The National tribune., 1905-11-02

try. He also explained to me that jeff
Davis had just issued a proclamation
conscrfpting to service in the Confed-
crate armies every male from the age
who had furnished substitute had to
go into the army. 1t was practically
certain that / would be picked up and
put into the army, in which event at
some OppOrtune time l should make my
escape and get back to our army. Gen.
Leggett said is would take at least three
weeks before crossing to the enemy's
territory for me to post myself on the
country, learn how to act, what to say,
ETC., and he gave me an order to Col.
Davis to notify my company officers not
to call my name at roll call or use me
for any duty until further notice from
him. Gen. Leggett further told me
that in order to get pointers before
starting on my trip, every man who
was picked up by our cavalry scouts
or pickets and brought to headquar-
ters and those who came in as refugees,
making their way North, would be de-
tanned, 1 would be sent for, and the
General would interview them in the
meantime; then I should have at least
one hours conversation with them and
then go to the General and he and ]
exchange notes; and If party detained
proved to be a real refugee he would
be furnished passes North by steam
uOdtSs ClllCI ~ SdlIOs 81 4IOuiS VI OCI-
fersonville, with a railroad pass from
Black River, Miss, to Vicksburg; and
if we had a man there was any doubt
about he was to be sent under guard
to Gen. Logan at Vicksburg.
To the Enemy's Habitat.
While this was going on, during a
period Of about three weeks, Gen.
Smith, in command of the cavalry ad-
joining our brigade, sent down two or
three men to Gen. Leggett for me to
get dots from. During this time MEM
bers Of my company and mess would
ask me what l was doing, and my an
swer was. always, Nothing" When a
message came for me to report at head
quarters 1t always went to the Colonel,
and he or Maj. Ferguson would walk
over to Co. / and call me out, and l
would start at once. They never sent
any written messages by clerk or order
ly to the company. The day before l
started, young Mortimer Leggett, then
about 16 years Of age (who, by the way,
was killed by hazing, after the war
closely, forged papers for me, showing
that l had furnished a substitute for
the Confederate army at Meridian,
Miss. Those papers would not keep me
out of the army, but they would be
given as reason why / was not in the
army at that time. The morning l
started we had a refugee whose bulk,
stature and architectural outlines were
about my own, and / changed clothes
with him, even to shoes and socks l
did not keep upon me anything what
ever that had come from Yankeedom.
In that exchange 1 left my pocket
knife in the pocket, by mistake, which
afterwards proved serious loss to me.
The refugee was furnished Government
transportation to St. Louis and a small
amount of Lincoln money" to buy
him something to eat on his trip. had
a few dollars in Confederate money and
two fives in Lincoln money" He went
off wearing the blue, with letter show
ing where he got 1t and why he was
wearing it,
/ started on my mission, crossing
Black River at the point where the
Vicksburg and Jackson dirt road
crosses that stream, at which point
George Hudson and two other men of
my company were on picket duty.
showed them my pass, said "Good-by'
and tore the pass into very small bits
and scattered them. They called to me:
"Good-by, old boy; we will never see
you again. Which, although not reas-
suring. did not disturb my nerve. As
soon as I left their sight I took to
the woods, so that any Confederate
scouts whom I might chance to meet
would not find me coming out OF the
Yankee lines.
travelled four or Ave hours in the
woods and came out on the same dirt