The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-11-24
PL AY1NG
THE SPY

While Sheridan and Early were fac
ting each other in the Shenandoah val
ley Federal soldier named Sid Davis
was sent into the lines Of the latter to
secure information. He took with him
a peddler's pack and claimed to be a
civilian and q resident Of Virginia, and
his excuse for not being in the Confed-
crate army was that he was physically
incapacitated by heart disease. On
penetrating the eneuy's lines he was
taken before General Early, who ques-
toned him at length, and seemed salts
fled with his answers. AS he left the
tent, however, he encountered private
soldier who was lying in wait for him
and who shook fist in his face and
said:
Say, Yank, 20 fooled the gineral,
but yo' can't play it over me. Yo' are
a dodgasted Yankee spy, and I'll prove
it before .yo leave campr'
The Confederate was a rough speci-
men Of the soldier, having a saber cut
across his face and an aggressive man.
ner of speech, but why he should dis
play such malevolence toward stran-
ger Sid could not make out.
Are you drunk, or what, that You
call me a Yankee spy?'' clustered Sid
as three or four of the mans comrades
came mp and seemed inclined to make
trouble
NO, I'm not drunk, and saw yo' in
the Union camp at Charlestown last
spring when was a prisoner Of war
there" was the answer.
Nonsense, man. II you have got
any charges to make against Inc. go to
: the general. If he is satisfied that am
all right. it's not for you to kick"
Il say yo' are Yankee spy, and l
say I'll prove 1t and have yo' hung"'
growled the man as he and his CON-
rades sauntered off.
Sid picked up his pack and found a
place to lodge and next morning began
peddEng his goods through the camps.
The rest of his adventures is told in his
own language:
by haggling with customers over
prices, and by hanging to the goods as
long as possible, made them last me
two days. In that time had made
close figures on every branch of Early's
command, and had also got good idea
of the strength of his position. l had
secured all l came for and was ready
to return and report, but officers stop.
ped me by the dozen to send message
to friends in Washington or ask that
make purchases for them. was hand
ed upwards of 5000 in Confederate
money. and, though would have nc
chance to return 1t, it was no gain tt
me. The whole sum would not have
purchased bottle of ginger ale Of &
Union suffer-
"As to the man with the saber cut,
had seen him two or three times during
the two days, and l knew that he wa:
trying his best to work up suspicion
against me. Some of the soldiers asked
me few questions, but most of then
were satisfied that was what claim
ed to be- learned that the man wen
to General Early and stated his case
but as was not sent for the genera
could not have taken much stock il
what he said.
Il had intended to creep out of tn
Confederate lines in the darkness 0
night, but observing that the CAM
sentinels and pickets had been double,
and having met with such good luck il
playing my role, I decided to so to tn
general and ask for q regular pass
did not find him. but his adjutan
general promptly handed me the paper
and just at sunset on the second day
left by the same road had entered
had no writing Of any sort about m,
and If stopped and searched there wa
nothing to incriminate. What informs