Year: 1874

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head think each one of them had re-
volver, and felt sure after getting safe away
that they fred every charge they had with
in a minutes time. was kicking and
splashing to get into deep water, telling
them by the noise where to aim, but
struck the current after few plunges, and
had sense enough to grip the skiff and float
without movement.


Just as got fairly into the current, half
dozen other soldiers came rattling down
the path and opened fire, but every one of
their shots struck the water beyond me.
was certain that they could not see me, and
feeling little fright, had only to remain
quiet short time to make my escape.
hung dead weight on the inverted craft,
and soon foated down several rods. The
current was sluggish so near the shore, but
l dared not make move. In two or three
minutes more the other pickets along the
Bluff got the word, and all commenced
firing until could see flashes mile below.
Some fired at the island, some down into
the river and heard several drums beat
ing the long roll on both sides of the
stream. No one could see me, and all the
bullets coming down from the Bluff were
wasted, not one striking within twenty feet
of the skiff. In little time, by cautiously
working my legs, got the skiff into the
current, and then headed my course for
the island. The game was up, and / might
as well go back and report. Having taken
the alarm, and ascertained the fact of my
landing, the Confederates would not be
caught mapping again. My only resource
was to return, and either seek to cross
further up or down, or wait until another
night for another trial. Pushing the skiff
on before, and drifting down nearly as fast
as I progressed the other way, a landing
was at last made, but at least mile and a
half below the camp.


The colonel was not surprised at my want
of success, having seen three or four pre-
vious failures, but was considerably disap-
pointed. He was nervous, ambitious, and
exceedingly anxious for active operations.
The union army on the Potomac had been
idle for weeks and months, and now that
there was some slight show for battle in
his vicinity, the colonel, and indeed all
other officers, were impatient of delay.


"How do you feel now ?" inquired the
commander, half an hour after had re-
ported, and soon after had exchanged my
wet garments for another suit of citizens
clothing.





GAN right p 1 responded for felt no
bad effects from the trip except an anguish
sensation.


"See here" he whispered, coming close
up to me " believe you can go over there
and secure the information want won't
ask you to return tonight, or tomorrow,
but hope you will get back tomorrow
night. If you will make the trip, l will
give you two hundred dollars from my own
pocket the hour you return"


My failure had greatly increased the
risks, but of course told the colonel that
I would make a second attempt, and half
an hour after was planning the new trip.
1t was pretty certain that I could not land
again that night anywhere along the OPP
posite Bluff, and I was soon determined
not to make the attempt. There were
number of large skiffs on the Maryland
side of the island, used by the soldiers to
cross to the main land, and it was arranged
that the colonel should give me four sol
diers and a boat. Getting into the skif
about midnight, the soldiers took the oars,
and the boat was headed up stream. 1t
was my intention to proceed to a point
above Conrad's Ferry, and then take to the
water and make landing on the Virginia
shore, striking the bank above the begin
ming of the Bluff, and working my way
down through the scrub forest behind it.


The current was stiff the soldiers unused
to the oars, and it was nearly two o'clock
before we landed. We passed the Ferry
nearly a mile, and hit the bank just where
a small camp of Federals were located.
explained my mission TO the colonel in
command, sent the soldiers back with the
boat, and then began active preparations.
Tho colonel furnished me with two empty
cracker barrels and these lashed side by
side with ropes. / then emptied my pock-
cts, and left with the officers every article
had except thirty-six dollars in gold, and
jackknife. At last, when all was ready,
pushed the barrels into the river, waded
in after them until only my head remained
above the water, and with word Of good
by from the three or four men on the bank,
was of, The river being broad and deep