Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07
locality until morning. I declined his prop,-
sition with thanks and told him should do

locality until morning declined his prom.
sition with thanks and told him should do
my best to overtake the regiment
Darkness came on, with longer AMI
more frequent definitions until we finally
came almost to standst IL. and yet l had
no information as to how to find the COM
mand. We progre ssed so slowly thar
nnally became discouraged and Yielded to
the persuasions of my new-found friend
, VINO said that snort distance ahead was a
oranch road leading off to a beautiful grove
less than half a mile from the Turnpike.
where there We're splendid springs of water
ana every FACILITY for comfortable camp.
II was at last decided that unless a guide
round us before We reached that turning-ofr
point We would go to his proposed camp ng
place and spend the night.
When We arrived at the branch road we
MED off. Every body in the r ar. of cou se
supposed We We're on the right track AMI
IoIowed us, making train Of more than
hity wagons, and, perhaps 200 men in
ciudinS teamsters, stragglers, tired and lick
soldiers connected Herewith. 1t was much
more than half a mile to the proposed
| grove. 1t seemed to me nearer two miles.
out just as began to eXpostulate my cons
panlon pointed out the locality and We
| found 1t all he had claimed.
we Went INTO camp at once, gathered
materials for campfires: the men imme-
dlately under my direction helped them
selves to the rations in our wagons and
cooked an ample supper, which our friend
shared with us. He said nothing further
about his laundry wagon, and | thought
no more about ii. 1t was quite late when
We finished eating. We were all very tired
and soon lay down under the trees in our
blankets for much-needed sleep. My friend
from Illinois shared my blanket and
knew no more until morning. when L awoke,
looked around, and, very much to my sur
prise, found him gone. / Immediately arose
with large-szed flea in my ear. got my
men together, and while they prepared
breakfast | rode to a neighboring farm
house to get my bearings and distances. I
was there informed that we were about
fh4A nH-tl Of Lob
where General Buells headquarters had
been established the night before.
Startling Development.
"As soon as possible 1 got teams
ready, advising such of the drivers of the
nondescript force consulted me (amonS
which l did not find any laundry wagon
TO JOIN in search for the troops l con-
Quoted the train to General Buell's camp in
the suburbs of Lebanon, and was there in
formed that Sheridans division was en-
camped about seven miles distant on a
road which was pointed out to me. Shortly
afternoon of that day. which happened to
be Sunday. L led the entire cavalcade.
horses, mules, oxen and soldiers, into the
regimental camp, without the loss of mule
or man. AS We had with all the provi-
sions and cooking tools you imagine
the warmth of the reception 1 met from
the hungry officers and men and the variety
of pet names | was called when l detailed
to them the confidence game of which I
had been a victim.
MY numlllatlon was intenS1ned rev /
days later by information brought by
comrade who had been captured by guer-
rillas and paroled that my good friend from
Illinois was one of Morgan's spies: that
he had led into that trap with the full
expectation of reporting our helpless, de- !
fenseless condition to his leader, supposed
to be in camp himself not many miles dis /
tant. who would have promptly sent de- !
tachment sufficient to capture us in a body, !
destroy the wagons and contents, drive off
the horses and mules and send the men to
rebel prisons or parole them not to take up
arms until exchanged.
This the first and last confidence
game of which l was made the vic
tim. In fact, since that experience no.
body has ever tried to confidence me. |
Whether it be that this incident left its
mark upon my visage, or whether the over
ruling fates have decreed that one such
narrow escape is enough for single ca !
reer l do not know In any event, it was
a lesson which has been of service in many
ways, and is now recorded as one of the
unforgettable events of an interesting era