The daily Alaskan., 1907-03-28
How He Became
 Chief of Scouts


 told the following story:
 I enlisted in the ranks with the rest of the boys I knew in 1861. didn't seem to have been cut out for assol dier. I y.as not easily disciplined. was always struggling, and drills were to me intolcrahlc The only time could be relied on to show mp for duty was when there was fighting, and then 1t was not because I liked it, for didn't, but because dreaded the sneerS of my comrades. Nobody ever thought for moment of my even being made non con-, much less decorated with shoul- der strap.
 Well, one day when we were cavort- ing around in Virginia, marching in one direction one day, another the next. never still forty-eight consecutive hours, not having hud regular rations for some time. | got hungry and took the first opportunity to drop out and do a little foraging. I passed a house beside the road with a door leading down into cellar. l tried it and found it un- locked. So ! opened it and went in. There was nothing in the place but girl one of the southern girls of the period, with an olive complexion and hair cut square around her neck, She was washing something.
 What d'y wantG" she asked.
 I'm looking for something to eat" ! replied. "I saw the door opening or 10 tue road very convenient so l thought I'd just step In and see what 7 could find"
 That's just the way that door has looked to all the Stragglers in the army" she replied. There's not been leSs than 5,C3o men come in here. At lrst We had some provisions, but -ney were soou eaten up by soldiers. 70 we didn't put any more here. We
 ont keep the door locked because il would bn kicked open. Are there any gl your men near by"
 "Gu,ss uo.." said.
 .We.I. if there ain't | don't mind
 nyvIng yuu where we keep our eat ablps. To you see that wall? That shuts On a part of the cellar. Come urstatr- and I'll show you how to gel uro it."
 went up to the floor above, and thr girl opened a trapdoor. went down aud was looking about for snach when I heard the door shut and locked
 There was no getting out, SC afte: awhile l stretched myself on a tablv and went to sleep. l was awaEeneo by a trumping above. The cellar wa dark. so knew it was night Hear Ing the clank of q saber, listened tu discover if some of our men hadnh come in. They were not Federals, bul Coufedcrates of high rank. I coulu hear every word they said. It was a council of war When at last they set, tied on a plan to concentrate and at. tack our forces they went over each detail again and again to be sure there should be no mistake. While they were doing it was fixing it all in my memory so that if l got out in time I could warn our general
 In the morning the trap was opened and couple of Confederate soldiers took me in charge. The girl wasn't there. but an old man and woman seemed t0 know all about my having been trapped. l doubt if either of them knew that their living room and Eitch- en had been used for a conference. Im not sure they knew l was there when the conference was held. The soldiers took me away. and on the road We met the girl who had trapped me. l asked to speak Co her and told her l had a watch in one Of my pockets and would give 1t 10 her if she would get me oil. Her eyes sparkled, and she agreed to try. She sent one of my guards to a house where she said they had stock of hams and while he was gone man. aged to get the other ones musket which she playfuly fired at a tree. l ran un and took it from her, she only pretending to resist. The owner, see ing that ! had the advantage of him, ~an away. Then l gave the girl my watch, as I had promised, and took to he woods till l ran across some of our uen.
 While I was on my way to the gen .ral with my information l wondered tow would explain my being made prisoner without giving away the fact hat I had been struggling. Then It occurred to me that my story wasn't rery probable anyway. Why didn't the Jld folks tell the generals that q Ean' zee soldier was imprisoned in the eel ar? Why didn't the girl ask the sol liers to take my watch instead of get ing me away from them in order to :et it: I cant to this day explain the frst, and the only explanation l can give of the second Is that the girl didn't want any other claimant for 1t.
 I made up a cock and bull story bout having gone to sleep from ex' ..uustion on the march and on waking ID had found a chance to do some scouting. I called for map and show Di inst where certain Confederate