The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-06-30

i Slept III q DdTu OuC AlS LII, ASAO'S
from any camp, where l could have at
least partial peace from the fear OF
soldiers watching to entrap re to my
death. It is marvellous that was not
stark mad by that time. The next
morning as was getting out OF the
barn I saw several infantry soldiers
out foraging. Ny actions had reused
their suspicious.
Iwrote on my slate that I was con-
federate peddler named Freeman, on
my way to jackson to get new goods
for selling to the boys in gray.
30, that won't do" said one OF the
soldiers. ''I'll bet he's another Yank
spy"
Then I learned from the converse
ton of my captors that two OF the
spies sent out from Grand Gulf at the
time was had been caught and hanged
two days previously.
was taken to Gen. Kirby Smiths
tent. The general was informed that
had been arrested without a pass, and
that was suspected of being spy in
luc RulSc VI a uCdl IIO RCou1SA'
Gen. Smith said nothing.
Two or three officers in his tent went
and whispered to him. I knew they
were devising schemes to catch me if !
were a spy in disguise.
One of the officers wrote me mes
sage on bit Of paper. While I was
writing an answer the man started
and ejaculated: "Look out!" Q
I wonder NOW that my hand did not
start involuntarily. The officers and
others were looking at it closely.
For some minutes there was con-
versation on my slate concerning why
I had no pass in the confederate lines
whence came, and where was going.
1 could see it was all done to disarm
me of any fear had.
An officer came forward and said:
"This poor mute looks tired. It's a
shame to keep hirl here" Then turn
ing to me he smilingly said: "Are you
hungry"
1t was a pretty ruse, but I simply
stared at his epaulets.
Then he tried to make me pale, and it
was frightful test.
was given a seat while Gen. Smith
turned 10 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 pre-
viously 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 I sat
with my face turned up to the military
diagrams and rules of camp on the
tent wall before me.
More whispering followed. I wrote
on my slate: II am hungry and tired.
Why do you keep me here?'
A colonel wrote: eve think you are
deceiving us. If you are it will be death
to YOU" He watched my face as read
the lines.
Iwrote in reply: "Ihave very hard
time in getting living in this war. 1
am with the confeds with all my soul.
Please may go?"
In an hour was taken to shanty-
like affair and locked in. A young man
i'll 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. 1 wrote
that l was mute.
Then the stranger laughed and said:
20, 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 it? 1 was, caught
Gay 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 bows
can die game, won't we?"
l wrote on my slate that I was a
mute, and that it was useless to try
to communicate with me except b.
signs or writing. But the stranger
talked right along, and tried to appeal
to my love for the union cause. He
would suddenly fling a very natural
question at me.
Along in the middle of the night
when l was purposely breathing deep
and regularly, heard some one enter.
1t was pitch dark. was all attention.
but still breathing deep. l heard a
pistol drawn from his holder. Crash.
bang. The weapon was fired an inch
above my face. 1t seemed as if light
ming had struck me.
At the same moment a dark lantern
was flashed in my face and my coun-
tenaEce studied.
| slowly opened my eyes at the light
and rolled over as if to go to sleep.
The pseudo union soldier went out
with the confederates. could hear
them whispering about me and what
reason there was to suspect me as a
spy.
AT seven o'clock next morning was
led to the cook tent and given a meal.
My satchel was restored to me. A
colonel came and shook me by the
hand. he looked over my few remain
ing soaps, etc.. and bought little.
Then turning to me he asked: "How
much are these?" believe my lower
jaw did move. I was caught off nv
guard for trice. But 1 never spoke
and the colonel was not looking at nv
face.
He wrote me a pass in the lines about
jackson, and just as he handed it to
me he turned and said: LET me see
that again." My hand almost moved