Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-17

| HOUR BEFORE.
US and come back with the informa-
ton. I was a private in those days
and anxious to do something by which
| ! might gain promotion. ! thought
! that if | gained the information to
| enable the general to carry out any
| plans he might have l could count on
his influence. So | volunteered and
was ordered to report at headquarters.
| The general questioned me, and evil
IDENTIFY making up his mind to try me
told me to scout southwark and learn
so far as / could just what Confeder-
ate forces were between him and the
Tennessee river. He was intending
| to make forced march with view to
cutting railroad. He left me free to
go in uniform or in citizens dress. as
pleased. | concluded that | could get
farther south and learn more by as
Stunning to be n southerner. so ! chose
TO go in citizens dress.
81 confess didn't like the prospect
of being detected as a Yankee soldier
in disguise within the enemy's lines
hunting for information, for l was
pretty sure in that case to be hanged
for a spy. Besides, I was starting at
night. which is just the time mans
pluck is at the lowest ebb. | rode most
of the night and early in the morning
stopped at the outskirts of a town
called Fayetteville.
Those towns down there were sure
to sympathize with one side or the
other. Shelbyville was largely in favor
of the Federals: in Fayetteville they
I'll
this Mt the time. and l didn't take pre-
cautions. / stopped at house and
asked for some breakfast. for which |
paid in greenbacks. This excited sus
picion; the woman of the house played
Union and drew a confession from me
that was of the same persuasion. II
there had been man about | would
have been in trouble right off AS 1t
was. ! thought 1t best to mount my
horse and get away.
81 went on southwark. talking with |
the people I met. telling them that / |
had come from Shelbyville and had |
left n force of Yankees there. Then l /
asked them about our fellows and |
got all they knew. At noon ] stopped /
at a farmhouse. and this timeI struck |
a Union family sure enough. The I
father was away serving with an east
Tennessee Federal regiment. There
were mother. a daughter about TWEEN
ty years old and some small children.
IL soon found that II was safe to
confide in these people and confessed
myself a Union man. l also told the
daughter just what was-a spy. She
caught her breath and bit her lip. i
knowing fuII wa1I what nv fate would !
be IL caught
81 have never known such quick
cases OF love between the sexes as dur
ing that war. Perhaps the girls. being
bred. had not met any men eX-
,ept country pumpkins and were the
more easily attracted to a dinerers /;
class OF young men. be this as 1t may,
had not been in the house an hour be-
fore i saw evidence IN the girl Of
strong predisposition in my favor.
Then. too. the terrible risk / was rum
ming served to heighten her interest Ia
me. AS to my feelings for her. | wiz
-efer to that later
II may as well SAY here. however. !
hat couldn't tear myself away from
Ter till evening. when I started asa1A
or a night ride towSrd Stevenson
intending TO 81 on from there
o Bridgeport. ws4h = view to learning
What force there was at the latter
lace guarding the long railroad bridge
cross the Tennessee rifer. ] got on
'ery well, penetrated as far as l hal
Intended and made my way back 70 |
be house where ! had lakt the girl.