The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-10-19
THE WISE JUDGE.

an irregular lie. l never could De dis
ciplined. When the command was asleep
! would be off on some adventure. There
was a southern girl south of US, her
home being most of the time within the
southern lines. who captivated my youth
full fancy. and | was constantly absent
without leave visiting her.
On one occasion / would surely have
been captured by some Confederates,
who called at the house, had she not put
me upstairs in one of the bedrooms.
There ! found some citizens clothing,
and putting il on, / went down and
mingled with the soldiers.
| gained some very important infor-
NATION from them about the enemy's
movements, for | passed myself off for
a redhot Confederate. They belonged
TO Jubal Early's command and told me
that they were the advance of his force,
intending 10 sweep around in our rear.
As soon as they had gone | rode away
to my general and told him what had
heard. He sent out orders with view
10 defeat their purpose, then said to me:
Il have been wondering for some time
where could get man like you. want
some one for secret service work. | can
get plenty of hired spies, but | dare not
trust them. They will take my money
to bring information and take the Con-
tederates' money to bring them informa-
ton. But from what you have told me
you are just the man for secret service
work. Most men have dread of being
caught in citizens clothes, with the pen
atty OF swinging. You don't seem to
mind the risk at all. Now, | wish you to
90 down on our left and find out what
the enemy is about down there. | have
reports that there is no force in that
region at all, and have reports that the
enemy is concentrating there. Can't you
go at once
Yes, general" l said. "Shall re-
port your orders to my captain?'
You We're absent without leave on
this little expedition, weren't your
Yes, general.
We'll, you can continue aDsent with
out leave. If you report TO your captain
the men will know that something is up
in your case and talk it over. | don t
work Besides, if you do we'll | shall
make a regular secret service man of
you, attaching you to these headquart-
ers."
Won't my comrades think have de-
my captain-my own fault, Of course,
always objected to regular duties.''
That's Just what 1 want them to
think of you. 1t will keep them from
thinking anything else.
But, general, if | should come back
into our lines and not find you here to
vouch for me ~
I'm fix that"
He sat at table and scratched off an
and handed it 70 me.
with that. But don't get caught with it
on you in the enemy's line or it will hang
you.
| took the paper, put it in the lining Of
my hat. ard with a godspeed from my
commander, rode away into the dark
ness.
Tne first thing for me to do was to get
citizens clothes. | could do this and see
my girl again at the same time. So
roge straight to the house where she
lived with her mother a widow, and
family of Younger children. | awakened
the household and told them that | want
ca the clothing l had found upstairs and
which she mad told me belonged to
brother Of her mothers, who lived with
them, out was now in General Jackson S
army
But mother and daughter We're rebels
and wouldn t have given me the clothes
had | not told them a cock and bull story
about Confederates being after me. As
soon as | was rugged out as Virginia
farmer, leaving my horse in their barn
and my uniform in the garnet of the
house, | marched away on foot in south
westerly direction toward the region |
was to lOoh into.
| had no sooner reached it than | saw
indications of an important move on the
part of the Confederates. The location
was swarming with troops. My object
was to return at once and report the
fact to the general, but there were sew
eral things about me to lead them to sus-
pect me. couldn't talk like southerner
and told contradictory stories about nv
antecedents.
Seeing that they were uncertain about
me, told them that what most wished
for was to fight for Dixie. So they en-
listed me, and thought | was all right.
was so fearful OF being accused of de-
sertion on my return that | kept the
generals order concealed under the thin
leather strip inside and over the sole of
my boot, but as soon as was suspected
hid 1t under stone, marking the spot
carefully.
found myself marching with the very
force had come to spy upon against the
very general who sent me- There was a
series of battles, with much slaughter
on both sides. | watched for favorable
opportunity to regain my own comrades,
but none occurred. The truth is my cap
tain was watching me. At last the whole
brigade to which | belonged was sur
rounded and captured.
| realized that | was in a precarious
situation. All depended upon my COM
with the general who had
sent me on my mission. What was my
horror to learn that he had been killed in |
one of the battles.
All now depended on my not being
recognized, but this hope failed me, for |
an enlisted man who knew me was one
of our guard. He saw me and informed .
my captain. The captain came to see
me, took me away from the Confeder-
ates and preferred charges against me
for desertion and fighting against the
United States.
The battles were ended for the time
being, and court martial to try me was
speedily convened. There could be no
greater offense in an army than the
double one of desertion and being cap
tured with arms IN ones hands on the
other side | told nv story and as 7 ay-