Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-23
WITHIN THE EN[AYS LINES

copyright, 1903, by Charles B. Lewis.1
During the war of the rebellion
whenever a Union general wanted in
formation not to be had through his
scouts he sought for some one to play
the part Of a spy.
The Federal scouts secured much
valuable information without running
there were numerous occasions when
volunteers were called for to pene-
trate the enemy's lines. The escape Of
a private named Garretson, a member
Of an Ohio regiment, was as curious 8
case as has appeared in print. Having
volunteered in the spring Of 1868 to
enter Lees camp he took the role of
an escaped Confederate prisoner. He
dressed in an old suit Of butternut,
committed his programme to memory
and then boldly set out for the en-
emy's camp There had been half a
dozen skirmishes along the front dur
ing the past month, with a number of
Confederates captured, and Garretson
He had decided to become member of
the Fifth Alabama, and he took the
name of prisoner captured from that
regiment. He did not at all resemble
the man in looks or build, and there
was difference eof five years in their
ages, but he depended on cheek to pull
him through.
On reaching the Confederate pickets
Garretson set forth his claim and was
passed on to report to the provost mar
shall and be sent to his regiment. So
far as he knew that regiment might be
the very one which received him. He
soon learned, however that it was sta
toned some miles away. His story
was unquestioned at first, but as he
was ready to be forwarded the colonel
of Georgia regiment sent for him to
ask him about men in his command
who had been captured at the same
time. AS the spy was not posted about
them he naturally fell under suspicion.
When taken to brigade headquarters
for examination he made a better
showing, but was held that his regi-
ment might be communicated with.
Then some very remarkable things hap
pened. The colonel, after thinking
things over, declared Garretson to be
all right, and he was released from
arrest and passed on.
When he reported to his company
he was received without question, and
1t seemed to have been agreed that
no man should seem to suspect him.
These things aroused his suspicious
and put him on his guard. He had en-
tered the camp for a certain purpose,
but no sooner was he detected trying
to estimate the strength of the force
around him than he was again put I'M
der arrest. This time it was his colo
mel who questioned him. 1t so hap
pened that the man represented by
Garretson was new recruit and had
been captured five days after joining
and before having had time to form
acquaintance.
For this reason none of the officers
was sure of him, and the majority Of
the company drought him all right.
There were two recruits, however, who
had joined the company at the same
time and were townsmates Of the third,
and both of these men stated en-
phatically that the Federal was an i'm.
poster. He was asked about the town
he claimed to hail from-its streets,
buildings and citizens-and his an.
swers appeared to be fairly satisfac-
tory Nevertheless he was held and
next day sent to division headquarters
to be questioned anew.
There was a disposition to give him
fair show, and at the end of his
fourth examination letters were sent
off to people whom Garretson claimed
to have known for years, asking for
particulars. Replies were received
from all; but, queerly enough, no two
agreed in their descriptions of the man.
and that was considered as much in
his favor as against him. His case
was still hanging fire when a soldier
came forward from another regiment
and said he was a cousin of the man
represented by Garretson and the two
had been brought up together. 1t was
certain that he would either identify
or denounce him.
They worked a rather slick game on
the spy in making the test. He was
| turned loose, and it was so arranged
that the cousin should approach him
! at campfire. Garretson saw the man
coming along in a careless way, but
| Immediately suspected that something
was up and was the first to step out
and hold out his hand
my name is Thomas White" whisper
ed the stranger as their hands met,
| "and we are supposed to be cousins
and to have lived together at Opelika.
I am here to back up everything you
say"
| Before the man could say more he
| was ordered back, but he had said
| enough. Garretson was dumb with
surprise at first, but was not long in
figuring out that the soldier must be a
| Union man at heart and anxious to
save his life. When the spy was ques-