Oxford Democrat., 1910-07-12

III SSpyshoAes ASAos ~ e>~~-~>'~~-'' III
Association. ii
In 1862. when President Lincoln fear
ed that the want of cotton by the Eng
lish and other foreign manufacturers
might lead to Intervention. he issued
an order 10 his generals to give every
facility In their power to persons de-
string to purchase the article and per
NIT them to ship 1t on the army wag'
ons going uorth empty for supplies fol
the troops. At the time cotton coulo
be bought for a song In the south, and
before the war closed 1t had riseu t.
a dollar a pound In the northern
states.
was then young and eager to make
money. Having some capital. went
down into Virginia and rode among
the plantations In the neighborhood OF
the Union armies. buying cotton wher'
ever | found an opportunity to get II
within our lines and send 1t north
One day had been out few miles
beyond the Union vedettes to planta
ton where | had been told was stored
a large stock of cotton. There was nc
enemy in that direction. and II there
were | considered my vocation a shield
against interference. for was a citi'
zen engaged In assisting the southern
planters to turn their cotton into mon
ey. l bought fifty bales on condition
that could get transportation FOL
them and rode back to the Union lines
Something about the arrangement OF
the camps looked different from what
had left. Indeed. ! found great
deal of difference. While | had been
away the corps ! had left had moved
and another had taken its place. The
officer of the picket post would not al
low me to go where l liked. but took
me to the provost marshal, Major
Campbell.
noticed that the moment the pro-
vost marshal looked at me he gave q
family perceptible start. told him
who | was and the business was en-
gagged In. He listened to my story
then said he would report my case to
the general commanding. He left me
to do SO and was going so long that,
tired of waiting, was about to mount
my horse aud ride away when sentry
stopped me. asked him why he de
tanned me. and he said that he had
been ordered not to let me leave till
the provost marshal returned.
Major Campbell rode up as was
talking with the sentry. He asked me
to come into his tent and, getting out
the army demijohn. Invited me to have
something. He chatted in familiar
way. seeming much interested in my
cotton purchases and asking me a
number of questions pertaining TO the
business He told me that the gen
eral would like to see me, but was too
busy TO receive me till the next day
had left my belongings at Il house
Il short distance in rear Of the army.
and when the conversation Jagged |
arose and said | would ride there, re-
turn in the morning and call on the
general. Major Campbell said that
there was no necessity for me to 60
away, since he would be happy to give
me a cot In tent with subaltern
officer and my meals at his mess. But
/ said | wished some clean linen and
would prefer to 60. At that he told
me as politely as possible that the
general had directed him to bring me
to his headquarters the next day and
he would not dare risk losing me.
This was equivalent to telling me
that ! was a temporary quasi prls-
oner. Nevertheless did not think
much Of the matter. for IL permitted
to go | might find 1t inconvenient TO
return. In that event the major
would be liable to censure for disobe-
dience of orders. So | made a virtue
of necessity. saying that would be
happy to accept his hospitality.
During the evening played the
army game with the major and sew.
eral other officers in his tent. the
army game being draw poker. with
greenbacks in lieu of chips. Somehow
1t seemed to me that was an object
Of interest. Every now and again an
off xr-nttld N tho fl.D fn look
over the game. But. glancing up at
these gentlemen. ! invariably noticed
their eyes fixed OH me rather than on
the cards. | was puzzled. What was
there about a civilian engaged in cot
ton buying to interest officers Of the
army? However. the game interested
me. and speculation Of this kind did
not take root in my mind. We played
till midnight, when the party broke
up. and | was conducted by my tent
mate to my place Of rest. I noticed
that he kept al eye on me while took
uff my outer clothing and did not take
1t away till l stood in my undergar-
ments.
While going to sleep the circum-
stances Of my detention. the interest
had excited. this watchfulness Of my
tent mate. altogether found firmer
lodgment in my brain. Yet as | pom
dered over the matter l could not
think of one act sufficiently noticeable
10 signify anything in particular As
!lr my visit to the general the next
LAY. 1t might be an advantage. ! had
expected to arrange for cotton trans
portation with the quartermaster. Pos
sibly l might derive some advantages
by interesting the general in what i
was doing.
The next morning waited till II
o'clock for Major Campbell to take
me to the general. when. becoming i'm
patient. I asked him the cause of the
delay. He told me that the general
was busy. inwardly cursed these
military nabobs who made every one
await their pleasure and were treated
by their subordinates as princes of the
blood. if>.not sovereigns. 1t was not
I'LL In the afternoon that the major
told me to mount my horse and go
with him.
We found the general about to ride
nut on tour Of inspection. and I was
invited to join him. did so. and for
m oryh hf1n ha hn.,tAo