Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-11-29
In the Enemy's
Uniform
A Story OF Secret Service
and Iiairbreadth
Escapes
BY THOMAS K. DEAN

OF my company was detailed 10 serve
rs General Grcgory's escort. and was
placed In command. We were sepa
rated from the regiment. making our
camps with the headquarters camps.
and were under the generals direct
command We furnished him with or
derlcs and messengers. performed any
scouting or other service he required
and while campaigning acted as his
bodyguard
One day ! was directed to report In
person 10 the general In his tent He
told me that company OF Confcder-
ates had ridden right into our lines.
thinking we were their friends. and
had been captured He was In need Of
information rs to where the enemy
were. what force they had and what
they were doing The country people
his only source of information-werc
IN sympathy with the Confcderates
ana utterly unreliable. He had con.
ceived the idea OF sending out scout
Ing party right into the enemy's camps.
if necessary dressed IN the uniform Of
the captured Confcderates, TO bring
him the information lie desired and
had sent for me TO consult about the
matter.
Generals don't usually consult with
the lieutenants commanding their body
guard, but commander cannot order
subordinate on secret service. For
that purpose volunteers are called for.
General Gregory asked me IL | would
be willing 70 act on his plan. and. al
though ! knew that a Yankee soldier
caught within the enemy's lines in
his uniform would be hanged for a
spy, consented TO perform the service.
He sent me back TO the escort to call
for dozen volunteers. which had no
difficulty In obtaining. Then | return.
ed to him for instructions
After an hours talk with the gener-
al over crude maps OF the vicinity
furnished by Union citizens. during
which | was informed that the men
whose uniforms we were to use be-
longed to the -th North Carolina cav
airy. | went back To camp. and the uni
forms and side arms were sent there
by the generals order. chose the
uniform of sergeant rather than an
officer since the former is not so prom.
incnt as the latter and less likely to
be identified My men all dressed as
privatcs. using arms marked &c. $. \.
and horses branded with the same let
tiers
A Union citizen guided us TO wood
ed hill. from which we could look
down on the camp Of brigade OF Con
fcdcrateS II was after taps, and the
tents Of the enlisted men were in dark
ness within. though y We're bathed
IN the light Of II moon mat WAS nearly
full Here and there a candle was
burning in an officers tent and clus
ter Of tents standing by themselves,
most of them containing lights. evi
IDENTIFY constituted the headquarters of
the commanding officer and his stan.
remained awake Till MI the lights
had been put out. then lay down with
my head ou the root OF a tree for .
few hours sleep
shortly before sunrise we descended
from the hill and rode leisurely along
the road to the camp. | waited till |
had seen the guard relieved and the
new scntinclS were quietly walking
their beats Approaching the man
whose beat lay across the road. he
challenged rs
who comes there
"Dispatch bearers on our way south
ward" was my reply.
Seeing we wore the gray. he passed
us. and we rode through the camp. at
tracing no especial attention.
believed the brigade we had passed
through t. contain about 5000 men
with a battery OF artillery and bat
TALON Of cavalry They were evident
Is detao he'd force stationed on the
road between the hills TO prevent the
passage OF an enemy. ] charged every
man 81 my command 20 remember this.
FOR no one could tell which of us would
get back with the information.
About II mile south Of the brigade the
road turned 20 the eastward and the
countr, opened M The level ground
was covered with different camps Of
the enemy. but we were not obliged to
rlle through any of them and gave
them NIL Wide berth Whenever we
saw Il man or body 81 men coming, II
we could turn ont 81 their way with
out seeming To do 50 purpoSeiy To avoid
them we dehnuchcd I,ut most II
thos, we met did not know us and had
no reason to inquire who we We're
/ Saw cloud of dust ahead and
when couldm't get u glimpse OF what
was hcnruih 1t made up my mind that
II WIS kicked up by general aud his
stan looked ahont for u wood az
some other place in which 10 avoid q
meeting. hut there was nothing nj
hand could not turn aside without
lcttiu. down the rails Of fence which
extended on either side. so ! was
Obliged ~ so forward and run the risk