Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-11-29

noitcring expedition. had fortunately
not been taken
where are you going now?" he
asked
We are going on n roundabout
course 10 rcjoin our regiment
watched the general. holding my
breath IN terror lest lie pursue his In.
quiries TO point beyond my knowl-
edge lie thought awhile. then asked
me to what corps belonged kucw
the names of several OF the generals in
the Onion front aud named one OF
them Then my questioner asked me
to name my division and brigade CON.
mandcr. and couldn't remember"
You men are stragglcrs." he said in
reply. and likely bent on plllaging or
some other reprehensibe conduct.
consider II my duty TO send you back
to your command"
Our hearts sank within Us. When
returned to the regiment TO which we
claimed TO belong we would be proved
impostors and our real identity would
come out. The officer had but doz-
en- men In his escort but needed no
large force TO send with us. for any
resistance would be mutiny. and mu.
tiny Is punishable with death lie dc
tailed corporal and four men to see
that we returned to our command and
rode on
Had we not been In the enemy's lines
with halter hanging over us the stu.
alton would have been laughable. Five
unsuspecting Confederates were ia.
trusted with guarding a dozen daring
men who would rather die by a bullet
than rope said nothing TO my men
nor they 10 me. We rode mcekly be-
tween the corporal and two OF his men
In front of us and two bringing up the
rear. But by look ! signed to my
subordinates to remain submissive till
should assume the initiative.
II behooved me 10 make a break for
life before being returned TO our sup
/ posed command. kept my eyes open
and presently saw n large field of tents
short distance ahead. On leaving
our guards we must 90 through corn
field to wood on the other side Of the
field did not long delay action. for
saw troop OF cavalry coming on
the road before us
Corporal said. were bearing i'm.
portant dispatches from the command
er in chief and don't propose TO be in
tcrrupted We're going TO leave YOU,
and you may as well let us go. for II
you fire on us we shall return your
fire"
With that put spurs to my horse
calling on my men 10 follow me The
corporal and his men were so surpris-
ed that they stood paralyzed till we
had got several hundred feet away,
then gave chase. firing over our heads
as they came As bad luck would
have IL. the horse of Bob Robbins, one
of my men. stumbled and fell. shoot
Ing his rider over his head. ! turned
and rode back to him. but too late.
The troopers were OH him. and my 9th
or men had got so far away that II /
attempted 10 save Robbins | would be
captured myself So He'd
As for the five Confederates. we saw
nothing more Of them. We had seen
all of the enemy we cared to see and
were eager to get back 10 camp But
every way We turned we encountered
the enemy. and. since we We're now
/ outlawed. we dare not meet them We
/ hid in thick wood during the after
noon. hoping 10 make our way TO our
own lines under cover Of the night
We lighted bivouac fire and lay
down So long rs we could pass for
Confcderatcs we were in no danger
but our narrow escape from detection
had got on our nerves. None of us
slept since we expected TO move al
dawn,
About midnight we heard move
ment IN the undcrbrush. and suddenly
out of the darkness came Robbins lie
had been taken TO the provost marshal
ana questioned TIL he was so wound
IN that he broke down and confessed
himself 10 be Yankee soldier. He
was sent under guard after dark TO
general headquarters and on tie way
broke from those IN charge 81 him. In
the darkness he had gained the wood
we were in and came upon US acct
denially
His coming brought new danger
for be had confessed himself spy
and would lncrimnate us However
as soon as it was dawn We mounted
our horses. one Of the men taking Rob
bins up behind him. and started 70
make our way back 10 our lines We
were not FAR from them. but were
obliged 10 20 very roundabout way
During our travels we suddenly de
serted n body Of Confederate cavalry
about our own strength riding TO
ward us
Again the halter frightened about
our uecks. sud we prepared TO eight
desperately for our lives The com
/ mandcr. Young second lieutenant.
rode up 10 us. and | saw at once thar
he had not met US before.
"a spy has escaped. and we are