Year: 1873

After round sleep and fair breakfast,
went out upon the street, informing the
urbane landlord that he might expect me
back to dinner. l intended to make a
thorough examination of the town, and to
do it openly. The main thing was to see
what works had been thrown up along the
river.


Sauntering down the main street, pres
emily came in sight of several earthworks
mounting guns, and noticed line of
breastworks and number of rife-pits.
Walking close down to the ford was en-
tirely away from cover, when a bullet from
Yankee musket came singing close to
my ears, and soldier shouted TO me to
jump behind the breastwork.


"You must be new here, lieutenant,"
he remarked, as sought cover. "Why,
it's great wonder that you did not get
bullet in your body"


| l explained to him that had recently
arrived at Stevensburg, and was not aware
of the danger ran in approaching the
ford. The gun from across the river pro-
voked return fire, and for half an hour
the pickets wasted their ammunition in
attempting to do each other injury Dur.
ing the firing lieutenant-colonel came
along down behind the defences, and CON-
ing over he shook hands with me and be-
gan conversation. He asked after my
regiment, division, commanders, etc., and
| thought had answered all his questions.
satisfactorily, when he suddenly turned
upon me and remarked:


"There's nothing strange in your being
granted furlough or being assigned to
other duties; but our location here, right
in the face of the enemy, compels us to
carefully scan such faces as we do not
know. suppose you have your documents
! with you P''


Certainly have" replied, Juggling
out my pocket-book, and preparing to open
the paper. -


mo, lieutenant, beg pardon; do not
mean to question your word OF course
you are all right and hope you will have
pleasant visit to your friends, and find
your new position all that you hope for"


had mentioned to him in our CONVEX
sation that was going to Richmond, had
been transferred to the Quartermaster's
Department. and that l had many friends
in Richmond. The alacrity displayed in
producing my document seemed to disarm
his suspicious, and he invited me to lunch
with him at his tent at 2 o'clock After
promising to be there on time, 1 explained
to him that l was looking around to graf
ify my curiosity, and resumed my stroll,
taking mental notes of all saw.


The place was very well defended, and it
was certain that the Confederates, who had
much advantage in the make of the ground,
could hold the ford against superior num-
bers. A large force of men were then busy
adding to the defences, and with several
soldiers with whom l conversed found
that they were every day expecting that
the Union force opposite would make an
aggressive movement.


1t was noon when had completed my
examinations, and ! returned to the hotel
for dinner, calculating to leave the town
directly after and proceed up the road.
There were very few people about the
hotel, and no one seemed to give me any
thought. While eating, found that some
of my notes were slipping from my men,
ory, and so went to my room to write
them down. Procuring paper, I made
drawing of some of the defences, jotted
down all that the general would care to
know, and then folded mp the paper and
prepared to secrete it, l had unscrewed
the heel of my left boot, deposited the
paper in the cavity, and was about to af-
fix the heel again, when I caught side
glance of some one at the door. Concluded
next week.