The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-03-14
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-

ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
When Bragg had Rosecrans shut up
In Chattanooga there were four OF us
scouts from headquarters who pene-
trated the Federal lines almost daily,
writes 'Ex-Rebel' to the Detroit Free
Press. Every move made was discov-
cred and reported and most of them
checkmated
About a month before Grants ar
rival, when things were at their worst
with Rosecrans, scout named Will
Rossmore, who was rather new in the
business, having been detailed only
few weeks was sent in TO try and as
certain certain things. The Federals
We're keeping u sharper lookout than
formerly. and the young man was in
structed to exercise all possible caution
and take no extra risks. He rode bold
~ into the city on an old horse, claim
ing to have been commissioned by GER
tain refugees to look after their prop
erty. He was. OF course, placed under
arrest and taken before the officer of
the day. He was ready for the ordeal.
He had the names of three citizens who
had lied the place; he pretended a
la-neness which incapacitated him for
military service he had the talk and
actions of a country lout. He was
questioned in the closest manner, and
when nothing could be made of him he
was allowed TO go his way. 1t is likely
that he would have secured his infor-
nation and passed out in safety, but
before he had been in the town three
hours an unfortunate thing occurred.
He was seen and recognized by de-
serter from our lines-a man who had
formerly messed with him, and, OF
course. knew him we'll
The deserter saw Rossnore without
to headquarters and gave him away.
When brought face to face at head
quarters the scout must have realized
that his doom was sealed. but he did
not yield his life without an effort He
denied his identity. He offered to send
for people to prove he was what he
claimed to be. and he challenged the
officer CT think il was Rosecrans him
self to send for a surgeon to inspect
his lameness and pronounce on it.
While his bold speech staggered the
deserter, the man could not doubt his
own eyes, and he persisted that Ross
more was a spy from Bragg's headquar-
ters.
"Was Rossmore lamey asked the
officer.
mo. sir"
But this man is a cripple for life"
well. don't know how that comes
l am certain. however, that he is the
man"
IF the surgeon says I have been
lame for years will you admit that you
are Mistaken" coolly asked the scout
was as sound as l am"
"very well. General. send for the
surgeon quietly remarked the scout.
He must have realized that the fraud
would be detected, but it seemed to be
his only hope OF bluffing the deserter
down If he had thought the surgeon
would not be sent for it was quickly
dispelled. The General felt that 1t was
serious case. and he wanted bottom
facts. A surgeon came. Rossmore
stripped or, and after brief examina-
ton the medical man announced his
opinion that the scout was shamming.
The little toe on his right foot had
been cut of at the joint i'm boyhood
The deserter had seen the foot several
times, and now he suddenly remember
ed the stump.
When Rossmore saw that he was
doomed he owned up to his identity,
and. pointing his finger at the man who
had betrayed him. he said:
Lew Warner. listen to me. Through
you l shall hang. but sooner or later
my death shall be avenged upon you
General, ann ready"
He was led away TO be hanged at
sunrise next morning.
Warner was from Tennessee, in the
neighborhood of Knoxville In August,
1864, he returned there to settle down.
and one evening. before he had been
home two weeks, some one killed him.
Through Rebel Lines on Hand Car.
II ran through the rebel lines ON a
hand-car once" said a youngish-look-
ing business man. II did not mean to
do 1t, but l did it, and gained consid-
cradle reputation through what may be
regarded as an accisent. 1t was on
the march OF Buell's army northward
from the line of the Tennessee to
Louisville. / reported to the lieutenant
colonel that / could not march, and
asked TO be put In an ambulance My
feet were in a terrible condition, and
the Colonel sympathized with me, but
Informed me that all the ambulances
were full and that l must pull through
in some way / conferred with five or
six of the fellows, and We decided to
steal a handcar and go by rail. Our
theory was that the railway ran along
side OF the turnpike. and that in case
os trouble We could Join our brigade
when yrcnted But we assumed too
much on this point and on others. The
turnpike goes straight over Muld-
rough's HILL The railroad makes a
long curve or bend, and this carried
us or toward the rebel lines While
General Buell. kept control Of the turn
pixies the rebels had captured several
points on the railroad. We did not