Year: 1873

A BOUT the middle of April received
IN orders to report at the front. l had
been working at the headquarters of anoth-
er division, further east, and was glad of
the order to send me up the Rapidan, the
more so as l received hint that q scout
had been planned for me. Reporting at
Stevensburg, or in the Federal camp oppo-
site, l was turned over to two scouts who
had served several months with the gener-
al, and told to secure from them such in
formation as desired in regard to the
country south Of us. When came to think
the matter over, l found that they could
only aid me in one way which was to give
me some idea of the Confederate force in
Stevensburg, and along the road leading
past Pony Mountain, and thence running
southwest, or nearly SO, to Old Tavern,
Mine Run, etc., points celebrated after
wards as hotly contested battlefelds. /
had travelled the road once, had been at
Charlottesville, Old Tavern, and other
points on the pixies, and only wanted to
know what was required Of me by the gen.
eral, and something of the force Of troops
around Pony Mountain and at points be-
yond.


/ was told by one of the scouts, who had
crossed the ford, passed the mountain, and
been five miles beyond, that the enemy was
in heavy force along the road, as it seemed
the idea of the Confederate commander
that the Federal troops, on the opening of
the campaign, would force the ford, and
endeavor to advance toward Old Tavern by
the regular route.


The general informed me that was to
cross, enter Stevensburg, and not return
until l was thoroughly competent to re-
port the strength of the enemy guarding
the road between the town and Old Tav-
ern, making the longest and most danger
GUS expedition which had ever under
taken. 1t was not to be scout, for scouts
seldom enter the enemy's camp, but reg
ular spy expedition, where l must con-
stantly carry my life in my hand, the road
being lined by Lees troops in winter quar-
ters. While acting as scout and spy in the
army / always made il rule never to un-
dertake an expedition without first count
ing all the chances for and against me !;
and after had canvassed the prospects Of
this one came to the conclusion that l
would be arrested, tried, convicted and
hung as spy within twenty-four hours
after crossing the river However, was
there to obey, and the chances being
against me made no difference with the
general He wanted information, and /
do not suppose that the news of my death
while trying to obtain It for him, would
have occupied his mind more than five
minutes by the clock. This is not intend
ed as reflection on the humanity of the
army generals, for they had no such feel
ing /; at least that is my experience Many
private soldier forgot that there was
such a word, and made war and its ghastly
attendant horrors his sole study; and rs
for commanders soft heart would have
resulted in a court martial for neglect of
duty. However, gave no thought after
my resolution was taken, to what might
happen, and on the afternoon of certain
wednesday, hhu recoNeu All oho insNuc-
tions which the general saw fit to give. He
had some idea of the route and its dangers,
and did not add that was to make the
journey with the speed which might be
expected Of an express train.


" You will cross the river as you choose,
plan as you see fit, go as fast or as slow as
you like, and come back, if possible, within
week"


Such were his words as he waved me
out, and there was no need of more. /
had three hours Of daylight left, and these
/ used in making my final arrangements.
learned from the pickets at the river as
near as could be the location Of the Con-