Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-01-07

a 1.
those Yankee camps" said tba General
IN which You haven't been and bring
me information about them? You seem
70 nave facts concerning the center
out not of the wings. Their atmv or.
TENDS from tip to tip a good MANY
miles"
WAL, general. l wouldn't mind
dom that fo' you when / come back
this way"
since Mr.. Venables was not SOL
dler the general could not make a spv
OF MIN without his consent and was
Obliged to wait for his return. which
ne said 'mought be three or fou' DAYS"
he was "goin' down to Chattenoogy" to
see MS old mother, who was powerful
broke down with rheumatis." If the
general would give him pass to go
there he would later bring him all the
information he wanted from the Yam
kee "sojers." He was given the pass
and promised to be back in not over
four days.
All this was dead easy-indeed. so
easy that Hanc relaxed somewhat from
precautions he should have taken. He
visited every part of the Confederate
army in or about Tullahoma-the de-
lenses of the place, the direction of
moving columns, whether army wag-
ons were going south loaded or emp
ty-indeed, all indications such as his
general had impressed upon him by
which to judge of the intentions of an
opposing force. He was led to think
that, although Tullahoma was forti-
fed. the Confederates were preparing
the way for retreat.
To learn these facts Hanc Barton,
instead of going to Chattanooga to see
his pore ole mother" remained about
the Confederate camp so long that he
finally aroused suspicion. An officer
took him In charge, and, Hanc produc-
ing his pass. dated several days be-
fore. the general was informed by tele-
graph of his presence. An order was
returned to send the man under guard
to headquarters.
But Hanc, who had not been placed
under arrest. vanished before the or
der came The officer who had re-
ported him found himself in an I'M
pleasant position and sent whole
company OF cavalry riding, scattered,
over the camp in search of the MISS
ing man.
Hanc's horse was not far away, and,
reaching him while the Confederates
were waiting for the reply to the mes
sage to the general, he had been putting
as much distance as possible between
himself and them. They did not find
him that day, since darkness came on
within an hour after he fed; but, the
fact of his disappearance having been
reported to headquarters, reply came
that he must be found at all hazards.
The consequence was that separate
bands Of cavalry. each bearing a de-
scription of Richard Venables, were
sent all over middle Tennessee, having
instructions to bring him in alive or
dead.
Hanc during the first night of his
flight struck the cabin of a Union fam
fly and, being convinced that he could
trust them, confessed what he was and
asked for the wherewithal to make
change of costume. He was given an
old pair Of wooden trousers instead of
his butternut suit, and. as for coat
and vest. he didn't need either. A
straw hat, much faded. completed his
costume.
He had barely changed his dress
when he saw one Of the searching par
ties coming on the road. They rode
by the house, but before passing out
of sight drew rein and sent man
back. The spy, believing that they
were after him. went through the wood
house, taking up an ak as he did So
and. going into the yard. where lay
some loose wood, began to split 1t. AS
soon as he appeared the troopers all
turned and trotted back to the house.
Have you seen anything" -one said,
'4of a man in butternut around here?"
mo. hain't You uns hain't goin'
to camp yere, air your
"We're not goin' to camp anywhere
till we find the man we're after"
II don't want no sojers campin' on
my ground. They take all the rails o
the fences fo fires. Besides, there
hain't no water handy 'cept in the well.
that's purity nigh dry. Eff you're goin'
to camp you'll find creek over thar"
"Who's talkin about campin'? 1
came up here to ask you If you've seen
anything of long. lean man
with sandy harp
The cavalryman consulted his paper
bearing the description of the man he
was after and said the hair was sandy.
Eyes kinder grayT
"Yes: gray eyes"
Lean jaws"
"Yes."
"Ole wooden hatT"
yes"
.sYou said he had on butternut clos,
didn't your
"Yes; he had"
"Sairy," called the spy. didn't a
-. 900, down tho road this mOrnln