Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-02-13
In the Enemy's
Uniform
A Story OF Secret Service
and Hairbreadth
Escapes
RV THOMAS r DIAN
By THOMAS r. DEAN

When l was serving with my regi-
ment the til Pennsylvania cavalry,
in the Army of the Potomac portion
Of my company was detailed to serve
as General Gregory'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
derlles and messengers, performed any
scouting or other service he required
and while campaigning acted as his
bodyguard.
One day 1 was directed to report in
person to the general In his tent He
told me that company Of Confeder-
ates had ridden right into our lines.
thinking we were their friends, and
had been captured. He was in need Of
information as to where the enemy
were, what force they had and what
they were doing The country people
his only source of informatlon-wer
I'm sympathy with the Confederates
and utterly unreliable. He had con-
celved the idea of sending out scout
ing marty right info the enemv's camps.
IL necessary dressed I'm the uniform of
the captured Confederates, to bring
him the information he desired and
had sent for me to consult about the
matter.
Generals don't usually consult with
the lleutenants commanding their body
guard, but n commander cannot order
n subordinate on secret service. For
TINT purpose volunteers nre called for.
General Gregory asked me IL would
be willing to act on his plan, and, al
though l knew that q Yankee soldier
caught within the enemy's lines In
his uniform would be- hanged for
spy, I consented TO perform the service.
He sent me back to tho escort to call
for n dozen volunteers. which had no
difficulty I'm obtaining. Then I return.
ed to him for instructions.
After nm hours talk with the Rener-
al over crude mans of the vicinity
furnished Inv Union citizens. during
which I was Informed that tho men
whose uniforms we were to use be-
lonped TO the -th North Carolina cay-
airy. I went back TO camp. and the uni
forms and side orms ware sent there
nv the generals order. chose the
uniform of n serOeont rnther than nm
officer. since tho former ia not SO prom.
inent as tho latter and less likely 70
be identified NV mon MI dressed os
nrivotea usIno orms norI,od az Al
and horses bronded with Tho somo Lot.
tars
A Union c,t,zen gu,ded ma to n wood.
ed hin from which we could looI,
dowr on tho co,nn 90 n hr,oodo ~ Con
sodarotoo 7, ,,oa ostor ,oDs ond tha
tonto ~ tho enlisted mon ,yaro IN dorIr.
zoo ,r,.hIr, thanoh ,ia,, 80 hothod
a., tho ro,ht 90 80, IL. noe ,oo,,,,
ruiI h. ana thar oon1Io ,yos
hnrn,na a. on amoor,a .on. al o,,'s
90 90 80 ..a,,di,e. -, .t'as..I,,a,,
u,oat % e., naa.a1,, ~ ,Irt.a oo,
donu, oona,,,,,.od .ha haeaana,.,.. =.
49, o,,,aS,,'e. o@eo. ~ ~ -. ~
= -, an ~ a., 49,.
Ia 49,. -. w.. IT,, T., - 81
n,, ton pu' ~" .ne" ,"y a NV. WI
~ y 80 ~ ."o '''' VI "'' '''
s,,".,., s,p ,,..
ny 1870 ,,, 9un We ~,ue
~" 'no IN, ""u lOuo 'eieuiuy a"S
Wv, 'o"u ~ s"o mp 49,. "%''ou 1 ~ a.,
- ~ elu ''..SN n,,.t ~
.ha,u 49,. snoh,r nv 80"
sn l. D % npp.o"S"s .no ~
o liz Ds"t 80 '"' "''''" ''' ''"1' "
.,u1,p $50 90. ..o.,
,c ~ 1870 , 'o ,.,,
.nd P" '.'e D, 10 y" 0'' ""' "O''"
We FL ~. l.. $500.
ra and uo rodo t,ronnh 10 oo,nn ~.
.roo,,n, ~, o,aootaI ot.on,Ior
believed ,ho hr,aodo goo had roosod
,hroroh 90 contoin about a 600 mon
,,,,,b n ho,to.y 30 or,,IIory ana a rot
,oI,on os covoIry Tboy u,oro ovtdont.
Iv n dotochod force stotIoned On tho
road botyoep tbe hills IN nrovent tho
massage OF nm enemy. I charged every
man Of NV command TO remember this.
for no one could tell which of rs would
get back with the Information.
About a mile south Of the brigade the
road turned TO the eastward and the
country opened I'D. The level ground
was covered with different camps Of