Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-14

of an enemy. stole away from camp
and in the darkpeSs 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 usll-
ally chosen for an intended surprise.
/ got down from the tree. choosing a
moment when the coast was clear. and,
crawling through underbrllsh, retraced
my steps. got safely through the pick
cts and returned to my own lines.
There l made myself known and.
| making for my captains tent, told
! him the whole story.
/ He was too much impressed with
| the Importance of getting 1t TO the
| general to reprimand me for leaving
| camp without permission and hurried
me TO headquarters. 1t was midnight.
and all we're asleep there But the
captain called an aid, and the aid
| awakened the general. who give or
ders that the command should be
called without beating the long rolp
/ and formed in line of battle behind
such natural defenses as the location
afforded.
At 3 o'clock-dawn did not come till
nearly Ave heard the tramp of men
| and when their shadowy forms APP
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 l wanted 6br the rest of my
term of service, for it made me the
generals chief scout. | almost always
went out for information in uniform
In the first place, I preferred being
captured or shot to being hanged for
| q spy. against which death my uni
form was protection. l have ridden
into the enemy's lines rugged as Fed
eral trooper, acknowledged myself to
the people as such and was not
believed. "You can't come that on u.s."
they would say. You're one OF Mos
by's men" When l would deny this
they would insist that l 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 view to determining
whether the enemy were taking steps
to continue the fight or withdraw.
But a far more important object was
to carry an order to General B.. on our
flank. TO join in n simultaneous attack
without command in case l found the
enemy inclined to retreat. If l found
them in good condition to renew the
fight and preparing TO do so l was
to 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
bali about the size of q pistol bullet
carried it in my holster in order that
l might have it ready to throw away
or destroy in case of expected capture.
went out. as usual. in my blue jack
et with yellow cavalry facings. my
carbinG slung to my saddle and re
volver ut my hip. emerged from oul
lines into wood, through which by
the generals direction a skirmish Zine
4 had been sent to determine whether il
was occupied by the enemy. 1t was
. free. and after riding through it fol
half mile l came to clearing. Be
fore entering upon it l looked Over
what was in front Of me. for, being OIL
an eminepce, / could see quite n dis
; lance. There were no camps in sigh
nor any large force, only stray bands
. mostly cavalry. So ! started out. in
tending to ride forward. keep my eye.
open and be guided by circumstances.
Descending n 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 di
rected my course SO rs to avoid them
One would have had to come near IN,
TO see that wore Federal uniform
for mine was by no means a new on'
- rather dingy. in fact - and needeC
close inspection to tell whether 1t wa:
Confederate or Union. So, while saw
all cared to see. no one saw me witt
sufficient distinctncss 20 know that
was Yankee soldier
rode on over low ground till came
TO n ridge FROM which l could see the
. | Confederate camps. A wagon trail
was headed southwark. II 1t wa,
loaded with supplies that meant tina
the enemy were preparing to retreat
If the wagons were empty IL mean
that they were engaged in hauling sup
3 plies to the army; that they hnC
2 brought load and we've returning TO
I another. ! could see the white line o
the road over which they would pas
I and that It made turn not far iron
l where they were, BY riding acros
fields l could intercept them. l pushe,
forward and. taking them on the flank
4 rode along by them toward their rear
What 20 dom in that uniform
called transfer.
a Took 1t from n Yank killed In tn
D fight yesterday" I replied. MY bnt
S ternut salt was ragged. And look a
the boots! never let Yank git ava
with his boots. especially II he's dead.
= "Tll give you 0 hundred dollars 70
q en-"
: -Sot much. I got all the money
want. but only one pair o boots"