The National tribune., 1902-06-26

l pSsG
II am sending three messengers to Gen.
Smith, who will land his corps, perhaps to-
morrow. at White House. You see / count
on two being captured. Will you risk it?
"Yes, General"
"Then, take this dispatch and deliver
it,"
"Am 1 to choose my own route, sir!'
(Which is the best route?'
"Down the river on this side, sir, is I've
nearest way, and so far as know, as safe
as any other;
Both of the other men go by roads on
this side You may do so if you wish
| Il think, sir that chances for one of the
three will be greater if we go separately
and by different roads,
| $50 do L.
81 shall go north of the river, General
| at is longer and just as dangerous
"But it increases our chances, sir
"You are right. l hope you will sue
! coed. Here" said he to the courier; go
with Lieut. Berwick to Col. Sharpe, and
tell him for me to help all he can"
Col. Sharpe's duty was to be omniscient;
that is to say. he was the Provost-Mar-
shall. l was not entirely unknown to him.
He was north of the river.
''What is it you want to do now, Ber-
wick?" he asked after the courier had de-
livered the message and ridden away.
W:lnI 10 get 10 w ulle I1ouSe bS SoitiS
| on this side, sir"
Better try the other side"
"Why so. Colonel?"
"Shorter and safer"
1.-TWO men have already gone on the
south side"
Settles it. Come here. Study this map
minute"
/ did so. The roads were ZigZaggng all
over it. To reach White House many
angles must be made.
How is the country away from the
roads, Colonel?"
"Passable, SO far as the ground is con-
| cerned.'
But as to other things
"Ah! there's the rub. Hostile. Those
people down there trust nobody; home
guards Throw heads or tails to go as Il
rebel or a Union nan, and if you win you
lose"
Are there no negroes:
"A few left. Many have been sent into
the interior by their owners; many others
have come in"
How would you advise me to go, Col
onel?"
How dressed, you mcan?"
"Yes, sir"
"Six Of one and half dozen of the 9th
err; go as you are; less trouble; spies in
there frequently; dressed any way"
why not go as = citiZen?'
Nobody would know you; a strange
citizen would be suspected by everybody"
You can give me no help. CGionclt
Eyes. | can give you little; not much
probably. yet it may prove TO be worth
something. About halfway down to White
House we have a friend. If you reach
him safely, he can tell you how to go on
''Yes. sir: how can | find him.
'I'll send you part Of the way. See
Brandywine hereT'
Yes, sir"
''I'll send you two miles beyond Brandy
wine-to the south Of Brandywinc: a mar
row road leaves this one Il mile this side
Of Brandywine and runs almost south. I'll
send squad Of cavalry with you that
far"
"And them"
''Then you will find your way southeast
for eight miles, or such a matter: | can't
be exact. You will find Somewhere Il de-
serted hOuse-it looks like one at least :;
there are lots OF deserted houses. but this
one has dormer windows. and the chimney
on the west end has fallen down"
Yes sir"
1T is not on any road exactly; it is
north of the road an eighth of a mile. and
has a carriageway out to the road. but the
way is grown up win weeds and bushes:
in the night one would pass by and see
nothing"
YES. SIR"
'In the house lives friend of ours;
will go so far as to say that he is as good
a friend as if he was one Of u.s.
How can find him if | get there?'
whistle Bonnie Blue Flag"
yes, sir"
IF he hears you he will cough. Then,
when you see him. you must ask, Is any
thing stirring in these nar3Gr ~
eyes. sir; is anything stirring in these
parts!'
And he will reply. Not even a mouse
that is, he will make that reply if the
coast is clear. but if there is danger he
will say, Nothing but rats and mice
Then you ask if Showaltcr is WE'LL
'.Showalter. Yes. sir"
'.He is Showalter himself. Don't ask.
Are you wellY Say. Is Showalter weIl?'
He is Showalter, and his house is Sho-
walter. He will ask you no questions about
your purposes, but will reply to your in
quiries. and will give you what help he
can. He will take care of you, if you need
to remain, and will receive pay or not, just
as you choose"
'Shall l find anybody else in the
house?''
THAT depends. He has one servant,
negro man. 1t may lee that other persons
81
There may be Confederates in the house;
they think he is their friend"
How can trust such a MANI"
Col. Sharpe looked into n portfolio and
handed me a paper. 1t was part of an al
phab"tical list of the Provost -Marshal's
official help for 1862. On it he pointed to
the name of Capt. Walter S. Howe.
Cant. Howe is Showalter.' said the
Colonel; ''if you can only find him you
need have no fears; he is compelled to
keep up appearances with all his neigh
bors; he is regarded as neutral by some.
and as a man perfectly Indifferent to the
war. He is past the age for active serv-
ice-or, at least, appears to be. He is an
officer of the old army-was in th;. MeXi-
can war. He has lived in Virginia for q
good many years He served us well in
McClellan's time"
I'm afraid / can't find him, Colonel
Southeast eight miles,
Southeast eight miles Ask for Sho-
walter if you meet anybody-especially if
you meet negro"
But | AIN hoping to meet no one"
''In that case you will not be molcsted,"
said he, laughing "and You will hardly
need Showalter OF course, you won't try
to find him unless You need help"
well sir. ! am ready"
The Colonel ordered n Sergeant to take
a squad of cavalry and escort me-
Colonel" l begged do one more thing
for me-"
''What is it, Berwick?'
Let man 90 with me to bring bach:
INV bnrcn I nayn i.rJ.I 70 ,,r nfont