Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-17
A NEAT JOB OF
SECRET SERVICE
[OriginaI.l


march a victorious army into the city,
a young countryman driving COW got
mixed with the Union pickets. He said
that he didn't know that the army was
so near and asked permission to take
his cow to his home some distance
back Of the Union front. He was
taken to the general commanding that
portion of the army, where he made
his entry and gave his name as John
Harding. Being questioned as to the
dispositions of the enemy among
whom he had been he proved so stupid
that the general dismissed him with
orders that he be permitted to drive
his COW home.
Six hours after he had departed a
Jew was found on the extreme right of
the Union line selling the soldiers
pinchbeck jewelry and tin watches, re-
lieving them of their greenbaclzs for
the worthless articles. The orders We're
to arrest such traders and the Jew
was taken to the headquarters of the
general commanding the wing, where
he gave his name as Benjamin Moses
He was conducted to the rear and in
formed that if he came back he would
be sent through the lines to the enemy.
A day or two later the commander
of the Union left received an order to
look out for a spy who had turned up
under the names John Harding, Ben
jamin Moses, and lastly GustaYe La
violette, a citizen of France travelling
in America and seeking a pass to so
-crl, IT,
relatives in Louisiana. His applica-
ton had been held for information
concerning him and he had disap-
peared. After the receipt of the order
the man had been chased to q clumD
of houses near where, q day or two
later, was fought the battle of Seven
Pines. A guard surrounded the ham,
let, the frightened people budding in
the road that passed between the
houses. The officer charged with the
arrest, not knowing the man he want
ed, asked for him under his various
aliases If he was there no one would
betray him.
The officer was puzzled to know what
to do, so he sent to headquarters for
the men of the hamlet in the road but
permitted the women to 60 and come
as they chose. One man entered the
place, apparently not knowing what
was tranSpiring. He was a mere boy
and not suspected, but the officer put
him with the other men. After wait
ing more than an hour an order came
which the officer paOceeded to obey
He compelled the men to stand rs
near together as possible and drew his
soldiers up in a firing line. Then he
told them that if they would not give
up the spy he would shoot them al
down together. Of course this was a
bluff, but it drew forth a response.
The youngster who had entered the
place passionately begged that his
comrades be spared, avowing himself
to be the spy.
The yOungSter was taken to the head
quarters of the division in whose lines
he was captured.
$50 you're the person who has been
masquerading as Jew, Frenchman and
other individuals, gathering informa-
tion?'
les, general.
you're old enough to know that the
punishment for spying is death, aren't
your"
eyes, general"
''Well, l wish you hadn't been caught
in my lines. It's no fun for me to
hang a boy like you.'
To this the youngster made no reply,
and the general ordered that he be
taken away and kept under guard till
called for. Then the general reported
thaEapture to his superior and awaited
instructions. An order came to try
the spy by drumhead court martial and
execute him.
The officer of the day was intrusted
with the duty, and, the forms having
been gone through with, the general
looked for notification that the disa-
greeable work Mad been done. While
he waited the officer of the day rode
up to his tent and dismounted.
'Is it all over?"
"No, general. The boy says he's
a girl
"a girl!''
Eyes, and 1 thought you'd prefer to
test the truth of the claim before exc
cutting him.
do so. There are some women in
camp. You'll find several in the hos
pitals.'
The officer withdrew and in half an
hour returned with the information
that the claim had been proved.
"Send her to me-" the general or
dered.
The girl, still in boys clothes, was
marched to the general She had gone
through a terrible ordeal and, not yet
knowing what was going to be done
with her, was white as a sheet.
"How has a girl like you had the
ability to play so many different char
acters?' asked the officer.
ct haven't?" said the girl ''The
man who did so came among us at
orr nIaca near Seven Pines and xvaS