Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-04
A PAPER
BULLET
II Was Fired With Great
Success
By ALBERT KENYON

One evening during the war between
the states. when we were lying in face
of an enemy, | stole away from camp
and in the darkness succeeded in pass
ing the pickets. Climbing a tree,
where | could hear if not see what the
COnfederates were doing, | heard so
much going on that | believed they
were preparing for one of those at
tacks just before dawn, the hour usu-
ally chosen for an intended surprise.
l got down from the tree. choosing a
moment when the coast was clear, and,
crawling through underbrush, retraced
my steps, got safely through the pick
cts and returned to 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 it to the
general TO reprimand me for leaving
camp without permission and hurried
me TO headquarters. 1t was midnight,
and all were asleep there. But the
captain called an aid, and the aid
awakened the general. who gave or
ders that the command should be
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-
peared astonished them with 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
terIh of service, for it made me the
generals chief scout | almost always
went out for information in uniform.
In the first place. ! preferred being
captured or shot to being hanged for
a spy, against which death my uni
form was protection. | have ridden
into the enemy's lines rugged as Fed
eral trooper, acknowledged myself to
pCOpiC 40 ouNH anu WAS uOI
believed. "You can't come that on u.s."
they would say You're one of Mos
by's men," When | would deny this
they would insist that had adopted
the Yankee uniform for secret service.
After one of our fights, in which nei-
ther side seemed to have got an
advantage, | was sent into Confederate
territory with a view to determining
whether the enemy were taking steps
to continue the fight or withdraw.
But far more important object was
10 carry an order to General b.. on our
flank, TO join in simultaneous attack
without command In case | found the
enemy inclined to retreat. If found
them in good condition to renew the
Hight and preparing to do so | was
10 destroy the order, and If the re-
verse | was to deliver it, 1t was writ
ten on tissue paper. giving details of
time OF attack, etc. and rolled into a
ball about the size Of a pistol bullet
carried it in my holster in order that
L might have 1t ready to throw away
or destroy In case Of expected capture
went out, as usual. In my blue jack
ct with yellow cavalry facings. my
carbine slung to my saddle and a re-
vOlver at my hip. | emerged from our
lines into wood, through which by
the generals direction q skirmish line
had been sent to determine whether Ii
was occupied by the enemy. 1t was
free, and after riding through 1t for
haif mile / came to clearing. Be
fore entering upon it / looked over
what was In front of me. for, being on
an eminence, | could see quite dis
tance. There were no camps in sight
nor any large force. only stray bands.
mostly cavalry. SO | started out. In
tending TO ride forward. keep my eyes
open and be guided by circumstances.
Descending slope through a corn
fieid. struck a road leading southeast
ward the direction in which the enc
my were supposed to be. could see
approaching bands or persons and di-
rected my course so as to avoid them.
One would have had to come near me
10 see that | wore Federal uniform.
for mine was by no means q new one
- rather dlngy. in fact - and needed
close inspection to tell whether it was
Confederate or Union SO, while saw
all ] cared to see. no one saw me with
Sufficient distinctness to know that
was Yankee soldier.
] rode on over low ground till I came
TO ridge from which | could see the
Confederate camps A wagon train
was headed southwark. If 1t was
loaded with supplies that meant that
the enemy were preparing to retreat.
IL the wagons were empty it meant
that they were engaged in hauling sup
plies TO the army: that they had
brought load aud were returning for
another. I could see the white line of
tiSe road over which they would pass
aai that II made a turn not far from
where they were. BY riding across
Deids could intercept them. pushed
forward and. taking them on the flank.
rode along by them toward their rear.
what yo' doin' In that uniform q
called teamster.
Took II from a Yank killed In the