The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-12-12
NASJUST VISITING
"Yank's" Presence in Confeder.
ate Lines Explained.
In View of His Extremely Unconven-
tionaI "Unlform" He Could Hardly
Be Charged With Spying, as
Gen. Gordon Quickly Saw.

In his "Reminiscences of the Civil
War;" General Gordon relates that
while the two hostile armies were con-
fronting each other on the Rapidan,
the Confederate and the Union pickets
became so very "chummy" that the
commanding generals were appre-
hensive lest important military infor-
nation might leak out.
An almost continuous exchange OF
tobacco for coffee was going on De-
tween 'Yanks" and "JOhnnies;" also
much exchanging of newspapers. When
the river was so deep that the soldiers
could not wade across, they riggeu
miniature boats and RATS loaded with
whatever they wished to trade ana
sent them over as the breeze FAVORED
The consignees on both sides scrupu-
| lousy respected these small argosies,
and always sent back fair equivalent.
The men not only conversed across
| the river, but "visited" back and forth
for an hour or two at time. me
| officers began to fear that they might
| become too friendly to hight WIN
| proper energy; and at last General
Lee instructed General Gordon to put
stop to it.
Mounting his horse, the general
started to ride along the river 'front.'
and almost Immediately came upon
Confederate outpost. where his sud-
den appearance seemed to create an
unusual degree Of excitement and stir.
"What's going on here?" demanded
the general.
Nothing at all, sir" cried one OF
the soldiers eagerly; while another at
tempted to explain that the confusion
was owing to their haste to present
arms" to him.
General Gordon was satisfied that
this was a subterfuge, but he could
see nothing amiss, and had turned TO
ride away when he saw some tall
weeds on the river bank begin to
shake.
"What's in those weeds?" he asked,
wheeling his horse.
Nothing at all, sir!" cried chorus
Of voices.
| Break down the weedsl"
Very reluctantly one OF the men did
so-and there lay large, red-headed
"Yank" in puris naturalibus, having
evidently but that minute swum across
| the river.
"Where do you belong?" the general
asked him severely.
"Over yonder, general" replied the
Yankee, with wave of his arm across
the river and an inscrutable grimace.
"What are you doing here?"
"Jest little friendly visit to the
boys, general"
'Don't you know that there's war
raging in this country?"
Eyes, sir; but faint ragin today"
was the quaint reply; and the ring OF
listening "Johnnies" grinned broadly.
Something had to be done to preserve
dignity and to enforce orders.
slave you anything to. say why l
| should not have you shot as a spy?"
| demanded the general sternly. SIS
that your uniform?"
'Wal general, it's the uniform my
mother gave me-" came from the
weeds in a drawl SO irresistible that
| the "Johnnies" shouted.
Quickly perceiving that this was a
case where it was necessary to treat
the matter as a joke or else to mete
out extreme severity, General Gordon
chose the former alternative.
'Look here" said he; ''if let you go
back to your own lines this time, will
you"
It was unnecessary to finish the SEN
tence. With a spring to his feet the
''Yank'' dived off the river bank; inn
mediately his red head was seen part
ing the water rapidly in the direction
of the other shore.-Youth's Compan'
ion.