The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-06
How | Saved
My Brother
A Story of Two Confederates
Rv WILLIAM CLANNI Ed
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

| physical difference between us was
/ that | was born with a deformed big
/ toe on my right foot. When we were
| boys mother bought two circular pieces
/ of silver about the size of IA dollar and
/ hung one around the neck of each of
US. On Jims were engraved the words:
This is James Arthur Chittenden.
one of twin boys. He may very east
/ ly be distinguished from Frederick
4 Booth Chittenden. his twin brother.
| by having perfect great toe ON both
/ feet, while his brother has Il deformed
great toe on his right foot" The disk
she hung around my neck stated that
| was the brother with the defurmed
toe. She entered copy of these in
scriptions on our record at the church
when we were baptized.
Our home was in the Shenandoah
valley Virginia. When the war be-
tween the states opened Jim and |
were nineteen years old We didn't
have to go far to see fighting. for there
was plenty Of it right where we were.
General Stonewall Jackson was cavort.
ing up and down the valley, striking
one Federal force on one side of the
! Shenandoah river. then crossing, burn.
ing the bridge behind him and cutting
up another force on the opposite side
The general stopped at our house one
day and asked Jim to bring him a
glass Of water. Jim went for it, and.
mother calling to him. he asked me
to carry the water. l did SO. and the
general made remark to me In con-
nection with something he had said to
Jim. l explained that it was not /
ne hau asked for the water. He was
very much surprised. Presently Jim
came out. and the general looked from
one to the other Of us, evidently much
interested in our similarity of appear
ance.
Are you young men thinking of
fighting for the south?' he asked
We replied that in Difference to our
mothers wishes we had not yet done
SO, but expected to enlist very soon.
General Jackson was very ingenious
In his methods of getting information
OF the enemy. He told Jim and me
that If we would enter his secret serv-
Ice force he thought he could use us
to better advantage than IL we fought
In the ranks. We asked him to ex-
plain. but he did not do so. However.
we concluded to join him and went
with him to his headquarters
The first thing the general did was
to order us before a surgeon for phys
ical examination. We were told to
strip, which we did. and it was not
long before the surgeon noticed my de-
formed toe. He at once told us to put
on our clothes, the examination being
ended Then we were ordered to re-
port to the general. He told us that he
wished to send one of US into the I'm
lon lines for information, but that the
Federals were on the lookout for spies,
and capture was almost certain. OF
course capture meant death. Jim and
l both offered to go, so the general
suggested that we draw lots for the
privilege. We did so, and Jim won.
AS soon as Jim had gone the general
told me to get into womans dress.
did SO, and, having no beard but
pair of red cheeks. | made first rate
girl. The general told me to follow
Jim and bring back any information
he had to send, for he wished Jim to
accomplish all he could.
fixed up a basket of butter and
eggs and went north, selling my prod
uce to the Federal soldiers, keeping
my eyes and ears open all the while
Jim had been told to leave any mes
sage for me with certain woman
who lived within the Federal lines
went to her and made myself known,
only to learn that Jim had been caught
redhanded in her house with q lot of
discriminating documents on him.
Now. the general had suggested that
in this event | might be able to save
Jim by a ruse. and this is why he
had us examined to find physical diff
ference. | went in among the Federal
troops and learned that Jim had been
tried by a drumhead courtmartial and
was to be hanged the next morning |
went at once to the general command
ing, told him that | was Jims sister
and begged permission to bid him
goodby before he was swung off. The
general gave me an order to that effect.
and | hurried away The Federals
were encamped on the edge of a town
where there was a Jail. and Jim was
imprisoned there This favored plan
| had in view | was taken to his cell.
and after much pleading with the Jail
er he consented to lock me in with Jim
for half an hour: then he went away
and left us.
As soon as he had gone l told jim
to change clothes with me and go out
In my stead. He saw no reason why
| would not be hanged if he did. but
convinced him that | could prove that
was different person. When time
was up Jim walked out as q girl. re-
NAMED After waiting long enough
for him to get away | sent a message
to the general stating that could prove
that was not the man who was to be
hnnFnI ha HI