New-York tribune., 1918-06-30

was a good feed Of oats for my
trusty comrade.
I had worked out splendid plan
for getting captured. On Wednes-
day morning (only the day before
yesterday, but how long ago it
seemedD, riding with the Second
Corps, my journalistic companion
was Mr.. Waud, of "Harper's Week
ly." After crossing at Ely's Ford
he took me up the river a few miles
to some silver mines. Here was an
acquaintance of his, a Mr.. Wykoff,
of Brooklyn, N. Y, who, too far ad-
vanced in life to be drafted into the
Confederate service, had stayed to
look after mining properties owned
by Northern capitalists. My scheme
now was to get Mr.. Wykoff to go
along with me, at least across the
country to the Rappahannock River,
guiding me by byroads and cattle
trails with which he must be famil-
lar through that portion of my route
in the immediate rear of our army,
and most likely to be overrun by
bands of guerillas and scouting
parties of the enemy's cavalry. So I
turned Jesse's head toward Culpeper
mines and, in short time, was at
Mr.. Wykoff's door.
Mr.. Wykoff dismissed my proposal
without the slightest hesitation. He
was known through all that neigh
borhood -s>>as an uncompromising
Union man, and no course could be
devised that would more surely de-
feat my purpose than to be found in
his company. He was almost cer-
tain that would fail in my under
taking; but when he realized that I
was determined to try he elaborated
the scheme to which I was to owe
my success at last: I mast be qoino
to Washington; and l must have an
errand there that would justify my
haste, and that would win the SYM
pathy, and possible cooperation, of
the enemy. So this was my story:
There had been a great battle, in
which the Yankee army had been
overwhelmingly defeated; and was
hurrying with the good news to our
friends in Washington. To fortify
me in the prosecution of this adven-
ture Mr.. WyAoff made me familiar
with the names of half dozen prom
inent Southern sympathizers in the
capital city. Then he wisely deter
mined that | was too we'll dressed
for the part. The Tribune took
pride IN having it's representatives
we'll equipped, and my outfit included
pantaloons of the most costly Irish
corduroy, a fine "buckskin" Jacket.
dark, soft felt hat, calfskin boots
and Alexandra kid gloves. These |
exchanged for regular "butternut"
suit, with coarse, broad "brogans"
and disreputable hat of quilted
cotton.
Whlle these preparations were be-
ing made a troop of gray cavalry
passed up the river on the opposite
bank, and it became nearly certain
that l was to fall in with many such
parties. No loyal man would take
through our lines, when there was
possibility of capture, scrap of
paper that would convey informa-
ton to the enemy; so DESTROYED NV
precious budget of correspondence
and all notes and memoranda that
could possibly disclose information
OF value. And, for my own safety.
l divested myself of all private
papers by which l could be identified.
Then, bidding farewell to the loval
man to whose wise counsel I un-
doubtedly owe my life, l set out on
my long and hazardous journey.
Trapped Among
Mosby's Troopers
About eight miles on the way was
the little hamlet of Richardsville. at
which point Mr.. Wykoff had advised
me to take a blind trail across to
Fields Ford, on the Rappahannock.
| reached there, having encountered
but one small squad of Confederate
scouts, with whom I had no diff
Guilty. was much encouraged bv
my experience thus far and, once
across the Rappahannock, the coun-
try was to travel was likely to be
practically abandoned.
But right now l came to a troop