The National tribune., 1900-08-30
SOME SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

name and from what State | came.
informed him. then inquired his name: He
, replied that his name was LeppS.
knew a man in Staunton of the same
name, Il tanner by trade, working at the
Confederate tanncry, and so informed the
StOrckecper. He replied that the man in
Staunton was his brother, he was sure,
from the description l gave. and added
that he had not seem nor heard OF his
brother since the beginning of the war.
but at the same time he appeared some
: what disturbed while talking about his
brother. so much so that his discomfort
was readily noted. Taking my departure
from the store, | recalled the particulars
of my acquaintance with Mr.. Lepps, of
StaUnton.
During the Winter of 1868 a gentleman
called upon me at the Virginia Hotel, an
nouncing himself as Mr.. Lepps, and
stated that he was desirous of learning
the guitar, adding that he had learned |
was Il professor Of music from Richmond
Mr.. Lcpps, as he informed me, was Il tan
ner, and employed at the tannery operated
by the COnfederates in StauntOn. | in
formed him that | might return to Rich
mond at any time, and he would not reap
much benefit from the musical instruction
for the short time | should probably re-
main in Stamton; but he insisted on my
giving him instructions while | remained
at all events. | concluded to give him the
music lessons desired, but afterward
learned from good friend that Mr.. Lepps
was intimate with a fellow named Clapp.
who WAS well known as n detective at the
headquarters of Capt. John Avis, the Pro-
vost-Marshal of Staunton, and the friend
cautioned me that it was quite possible
that Mr.. Lepps had other objects i'll view
with me other than musical instruction,
which | afterwards discovered was true.
At this period | had positive informa-
| tlon that l was strongly suspected of be
ing Il paid agent of the Government mt
| Washington, and that all my movements
| were closely watched.
We return now to Mr.. Merton, the
Clerk at the Provost-Marshal's Office at
New Creek Station. He visited me fire.
qucntly mt the little country hotcl-l<el-
| lars-:lt New Creek, and was very talia-
tive. just at this period came to New
Creek the news of the burning and pill
lage of Chambersburg, Pa. by the forces
of Johnson and McCausland. From Cham
bcrsburg the Confederates marched direct
ly upon New Creek Station, the Federal
scouts rapidly bringing i'll the news to that
effect. Col. Stevenson, Lieut.-Col. Hoy
and other officers of the post Immediately
| held Il council of war, and decided to hold
| the fort to the last man, although there
were but two regiments Of infantry and
| the artillery company at Fort Piano. /
wished to go into the fort, but the officers
| objected, and | was directed to occupy a
/ ridge back Of the fort until, later in the
| day, 1 retired TO another position fur
ther toward Piedmont, the headquarters
| of the cavalry brigade of Gen. Avcril.
The rebels soon reached New Creek and
hesieged the place with some 1000 sol
| diers of all arms. This was about Aug.
| /, 1864. Reinforcements came from Cur
bcrland during the day, and they had some
sharp fighting with the rebels at and about
| the north terminus of Piano Mountain,
E,,rt Il e.,,l.
| in the defense of New Creek
Toward the close of the days fight,
when the garrison of Fort Piano was hard
pressed, Gen. Averil, with brigade of
cavalry, rapidly approached New Creek
| from his headquarters ut Piedmont, vigor-
ously. charging the rebel rear and raising
| the siege. Several hundred prisoners were
captured by Gen. Averil's forces during
the running fight; also all of the plumber
taken by the rebels mt Chambersburg.
1t was noticed that the PrOvOst-Mar-
shal's clerk. MeertOn, was invisible during
| the day of the fight and when he appeared
| the night after the battle he explained
that he had fled to the hills, fearing cap
ture by the rebels.
| Merton was soon at work again in Mai
| brakes Office, but somehow | had con-
ceiyed the notion, from several circum-
stances, that MeertOn was an unreliable
and sharp fellow; in short, he was Con.
|
| Gus one, moreover.
soon communicated to Maj. Drake my
| suspicious regarding the clerk and store
| keeper, both of whom l firmly believed
were Confederate spies.
| Mai. Drake was not much surprised at
my suspicious concerning the storekeeper,
as he was known Secessionist resident
of West Virginia, but that the Federal
authorities kept watch on his movements
constantly without his knowledge. The
| Ma jOr was wonderfully surprised how
| ever, at my suspicious regarding his clerk,
Merton, as he had the confidence of the
officers. So much more the danger, l re-
| Piled because his clerk was constantly ad-
vised by the telegraph and through the
officers talking of the military situation in
| the office, all of which lie, of course, heard
| daily. At this period the post of New
| Creek was the headquarters of the Com.
| missary and Quartermaster' Departments
| Of West Virginia, both Departments hay-
| ing in charge immense supplies. / had
| played the detective several times at Rich
mond for my own protection, and in the
| interests of my Union friends, and l pro-
posed that / should take the matter of his
| clerk and the stOrckeeper in hand and so
positive was / that the clerk was Il Con-
federate spy that 1 promised to prove the
fact to the Major in 10 days or less, and
of course If l was mistaken in the matter
| no harm would come to Merton. / stipu-
lated to Maj. Drake that should manage
the whole affair, and, further, that if his
confidential clerk was proven to be spy
he should not suffer capital punishment
This was agreed to, and i then proposed
that the Major should intimate to his
clerk that |, the writer, was somewhat
suspected of being Confederate spy.
TRAPPING THE CLERK.
/ Immediately set to work by inviting
Merton to visit me at my room that night
after supper. He came promptly, and
over n bottle of fine Allegheny Mountain
whisky we talked of the war and kindred
subjects, the Major in the meantime hav-
ing given him hint, according to arrange
ment, that | was suspected of being |
Confederate spy.
/ was really greatly surprised how cas-
lily the confidential clerk fell into the trap |
Late that night we separated, and the last |
words he said were: Then, l suppose you |
will not remain here longer, as you have |
doubtless gotten through with your work." |
when | replied that, between us, l had |
about finished my work at the post" |
directed Merton to visit me at the same |
time the following night, and | would |
show him drawing of Fort Piano. the |
various roads and surrounding country,
which / should take with me when | left |