hal to go along with u.s.
That's just the idata," said 10. /
Col. Baker went part of the way to
house and sent 10 on to call
I'M out. Marshall was at home, and
ad heard from some soldiers who had
lst stopped at his house that search
as being made for spy. When 10
Did him that there was man outside
no had seen the Yankee his spirit of
overture took possession OF him, and
ON the belt containing his six
looter he came out and met Col.
aker.
The latter greeted him as though he
new him, and gave him minute par;ic-
lars Of where he had seen the supeeted
erson he had mentioned to 10, and ex-
he ani-