The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-27
Ue COLONEL'S
O. ORDERLY

plctllntocks IL don't give his real
hame) orderly. We were especially
hnxious to conceal our weakness from
the enemy, and no one was permitted
to pass our pickets.
| Colonel McClintock became fnfatu-
hted with a woman who lived with her
mother within our lines. rode out
with him on his visits to her, which
were mostly made In the evening. I
found the woman too city bred for that
region and learned that she and her
mother had arrived soon after our
force. There was a young man on the
place called Dick, who acted as q sort Of
butler, with whom l became friendly.
He was a sharp, keen fellow, and after
a bit he let out the information that
Instead of being an old family servant
he had been hired to come down from
Washington for q few weeks.
There were other things to set me
thinking. and the colonel hadn't paid
more than four visits before became
liquor at every visit, and he was al
ways "gabby" as we returned to camp,
and sometimes visibly under the infiu-
ence of drink. In waiting on them
Dick had overheard the woman ask
ing many questions, and the colonel
seemed willing to answer them ALL
After the seventh or eighth visit,
which covered a period of less than
three weeks, / was satisfied that the
colonel was being worked" but was
helpless in the matter. I could not
cr,o k 10 N nj. n Aox x<~
go to the brigadier without the plainest
evidence. Dick and were in full ac-
cord, and we determined to find out
just how matters stood.
1t was in summer, with all the win
dows in the house open at night One
could station himself under the sitting
room windows and hear every word
spoken inside. Mistrusting me, per-
haps, the widow had always had a col
cred servant on the watch against
eavesdroppers, but on the night Of the
coloners ninth visit Dick saw to 1t that
/ this servant, who was a middle aged
colored man. had too much applejack
to awake, and the field was left clear.
But for the issue at stake the act would
have been contemplate. When had
crept beneath one of the windows /
found the colonel telling all that he
knew under the widows cross Ques-
tioning He had drunk until his tongue
was bound to wag. He gave her the
exact strength of our force and the
strength of our artillery, and mentioned
that the latter arm was short Of ammu-
milton, as one of our wagon trains had
been captured. He told her how far up
the gap our vedettes were stationed
and what sort of defensive works we
had erected, and in half an hour she
had got all the information wanted II
was bad enough to give away his own
force, but the chattering officer went
further. He gave her the strength Of
the force at Bronson's pass and at
IDerby's gap, lying east and west Of us.
After hearing what I did, l Judged
that the woman would have some one
at hand to carry the information to
the enemy. I had hardly left the win
Idow when she came out to look for the
servant who had been made drunk.
Seeing his condition, she expressed an
tger and disappointment, but was afraid
to trust any one else with her message.
She returned to the colonel, and half
an hour later we rode back to the camp.
1t was easy to figure that word would
be got to the Confederates next morn
Ing at the latest, and the brigadier had
only finished his breakfast when I told
my story. He listened without Interrupt
ton, but when had concluded he said:
Young man, will send for Dick.
and if he does not corroborate you In
every particular 1 will have you drum.
med out of the army. If you two have
put up job in this thing I'll have you
l both shot,
Dick was not brought into camp. but
J an aid rode out and managed to secure
an interview with him. Then there
was riding to and fro. Five hundred
men had been brought from Bronson'i
pass and the same from Derby's gap
and a new breastwork was thrown up
, Ammunition for the artillery was hunt
ed for in every direction, and not even
a commissioned officer was permitted
to leave the camp under any pretext-
Officers and privates questioned and
wondered, but the brigadier gave nc
information He made all ready fol
an attack, and half the force was un
der arms all night. In the gray Of the
morning the enemy came marching
down the pass, thinking to find us only
5000 men and unprepared. and the ho
| attacks and repulses that followed fol
the next six hours are matters of his
tory.
After it was all over the brigadie
sent for the colonel, and after al
hours talk the latter's resignation wa
made out and forwarded to Washing
ton As to what was said between tn
two men no other ears overheard
do not know to this day il the part
played was told the colonel.
S When he had left the brigadier'
: tent an officer with a detachment o
o men was sent to bring in the two VIC
b men. They had fed hours before
: leaving the house in charge Of a sery
ant, and do not think they were eve
arrested.
s 1 have never believed that Colont
n McClintock was disloyal He simpl
d | became infatuated with the woman
: and when in his cups he could not kee
n his own condolences. She may hav
+ met him i'm the first place by mere a
+ cident or she may have In some mar
o ner learned of his failing and planne
v to take advantage of 1t.
!. In either instance her scheme was
i failure. and there were go dead me
to bury at the mouth Of the lionel
mountain pasa n. QUAD.