Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-11-17
WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES.
BY L. A. Wales, NJ. D., New
Orleans, La, in Son
federate Veteran"

leled in history, escaping the perils Of
shot and shell on the firing line
or the lonely picket, of hunger and
pestilence, or perhaps that browning
hell, military prison, how we hang
on to life! How many of US are still
left to drag out a miserable exist
ence of poverty, infirmity, or de-
crepitude in humiliating dependence
or at best relegated to the cold
charity of the Old Soldiers Home,
waiting, marking time, in painful
patience Tor the final ''taps! Even
old Father Time seems reluctant to
strike. But the line is growing thin.
"Close up! Forward. The battle
ments are almost won! Comrades,
we will come; we will comet"
"Sergt. and Lieut.. Caleb H. Sny-
der, Company A, 3Id Louisiana Cav
airy, aged seventy-five." So reads the
mornings mOrtuary notice, and the
name brings to the memory of an
old cOmrade and messmate on the
firing line, on picket, or in the hours
of relaxation in camp or bivouac,
and notably another, not so moving
or exciting perhaps, though not less
dangerous or fraught with less dire
full consequences or demanding less
nerve, yet an occurrence of such fire.
quency as scarcely ever to be known
beyond the environs of headquarters
unless in case of failure or disas-
ter, as in the case of Andre or Hale,
when the actors might be accorded
a paragraph in history.
The order was: Three men
mounted and armed to report to
headquarters for special duty" Ser
geant Snyder, Sim Anderson, one
of the kids" of the command no.
ted for his reckless courage, who
long since answered his final roll
call, and the writer were the detail.
Reporting to headquarters, the ad-
jutant (still living in the enjoyment
Of an honored old age) gave us
these orders: "a certain old man,
prominent and sort of patriarch in
the community, is suspected of being
in communication with, and of CIV
ing information to, the enemy, and
his arrest is required" Then, after
giving US all the available and re-
quired information as to the identity
of the individual, his locality, resi-
dence, etc., he stepped aside, and the
colonel came forward and addressed
US in about these words: Boys, you
are going on a perlous duty. Re-
member that after passing our ad-
vanced picket you are within the
enemy's lines and if you are cap
tured you will be considered as spies
and treated accordingly. Therefore
you must keep your wits about you,
keep your eyes and ears open, and
use all circumspectiOn and discretion.
Avoid, as far as possible, the public
roads and frequented byways, etc.,
as you are liable at any moment to
run into foraging or scouting par
ties. Locate your man, make the ar
rest as quickly and as quietly as pos
sible, and get away with all speed.
Good luck to your
Having received our orders, we
set out on our trip about the middle
of the afternoon, reaching our pick
ct line and getting all available in
formation as to the topography Of
the locality, settlements, prominent
farms or houses, neighborhood roads,
paths, etc. We took up our march of
about, as we were given to under
stand, twenty miles near twilight,
timing ourselves to reach our desti-
nation and make the arrest before
daylight; but in our uncertainty of
the route, with detours to avoid
houses and public thoroughfares, the
day was dawning when we came in
sight of the house, which we readily
located in having no neighbors. Halt
ing long enough to take ir the stu
alton, we separated, two going to
the rear to approach from opposite
directions. Waiting long enough to
insure simultaneous ARRIVAL We made
a rush for the house, the writer 60
ing directly to the front. Just as !
reached the gate an old gray headed
man, evidently just out OF bed and
half dressed, opened he door. l sa-
luted, Good morning." and asked if
he was Mr.. C. He replied that he was,
and without further word I opened
the gate and rode up 20 the gallery.
Apologizing for my unreasonable
call, / told him was sorry, but that
he was wanted at headquarters and
would have to 60 with US. He took
in the situation Immediately, be-
traying himself with the remark that
"some of his neignbors had been
lying about him." but that he