Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-08-23
A PAPER
BULLET
II Was Fired With Great
Success
BY ALBERT KENYON


the states. when we were lying in face
Of an enemy. stole away from camp
and III the darkness succeeded IN pass
ing the pickcts Climbing q tree.
whore could hear II not see what the
Confederiit,S We're doing. heard So
much going on that believed they
We're preparing for one Of those at.
lacks just before dawn. the hour usu-
ally chosen for an intended surprise
! got down from the tree choosing n
moment when the coast was clear. and.
crawling through undcrbrush. retraced
my steps. cot safely through the pick
cts and returned 10 my own lines
There ! made myself known and.
making for my captains tent. told
him the whole story
He was too much impressed with
the Importance of getting II TO the
general 10 rcprimand me for leaving
camp without permission and hurried
me 10 headquarters II was midnight.
and all were asleep there. But the
captain called an aid. and the aid
awakened the general. who gave or
dcrS that the command should he
called without beating the long rolD
and formed In line OF battle behind
such natural defenses as the location
afforded
At 3 o'clock-dawn did not come till
nearly i've heard the tramp OF men
and when their shadowy forms ap
pearcd astonished them with n storm
OF lead and iron that drove them back
In confusion They returned. but were
again driven back. after which they
retired to their camps
This sally Of mine gave me all the
adventure wanted for the rest of my
term of service. for II made me the
generals chief scout | almost always
went out for information In uniform
In the first place. ] preferred being
captured or shot 10 being hanged for
spy. against which death my uni
form WIS protection have ridden
into the encmy's lines rugged rs Fed
era trooper. acknowledged myself to
the people MS such and was not
believed You cant come that on us
they would say. You're one OF Mos
hy's men" When would deny this
they would insist that I had adopted
the Yankee uniform for secret service.
After one of orr fights. In which nc-
Their side seemed To have got an
advantage was sent into Confederate
territory with n view 10 determining
whether the enemy were taking steps
10 continue the fight or withdraw.
But far more important object was
TO carry an order to General g.. on our
flank. to join ~ "A simultaneous attack
without command In ease found the
enemy inclined TO rctrcat II found
them In good condition 10 renew the
fight and preparing 10 do so ! was
To destroy the order. and II the re-
verse | was 10 deliver IT, II was writ
ten on tissue paper. giving details or
time Of attack. etc. and rolled into
ball about the size of a pistol bullet.
carried II In my holster In order that
] might have IL ready TO throw away
or de>irny IN ease of expected capture.
went out. rs usual. In my blue jack.
ct with yellow cavalry facings. my
cArbine sung to my saddle and a re-
volyer NJ my hip ! emerged from our
lines into wood. through which 10y
the generals direction II skirmish line
had been sent To determine whether II
was occupied by the enemy II was
free aud after riding through II for
half mile | came TO n clearing Be
Soc nd
what WAS In front OF me. for. being ON
an eminence. could see quite dis
lance There we're no camp In sight
nor any large force. only stray bands.
mostly cavalry So started out. in
tending TO ride forward. keep my eyes
open aud b. guided by circumstances.
Descending slope through a corn.
field. | struck road leading southeast
ward. the direction In which the enc
my were supposed TO be. could see
approaching bands or persons and d.
rected my course 50 as To avoid them
One would have had 10 come near me
to see that | wore II Federal uniform.
for mine was by no means n new one
rather dlugy. In fact - aud needed
close inspection Ia tell whether II was
Confederate or Union So. while ! saw
all cared tO see. no one saw me with
sutiicicn; diStinrtness to know that ]
was u Yankee soldier
rode on over low ground till ! came
TO ridge from which ! could see the
Confederate camps. \ wagon train
was headed southwark II It was
loaded with supplies that meant that
the enemy Wee preparing 10 reireat
II the wagons were empty II meant
that they were engaged IN hauling sup
piles 10 the army; that the! had
brought load and were returning for
another could see the white line ~
the ru'id over which they would paSs
nnd that Il made u turn not tar from
whore they were. BY riding across
fields ! could Intercept them pushed
1rward and taking them on the flank.
:ode along by them toward their rear