The National tribune., 1902-01-09
WHO GOES THERE?
Continued from first page

: had pushed OH up the road after we haC
passed Old Church. There might be, an,
doubtless were, several attempts mad
this day to ascertain the position of tn
rebels.
No crossing of that road now and try
ing the rebel left, We went to the lef
of the field. 1t was about ) o'clock. w,
reached the foot of Il hill and saw n smal
creek ahead of us. | now felt that | mus
go forward alone.
To make sure that | could find Jone!
again. stationed him in the creek SWAMP
near the corner of the field. We agreed
upon a signal.
l crept forward through the swamp
converSins toward the road. / crossed tn,
stream, and reached Il point from whicl
could see the road; it ran up hill: OF
the hill could see group of men. Here
was convinced, was the Confederat,
ricket-linc, if there was a line.
y thick-toppcd tree was growing some
80 yards from the edge of the road; from
It's bouShS | could see mounted men fac
ing east, nearer TO me than the group
above. The sun had nearly set; it Shont
on Sabers and carbines. | was hoping
there was no infantry pickct-line. ! came
| down from the tree, returned rapidly 10
Jones, and got ready. | told him TO make
himself comfortable for the night, and to
wait for me no longer than = o'clock the
| next day. The package containing she
gray clothing | took with me. / would
| not put 1t on until | should see that moth
ing else would do.
And now, feeling that it was for the
last time, | again went forward. | had
decided to try to penetrate the picket-line
If | should lind it to be very long line;
if it proved to be q line that / could turn.
| would 90 round it, and when on its
flank l would act as opportunity should
offer. If the enemys force were small,
| might see it all from the outside but
if it consisted of brigades and divisions,
| would put on the disguise and throw
away my own uniform.
Twilight had deepened; on the hills in
front fires We're beginning to show.
reached the foot of the hill on which |
had seen the rebel picket-post, and moved
on slowly. | was unarmed, carrying moth
ing but the gray clothes wrapped in the
gun-hlankct.
The hill was spotted with clumps Of
low bushes, but there were no trees At
every step ] paused and listened |
thought | could hear voices far away.
Halfway up the hill / stopped; the voices
were ncarer-or louder possibly.
] now ceased advancing directly up the
hill; instead, moved off at right angle
toward the left, trying to keep line
parallel with the supposed piciet-line, and
listening hard. a rabbit sprang up from
almost under my feet. i was glad that
il did not run up the hill. Voices con-
tnued to come to my ears, but from far
away. | supposed that the line was more
than 300 yards from me, and that videts
were between us; but for the videts, I
should have gone nearer. i knew that
was in no great danger so long as the
pickcts would talk. The voices made me
sure that these pickets did not feel them
selves i'll the presence of an enemy. They
evidently knew that they had bodies of
cavalry on all the roads leading to
their front. Possibly they were
prepared for attack4 by any body
of men, but they were not prepared
against observation by one man; they were
trusting their cavalry for that SO long.
then, as | could hear the voices, ! felt
comparatively safe. The pickets could not
see me, for | was down the hill from them
much below their sky line; if one of
them should happen to be in their front
/ should think of him; he certainly would
not suppose me an enemy; if he should
be alarmed, | could get away.
So | continued moving along in the
same direction until struck woods, where
the hill ceased in a plateau: here | was
on level ground, and / could see in the
distance the light OF calnp-fires, between
which and me | could not doubt were the
pickets, if not indeed the main line also,
of the enemy.
| kept on. The ground changed again.
50 that | looked down on the fires. |
paused and reflected. This picket-Iine was
long; il certainly covered more than
regiment or two. Again / wished that |
were on the north side of the road
The camp-frcs now seemed more dis
tant and little to my right. | was be
ginning to tiatter myself with the bclicr
that ] had reached the point where the !
picEet-line bent back. | felt encouraged. |
/ retired some 20 yards, and then went
on more boldly, still pursuing course
parallel, as | thought, with the rickct-line |
fronting east. Soon | reached another |
road
Should [ cross this road? 1t ran |
straight, so far as | could see. into the /
position of the enemy; it was a wide road. |
no doubt one Of the main roads leading
to Hanover Court-IIouSe.
! looked up the road toward the enemy.
could see no camp-tires.
| thought that | had reached the
'nemy's flank.
a troop of cavalry rode by. going to
heir front
| felt sure that / was right. I looked
md found the north star through the
ranches of the trees. | was right This
Dad ran north and south. The picket
inc doubtless reached the road, or very
lear ii, and bent back: but how far back?
the enemy depended upon cavalry for
heir flank-and this flank was toward
heir main army at Richmond-my work
would be easy.
l crossed the road, and crept along it
Oward Hanover. More cavalry rode by.
kept on, doubling more strongly the
Existence Of any infantry pickets
An ambulance went by, going north into
amp.
went 80 yards deeper into the woods.
took everything out of my pockets. strin-
,ed off my uniform, and covered it with
caves as well as l. could in the darkness.
Then | put on the gray clothes and twist
ID the gum blanket and threw it over INV
houldcr. ! had resolved to accompany
my ambulance or wagon that should
,Ome into the rebel camp.
Taking my station by the side of the
'Oad, | lay down and waited.
Again cavalry rode by, this squad also
yoing to the front. | was now convinced
hat there was no picket-line here: this
lank was protected by cavalry. Now I
vas glad that / had not tried the left
lank of the rebel line.
| heard trains rolling, and they seemed
iot very far from mr., | could hear the
.ngines putting. ta4i,.t
From down the road toward Richmond
'ame the crack ofsa whip. | saw Il team
or six mules. | could NOT
'et tell in the night.
A heavy wagon came numbering along.
was about to step out and get behind
t, when | saw another: it passed, and
till another came.ti As the last one went
" | rose and f6iloyei it. keeping bent
lnder the feed-b9x (which was slumg be-
lind it. - I