The National tribune., 1903-11-19
"Fitzhugh Lees"


the said regiment was part of the said
brigade, yet the reply brought helpful
suggestion in regard to his real purpose.
as Gen. Fitzhugh Lee with his brig
adeY'
"Yes. sir; he was this morning, at
least"
q But was tod recently that he had
been wounded" retorted Freeman, his
mind now on Squire so firmly that he con
tinued without a pause, Say do you
know a negro named Squirrel"
Squire? No, | don't know anybody by
that name, and know every nigger that
follows FitZhugh Lees Brigade" Nor
gan gave the answer very readily. He
felt pretty sure that Squire's actuarname
could not easily have reached Freeman's
ears.
And Barney? Do you know Barney?'
asked Freeman. quickly seeing his chance,
as he thought, to get at the kernel OF his
purpose without logical violence.
| But Morgan was not to he caught thus;
the leap from Squire to Barney was ap-
parent in its suddenness.
The prisoner shook his head peculiarly,
as though i'll doubt. what Barney!" he
asked
In the rebels manner. Freeman saw
hesitation, but read nothing more; he
paused moment that he might add time
to the weight of his words.
| do you know any BarneyT
| Is, Sii, SsIu lhoiSdHs piuhIpGS,
know more than one Barney. Down in
Virginia. l know n whole family of EN-"
You are talking about white people?'
| Eyes, sir.
''The man I'm speaking of is a negro
named Barney, and nothing else, so far
as l know"
"Who does he belong to-" asked the
prisoner.
"He is the man who brought your sup
per awhile ago. What do you know about
him.
Morgan was now aware that suspicion
of the negro had induced Freeman's visit
Simply by refusing to conceal he would
bring disaster upon Barney, and for a
moment he experienced a moral embar-
rassment more intense than he would pre-
viously have supposed possible in connec-
ton with an object ordinarily considered
of paltry importance. But it wonld not
do to hesitate. To gain time for deciding
the ethical dilemma, he could only evade.
81 know that he was not very polite in
his manner at first" he said: but l
don't care any more for that than for
dogs barking at me. You people take
our negroes and set 'em free, and make
I'm not talking about that" interrupt
ever saw Barney before tonight"
| Il think have, sir. Was he not raised
in Fauquier County,"
"NO. in GOOchland."
"WeIl, sir. I'm not from that County;
and if he is from Goochland-you know
it's not easy to swear to every nisger You
meet. I'd not like to say positively that
l ever saw him. Anything wrong about
him?"
The Captain tried to read the prisoners
face, but there was so little light that he
gave it up, and, without replying to Nor
gan. went back to his place.
II got nothing out OF him, Hawley," he
said: 1.-The fellow knows nothing, or else
smells rat and is on his guard. I'm
half persuaded you're right; but what
can do more / don't see."
Captain. let me talk to Barney in you.
presence. if you please"
'All right; call him up"
1t is needless to say that Barney was
ready for any ordinary examination; but
armed though he was with knowledge
that he was suspected, he was unpre-
"Make a clean breast of it now, Bar
ney.'' 49,
.. The negro was silent, wondering, and
might have betrayed himself through man
ifest hesitation had Hawley here ended
his speech instead Of merely pausing.
"Own up, man. We know all about
you. The rebel has given you away"
II dunno what he's got ag'in me, Mis-
teh Hawley. amt neveh seed him, an
| I don't know him, nOtheh."
| sWell, he knows you: and you can't
deny that you've been with the rebels"
Hawley's weakening would have been
evident, even though the negro had been
duller and unprepared; the descent from
| the high plane upon which he had cast
his first utterance was absurd in its
abruptness, in its tone. and in useless
multiplicity of words: why wish the negro
to confess if he was already known to be
guilty? Perhaps Barney failed to reason
thus: he felt the substance, nevertheless.
"Yes, sab, done told de Cap'm dat
dey cut me off an / had to git though
'em de best l could; but dey didn't try to
say ag'in me? Tell me what he say" and
Barney looked full on Capt. Freeman,
though the words were directed at Haw-
ley.
Nothing against You except that he
knew You. or thought SO, was the reply,
feeble and uncertain.
To Hawley, Freeman's disgust was not
less apparent than was the negro's tri-
umph; yet the Captain said merely, go
back to your place, Hawley," adding to
Barney, "And you to your work. Sir"
Barney's victory caused him no elation.
He knew that henceforth Hawley would
be hostile and that Freemans suspicious,
though seemingly quieted, would be re-
newed upon the slightest provocation, and
he longed for the time when he could turn
his back upon the Federals and upon
his dangerous employment. But, what
ever else may be said in derOgation of the
| negrO's character, ingratitude cannot be
urged against it, and this negro was no
exception to the rule. He had overheard
Morgan's replies to Freeman, and he
wished for a way to help the captive, or
at least to show thankfulness. A way
was given him.
Hawley went past sleeping men and ap-
preached the guard post. 1t was now
after 10 o'clock. The moon had barely
risen, but the sentiners form was distinct
as he stood on guard over the prisoner.
| At this instant q clatter of hOOfs was
heard towards the east, and near by, and
then voices, one Of which was clearly
| Capt Freeman's, and Hawley paused
to listen, and he was not the only one that
overheard.
ITO BoonsboroT'
"Yes, sir; By midnight : : how
81 have only one"
"All right, sir; we can take charge of
him without troubling you to send de-
tail. We have two other prisoners"
Every well; I'll turn him over to you.
Hawley!''
| Hawley turned and answered the call,
and began to retrace bis steps. In an
other moment different voice called
"Hawleyr' and from a different direction.
He knew the voice to be that Of the SEN
tinel over the prisoner; he must not stop
to talk while the Captain was calling.
But the sentinel persisted, "Hawley,
haven't they come to get him." violating
military rule in his eageness to know
whether he should now be rid of this en-
cumbrance, the only reason for his en-
l frr.a fcn nftrtn nd IN, <loy ,facc