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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 18:29:48 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 18:29:48 -0800 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eaea67c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51803 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51803) diff --git a/old/51803-h.zip b/old/51803-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4f63b5d..0000000 --- a/old/51803-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51803-h/51803-h.htm b/old/51803-h/51803-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 32e287c..0000000 --- a/old/51803-h/51803-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2434 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Lost Dispatch, by Anonymous. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - - p { margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; - } - - p.bold {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} - p.bold2 {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - } - h1 span, h2 span { display: block; text-align: center; } - #id1 { font-size: smaller } - - - hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; - } - - hr.smler { - width: 15%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 42.5%; - margin-right: 42.5%; - clear: both; - } - - hr.smler2 { - width: 5%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 47.5%; - margin-right: 47.5%; - clear: both; - } - - body{margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - } - - table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; text-align: right;} - - .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - text-indent: 0px; - } /* page numbers */ - - .center {text-align: center;} - .smaller {font-size: smaller;} - .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - .mynote { background-color: #DDE; color: black; padding: .5em; margin-left: 20%; - margin-right: 20%; } /* colored box for notes at beginning of file */ - .right {text-align: right;} - .left {text-align: left;} - .space-above {margin-top: 3em;} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Dispatch, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Lost Dispatch - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: April 19, 2016 [EBook #51803] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST DISPATCH *** - - - - -Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class = "mynote"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:<br /><br /> -Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.<br /><br /><br /> -A Table of Contents has been added.<br /></p></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><a name="cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg"></a><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<h1>THE<br />LOST DISPATCH.</h1> - -<hr class="smler2" /> - -<p class="bold">GALESBURG, ILL.:</p> - -<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">Galesburg Printing and Publishing Company</span>.</p> - -<p class="bold">1889.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyrighted</span> 1889,</p> - -<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By Galesburg Printing and Publishing Company</span>.</p> - -<hr class="smler2" /> - -<p class="center">All rights reserved.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler2" /> - -<p>In adding this account of the finding of the "Lost Dispatch" to the war -literature of our country, I do so without further preamble or preface -than to say that all persons connected with this narrative appear on the -following pages under strictly fictitious names.</p> - -<p>For purely personal reasons, reasons that seem to me right and proper, I -still desire to remain unknown. There are not more than twenty-five -persons now living, who, on reading this account, will be able to -recognize the writer. These I place on their honor not to reveal their -knowledge.</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">The Author.</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><span>CONTENTS.</span></h2> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td class="left"></td> - <td><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER VII.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER IX.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER X.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER XI.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER XII.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">CHAPTER XIV.</td> - <td><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">THE LOST DISPATCH.</p> - -<p class="bold"><i>AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler2" /> - -<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<p>The Union army lay impatiently waiting until the plans of the leader of -the Rebel troops could be fathomed. His designs were shrouded in so much -mystery that the anxious watchers could not determine whether the -invasion of Maryland was only a feint to draw off the Union troops from -the points they were protecting, or whether he really aimed to attack -the Northern cities.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p><p>It seemed absolutely impossible to obtain authentic information. The -stories brought in by the stragglers and prisoners were wild and -improbable in the extreme. To have believed them would have been to have -believed that the enemy had the power of marching in a dozen different -directions at one and the same time, for each story gave the enemy a -different starting point, and a different aim and purpose to their -movements.</p> - -<p>Of the scouts who had been sent out to all points, many had been taken -prisoner, or had met a speedy death. In spite of their untiring and -daring efforts to obtain reliable information, the reports brought back -by the few who did return were so unsatisfactory and contradictory that -no dependence could be placed in them, for seemingly none of the -soldiers and few, if any, of the officers of the invading army knew -where they were going or for what.</p> - -<p>At the headquarters of General Foster, which that first week of -September, '62, were located in an open meadow, half a dozen <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>officers -were gathered in a low-voiced consultation. Their faces were grave and -marked with lines of anxious thought, as they poured over maps and -compared conflicting dispatches. A young officer, Captain Guilfoyle, who -sat writing at a table made up of rough boards, joined in the -conversation only when questioned by his superior officers, regarding -some point in the topography of the country, which could not be -determined from the imperfect maps they studied.</p> - -<p>An hour later all excepting the young officer had left the tent. -Stopping only to light a candle as it grew too dark to see, he wrote -steadily on until his work was finished and the papers lay folded on the -table. He arranged them ready for inspection, then rose and walked back -and forth across the narrow limits of the tent to stretch his tired -muscles. At last, with an impatient sigh, he seated himself again and -after waiting a moment drew from his pocket a long narrow book.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> It fell -apart, as if accustomed to being opened at one particular page, and the -light from the candle shone over a thick, long curl of fair hair, which -might have been cut from the head bending over it, so exactly the same -was the color. At the sound of approaching footsteps and voices outside -the tent he hastily returned the book to his pocket.</p> - -<p>Some one was asking for General Foster. The next moment a man dressed -like a teamster entered. His clothes were ragged and dirty. One arm was -wrapped around with a piece of blood stained cloth and hung limp and -useless at his side. His face was pale under the wide brim of his torn -hat, and the blood had trickled down one side from a fresh wound in his -forehead, making a wide mark along his cheek. The man showed his utter -exhaustion in every movement, and staggered from side to side as he went -across the tent and dropped half fainting onto a stool.</p> - -<p>Captain Guilfoyle took a flask from off the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> bed and held it to the -man's lips, eyeing him closely, until recovering somewhat, he -straightened up and removed the hat which partly shaded his face. As he -did so the Captain recognized him as one of the scouts whose return they -were anxiously hoping would bring them the sorely needed intelligence -and whose report General Foster had ordered him to receive if he got in -during his absence.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I'm here at last," replied the man to Captain Guilfoyle's hurried -interrogation, "and I've nothing to report but a total lack of success."</p> - -<p>"I left poor Dedrick and Allison over there, and barely succeeded in -getting back myself. You know what they were,—the best scouts in the -whole army. We did all men could do, but luck was against us. We have -learned nothing except that the enemy are across the Potomac, something -any straggler can tell. I have been four days getting back," said the -new comer, going on to give a full account of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> what he and his -companions had tried to do. "I tell you," he added wearily, "I doubt if -any one can find out what they mean to do until they do it, for I don't -believe they know themselves. They are——." There the low voice stopped -abruptly and the speaker's head sank until it touched the table.</p> - -<p>Calling in an orderly waiting outside, the officer applied restoratives, -and as soon as consciousness returned the sufferer was helped away to a -place where his wounds could receive much-needed attention.</p> - -<p>Captain Guilfoyle returned to his seat by the table to await General -Foster's return. After noting down some items in a well worn dispatch -book, he leaned his head on his hand and gave himself to deep and -serious thought, until, finally, a look of grim determination settled on -his smooth, boyish face.</p> - -<p>When the General returned, Captain Guilfoyle rose to report his work -finished. "McClandish has come in without any news of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> importance; the -two scouts with him were killed and he is badly wounded," he reported -further, after receiving orders relating to the disposition of the -papers he had copied.</p> - -<p>The grave, anxious look that settled over General Foster's face as he -listened, showed how he regarded the failure of an undertaking from -which so much had been hoped. In obedience to a word from his superior, -the young officer went on to give a full account of all he had learned -from McClandish. When he had finished he made a moment's pause, then -added quickly, leaning forward and speaking almost in a whisper, "If you -will allow me to go, I believe I can bring full and reliable information -of the strength of the enemy's forces and of his plans and intentions."</p> - -<p>The General stopped his rapid pacing across the tent and looked keenly -at the slim, boyish figure standing before him. "If you could: if we -knew the strength of the Rebel forces and where they mean to strike, -worn out and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>demoralized as our troops are, we could surely intercept -them and turn them back," he said.</p> - -<p>"I can try," replied Captain Guilfoyle.</p> - -<p>"You know the fate of the most of the men who have gone," said the -General gravely.</p> - -<p>"But it may not be mine," returned the younger officer.</p> - -<p>"McClandish is one of our best lieutenants and the two scouts with him -were old, both in experience and training. How can you succeed where -they and all the others have failed?" added General Foster after a long -pause.</p> - -<p>"I believe I can do it."</p> - -<p>"How?"</p> - -<p>"If you will accept my services and see that my destination is kept -secret, and that I shall never be required to tell how I gain any -information I bring back, I will be back at the earliest possible moment -and I trust with a full knowledge of what the enemy mean to do," replied -Captain Guilfoyle firmly. "I only ask that no person except yourself -shall know for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> what I have gone. Send me instead of Freeland to -Washington with these dispatches. Let it be known I have gone there, but -after I have delivered them let me follow my own plan. I cannot tell -just how long I must be away, but you may be assured not one day, not -one hour longer than necessary."</p> - -<p>A low, earnest conversation followed, which ended in General Foster -accepting the offer of his young aid.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p>From this point I will drop the cloak of an observer and narrate events -as they followed fast upon each other.</p> - -<p>After leaving General Foster's tent I went to inquire after McClandish. -I found him with his wounds dressed, and though weak from loss of blood -and exhaustion, he had recovered enough to give me some pieces of -information I wanted.</p> - -<p>My preparations were not extensive, but included the writing of some -letters to be left with General Foster and sent by him to various -friends in case I did not return.</p> - -<p>Just as I was turning in for a few hours' sleep, Major Larrabee, who -shared my tent, came in. We talked awhile on the outlook of affairs, -then I told him that I had been ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> to the Capital with dispatches -and was to set out at daybreak.</p> - -<p>Joe had a cup of coffee ready for me before daylight showed itself, and -as I finished it he brought around Bagdad, ready saddled. I had not -thought of it when giving my orders the night before, but as the horse -gave a glad whinny of welcome, I quickly decided to leave him to await -my return and take a less valuable horse. I knew that in a few hours I -would have to change to a fresh one and it would not be likely that once -left I would ever see him again.</p> - -<p>I was soon on my way. I carried dispatches to General Pennington and -Colonel Barbour, and important papers which I was to deliver to the -Commander-in-Chief, wherever he might be.</p> - -<p>The sun was just up when I reached the headquarters of General -Pennington and delivered the dispatches. I learned there that the troops -had been moved; that the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>Commander-in-Chief was near R——, so instead -of going on toward Washington I turned off and saved considerable time -by going across the country.</p> - -<p>I found the general headquarters on a slope about three-quarters of a -mile south of R——. Without hard riding I reached there before nine -o'clock. As I dismounted an orderly took my horse and called another, -who conducted me past the trim sentries and across the tent-outlined -square to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief. He was ready to see me and -in less than half an hour I had delivered the papers and was on my way -to Washington, where Colonel Barbour was to meet me and deliver the -dispatches which he and General Pennington wished to send back to -General Foster, so saving me the trip out to get them.</p> - -<p>I found the roads so filled with vehicles of all sorts, mingled with -cavalry and foot soldiers, as to be almost impassable in any direction, -and at places they were completely <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>obstructed, but by taking side paths -I was able to keep my horse at a fair speed.</p> - -<p>At four o'clock I was to meet Colonel Barbour at Willard's and in the -meantime I had enough to do.</p> - -<p>As soon as I reached the city I made my way to a restaurant for a -nondescript meal, which might be called either a very late breakfast or -an early dinner. From there I went to Willard's, where I took a room and -a hot bath. Ever since I had decided to undertake the hazardous -enterprise on which I was bent, I had had an intense desire to be off -and avoid all delay, and it required more time than I cared to give to -remove the traces of my long, hard ride and furbish myself up into a fit -condition for calling, but the calls I was to make were the preliminary -steps in my hastily constructed plans and too important to be omitted.</p> - -<p>The bright sun of the morning was almost obscured by hazy clouds as I -started out that warm September afternoon.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p><p>I sat in four different parlors that afternoon, and my fair Rebel -entertainers little dreamed that I, who had "looked them up for old -acquaintance sake while I had a few hours' leisure," sat with every -nerve strained, only waiting for an opportunity to put the seemingly -trivial questions which were to gain me the information so necessary to -the successful carrying out of my plans. All direct questions had to be -most carefully avoided and it was discouraging to lead up to the subject -and then have the conversation go over and around the point to which I -had been so carefully striving to bring it.</p> - -<p>At the end of my second call I was ready to curse the luck which made -further effort necessary. During the third call I began to get the -desired enlightenment, and at the next house a few freely volunteered -remarks rounded my scrappy knowledge. That I did not change countenance, -I knew from the face of my entertainer, and she little guessed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> joy -I felt when she casually told me what I had been striving so hard to -find out. My one desire then was to get away, and it required some -effort to keep up my part of the conversation. If I had followed the -predominant impulse of the moment I would have sped away and "stayed not -on the order of my going," instead of drawing my call out to the proper, -lingering length.</p> - -<p>When I again reached Willard's, I inquired if Colonel Barbour had yet -arrived, and learning that he had, I went directly to his room. There -were three or four other officers there, all anxious to learn any news I -could tell and eager to question, but as I was not personally acquainted -with any of them, I cut all conversation as short as I could without -actual rudeness, and avoided being detained long. I ordered my horse, -and feeling the necessity of eating while I had an opportunity, I went -in to dinner.</p> - -<p>After a hasty meal I left the hotel. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> street was full of moving -troops. As I rode slowly along I had to draw up close to the pavement -several times to avoid the crush, and several times came to a full halt, -until the moving mass of troops, vehicles and pedestrians had surged -past. I finally reached the small restaurant on a side street, where, as -previously arranged, I met an orderly sent by General Foster. I gave him -the dispatches I carried, telling him to proceed at once with them to -that General's headquarters. As soon as he was out of the way I was free -to follow my own plans.</p> - -<p>The streets were comparatively deserted in the direction I took on -leaving the restaurant, and I met with no detention. After leaving the -city fairly behind me, a sharp three-quarters of an hour's ride brought -me to a small, old house standing somewhat back from the road. A -decrepit negro took my horse and I went in at a side door opening onto -the drive.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p><p>It was dark when I left the house again, but even in daylight I do not -believe any stranger would have recognized in me, the well gotten up -young officer who had entered half an hour before. I had discarded all -my accouterments and my uniform, which, notwithstanding the rough usage -it had lately been through, still retained much of its new freshness and -glitter of brass and gilt. In its place I had on a pair of blue -trousers, a gray flannel shirt and a large, soft felt hat, all -considerably the worse for wear. I had also changed to a fresh horse. -The one I took was not much in the way of looks, but had considerable -speed in him, and was not too valuable to abandon to the enemy, as I was -well aware I might have to do at any moment.</p> - -<p>Leaving the place by a gate near the stables, which led into a grove, I -threaded my way through it, then turning west I rode across a meadow and -through another grove, where I came to a road which I followed until I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> -reached the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. I intended to avoid observation -as far as I could. I carried passes which would prevent any serious -trouble if my detainers were our own troops. But a meeting with any of -them might require me to lose considerable time. There was, besides, the -possibility that I might chance on a party of Rebels lurking around and -I was particularly anxious to avoid such.</p> - -<p>Fortunately I met but few persons. Some passed without accosting me. -Three times when approaching sounds indicated more than a single -individual, I drew off into shelter and squads of four or five men rode -rapidly past. Who or what they were I was too far off to distinguish.</p> - -<p>As soon as I was on the tow-path I put my horse to a gallop and passed -rapidly over a number of miles. Several times I was obliged to make my -way up and down the steep banks to avoid being stopped. At one -particularly forbidding spot, where the rocks overhung the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> path, some -guard at an exalted altitude sang out a question about my destination, -which I did not stop to answer. He repeated his inquiry and emphasized -it by sending a bullet after me. Luckily it went wide of the mark.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p>Another hour's riding, a ten minute's pause to reconnoiter, and I -crossed to the other side of the Potomac by a rough and almost -impassable ford. Making the top of the rocks which faced the river, I -gave my horse time to get his breath, while I sat on a stone beside him. -Night and darkness had almost shut in the view on every side. The moon -was up but was obscured by clouds except for a moment or two at a time. -I could hear the faint swish of the water as it flowed over the stones -immediately below, but save for that an intense stillness prevailed.</p> - -<p>Rising after a few moments' contemplation of a landscape, which I could -but faintly see, I buried my passes and the one other valuable paper I -carried under a huge stone. I then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> felt that I was fairly started on my -perilous undertaking. I was on the Virginia side of the river, in a -region known to be swarming with Rebels who asked nothing better than to -catch a Union spy. I well knew that if I should run across any of them -in such a way as to arouse their suspicions my life would not be worth -the asking, and I would share the fate of many who had tried before.</p> - -<p>As I now had no passes or any way of proving my identity, I also had to -guard equally against meeting any of our own troops, for unless I should -chance on an acquaintance among them, they would be certain to hold me -prisoner. My endeavor was to avoid every one, for a small foraging party -or a few belated pickets might prove as disastrous to me as "an army -with banners." I had determined that it would be necessary for me to -avoid all well-traveled roads and all towns, even the smallest villages, -and to make my way through the dense woods when ever I could, taking -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>advantage of such bridle-paths as I could find running in the direction -I wanted to go.</p> - -<p>Before I had rode many miles I became convinced that a general move -toward the Potomac of some sort was going on. Whenever I approached a -road I could tell from the sounds that persons were passing along it, -not rapidly or in any large sized bodies, but mostly on foot and singly, -or in small squads of six or eight. They seemed to be pressing on too -steadily for ordinary skulkers, yet in a too "go as you please" style -for troops under command.</p> - -<p>At last I decided to gratify my curiosity, hoping to gain at the same -time some information that would be of use to me.</p> - -<p>Some miles back I had struck a path which I had been able to follow. -When it again crossed a road, I stopped a few rods back, slipped my -horse's bridle over a sapling and made my way to the edge of the road, -which, as I soon made out at this point, ran along a sort of gully. On -the side I was on the bank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> was at least four feet above the road, and -along the edge of the bank was a rough attempt at a rail-fence pieced -out and propped up here and there with stones. I crept noiselessly -behind this shelter and waited until two stragglers came along. When -nearly opposite me they accosted a third who must have been resting by -the roadside.</p> - -<p>We all went on together; they on the road and I behind the fence. From -their interchange of confidences, scraps of which came up to me, I soon -learned that they were Rebels and belonged to Knapp's division, and that -in the first advance it had been left behind on the James, but had just -crossed the Potomac and gone on to join Luce. The men seemed to be -stragglers who had dropped behind from pure physical inability to keep -up, and their great anxiety, as well as I could judge from their -conversation, was to get there before anybody "fit."</p> - -<p>Having learned all I was likely to from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> them, I retraced my steps and -mounted my horse. I had to keep him at a walk, for I was in a rough -piece of woods and could not see two feet beyond my horse's head. I had -not rode long when I heard faint sounds of musketry in front of me and a -little to my left, in exactly the direction I was traveling. I listened -intently, and concluded it must be a chance brush between a party of our -troops and some of the Rebels.</p> - -<p>The firing was directly between where I was and the place where I -intended to get breakfast and hoped to get a fresh horse. I did not want -to miss stopping there, for it was the only Union man's house I knew of -any where near. I could not afford to circle around the fighting, as it -might lead me considerably out of my road. A skirmish, even if a small -affair, is a very unsatisfactory thing to go around, not being exactly -stationary.</p> - -<p>I carried an old silver watch which I had procured during my stay in the -Capital, but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> was too dark to see the time without striking a match, -which I did not care to do. I judged from the distance I had come it -must be near daybreak. So, anxious as I was to get on, I knew it would -be wise to halt until it began to get light and the dispute ahead should -be settled.</p> - -<p>I tied my horse to a tree and went as far away as I could to be within -hearing distance of his movements. As soon as I discovered a log, which -I did at last by taking a header over it, I lay down behind it. Though -in point of fact I did not know which to call the front or back, -considering it as a barrier to an approaching foe.</p> - -<p>I was too weary to more than reach a recumbent position before I was -asleep. I had been asleep long enough to feel completely chilled from -the cold fog when something awoke me. I aroused with a start and a -feeling that some one was near me. On the alert at once I waited with -baited breath for some further<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> noise to indicate in which direction the -disturbance had been, but none came and I finally concluded that I had -been mistaken or dreaming.</p> - -<p>I went over to look at my horse and make sure that he had not pulled -loose. He was where I had left him and had evidently spent his time -nibbling off every tender branch in his reach.</p> - -<p>I determined to look around before mounting. It was barely daybreak and -there was a light fog, which made all excepting near objects indistinct. -I made my way through a shallow, dry gully and across a wide flat -covered with trees. I knew I must then be near the road which I had been -skirting the latter part of my ride, so I paused a moment before -advancing further. Hearing nothing I went on around a jutting point of -rocks on a thicket-covered slope and stopped at the head of a washout, -made by the summer rains.</p> - -<p>As I stood listening the ground suddenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> gave way with me and I went -down a steep bank, to find the road sooner than I expected, and myself -in the company of two Rebel soldiers and a broken down army wagon. I -found out with a vengeance what had aroused me, and as is sometimes the -case with investigators, learned more than was desirable.</p> - -<p>The men had evidently been half asleep, when my abrupt appearance -brought them to their feet.</p> - -<p>A man has to think quickly in moments of danger. I took in the situation -at a glance and in the same brief time decided to enter into -conversation with them.</p> - -<p>"What's up?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Broke down," replied the liveliest looking of the two, while both kept -their muskets suggestively convenient and eyed me suspiciously.</p> - -<p>The wagon was heavily loaded and the back axle-tree had broken in two, -letting down the end. I looked it over because I had nothing better to -do. One of the men volunteered the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> information that it was twice too -much of a load.</p> - -<p>"You don't expect to sit here with it all day, do you?" I asked, -intending to offer to go ahead and find some one to help them right -matters as an excuse to get away.</p> - -<p>"No," said the man who had not spoken before. "Holly, 'es gone on thar -an' 'ell bring back some of our squad to help."</p> - -<p>As he spoke, faintly approaching sounds indicated that a "Holly" was -coming back with assistance. There was no chance for me to leave and -nothing better suggested itself than to act so that whoever came back -would think I belonged there. I proposed to the men that we might as -well see what we could do while we waited.</p> - -<p>When a dingy officer and eight men appeared on the scene, we were all -three busy inspecting the damage and no awkward questions were asked. So -for a short space of time I served in the Confederate army,—at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> least I -pulled at the wheel of a Confederate army wagon, with a great show of -work and no real exertion.</p> - -<p>The officer in command, it was impossible to tell his rank from his -dress, but as he assumed more airs than a Brigadier-General, it is safe -to say he was not above a Sergeant, ordered the men around as if he were -reconstructing an entire train.</p> - -<p>His obstinancy was soon apparent to my very alert observation. No matter -what one of the men began to do, he stopped him and set him to work in -another manner.</p> - -<p>This amiable trait of his character I turned to my own advantage. When -things were righted and he called out that one man must go back with a -message and the rest follow him, I said audibly that I would "go on," -and had my expectations realized by his ordering me to go back to meet -Captain Shuman.</p> - -<p>Not being deeply impressed with the necessity of encountering that -individual, I followed the road no longer than was necessary to take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> me -beyond sight and hearing of the men who, with the wagon, had started in -the opposite direction. Entering the woods, I returned to my horse, -mounted and hurried on.</p> - -<p>As I neared the place where the firing had occurred, I kept a sharp -lookout for a dead Confederate in decent clothes, intending to -appropriate them. It is proverbially slow work waiting for dead men's -shoes, and I found it considerably more tedious still trying to acquire -a more extended outfit. In all the four miles to Petterbridge's there -were no signs of a skirmish visible, saving a dead horse and a discarded -musket or two. I wanted at the first opportunity to discard my blue -trousers for a pair of the Rebel colors. Many of the men in the -Confederate army at that time wore such parts of Union soldiers' clothes -as they had been able to get to replace their own ragged and filthy -garments. I knew the blue trousers I wore would not be likely to excite -any suspicion, still I preferred to use every precaution.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p>Petterbridge's house stood in a small sheltered valley into which the -sun had not yet made its way, when I drew rein at the rail fence at the -side of his house. As I was not known by the family, and might have had -trouble getting what I wanted from any of them, I was particularly glad -when the old man himself appeared at the back door. In reply to his -"What ere' want, stranger?" I dismounted and convinced him who I was. As -there was only the family at home, it was safe for me to stop.</p> - -<p>Here I got breakfast, a pocketfull of bread and meat to carry with me, a -fresh horse, a pair of butternut trousers, and the news that several -houses supposed to belong to Unionists had been burnt by Rebels during -the night.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> Petterbridge also said that quite a body of Confederate -troops had passed down the valley a mile back the day before, and gave -me the agreeable bit of information that the country ahead was worse, if -possible, than what I had just come through, being alive with raiders -and bushwhackers as well as overrun with stragglers anxious to get to -the front.</p> - -<p>Devotedly hoping that I might miss all these ill-regulated gentlemen, I -left Petterbridge's and pushed on. The horse I had taken was only a fair -traveler, but then he was not too valuable to abandon to the enemy.</p> - -<p>A number of times I met and was accosted by single stragglers and -skulkers. They were a pitiful looking set of men, ragged as Lazarus, -generally barefoot, and gaunt almost to emaciation. I always stopped at -the least effort on their part to enter into conversation, and asked -earnestly after a lost cow or a fictitious companion, varying the -inquiry as I thought my interlocutor took me for one of the -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>mountaineers indigenous to that region, or for one of themselves.</p> - -<p>I never willingly ran against them, but it was impossible to avoid them -entirely, for they were making for the Potomac, and I was practically -following its course and going across their line of march. There was -really little to fear from them. They could not know that I was a Union -spy, and they were not a suspicious set of men anyway.</p> - -<p>It was the bushwhackers and raiders I was most in danger from, and more -from the bushwhackers than the raiders. The latter, like the stragglers, -kept on and near the roads, and there was always enough of them together -to make me aware of their presence by their noise, so with due caution I -would not be likely to encounter them. More than a dozen times I drew up -into thickets and ravines to let a party of them pass, and several other -times saw squads in the distance. From the bushwhackers I had no -protection. Singularly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> enough I did not actually encounter any, -although I discerned a good many by the aid of my imagination and had -plenty of evidence of their actual near presence. The whole country was -an extremely pretty one to bushwhack in. I tried to let the fact slip my -mind, but I had an unpleasant, ticklish sensation in my back the whole -time and longed for an eye in the rear of my head to keep a lookout in -the direction from which I particularly anticipated a bullet.</p> - -<p>I will here say I was in the bloodiest and most hopeless battles of the -war, and I have had a pretty steady diet of Indian fighting since the -war, having been surrounded by half-frozen Indians of various tribes in -Montana and Dakota, and chased and been chased by red hot Apaches in -Arizona and New Mexico, but never have I undergone such nerve-trying -work as was that trip I made as a Union spy, the account of which I am -telling.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p><p>There was never at any time more danger than I met afterward, but there -was no let up. Every nerve was strung to its highest tension and kept -there, every sense was held alert. There was never present the -enlivening enthusiasm of battle, which warms a man's blood to deeds of -heroism; there was no emulation to keep up one's courage; there was -always the demoralizing necessity of keeping out of the way of danger; -there was ever present the fretting fact that self-preservation only -could insure success. No man is anxious to be killed. No matter how -strongly he is imbued with a sense of duty and honor and of love for his -country, he is pretty certain to feel that her good will be better -secured if he is on the boards to look after it, than it would be if he -had laid down his life at her shrine. He prefers to live, but at the -same time he does not want his personal safety to be a matter of -perpetual concern.</p> - -<p>I was not a coward, but I felt decidedly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> averse to being shot. I had -started out to do something and I wanted to do it; I had already -concluded that there was no "right time" for a spy to be killed. He does -not want to be shot until he has found out what he seeks to know, and -then not until he has told it.</p> - -<p>It was about three o'clock when I finally stumbled on an oat stack in an -odd little clearing, far out from sight of the owner's windows.</p> - -<p>I let my horse take his dinner, while I kept guard and ate a sandwich. -In order to let him make as good a meal as possible I delayed as long as -my impatience would let me and then nearly made him break his neck and -mine too, by trying to canter him down a place about as steep as -Jordalemet and nearly as slick, in order to make up for lost time.</p> - -<p>The country which had been comparatively level and well settled for some -distance back through the valley, became rough again as I neared the -mountains, and I had to make my way more slowly and cautiously.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p><p>I seemed to have run out of the stream of Rebels. I determined to -question the first person I met. Before long I saw a weak minded looking -man driving a few sheep along a narrow path, and coming from the -opposite direction.</p> - -<p>"Howdy, stranger?" I began.</p> - -<p>"Howdy?" he returned.</p> - -<p>"You're pretty fortunate to get through with them sheep, without their -being turned into mutton."</p> - -<p>"Met nobody to turn 'em; ain't nobody up that way."</p> - -<p>From this I judged that the country ahead was free of both Rebels and -Yankees as far back as he had come. He eyed me suspiciously while -talking, but was evidently telling the truth as far as he knew it. He -seemed in a great hurry to get away from me with his sheep, and after -asking him for minute directions for a road that turned to the right -about four miles ahead and which I did not intend to take, we separated.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p><p>After parting from him I shortly turned to my left, having decided that -as soon as I came to it, which I knew would be in a little time, I would -avail myself of a road leading over the mountains.</p> - -<p>Riding slowly along through the dense forest, wondering if I dared treat -myself to a smoke, I turned full on a group of four men, in dirty -butternut, camped in a laurel brake. They were chivalrous Southerners -without doubt, but built on the plan of "He who fights and runs away." -They evidently thought they had been discovered by Yankees and that the -proper time to run had arrived. One man, who was lifting a bucket of -coffee from the coals, ejaculated "hell," and taking the bucket with -him, fled, followed by the others.</p> - -<p>To my startled gaze they seemed to disappear in a dozen different -directions at the same time. I would have been extremely grateful to the -leader if he had left the coffee behind.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p><p>Knowing that a short stop made by me might be lengthened out -indefinitely if any of the fugitives chanced to return, I departed -without much delay. As soon as I reached the road I turned into it and -had a comparatively easy time for the next few miles.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p>I was so weary and worn out by my constant riding and so in need of -sleep that it was only by determined effort that I could keep my eyes -open. Several times I roused to the unpleasant conviction that I had -been asleep in my saddle. I knew that would not do, for I well knew that -even in that seemingly quiet district constant watchfulness was needed -and that later on fresh dangers would need freshened faculties and -renewed energy to meet them. So I decided to allow myself an hour's -rest.</p> - -<p>As quick as I found a suitable place, which I soon did in the shape of a -narrow, rock-hung ravine, which branched off at my right hand between -two almost perpendicular walls of mountains, I stopped, and dismounting, -led<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> my horse in after me. When we had penetrated several rods I -tethered my horse behind some bushes, so that he could graze, and -crawled into a leaf cushioned hole between two rocks.</p> - -<p>I have always had the faculty of waking at any predetermined time, and -when I roused from a heavy sleep of exhaustion I had exceeded my hour's -allowance by only ten minutes.</p> - -<p>Passing cautiously down the ravine before leaving its shelter, I tried -to make sure by observation from a rock up the bank that there were no -obstacles in view. A little spring a short way down the road made a most -inviting halting place and I did not want to start out if it chanced to -be occupied. As the coast was clear, I was soon on my way, and having -the benefit of a fair road, made good time.</p> - -<p>As I turned a sharp corner I involuntarily drew a quick breath at the -scene before me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> My surroundings were wild in the extreme. I was riding -along a limestone ridge, which jutted out from the wall of mountains -behind. Looking down I saw before me dark, dense forests covering lesser -elevations. Looking up toward my right the rock-crested mountains were -outlined against a clear sky, from which the sun had just disappeared -behind their fantastic peaks. As I gazed, the sun sinking lower, left -the depths at my left in twilight, the ravines became black lines and -the thick growth of cedar and other trees fringing them looked only a -shade less sombre. The whole picture was one of deep solitude and wild -grandeur.</p> - -<p>Since the dissolving view of Southerners to which I had been treated I -had not seen a human soul. Ahead of me about ten miles was the village -of J—— and as all seemed quiet, I decided to stop there, if nothing -turned up in the meantime, and get supper and some information by which -to shape my plans for the next day.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p><p>The night, unlike the previous one, was beautifully clear, and the -moon, full a few nights before, was up when I entered J——.</p> - -<p>I knew very well where a notorious Rebel by the name of Deputy lived, -and thinking it would do him good to serve his country for once in his -life by telling me what I wanted to know, I made my way toward his -house, which stood near the center of the village.</p> - -<p>I found him swinging a tow-headed boy on the gate, the urchin shrieking -with delight whenever the clumsy thing came to with a clap that -threatened to dislodge him from his perch. As Deputy caught sight of me -he stopped that interesting occupation and was ready to ply me with -questions before I had drawn rein. He took me for one of Leonard's men -at once, which gave me a hint that they, if not already in the vicinity, -were expected.</p> - -<p>I fostered his mistake and told him that I was one of a foraging party -sent on ahead and that I had lost my way. This information was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> rewarded -by a cordial invitation to "light and take supper." Going up to the open -door he called to some one inside:</p> - -<p>"Say, Sallie, hurry up supper, one of our boys is a stoppin'."</p> - -<p>Coming back he put down a good bundle of fodder and some oats for my -horse outside the gate. I followed him in to the supper he had called -his wife to hurry up for me.</p> - -<p>I gave that man more news about what had happened down below than he had -had for a long time. I did not care a hard tack about keeping to facts -and no punctillo prevented me from arranging the stories to suit his -taste. In return he told me all he knew about the late movements of -troops, and as he had just returned that afternoon from M——, he was -pretty well posted in affairs across the river. Returning to the -immediate vicinity, I soon discovered that the country in the direction -I was going was clear. I did not care what high jinks they cut up down -the other way just then, as long as I was not detained.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p><p>I also learned that word had been brought in that afternoon that -General Leonard and his troops were to pass through the town before -morning, and that the red-hot Rebels which made up the population were -planning to give them a loyal reception.</p> - -<p>I was finishing an excellent cup of coffee when a shout from the little -fellow at the gate took Deputy out. I heard a call or two and some hasty -talking with passers by, then Deputy entered, much excited.</p> - -<p>"Lucky for you, some of Leonard's troops are just crossing the bridge -and some in advance have already stopped on the Square," was his -astounding announcement.</p> - -<p>"Sure it's not some of the Yankees?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"You bet it ain't; Jim Buckner came in with them and that man I was -talkin' to was Bill Stiver, hurryin' down to tell Jim's folks to go up -and see him, because they ain't goin' to 'tinner on long."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><p>I did not wait for a very formal leave taking. With a muttered excuse -about my being obliged to report at once, I hurried out, untied my horse -and was off.</p> - -<p>I could see a crowd in front of the tavern as I passed into a side -street. When I turned into my road again I struck into a gallop. As I -passed a road running into mine at an obtuse angle, a small squad of -cavalry was coming down it at a leisurely pace. I saw plainly in the -bright moonlight that there were not more than two dozen of them. They -sang out a challenge, but I neither stopped or increased my speed. -Looking back I saw them turn toward town when they entered the road I -was on.</p> - -<p>They must have had their suspicions roused, however, and turned back -almost immediately, for I soon heard the sound of fast riding behind me. -I put my horse to his best speed, but he was jaded, while theirs were -evidently fresh. The bullets soon came spattering against the rocks and -trees around me with alarming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> frequency. They certainly did their best -to persuade me to stop, but did not happen to touch a spot to make their -coaxing effectual.</p> - -<p>The moment to lose my horse, which I had been anticipating from the -first, had come at last. My pursuers were gaining on me and the question -of which of them should have the pleasure of shooting me was merely a -question of who should hit first. They were still too far behind and the -moonlight too indistinct in the narrow and wooded gorge, which the road -had just entered, for them to see me, but they were drawing closer every -moment. Freeing my feet from the stirrups, I gave my horse a cut with -the whip and slipped to the ground. Lightened of his burden he flew on -with accelerated speed, his hoofs ringing down the rocky road and -guiding my pursuers past where I lay at the bottom of a ravine, down the -sides of which I had tumbled with celerity and a series of somersaults -of which a circus rider need not have been ashamed.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p>I was not in a very amiable frame of mind and passed a bad quarter of an -hour while I sat down there on a stump, recovering myself and deciding -what to do next.</p> - -<p>I still had over thirty miles to go and instead of reaching my -destination before morning, as I had just decided I would be able to do, -I was left without a horse and in very poor trim to make good speed on -foot. However, I started on, determined to investigate every place along -my road and get a horse if possible without leave or license, but -fearing that all not already confiscated were in too secure hiding for -me to unearth. I had some hope of finding my own poor beast, but it was -not realized.</p> - -<p>Every house I came to was dark and forsaken looking and all the inmates -seemed to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> away or asleep. Even the dogs made no disturbance, if -there were any around. My search in stables, sheds and pasture lots only -took up time, without gaining help, for not a sign of a horse did I -find.</p> - -<p>At last, while making a circuit to bring me around by the place of a man -named Carter, thinking he might have something left in the way of -horseflesh, as he had a remarkable way of holding on to everything -belonging to him, I saw a light in a small cabin perched near a road. I -had come on the place from the rear, as I was taking a short cut. -Drawing near with much circumspection, I could hear the sound of voices -and laughing. Evidently from the noise a good time of some kind was in -progress.</p> - -<p>I crept up in the shadow of the house near enough to look around an -angle and see into the room. Three officers in Confederate gray were -seated at a table taking supper, and laughing and joking with a long, -lean <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>mountaineer, who seemed to be plying them with questions, while -his wife served them. As I watched, a pretty girl entered from another -room with a jug of cider, which she proceeded to pour out into tumblers. -At the sight of the foaming liquid one of the officers trolled a verse -of a rollicking drinking song.</p> - -<p>It did not take me long to conclude that they must be the very fellows -who had been in such hot haste after me, to infer that they had given -over pursuit and that their horses must be somewhere near. I retreated -into the shadow of the trees and thus sheltered made my way around to -the front of the house. To my exceeding joy, I found there three slick -Confederate steeds tied to the fence. I hastily untied the halters, for -while I did not intend to perform another circus act by riding all three -at once, I did not care to leave any behind to aid in my pursuit. I led -them as gently as possible down into the road and mounted one, a -powerful black. The other two at first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> made some resistance, but an -energetic pull or two decided them to follow. The noise of my departure -brought out the pleasure-loving cavalrymen in hot haste, but they were -not quick enough to do any effectual work.</p> - -<p>I followed the obscure, little-used road, on which the house stood, for -a short distance, then turning from it I made a cut between two hills -and came out on a road running parallel with the one I had started from -J—— on. After going several miles I turned the extra horses loose and -they soon stopped to graze.</p> - -<p>My late acquisition was possessed of prodigious activity and I soon made -up the time I had lost. I had no further detention and as the gray dawn -again appeared I reached my destination.</p> - -<p>Turning from the road I walked my horse slowly up the wide, tree-lined -avenue toward the mansion. Tired as I was and interested in but one -object, the deserted, desolate <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>appearance of the place impressed me -deeply, and I drew rein for a moment to look around. I knew the family -had been away but a comparatively short time, yet the house and -surroundings had already that uncared for, lonely look that soon hangs -over a closed house. It was the first time I had ever seen that wide, -hospitable mansion when it was not filled with life and mirth. It was -the first time I had ever come to it without receiving a warm welcome.</p> - -<p>Leaving the lawn in front, I made my way to the quarters of the family -servants beyond the house. To my surprise I found them empty and -deserted. I knew that when the family went to G—— all except two of -the servants had been left behind and I expected to find them there. I -knew my aunt would not leave without making ample provision for their -comfort and I felt certain they were too strongly attached to the family -to run away, so I could not understand the vacant cabins.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p><p>I could not believe but what some of them were still around the place. -I searched and called without unearthing a soul, and had just returned -from another tour around the house, and was pondering how best to effect -an entrance into it when I caught sight of a gray head peeping out of an -opening in the top of the kitchen, which stood a few rods from the -house. It was instantly withdrawn, but not until I had seen it belonged -to Ned, an old negro owned by my mother, but who made his home at S——.</p> - -<p>He had evidently been watching me from his place of concealment, but had -not recognized me in my rough clothes. Going into the kitchen it -appeared as empty as before, but I finally discovered the frightened old -negro curled up on top of a wide set of shelves behind a barricade of -cooking utensils, taking a reconnoissance from the ventilator just -above.</p> - -<p>"Come down, Ned," I called, but he made no sign of having heard.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>It was some time before I could convince him who I was, but as soon as -he could get his scattered wits together his delight was unbounded, and -he came down from his elevated perch to an accompaniment of rattling -tinware.</p> - -<p>I soon learned that when my aunt found she would be detained -indefinitely, she had sent back word for all the servants to go to a -neighboring plantation, which they had all done with the exception of -Ned, who had staid behind intending to make his way to me and beg me to -keep him for my body servant, an office he had always desired.</p> - -<p>While Ned prepared and served me with a breakfast, which I insisted on -taking in the kitchen, he gave me the family news and told me all about -the death of his wife, which had occurred a few weeks before.</p> - -<p>After I had finished my meal and Ned had fed my horse, he brought out -the keys from their place of concealment, and if I would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> permitted -him to do so, would have thrown open the whole house in my honor. Much -to his disappointment, I dared not allow him to unclose a single shutter -or even turn the slats, except at the back of the house. I explained to -him that it must still present a closed appearance to any chance -observer, and that no one must know that I was there.</p> - -<p>We entered the house and proceeded through the long, dusky hall and up -the wide stairs to the second story. After Ned had gathered everything -necessary to my comfort into the room which I occupied whenever I was at -S——, and which was always left undisturbed in my absence, he left me.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<p>Weary as I was I yet had something to do before I could take the needed -rest, which every atom in my jaded frame was loudly demanding.</p> - -<p>The time had come to test the feasibility of the plan which had flashed -into my mind as I sat in General Foster's tent, and which I had thought -over and elaborated along the way.</p> - -<p>When the idea first entered my head that I could personate my cousin -Salome, enter the enemy's lines, meet her Rebel lover, and from him -learn what the enemy were going to do, and by my own eyes determine the -strength and position of their forces, I had only thought what a huge -joke it would be. Had General Foster returned at once the idea might -have died without further growth, but in the time of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> waiting I had idly -thought over and over how easily it could be done, and planned this and -that detail until finally the project seized a firm hold of me, and I -had determined, hazardous as it was, to attempt it.</p> - -<p>None knew better than I the dangers surrounding such a trip, but I -realized our need of reliable information to take the place of the -flying rumors that could not be trusted, and well I knew that I would -stand every chance of succeeding where others had failed. My love of -adventure, my ambition, my duty to my country, all urged me on. There -was nothing to weigh against the last.</p> - -<p>I was acquainted with every inch of the country. I had gone more times -than I can number up and down both sides the river, to and from -Washington and places in the vicinity. I was almost as much at home at -several places near Hagerstown and Frederick as I was at S——, and -every inch of the country between was familiar to me. I had hunted over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -it and knew every cross road and rabbit path, every short cut and ford, -and I was well aware that I could baffle pursuit from an enemy not so -entirely familiar with the country.</p> - -<p>I had no fear but what I could successfully personate my cousin. My -cousin Salome and I were within a few months of the same age. She had -but one sister and I was an only child. We had been together so much -that we quite looked on ourselves as brother and sister, and I think our -affection was strengthened by the exceedingly strong likeness we bore -each other. So strong was the resemblance that when children we were -constantly taken by strangers not only for brother and sister, but for -twins. One of the favorite pranks of my boyhood had been to don one of -Salome's dresses, and answering the first call made for her, deceive -even her own mother, until a closer view proved the fraud.</p> - -<p>Since Salome had grown to the dignity of long dresses and done up hair, -and I to long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> tailed coats, the resemblance was not so striking, and I, -not liking to look so much like a girl, had done all I could to make it -less so.</p> - -<p>Only the Christmas before, however, when we had all been together at -S——, (I had not then joined the Union army), Salome and I had arrayed -ourselves as two old ladies, with close-fitting, lace-frilled caps, and -it had been a long time before any one could decide which was which, -although all the company present had known us both from childhood.</p> - -<p>I had never met Captain DeLacy. He had been a stranger to Salome until -they had met three months before at the White Sulphur, where he was -staying to recover from a wound. It was a case of genuine love at first -sight, and the engagement had been contracted on the eve of his -departure for his regiment. At that time I had just entered the Federal -army and Salome was feeling very sore over it, so I was pretty certain -she had never confided to him that she had a cousin fighting against -him, or indeed told him anything about me.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p><p>I had learned in Washington that Captain DeLacy was with Dare's -division, which had crossed the Potomac with Luce. My plan was to make -my way across the Potomac, find the whereabouts of Dare's division, make -my way beyond it, assume my disguise and turn back toward the river so -as to approach the Rebel lines after dark. I knew I would be stopped as -soon as I encountered the first Confederate soldiers and an exhibition -of my pass demanded. I would account for its absence by saying I had -lost it. When permission to proceed was refused, as I knew it would be, -I would insist on going on and finally demand an interview with Captain -DeLacy to prove my identity.</p> - -<p>Once in his presence, I had little doubt but that I could pass myself -off for Salome. I would tell him I had been called to New York by the -illness of my sister and was trying to get back home, which would be a -plausible story and not likely to be questioned.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p><p>I knew I would have to run great risks. There would be first and always -a chance of being picked up and summarily finished in an unprepared -moment. There would be the possibility that Captain DeLacy had been sent -on temporary duty to some other point than that where I expected to find -him. And if I found him, there would be a chance of his having received -a late letter from Salome, which would prove my story a falsehood. Of -the latter, however, I did not think there would be much danger. In our -army orders had gone into effect some days previous that no letters or -papers of any kind should be sent or received. It was most likely that -mail was equally scarce among the Rebels.</p> - -<p>I thought it would be strange if I did not gleam a few facts, which -would be of use to us, during my interview with Captain DeLacy and -during the time required to make my way in and out of the Confederate -camp, wherever it might prove to be.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p><p>I left my chamber and made my way through the darkened hall to the -family rooms at the front of the house, my footsteps sounding loud in -the unaccustomed stillness. Determined as I was to do what I had -planned, I involuntarily hesitated a moment before I opened the first -closed door, then shaking off the feeling of reluctance, I went on with -my work.</p> - -<p>A search of Salome's and my aunt's rooms soon secured me an outfit -sufficient for my purpose—a dark dress, several white petticoats, a -pair of shoes, a long, black cloak and an embroidered neck scarf, which -I had often seen Salome wear, also a heavy black veil and a pair of -gloves, odorous with the perfume Salome always had about her. I carried -the clothes to my room to try the effect.</p> - -<p>After putting on the other things I muffled my head in the veil. The -disguise was perfect. Even I was startled for a moment, so precisely did -I look like Salome. I had drawn the veil enough over my face to entirely -conceal my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> short hair and had contrived to fasten the curl of Salome's, -which I always carried with me, to an inner fold in such a way that it -showed below it at the left side, in exact imitation of the way Salome -had worn one when I had last seen her.</p> - -<p>My training had left me deeply tinctured with the idea that an army -officer must have no inconvenient emotions, but I then and there, early -in my career, proved that they do. It was absurd, but I could have wept. -Salome's exact image looked back at me from the mirror, and an intense -longing to take the deceiving reflection into my arms came over me. For -a moment I lost all the pride and valor of a son of Mars. I was only a -very ordinary mortal, to whom the war was hateful in the extreme. I had -no more ambition than an assistant company cook.</p> - -<p>It did not last long. I swallowed away at the wretched lump in my throat -and looked at myself, as reflected, with the critical eye of a person -trying to penetrate a disguise.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p><p>I could pick no flaw and was soon viewing myself with much complacency, -for my exceedingly ladylike appearance meant that success was nominally -certain.</p> - -<p>During that trip was the only time I ever blessed my then slight form -and effeminate voice. Hard service during the war and years of army life -on our Western frontier since, have changed all that, and lost me every -trace of that hated "prettiness," which at that time had gained me from -my associates the sobriquet I so detested, and caused me so much genuine -anguish of soul and many downfalls of pride.</p> - -<p>Fully satisfied, I divested myself of my borrowed apparel and darkening -the windows, just as the sun rose over the mountains, I was soon -oblivious to everything around me.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p>I was conscious of nothing more until Ned's voice sounded in my ears. I -had ordered him to waken me at ten o'clock, no matter how soundly I was -sleeping or how much I might expostulate with him at the time. I guess -the poor fellow did have a rather hard time awakening me. Being on a -civilized bed seemed to have obliterated the feeling of caution which -had kept me on the <i>qui vive</i> since the beginning of my trip, and his -voice in my ears at first roused me only to a semi-consciousness and -faint impression of my surroundings, so accustomed was I to Ned's -lingering awakenings. Not until his "Mars, you done said I wuz ter get -you up, acaus' dis yer wa'" finally penetrated my dull ears did he rouse -me effectually to present circumstances.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>While thinking over my arrangements as I was dressing, I determined on -taking Ned with me. It was the one additional item needed to perfect the -plan I had originated, and I wondered that I had not thought of it -before.</p> - -<p>Ned belonged to our family, but during one of our long visits at S—— -he had married a girl on a neighboring place and on our return home had -been left behind. A high price had been offered for the girl, -considerable more than she was worth, but her master would not part with -her, so Ned had staid on at S—— from year to year. I doubt if he would -have been willing to remain had we not been there so often, for he was -deeply and honestly attached to our family.</p> - -<p>He was a particularly shrewd and intelligent old negro, and I well knew -that I could trust him to any extent. He would die rather than betray me -or any secret information I might find necessary to entrust to him. His -intelligence, quickness of wit and caution would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> likely enable him to -get out of any ordinary danger or emergency that presented itself. To -have him along would somewhat lessen my chances of escaping observation -on the way, but he would add much to my disguise when among the -Confederates.</p> - -<p>Few, if any, outside the two families knew but what he belonged to the -S—— plantation. He had made several trips with my aunt and cousin -during the past two years and had been with them at the Springs. I knew -that Captain DeLacy would recognize him again and that it would seem -quite proper to him, or any person whom we should meet, that he had -accompanied his young mistress.</p> - -<p>I did justice to the dinner which Ned, with great pride in his -exhibition of culinary skill, had ready for me when I went down. I then -told him where I was going and for what. He was horror struck at first -and went off into lamentations, bemoaning these troublous times and -prophesying that I would never get there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> and back alive. But he -gradually became used to the idea and was soon begging me to take him -along. As I had already decided to do so, I was glad to have him get -around to the proposition himself, and readily gave my consent.</p> - -<p>I gave him a minute account of all that had occurred since I left the -Capital. I thought wise to do this in order to make him familiar with -what he would be likely to meet with after we started, and I explained -fully to him what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, and how I might -have to do it, going into full details. I was much pleased at the -correct grasp he seemed to get of the matter and felt I could dismiss -all apprehension on his score.</p> - -<p>We were to go on horseback. If possible we were to keep together, but if -necessary we were to separate at any time without any delay and neither -was to pay any attention whatever to the safety of the other. I -explained to him that, except when I was personating Salome,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> any -display of concern on his part about me would only increase my danger, -and that in case we unexpectedly fell in with any troops on the road, he -must act as if I were a total stranger whom he had just met, unless he -first heard me make a direct statement to the contrary.</p> - -<p>Ned knew, as well as I, that he run but slight risks of being interfered -with. At that time the Confederates paid but little attention to the -coming and going of the negroes. They were allowed to move from place to -place, and run in and out the lines without question or detention, and -their queries made from curiosity excited no distrust. Ned also was -aware that he would have no trouble in getting a pass on any slight -pretext if he should need one.</p> - -<p>I gave him a number of places along the way, where we were to meet after -any enforced separation if we could, but if by so doing either of us -incurred the slightest risk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> or delay, we were each to make our way -separately to a point which I named and which I felt confident was -beyond the invading troops. I was to wait there until as late as nine -o'clock that night for Ned, but in case he reached there first he was to -stay until I came, unless I did not get there for three days, thus -allowing for my possible capture, detention and escape. I also told him -on what points I wanted him to get information, by observation or in any -other way possible.</p> - -<p>From my entertainer of the night before, I had learned enough about the -movements of Luce's army to enable me to block out my plans with a -considerable degree of confidence. If I did not know exactly where the -particular division I wanted to strike was, I knew where it was not, and -that was a good deal.</p> - -<p>Events sometimes follow each other with startling rapidity, but if no -unusual hurry had occurred I felt quite sure my destination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> would be -between two points, and not more than twenty miles back from the river. -More explicit information as to their precise location must be obtained -on the way, also exact knowledge as to Captain DeLacy's whereabouts.</p> - -<p>All the preparation Ned made was to hide his few valuables and securely -close the house. This done, he was ready to follow me to the ends of the -earth if need be.</p> - -<p>It was barely twelve o'clock when we started on our way. Ned rode the -horse he had provided in anticipation of coming to me. The clothes had -been done up into a compact roll, with the cloak outside, in order to -look as much like a rolled-up blanket as possible, and I carried them -like a huge rag baby on the saddle in front of me. I did not dare either -trust them to Ned or fasten them to my saddle. I might have to part with -either, or both negro and horse on any sudden emergency, but I was -determined to hold onto and make use of my disguise unless death or -capture prevented me.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>For obvious reasons we avoided all well-traveled roads and made our way -through fields, along lanes, and as much as possible in the shelter of -the timber. Our route was through a well-settled country until we neared -the river. We crossed it by a ford that was little known and seldom -used, but at that time, I, like the illustrious Susan, did not care for -a crowd.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p>It was nearly six o'clock when we finally reached the point where I -thought I could safely commence my retrograde movement. As soon as I -would turn to the right, the division of Luce's army I wanted to reach -would lay directly between the place I would be then and the Potomac. -During the last of our ride I had, by a bold move or two, managed to get -very definite knowledge of the disposition of the Rebel troops in the -vicinity, and by a lucky accident, during an enforced separation, Ned -had discovered almost to a certainty that Captain DeLacy was where I had -thought him. We had also in the middle of the afternoon each secured a -fresh horse, and by far greater good fortune than I had dared hope for, -they were fine, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>un-jaded animals. That we took them without leave or -license troubled us not a bit.</p> - -<p>Looking back now, it seems strange that we were able to make our way as -rapidly as we did through that section, filled as it was with troops, -without being taken prisoner, scientifically bushwhacked, or picked off -by a sharpshooter.</p> - -<p>A number of times we did barely escape encounters which would have cost -us dear. About the middle of the afternoon we had come near running into -a body of the Rebel troops. We were on a hill not far from a road -running directly northwest, when through an opening in the trees there -became visible a cloud of dust, which meant either sheep or Rebels. -Taking into consideration time, place and circumstances, I knew the -chances were that it meant Rebels. Dismounting I ordered Ned to take the -horses and himself into concealment in an adjacent ravine, and I made my -way to a large tree I had noticed for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> some time. It had been used by -one side or the other as a signal station, and I thought it possible -that it commanded a good view of the road along which the dust was -advancing. It did, and I soon felt I was up a tree mentally, as well as -physically.</p> - -<p>The extent of the knowledge I gained was that a move of some kind was on -foot, which I did not understand. I was near enough to have thrown a -stone down on the moving column, and I could recognize General -Middlesworth riding with his staff. Why he was angling away from the -main part of Luce's army and toward the Potomac puzzled me, and at a -time when I did not care to solve any more enigmas than absolutely -necessary. What General Middlesworth's move meant occupied my thoughts -off and on all afternoon, as none of the intelligence I managed to -gather could be made to explain it, and I determined to find out all -about it when in the Rebel camp if possible.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p><p>Before turning back in the direction of the Potomac I gave our horses a -short rest. They had made remarkable good time and though comparatively -fresh, they would, after we got beyond the Rebel lines again, have to be -pushed to the full extent of their endurance.</p> - -<p>Besides, I did not care to start back too soon, for I wanted it to be -dark when we would reach the vicinity of T——. I knew the moon would -not rise that night until a little after eight, and between dusk and -that time I had planned to get beyond T——, procure a vehicle of some -kind and assume my disguise. That done, I was ready to encounter the -enemy at any time, although I aimed to run against them later and -further on. Ned made an excursion into a neighboring field and brought -back some feed for the horses. As soon as they finished their meal we -started.</p> - -<p>Ned soon suggested that we might find a conveyance that would answer our -purpose at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> Goodhue's, a place on our left a little ways off. We made -our way there, taking a short cut and a rough road through a lane, which -approached the place from the rear. The house, which faced a road -beyond, looked deserted, but we did not go near enough to be certain.</p> - -<p>The stables stood off by themselves and we were well enough satisfied -not to find anyone around them and did not investigate further. The -carriage and horses were gone, but we found a good set of harness and an -old fashioned light buggy, which suited our purpose admirably and were -all we needed. We had left our horses in the woods across the lane. I -went on ahead to reconnoiter. Ned followed, pulling the buggy.</p> - -<p>By the time I was arrayed in my disguise Ned had the horses harnessed to -the buggy and my clothes and the saddles and bridles stowed compactly -away under the buggy seat. It was an extra piece of luck finding a -vehicle so near, for I could not assume my disguise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> until one had been -procured, but now, instead of going around T——, I could pass directly -through the village, which saved considerable time.</p> - -<p>I had on starting from S—— forbade Ned to address me except as Miss -Salome, for I was afraid if he did not have some practice he would in -any sudden fright forget and let slip the "Mars," which would be sure to -rouse suspicion. I impressed on him that he must, until we were through -with the rather unpleasant affair before us, act as if I were in reality -his young mistress, whom he was trying to get safely to her home, and -protect to the best of his ability in a dangerous and unsettled country.</p> - -<p>It was a decided change in our mode of progression for us to be speeding -along over good roads in a comfortable buggy and not actually shunning -observation, as I had been obliged to do until then. But while it was a -rest, it was the kind of a rest one experiences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> when awaiting a -surgical operation, which is to commence as soon as the surgeon comes, -the exact moment of his arrival having been left mercilessly indefinite.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p>"Hi, Miss Salome, look dar," whispered Ned suddenly.</p> - -<p>We had been driving for some time at full speed when Ned's low tones -roused me from an imaginary conversation with the Captain.</p> - -<p>"Where?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Over dar," he returned, pointing toward his left, around the curve we -were just making.</p> - -<p>A short distance ahead, in an open space between the road and the heavy -timber beyond, I saw the light of camp fires and a few moving figures -showing dark against the glow, while a dark mass at one side looked like -horses and wagons.</p> - -<p>Telling Ned to drive over toward them and ask the way to General Dare's -headquarters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> as soon as we came abreast of the nearest groups, I -scanned the surroundings, anxiously trying to determine what we had run -into. I had not expected to meet any Confederates for two or three miles -yet. But I knew it could not be any of our own troops, for we were too -near the Rebels for that. As we approached closer I saw several officers -in gray grouped around a fire and about a dozen men cooking supper at -other fires a little apart and nearer us. It looked like a topographical -camp or something of that sort.</p> - -<p>One of the men, who seemed to be doing a sort of picket duty, and -broiling a bit of bacon on the end of his ramrod at the same time, -started up as soon as he saw us driving up and demanded what we wanted.</p> - -<p>Ned told him we were trying to get to General Dare's headquarters and -asked where they were, but before he had time to reply one of the -officers advanced toward us, and Ned repeated his question to him. -Before <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>answering the officer asked us a number of questions as to where -we were going and where we were from, eyeing us keenly all the time, -then drew off a little ways to confer with one of the other officers. -They were near enough for me to catch most of their conversation.</p> - -<p>"It's all right, I believe," said the one who had been talking to us, -"or they would want to go the other way."</p> - -<p>"Only a feint most probably," replied the last comer and older of the -two. "They may be spies and, as soon as they are out of sight, whirl off -in another direction. There really does not seem to be anything very -suspicious about them I must say," he added; "still it might be wise to -detain them here until morning."</p> - -<p>"I think they are just what they say they are," returned the first -officer.</p> - -<p>Just as I was wondering if it would not be best to make a run and leave -them to decide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> at their leisure whether or not we were spies, one of -the men passing, called out:</p> - -<p>"Hello, Ned," and stopped.</p> - -<p>Ned gave something between a grin and a gasp in return. Then, stooping -over as if to untangle the reins, he whispered barely loud enough for me -to hear: "It's Mars Furbish. He lived ober dar at E——, and knowed Miss -Salome."</p> - -<p>I caught the clue the quick-witted old negro had given me, and leaning -forward, addressed a polite "Good evening, Mr. Furbish," to the man I -had never seen before. He pulled off his cap in return.</p> - -<p>"I am very anxious to get on without delay," I added. "Will you kindly -tell those gentlemen who I am? I think you can assure them I am not a -spy."</p> - -<p>His action had been noticed by the officers, and as I spoke, they called -him over to them.</p> - -<p>"Do you know that lady!" I heard them ask.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p><p>"Yes, and the nigger too. It's Miss Salome Poillon, and she lives at -S—— plantation, across the river," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"Then she is a resident here, and there is no danger of their being -spies?" put in the cautious one.</p> - -<p>"Lord, no! Why, she's the biggest Rebel 'round. So's all the family, an' -she's got a Rebel lover," replied my champion emphatically, adding the -last fact as if it were a clincher.</p> - -<p>That settled it, and the two officers then came over to the carriage and -told me I was at liberty to go on, and regretted that they had been -obliged to stop me at all. I thanked them, and asked if I would have -much difficulty in getting through.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid so," replied the one who had first met me.</p> - -<p>"This is your most direct route, is it not?" asked the older officer, on -whom the rest of the conversation devolved.</p> - -<p>"It is much the nearest way," I replied.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p><p>"It leads directly on, near where a considerable body of our troops -are, yet I think it will be safer for you to keep it than to try side -roads, where you would be constantly stopped. I will give you a note to -the general in command, and a pass, which will aid you until you reach -him. He will likely give you an escort for some distance," he added, -writing as he spoke.</p> - -<p>When he handed me the papers, I asked him about the positions of the -Yankees, and in answering he told me also something new about how Luce's -army was located, which was one of the clues that I wanted to learn.</p> - -<p>I had no idea of using the papers unless I should fail in all efforts to -find Captain DeLacy. I told Ned not to refer to them in any way or to -our encounter, while he should be separated from me, and impressed on -him that he was not to get out of the buggy if he could help it, or -leave the horses one moment unless dragged away by force. I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>regretted -that we had run into the camp, for it took valuable time, and it did not -make me feel any better about it to know that it had happened through my -own carelessness. If I had been watching out, as I ought to have been, I -would have noticed the fires in time to have avoided them by making a -detour, and I believed that I could have gotten later the valuable bit -of information the talkative officer had given me.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<p>The encounter had one good result, however. It got us over our stage -fright, as it were, and rather raised us up to the grand climax.</p> - -<p>We had driven nearly three miles farther before we ran into the Rebel -camp again. When we finally found ourselves making our way under guard -to General Dare's headquarters, we were far more composed than we could -possibly have been had we not already had some experience.</p> - -<p>When stopped, I had insisted on being allowed to proceed, but as I -expected and desired, the simple privilege of following my own way was -denied me. My statements regarding my identity were received with -incredulity. I insisted on the truth of my story, and I demanded that I -be taken to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>headquarters at once. After some parley, my request was -acceded to and a couple of soldiers took their places at the horses' -heads and slowly led them forward, while a guard walked at the side of -the buggy until we reached a cluster of tents pitched somewhat apart, in -front of which stood four or five officers conversing.</p> - -<p>The officer who had brought us in advanced to the group, and I could -hear him reporting the circumstances of our arrest. A handsome subaltern -came forward to assist me from the buggy, and I was soon answering the -curtly-put inquiries of the middle aged officer to whom I had been -conducted. I repeated my story. He questioned and cross-questioned me -severely, but I was too entirely familiar with my ground to be caught -tripping. I felt a good deal as if I were an actor in a play, and while -I must say that I did not particularly admire the setting, I began to -have an intense interest in rendering my part well and having all go off -smoothly.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p><p>Ned was seated in the buggy within hearing distance and I saw he had -assumed, or was really feeling, about the right amount of anxiety, and -that no one seemed to be paying any attention whatever to him.</p> - -<p>I did not recognize the officer interrogating me, but I heard him -addressed by one of the other officers as Colonel Sofield. When after -telling him my story, he utterly refused to credit it. I asked to see -the General in command. Col. Sofield replied that General Senhouse had -gone over to confer with General Leonard and might not be back until -morning, not for several hours certainly, and followed the explanation -with an intimation that both myself and my servant would be well off -under guard until his return.</p> - -<p>I was somewhat nonplussed when the officer said General Senhouse. I had -looked on General Dare only as a guide to Captain DeLacy, and had no -interest whatever beyond that in him. At the same time I was a trifle -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>surprised that I had not been taken before him, and that reference had -not been made to him instead of to General Senhouse. I began to wonder -if it were possible that I had not reached Dare's headquarters, but I -did not dare ask directly or betray more knowledge of army details than -a girl would be likely to know. After pondering a moment, I said:</p> - -<p>"I ought perhaps to have stopped at A——, as I was advised to do, but I -was so very anxious to get on, that I could not make up my mind to delay -there. Will you tell me what regiment this is? I have friends and -relatives with General Luce and there may be some one here who can -identify me."</p> - -<p>An orderly was presenting a paper to Col. Sofield as I finished -speaking, and another officer, who had come up but a short time previous -and was standing near, in company with the others, answered:</p> - -<p>"This is General Dare's division, but General Senhouse is in command at -present. Over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> on the left there is the —— Regiment, —— Brigade; -others are further on. If you will give the names of your friends, and -they are here, they can be sent for."</p> - -<p>"Captain DeLacy is with General Dare. If I could see him, he would -assure you that I am just who I represent myself. He is a very intimate -friend of the family," I said, turning again to my first interlocuter.</p> - -<p>"Impossible," he replied, "Captain DeLacy has just started to inspect a -position several miles from here. There is no telling when he will be -back."</p> - -<p>"Beg pardon, Colonel, but Captain DeLacy has not got off yet. He passed -us on the way over here, and I saw him go in Colonel Lounsbery's tent a -few minutes ago," spoke up another officer. "There he comes now," he -added, as a tall figure came out of a tent near by.</p> - -<p>Affairs progressed rapidly in the next few minutes. In less time than I -could write it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> Captain DeLacy had been called over to identify me; had -done it, even to the satisfaction of the obdurate Colonel, and beard the -story of my detention, and my anxious request that I might go on at -once.</p> - -<p>Captain DeLacy asked and received permission to take me into a -neighboring tent, where I could wait, freed from the gaze of those who -had gathered around to see what was going on, until he could procure the -passes necessary to insure my safe conduct through their lines. Colonel -Sofield, whose good manners had increased in proportion to the -strengthening of his convictions that I was not a spy, told him to take -me into General Dare's tent, as it was the nearest one unoccupied, then -to return to him for passes.</p> - -<p>A moment later I was alone with the only man of them all who could -penetrate my disguise. His first words assured me that he had not heard -from Salome lately enough to imperil my statements. And his hurried -whispers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> of love and devotion, together with his grave concern at my -having undertaken a journey through that section at so dangerous a time, -proved that he accepted me in perfect good faith.</p> - -<p>Even at that desperate moment, at the touch of the Captain's lips I was -filled with an unholy glee.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, he had little time to play the lover. Love and war are an -ill-matched couple, and except that both set at naught all interfering -laws, they have nothing in common. The latter never relaxes the grasp of -a master and exacts that all who serve him shall fulfill their duty to -the utmost, without delay or flinching, although by so doing all -pleasures, affections, ties of kindred and life itself are yielded up.</p> - -<p>My expressed anxiety for his safety, and pretended impression that he -was on some dangerous raid, led Captain DeLacy to assure me that he was -with Luce, and to tell me what forces<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> Luce had with him, but no more -about his future movements than I had already gathered, which amounted -to but little beyond a clue to the meaning of General Middleworth's -movement, which I had witnessed that afternoon. I questioned as closely -as I dared, but elicited nothing further. My shrewdest efforts were a -failure. I saw that he either had not been informed of the object of the -campaign, or felt bound not to reveal it even to one whom he held as -dear as he did Salome.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p>While conversing with Captain DeLacy, I had become as familiar with the -interior of the tent as I could by the light of one inferior candle and -the use of my eyes. There seemed nothing there to invite investigation.</p> - -<p>Even after Captain DeLacy had reluctantly left me, a closer inspection -revealed nothing more promising. I sat on a camp stool, in a corner; -near was a pile of blankets; a rough camp chair stood between me and the -bed; a bayonet stuck in the ground did duty for a candlestick, and on an -empty wooden box near me lay a paper-covered book.</p> - -<p>I had just had time to run a hasty glance through the book, when the fly -was raised and an officer entered. As was only natural, he started when -he saw me, then lifted his hat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> with a half-spoken apology, tossed a -newspaper carelessly on the bed, threw his overcoat over the chair and -went out again.</p> - -<p>I recognized him instantly as General Dare. His actions and looks struck -me as those of a man who felt at odds with the world and who was nursing -a grievance, but I was too deeply concerned about my own affairs to be -more than casually impressed with what I learned afterwards was the -case.</p> - -<p>It is a strange fact that in times of most intense suffering, deadly -peril and deepest thought, the eye will be attracted by the most trivial -objects. While I anxiously pondered my next move, my eye mechanically -followed in and out the fantastically curved line made by the shadows -cast by the pile of blankets, then by the edge of the coat cape as it -trailed along the floor. I had followed it almost to the end when my -gaze was arrested by a spot of color differing from the rest. With a -start, I realized that I was looking at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> a flat, long book. I could not -tell then and I cannot tell now whether it fell from the overcoat or was -lying there when I entered, but I do not see how it could have been -there at first and escaped my observation.</p> - -<p>I determined at once to see the contents of that book. There was not one -instant to be lost. I well knew that even then some one might be -standing at the entrance and that the Captain would return at any -moment. But examine that book I must, even at the risk of surprise, -detection and death. It was the most critical moment I had yet -encountered. I had to think and act together.</p> - -<p>Throwing myself at full length on the grassy floor, with my head -screened from the first glance of any one entering, intending to feign a -swoon if any one did come, I extended my arm above my head, in the -shelter of the chair, and had the book in my impatient fingers.</p> - -<p>Opening it hastily, I scanned it in the dim light which came over my -shoulder from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> flickering candle. I was confronted by a series of -blank pages. General Dare's name was on the fly leaf. Only the first -three pages were written on, and they contained nothing except detached -items of interest to him only. Evidently, the book had been newly -purchased, for the dates ran but a few days back.</p> - -<p>Bitterly disappointed, I ran over the pages again, and a folded paper -slipped into view. Even to this day I can distinctly feel the wild bound -of exultation my heart gave when I knew that I held in my hands a copy -of Special Order No. 000, issued by the Rebel Commander in Chief only -four days before, and regulating the movements of all the divisions of -his army for several days to come.</p> - -<p>At the sight of that paper every drop of blood in my body seemed to rush -to my heart, only to leave it again with a wild speed that turned me -faint and dizzy. The letters danced before my eyes, but even in that one -hasty glance I took in enough to know that I need<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> seek no further -information. I had succeeded even beyond my hopes and expectations. If I -could get safely back with that paper, and whatever else I had learned, -I felt check to the Rebels must be insured.</p> - -<p>Hastily concealing the paper, I pushed the book under the bed, and had -barely regained my place when Captain DeLacy re-entered with the passes. -There was no time for further private conversation between us, which I -regarded as a piece of good luck.</p> - -<p>Captain DeLacy told me, while he hastily assorted the papers in his -hand, that he was obliged to proceed without delay on the important duty -for which he was preparing when Colonel Sofield had called him to me; -that as the first part of our way lay the same as his, he could act as -my escort until his road turned off from the one I was to follow. From -where he had to leave me, to H—— was only ten miles, and he exacted a -promise that I would remain there with friends until morning.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>I could not but be touched at his anxiety about me, impatient as I was -at the delay which it caused.</p> - -<p>We started almost immediately. Captain DeLacy rode at the side of the -buggy and the squad of men with him a short distance in advance. The -road was clear, and we made excellent time.</p> - -<p>At last the moment of separation came. His real farewell had already -been said, so before following his men down the dark path, into which -they had turned, the Captain paused only for some cautions to Ned and a -quickly spoken "good bye" to me, which held as much as was ever put in -that simple word.</p> - -<p>I realized fully what the parting was to him. He had accepted me as -Salome, without doubt or question, and to leave me with no other -protector than Ned tried him sorely.</p> - -<p>I leaned out of the buggy and looked back after him, with a feeling of -pain that surprised me. As he disappeared, a presentment that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> should -never see him again crept over me, followed by an idle speculation -whether it was he or I who was first to meet our fate, a feeling which I -remembered well a few months later, when I received the news that -Captain DeLacy had been shot in battle.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p>Shaking off the dim sense of foreboding, I gave my thoughts entirely to -the task before me. I had decided to make my way down the side of the -river I was then on. From what I had learned of the position of the -enemy, I knew the risk would be no greater than if I crossed to the -opposite shore, and I hoped to save many weary miles of travel. Being -well aware of the extreme caution shown on our side, I thought the -chances were that our army would be yet in the neighborhood of the place -where I left them, and I aimed for that point.</p> - -<p>I told Ned that I had secured a paper of the utmost importance, and that -if I were shot and he escaped, he was to take the paper from its place -of concealment and carry it on.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p><p>We turned to the left, down the first road we came to, after parting -with Captain DeLacy and his men. Just before we reached it, we were -stopped by a small party of Confederates on horseback. I offered my -passes. Striking a match, an officer read them, and after a few -questions, allowed us to go on. That was the only time the passes were -of use to us, for as soon as I parted with my disguise they were, of -course, worthless.</p> - -<p>In order to make the best time possible, and avail ourselves of short -cuts and bridle paths, it was necessary to leave the buggy and return to -horseback. That we did at the earliest practical moment. As soon as we -came to a rough bit of road, after our first turn, Ned drove the buggy -to one side, and, knocking off a wheel, left it to its fate. When I was -again in my own clothes, we made the harness and my disguise into -several bundles, which Ned weighted and dropped into the first creek we -came to.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p><p>That done, we hurried on. The night had turned cloudy and dark while we -had been in the Confederate camp. It did not rain, but before long we -struck a place where it had very recently, and our horses for a short -distance were obliged to plough through slippery clay. Frequently we -would see the fires of some outpost, and often a picket shot, sometimes -startlingly near, would ring out on the murky night.</p> - -<p>Well as I knew the country, I finally made a false turn in the confusing -darkness, and approached the river when I thought we were still several -miles away from it and following its course.</p> - -<p>Leaving Ned in safe hiding, I crept forward to reconnoiter. I made for a -rock overhanging the water, at the head of a bend in the river, from the -edge of which I hoped to be able to tell if the fires opposite were -repeated down the side I was on.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p><p>As I gained a sheltered place near the top and in the rear of the rock, -I heard a boat grate on the pebbles beneath, and two men ascended to the -very spot I had started for. I lay low behind the scanty bushes, while -they sat down near me. From what they said, I gathered that they had -crossed from the Rebel camp over the river to investigate the bank up -stream for some purpose, but not liking the looks of something that had -attracted their notice, they had stopped there to decide what they -should do.</p> - -<p>I was too near to move away without them hearing me. I was caught in a -trap. Chaffing at a delay, when every moment was precious, and fearing -that Ned, alarmed at my protracted absence, might come to look for me, I -was obliged to crouch, motionless in my hiding place, while the two men -so near me idly discussed topics relating to everything but the duty -they were on. While I waited, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> clouds began to break away, and once -or twice the moonlight shone out full and strong, leaving me with little -to shield me, had they chanced to turn around.</p> - -<p>Finally, after what seemed hours to me, one decided to go over for -re-enforcements and descended to the boat. Cautiously rising, as the -other advanced to the extreme edge of the rock, I saw that his back was -toward me and that he was intently watching the progress of the boat, -then in mid-stream.</p> - -<p>It was possible then for me to have slipped away unnoticed, but I was -exasperated beyond endurance. An uncontrollable impulse seized me. Even -if I had been sure that the whole Confederate army would have started to -his rescue, I could not have helped pushing that man into the water. -Moving noiselessly behind him, with the end of my revolver I gave him a -sharp punch in the middle of the back. Taken completely off his guard, -without a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> word, but with a wild whirl of arms and legs, he went -straight down into the deep water beneath. I have wondered hundreds of -times since, what that man thought was the matter with him. If he has -lived to read this, he knows now.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p>I returned to where Ned was, and we began retracing our steps.</p> - -<p>Although we made frequent attempts to get news, it was not until nearly -morning that I learned that our troops had advanced to a point, nearer -the place where I had made my way into the enemy's camp, and, -consequently, nearer where I was then, but to my left. We immediately -changed our route.</p> - -<p>From the moment the order had fallen into my hands, my one desire and -aim was to get it where the information it contained, together with what -other I had gathered, could be put to instant use. Every nerve throbbed -with impatience. Every delay was intolerable. Yet that entire ride back -was a series of vexatious and dangerous delays. I was beset on every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> -side by dangers, which closed in on me at every point where I tried to -evade them. Every mile counted for four in my eagerness to get on. I was -obliged, time after time, to retrace my steps and make long detours to -avoid running into bodies of skirmishers, to escape the vigilance of -pickets, and to baffle the pursuers on our tracks.</p> - -<p>Twice that night we stood with our coats drawn tightly over our horses' -heads to keep them from making a sound to betray our presence to the -enemy, passing so closely below that by stooping, we could have lifted -the hats off of their heads with a ramrod.</p> - -<p>Shortly after daybreak, as the first rays of of the sun showed over a -neighboring hill, I lay in a hollow log, while a man from the column of -passing soldiers sat on it to beat the dirt and stones from his remnants -of shoes. The dust from the inside of the log, loosened by his pounding, -choked me, until in my efforts to keep from coughing, I bit through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> the -sleeve of my coat, and left the print of my teeth on my arm. About six -hundred soldiers marched past me, as I watched them from a crevice in -the log.</p> - -<p>Across the road and half way up the hill beyond I could see where Ned -crouched, keeping the horses back in the shelter of a low thicket. -Knowing exactly where to look for him, he stood out with terrible -distinctness to my abnormally keen sight, and I trembled whenever I saw -a soldier turn his head in that direction.</p> - -<p>Even now, as I think it over, with all my increased experience and -knowledge of hair-breadth escapes, it seems simply incredible that we -ever got through. But get through we did.</p> - -<p>By eight o'clock, exhausted to faintness from hard riding, lack of food -and loss of sleep, and with horses reeling from fatigue, we turned out -onto a road which in a few minutes took us beyond danger. Loyal hands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> -placed fresh horses at our disposal, and with little loss of time, we -were covering the last ten miles of our ride.</p> - -<p>Soon the bit of paper, that "Lost Dispatch," which through all that long -and fearful night had been the elixir that nerved me to my work, was in -the hands of the proper officer, and I had communicated to him the -additional information I had gathered. Both information and dispatch, -without delay, were carried to the Commander in Chief.</p> - -<p>I only did my duty. My responsibility ended there. But looking back now, -it seems, as it did then, that better results should have been obtained -through a quick action on the intelligence gathered.</p> - -<p class="center space-above">THE END.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Dispatch, by Anonymous - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST DISPATCH *** - -***** This file should be named 51803-h.htm or 51803-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/8/0/51803/ - -Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Lost Dispatch - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: April 19, 2016 [EBook #51803] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST DISPATCH *** - - - - -Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -+-------------------------------------------------+ -|Transcriber's note: | -| | -|Obvious typographic errors have been corrected. | -| | -+-------------------------------------------------+ - -THE LOST DISPATCH. - -GALESBURG, ILL.: - -GALESBURG PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. - -1889. - - -COPYRIGHTED 1889, - -BY GALESBURG PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. - -All rights reserved. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -In adding this account of the finding of the "Lost Dispatch" to the war -literature of our country, I do so without further preamble or preface -than to say that all persons connected with this narrative appear on the -following pages under strictly fictitious names. - -For purely personal reasons, reasons that seem to me right and proper, I -still desire to remain unknown. There are not more than twenty-five -persons now living, who, on reading this account, will be able to -recognize the writer. These I place on their honor not to reveal their -knowledge. - -THE AUTHOR. - - - - -THE LOST DISPATCH. - -_AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR._ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -The Union army lay impatiently waiting until the plans of the leader of -the Rebel troops could be fathomed. His designs were shrouded in so much -mystery that the anxious watchers could not determine whether the -invasion of Maryland was only a feint to draw off the Union troops from -the points they were protecting, or whether he really aimed to attack -the Northern cities. - -It seemed absolutely impossible to obtain authentic information. The -stories brought in by the stragglers and prisoners were wild and -improbable in the extreme. To have believed them would have been to have -believed that the enemy had the power of marching in a dozen different -directions at one and the same time, for each story gave the enemy a -different starting point, and a different aim and purpose to their -movements. - -Of the scouts who had been sent out to all points, many had been taken -prisoner, or had met a speedy death. In spite of their untiring and -daring efforts to obtain reliable information, the reports brought back -by the few who did return were so unsatisfactory and contradictory that -no dependence could be placed in them, for seemingly none of the -soldiers and few, if any, of the officers of the invading army knew -where they were going or for what. - -At the headquarters of General Foster, which that first week of -September, '62, were located in an open meadow, half a dozen officers -were gathered in a low-voiced consultation. Their faces were grave and -marked with lines of anxious thought, as they poured over maps and -compared conflicting dispatches. A young officer, Captain Guilfoyle, who -sat writing at a table made up of rough boards, joined in the -conversation only when questioned by his superior officers, regarding -some point in the topography of the country, which could not be -determined from the imperfect maps they studied. - -An hour later all excepting the young officer had left the tent. -Stopping only to light a candle as it grew too dark to see, he wrote -steadily on until his work was finished and the papers lay folded on the -table. He arranged them ready for inspection, then rose and walked back -and forth across the narrow limits of the tent to stretch his tired -muscles. At last, with an impatient sigh, he seated himself again and -after waiting a moment drew from his pocket a long narrow book. It fell -apart, as if accustomed to being opened at one particular page, and the -light from the candle shone over a thick, long curl of fair hair, which -might have been cut from the head bending over it, so exactly the same -was the color. At the sound of approaching footsteps and voices outside -the tent he hastily returned the book to his pocket. - -Some one was asking for General Foster. The next moment a man dressed -like a teamster entered. His clothes were ragged and dirty. One arm was -wrapped around with a piece of blood stained cloth and hung limp and -useless at his side. His face was pale under the wide brim of his torn -hat, and the blood had trickled down one side from a fresh wound in his -forehead, making a wide mark along his cheek. The man showed his utter -exhaustion in every movement, and staggered from side to side as he went -across the tent and dropped half fainting onto a stool. - -Captain Guilfoyle took a flask from off the bed and held it to the -man's lips, eyeing him closely, until recovering somewhat, he -straightened up and removed the hat which partly shaded his face. As he -did so the Captain recognized him as one of the scouts whose return they -were anxiously hoping would bring them the sorely needed intelligence -and whose report General Foster had ordered him to receive if he got in -during his absence. - -"Yes, I'm here at last," replied the man to Captain Guilfoyle's hurried -interrogation, "and I've nothing to report but a total lack of success." - -"I left poor Dedrick and Allison over there, and barely succeeded in -getting back myself. You know what they were,--the best scouts in the -whole army. We did all men could do, but luck was against us. We have -learned nothing except that the enemy are across the Potomac, something -any straggler can tell. I have been four days getting back," said the -new comer, going on to give a full account of what he and his -companions had tried to do. "I tell you," he added wearily, "I doubt if -any one can find out what they mean to do until they do it, for I don't -believe they know themselves. They are----." There the low voice stopped -abruptly and the speaker's head sank until it touched the table. - -Calling in an orderly waiting outside, the officer applied restoratives, -and as soon as consciousness returned the sufferer was helped away to a -place where his wounds could receive much-needed attention. - -Captain Guilfoyle returned to his seat by the table to await General -Foster's return. After noting down some items in a well worn dispatch -book, he leaned his head on his hand and gave himself to deep and -serious thought, until, finally, a look of grim determination settled on -his smooth, boyish face. - -When the General returned, Captain Guilfoyle rose to report his work -finished. "McClandish has come in without any news of importance; the -two scouts with him were killed and he is badly wounded," he reported -further, after receiving orders relating to the disposition of the -papers he had copied. - -The grave, anxious look that settled over General Foster's face as he -listened, showed how he regarded the failure of an undertaking from -which so much had been hoped. In obedience to a word from his superior, -the young officer went on to give a full account of all he had learned -from McClandish. When he had finished he made a moment's pause, then -added quickly, leaning forward and speaking almost in a whisper, "If you -will allow me to go, I believe I can bring full and reliable information -of the strength of the enemy's forces and of his plans and intentions." - -The General stopped his rapid pacing across the tent and looked keenly -at the slim, boyish figure standing before him. "If you could: if we -knew the strength of the Rebel forces and where they mean to strike, -worn out and demoralized as our troops are, we could surely intercept -them and turn them back," he said. - -"I can try," replied Captain Guilfoyle. - -"You know the fate of the most of the men who have gone," said the -General gravely. - -"But it may not be mine," returned the younger officer. - -"McClandish is one of our best lieutenants and the two scouts with him -were old, both in experience and training. How can you succeed where -they and all the others have failed?" added General Foster after a long -pause. - -"I believe I can do it." - -"How?" - -"If you will accept my services and see that my destination is kept -secret, and that I shall never be required to tell how I gain any -information I bring back, I will be back at the earliest possible moment -and I trust with a full knowledge of what the enemy mean to do," replied -Captain Guilfoyle firmly. "I only ask that no person except yourself -shall know for what I have gone. Send me instead of Freeland to -Washington with these dispatches. Let it be known I have gone there, but -after I have delivered them let me follow my own plan. I cannot tell -just how long I must be away, but you may be assured not one day, not -one hour longer than necessary." - -A low, earnest conversation followed, which ended in General Foster -accepting the offer of his young aid. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -From this point I will drop the cloak of an observer and narrate events -as they followed fast upon each other. - -After leaving General Foster's tent I went to inquire after McClandish. -I found him with his wounds dressed, and though weak from loss of blood -and exhaustion, he had recovered enough to give me some pieces of -information I wanted. - -My preparations were not extensive, but included the writing of some -letters to be left with General Foster and sent by him to various -friends in case I did not return. - -Just as I was turning in for a few hours' sleep, Major Larrabee, who -shared my tent, came in. We talked awhile on the outlook of affairs, -then I told him that I had been ordered to the Capital with dispatches -and was to set out at daybreak. - -Joe had a cup of coffee ready for me before daylight showed itself, and -as I finished it he brought around Bagdad, ready saddled. I had not -thought of it when giving my orders the night before, but as the horse -gave a glad whinny of welcome, I quickly decided to leave him to await -my return and take a less valuable horse. I knew that in a few hours I -would have to change to a fresh one and it would not be likely that once -left I would ever see him again. - -I was soon on my way. I carried dispatches to General Pennington and -Colonel Barbour, and important papers which I was to deliver to the -Commander-in-Chief, wherever he might be. - -The sun was just up when I reached the headquarters of General -Pennington and delivered the dispatches. I learned there that the troops -had been moved; that the Commander-in-Chief was near R----, so instead -of going on toward Washington I turned off and saved considerable time -by going across the country. - -I found the general headquarters on a slope about three-quarters of a -mile south of R----. Without hard riding I reached there before nine -o'clock. As I dismounted an orderly took my horse and called another, -who conducted me past the trim sentries and across the tent-outlined -square to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief. He was ready to see me and -in less than half an hour I had delivered the papers and was on my way -to Washington, where Colonel Barbour was to meet me and deliver the -dispatches which he and General Pennington wished to send back to -General Foster, so saving me the trip out to get them. - -I found the roads so filled with vehicles of all sorts, mingled with -cavalry and foot soldiers, as to be almost impassable in any direction, -and at places they were completely obstructed, but by taking side paths -I was able to keep my horse at a fair speed. - -At four o'clock I was to meet Colonel Barbour at Willard's and in the -meantime I had enough to do. - -As soon as I reached the city I made my way to a restaurant for a -nondescript meal, which might be called either a very late breakfast or -an early dinner. From there I went to Willard's, where I took a room and -a hot bath. Ever since I had decided to undertake the hazardous -enterprise on which I was bent, I had had an intense desire to be off -and avoid all delay, and it required more time than I cared to give to -remove the traces of my long, hard ride and furbish myself up into a fit -condition for calling, but the calls I was to make were the preliminary -steps in my hastily constructed plans and too important to be omitted. - -The bright sun of the morning was almost obscured by hazy clouds as I -started out that warm September afternoon. - -I sat in four different parlors that afternoon, and my fair Rebel -entertainers little dreamed that I, who had "looked them up for old -acquaintance sake while I had a few hours' leisure," sat with every -nerve strained, only waiting for an opportunity to put the seemingly -trivial questions which were to gain me the information so necessary to -the successful carrying out of my plans. All direct questions had to be -most carefully avoided and it was discouraging to lead up to the subject -and then have the conversation go over and around the point to which I -had been so carefully striving to bring it. - -At the end of my second call I was ready to curse the luck which made -further effort necessary. During the third call I began to get the -desired enlightenment, and at the next house a few freely volunteered -remarks rounded my scrappy knowledge. That I did not change countenance, -I knew from the face of my entertainer, and she little guessed the joy -I felt when she casually told me what I had been striving so hard to -find out. My one desire then was to get away, and it required some -effort to keep up my part of the conversation. If I had followed the -predominant impulse of the moment I would have sped away and "stayed not -on the order of my going," instead of drawing my call out to the proper, -lingering length. - -When I again reached Willard's, I inquired if Colonel Barbour had yet -arrived, and learning that he had, I went directly to his room. There -were three or four other officers there, all anxious to learn any news I -could tell and eager to question, but as I was not personally acquainted -with any of them, I cut all conversation as short as I could without -actual rudeness, and avoided being detained long. I ordered my horse, -and feeling the necessity of eating while I had an opportunity, I went -in to dinner. - -After a hasty meal I left the hotel. The street was full of moving -troops. As I rode slowly along I had to draw up close to the pavement -several times to avoid the crush, and several times came to a full halt, -until the moving mass of troops, vehicles and pedestrians had surged -past. I finally reached the small restaurant on a side street, where, as -previously arranged, I met an orderly sent by General Foster. I gave him -the dispatches I carried, telling him to proceed at once with them to -that General's headquarters. As soon as he was out of the way I was free -to follow my own plans. - -The streets were comparatively deserted in the direction I took on -leaving the restaurant, and I met with no detention. After leaving the -city fairly behind me, a sharp three-quarters of an hour's ride brought -me to a small, old house standing somewhat back from the road. A -decrepit negro took my horse and I went in at a side door opening onto -the drive. - -It was dark when I left the house again, but even in daylight I do not -believe any stranger would have recognized in me, the well gotten up -young officer who had entered half an hour before. I had discarded all -my accouterments and my uniform, which, notwithstanding the rough usage -it had lately been through, still retained much of its new freshness and -glitter of brass and gilt. In its place I had on a pair of blue -trousers, a gray flannel shirt and a large, soft felt hat, all -considerably the worse for wear. I had also changed to a fresh horse. -The one I took was not much in the way of looks, but had considerable -speed in him, and was not too valuable to abandon to the enemy, as I was -well aware I might have to do at any moment. - -Leaving the place by a gate near the stables, which led into a grove, I -threaded my way through it, then turning west I rode across a meadow and -through another grove, where I came to a road which I followed until I -reached the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. I intended to avoid observation -as far as I could. I carried passes which would prevent any serious -trouble if my detainers were our own troops. But a meeting with any of -them might require me to lose considerable time. There was, besides, the -possibility that I might chance on a party of Rebels lurking around and -I was particularly anxious to avoid such. - -Fortunately I met but few persons. Some passed without accosting me. -Three times when approaching sounds indicated more than a single -individual, I drew off into shelter and squads of four or five men rode -rapidly past. Who or what they were I was too far off to distinguish. - -As soon as I was on the tow-path I put my horse to a gallop and passed -rapidly over a number of miles. Several times I was obliged to make my -way up and down the steep banks to avoid being stopped. At one -particularly forbidding spot, where the rocks overhung the path, some -guard at an exalted altitude sang out a question about my destination, -which I did not stop to answer. He repeated his inquiry and emphasized -it by sending a bullet after me. Luckily it went wide of the mark. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -Another hour's riding, a ten minute's pause to reconnoiter, and I -crossed to the other side of the Potomac by a rough and almost -impassable ford. Making the top of the rocks which faced the river, I -gave my horse time to get his breath, while I sat on a stone beside him. -Night and darkness had almost shut in the view on every side. The moon -was up but was obscured by clouds except for a moment or two at a time. -I could hear the faint swish of the water as it flowed over the stones -immediately below, but save for that an intense stillness prevailed. - -Rising after a few moments' contemplation of a landscape, which I could -but faintly see, I buried my passes and the one other valuable paper I -carried under a huge stone. I then felt that I was fairly started on my -perilous undertaking. I was on the Virginia side of the river, in a -region known to be swarming with Rebels who asked nothing better than to -catch a Union spy. I well knew that if I should run across any of them -in such a way as to arouse their suspicions my life would not be worth -the asking, and I would share the fate of many who had tried before. - -As I now had no passes or any way of proving my identity, I also had to -guard equally against meeting any of our own troops, for unless I should -chance on an acquaintance among them, they would be certain to hold me -prisoner. My endeavor was to avoid every one, for a small foraging party -or a few belated pickets might prove as disastrous to me as "an army -with banners." I had determined that it would be necessary for me to -avoid all well-traveled roads and all towns, even the smallest villages, -and to make my way through the dense woods when ever I could, taking -advantage of such bridle-paths as I could find running in the direction -I wanted to go. - -Before I had rode many miles I became convinced that a general move -toward the Potomac of some sort was going on. Whenever I approached a -road I could tell from the sounds that persons were passing along it, -not rapidly or in any large sized bodies, but mostly on foot and singly, -or in small squads of six or eight. They seemed to be pressing on too -steadily for ordinary skulkers, yet in a too "go as you please" style -for troops under command. - -At last I decided to gratify my curiosity, hoping to gain at the same -time some information that would be of use to me. - -Some miles back I had struck a path which I had been able to follow. -When it again crossed a road, I stopped a few rods back, slipped my -horse's bridle over a sapling and made my way to the edge of the road, -which, as I soon made out at this point, ran along a sort of gully. On -the side I was on the bank was at least four feet above the road, and -along the edge of the bank was a rough attempt at a rail-fence pieced -out and propped up here and there with stones. I crept noiselessly -behind this shelter and waited until two stragglers came along. When -nearly opposite me they accosted a third who must have been resting by -the roadside. - -We all went on together; they on the road and I behind the fence. From -their interchange of confidences, scraps of which came up to me, I soon -learned that they were Rebels and belonged to Knapp's division, and that -in the first advance it had been left behind on the James, but had just -crossed the Potomac and gone on to join Luce. The men seemed to be -stragglers who had dropped behind from pure physical inability to keep -up, and their great anxiety, as well as I could judge from their -conversation, was to get there before anybody "fit." - -Having learned all I was likely to from them, I retraced my steps and -mounted my horse. I had to keep him at a walk, for I was in a rough -piece of woods and could not see two feet beyond my horse's head. I had -not rode long when I heard faint sounds of musketry in front of me and a -little to my left, in exactly the direction I was traveling. I listened -intently, and concluded it must be a chance brush between a party of our -troops and some of the Rebels. - -The firing was directly between where I was and the place where I -intended to get breakfast and hoped to get a fresh horse. I did not want -to miss stopping there, for it was the only Union man's house I knew of -any where near. I could not afford to circle around the fighting, as it -might lead me considerably out of my road. A skirmish, even if a small -affair, is a very unsatisfactory thing to go around, not being exactly -stationary. - -I carried an old silver watch which I had procured during my stay in the -Capital, but it was too dark to see the time without striking a match, -which I did not care to do. I judged from the distance I had come it -must be near daybreak. So, anxious as I was to get on, I knew it would -be wise to halt until it began to get light and the dispute ahead should -be settled. - -I tied my horse to a tree and went as far away as I could to be within -hearing distance of his movements. As soon as I discovered a log, which -I did at last by taking a header over it, I lay down behind it. Though -in point of fact I did not know which to call the front or back, -considering it as a barrier to an approaching foe. - -I was too weary to more than reach a recumbent position before I was -asleep. I had been asleep long enough to feel completely chilled from -the cold fog when something awoke me. I aroused with a start and a -feeling that some one was near me. On the alert at once I waited with -baited breath for some further noise to indicate in which direction the -disturbance had been, but none came and I finally concluded that I had -been mistaken or dreaming. - -I went over to look at my horse and make sure that he had not pulled -loose. He was where I had left him and had evidently spent his time -nibbling off every tender branch in his reach. - -I determined to look around before mounting. It was barely daybreak and -there was a light fog, which made all excepting near objects indistinct. -I made my way through a shallow, dry gully and across a wide flat -covered with trees. I knew I must then be near the road which I had been -skirting the latter part of my ride, so I paused a moment before -advancing further. Hearing nothing I went on around a jutting point of -rocks on a thicket-covered slope and stopped at the head of a washout, -made by the summer rains. - -As I stood listening the ground suddenly gave way with me and I went -down a steep bank, to find the road sooner than I expected, and myself -in the company of two Rebel soldiers and a broken down army wagon. I -found out with a vengeance what had aroused me, and as is sometimes the -case with investigators, learned more than was desirable. - -The men had evidently been half asleep, when my abrupt appearance -brought them to their feet. - -A man has to think quickly in moments of danger. I took in the situation -at a glance and in the same brief time decided to enter into -conversation with them. - -"What's up?" I asked. - -"Broke down," replied the liveliest looking of the two, while both kept -their muskets suggestively convenient and eyed me suspiciously. - -The wagon was heavily loaded and the back axle-tree had broken in two, -letting down the end. I looked it over because I had nothing better to -do. One of the men volunteered the information that it was twice too -much of a load. - -"You don't expect to sit here with it all day, do you?" I asked, -intending to offer to go ahead and find some one to help them right -matters as an excuse to get away. - -"No," said the man who had not spoken before. "Holly, 'es gone on thar -an' 'ell bring back some of our squad to help." - -As he spoke, faintly approaching sounds indicated that a "Holly" was -coming back with assistance. There was no chance for me to leave and -nothing better suggested itself than to act so that whoever came back -would think I belonged there. I proposed to the men that we might as -well see what we could do while we waited. - -When a dingy officer and eight men appeared on the scene, we were all -three busy inspecting the damage and no awkward questions were asked. So -for a short space of time I served in the Confederate army,--at least I -pulled at the wheel of a Confederate army wagon, with a great show of -work and no real exertion. - -The officer in command, it was impossible to tell his rank from his -dress, but as he assumed more airs than a Brigadier-General, it is safe -to say he was not above a Sergeant, ordered the men around as if he were -reconstructing an entire train. - -His obstinancy was soon apparent to my very alert observation. No matter -what one of the men began to do, he stopped him and set him to work in -another manner. - -This amiable trait of his character I turned to my own advantage. When -things were righted and he called out that one man must go back with a -message and the rest follow him, I said audibly that I would "go on," -and had my expectations realized by his ordering me to go back to meet -Captain Shuman. - -Not being deeply impressed with the necessity of encountering that -individual, I followed the road no longer than was necessary to take me -beyond sight and hearing of the men who, with the wagon, had started in -the opposite direction. Entering the woods, I returned to my horse, -mounted and hurried on. - -As I neared the place where the firing had occurred, I kept a sharp -lookout for a dead Confederate in decent clothes, intending to -appropriate them. It is proverbially slow work waiting for dead men's -shoes, and I found it considerably more tedious still trying to acquire -a more extended outfit. In all the four miles to Petterbridge's there -were no signs of a skirmish visible, saving a dead horse and a discarded -musket or two. I wanted at the first opportunity to discard my blue -trousers for a pair of the Rebel colors. Many of the men in the -Confederate army at that time wore such parts of Union soldiers' clothes -as they had been able to get to replace their own ragged and filthy -garments. I knew the blue trousers I wore would not be likely to excite -any suspicion, still I preferred to use every precaution. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Petterbridge's house stood in a small sheltered valley into which the -sun had not yet made its way, when I drew rein at the rail fence at the -side of his house. As I was not known by the family, and might have had -trouble getting what I wanted from any of them, I was particularly glad -when the old man himself appeared at the back door. In reply to his -"What ere' want, stranger?" I dismounted and convinced him who I was. As -there was only the family at home, it was safe for me to stop. - -Here I got breakfast, a pocketfull of bread and meat to carry with me, a -fresh horse, a pair of butternut trousers, and the news that several -houses supposed to belong to Unionists had been burnt by Rebels during -the night. Petterbridge also said that quite a body of Confederate -troops had passed down the valley a mile back the day before, and gave -me the agreeable bit of information that the country ahead was worse, if -possible, than what I had just come through, being alive with raiders -and bushwhackers as well as overrun with stragglers anxious to get to -the front. - -Devotedly hoping that I might miss all these ill-regulated gentlemen, I -left Petterbridge's and pushed on. The horse I had taken was only a fair -traveler, but then he was not too valuable to abandon to the enemy. - -A number of times I met and was accosted by single stragglers and -skulkers. They were a pitiful looking set of men, ragged as Lazarus, -generally barefoot, and gaunt almost to emaciation. I always stopped at -the least effort on their part to enter into conversation, and asked -earnestly after a lost cow or a fictitious companion, varying the -inquiry as I thought my interlocutor took me for one of the -mountaineers indigenous to that region, or for one of themselves. - -I never willingly ran against them, but it was impossible to avoid them -entirely, for they were making for the Potomac, and I was practically -following its course and going across their line of march. There was -really little to fear from them. They could not know that I was a Union -spy, and they were not a suspicious set of men anyway. - -It was the bushwhackers and raiders I was most in danger from, and more -from the bushwhackers than the raiders. The latter, like the stragglers, -kept on and near the roads, and there was always enough of them together -to make me aware of their presence by their noise, so with due caution I -would not be likely to encounter them. More than a dozen times I drew up -into thickets and ravines to let a party of them pass, and several other -times saw squads in the distance. From the bushwhackers I had no -protection. Singularly enough I did not actually encounter any, -although I discerned a good many by the aid of my imagination and had -plenty of evidence of their actual near presence. The whole country was -an extremely pretty one to bushwhack in. I tried to let the fact slip my -mind, but I had an unpleasant, ticklish sensation in my back the whole -time and longed for an eye in the rear of my head to keep a lookout in -the direction from which I particularly anticipated a bullet. - -I will here say I was in the bloodiest and most hopeless battles of the -war, and I have had a pretty steady diet of Indian fighting since the -war, having been surrounded by half-frozen Indians of various tribes in -Montana and Dakota, and chased and been chased by red hot Apaches in -Arizona and New Mexico, but never have I undergone such nerve-trying -work as was that trip I made as a Union spy, the account of which I am -telling. - -There was never at any time more danger than I met afterward, but there -was no let up. Every nerve was strung to its highest tension and kept -there, every sense was held alert. There was never present the -enlivening enthusiasm of battle, which warms a man's blood to deeds of -heroism; there was no emulation to keep up one's courage; there was -always the demoralizing necessity of keeping out of the way of danger; -there was ever present the fretting fact that self-preservation only -could insure success. No man is anxious to be killed. No matter how -strongly he is imbued with a sense of duty and honor and of love for his -country, he is pretty certain to feel that her good will be better -secured if he is on the boards to look after it, than it would be if he -had laid down his life at her shrine. He prefers to live, but at the -same time he does not want his personal safety to be a matter of -perpetual concern. - -I was not a coward, but I felt decidedly averse to being shot. I had -started out to do something and I wanted to do it; I had already -concluded that there was no "right time" for a spy to be killed. He does -not want to be shot until he has found out what he seeks to know, and -then not until he has told it. - -It was about three o'clock when I finally stumbled on an oat stack in an -odd little clearing, far out from sight of the owner's windows. - -I let my horse take his dinner, while I kept guard and ate a sandwich. -In order to let him make as good a meal as possible I delayed as long as -my impatience would let me and then nearly made him break his neck and -mine too, by trying to canter him down a place about as steep as -Jordalemet and nearly as slick, in order to make up for lost time. - -The country which had been comparatively level and well settled for some -distance back through the valley, became rough again as I neared the -mountains, and I had to make my way more slowly and cautiously. - -I seemed to have run out of the stream of Rebels. I determined to -question the first person I met. Before long I saw a weak minded looking -man driving a few sheep along a narrow path, and coming from the -opposite direction. - -"Howdy, stranger?" I began. - -"Howdy?" he returned. - -"You're pretty fortunate to get through with them sheep, without their -being turned into mutton." - -"Met nobody to turn 'em; ain't nobody up that way." - -From this I judged that the country ahead was free of both Rebels and -Yankees as far back as he had come. He eyed me suspiciously while -talking, but was evidently telling the truth as far as he knew it. He -seemed in a great hurry to get away from me with his sheep, and after -asking him for minute directions for a road that turned to the right -about four miles ahead and which I did not intend to take, we separated. - -After parting from him I shortly turned to my left, having decided that -as soon as I came to it, which I knew would be in a little time, I would -avail myself of a road leading over the mountains. - -Riding slowly along through the dense forest, wondering if I dared treat -myself to a smoke, I turned full on a group of four men, in dirty -butternut, camped in a laurel brake. They were chivalrous Southerners -without doubt, but built on the plan of "He who fights and runs away." -They evidently thought they had been discovered by Yankees and that the -proper time to run had arrived. One man, who was lifting a bucket of -coffee from the coals, ejaculated "hell," and taking the bucket with -him, fled, followed by the others. - -To my startled gaze they seemed to disappear in a dozen different -directions at the same time. I would have been extremely grateful to the -leader if he had left the coffee behind. - -Knowing that a short stop made by me might be lengthened out -indefinitely if any of the fugitives chanced to return, I departed -without much delay. As soon as I reached the road I turned into it and -had a comparatively easy time for the next few miles. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -I was so weary and worn out by my constant riding and so in need of -sleep that it was only by determined effort that I could keep my eyes -open. Several times I roused to the unpleasant conviction that I had -been asleep in my saddle. I knew that would not do, for I well knew that -even in that seemingly quiet district constant watchfulness was needed -and that later on fresh dangers would need freshened faculties and -renewed energy to meet them. So I decided to allow myself an hour's -rest. - -As quick as I found a suitable place, which I soon did in the shape of a -narrow, rock-hung ravine, which branched off at my right hand between -two almost perpendicular walls of mountains, I stopped, and dismounting, -led my horse in after me. When we had penetrated several rods I -tethered my horse behind some bushes, so that he could graze, and -crawled into a leaf cushioned hole between two rocks. - -I have always had the faculty of waking at any predetermined time, and -when I roused from a heavy sleep of exhaustion I had exceeded my hour's -allowance by only ten minutes. - -Passing cautiously down the ravine before leaving its shelter, I tried -to make sure by observation from a rock up the bank that there were no -obstacles in view. A little spring a short way down the road made a most -inviting halting place and I did not want to start out if it chanced to -be occupied. As the coast was clear, I was soon on my way, and having -the benefit of a fair road, made good time. - -As I turned a sharp corner I involuntarily drew a quick breath at the -scene before me. My surroundings were wild in the extreme. I was riding -along a limestone ridge, which jutted out from the wall of mountains -behind. Looking down I saw before me dark, dense forests covering lesser -elevations. Looking up toward my right the rock-crested mountains were -outlined against a clear sky, from which the sun had just disappeared -behind their fantastic peaks. As I gazed, the sun sinking lower, left -the depths at my left in twilight, the ravines became black lines and -the thick growth of cedar and other trees fringing them looked only a -shade less sombre. The whole picture was one of deep solitude and wild -grandeur. - -Since the dissolving view of Southerners to which I had been treated I -had not seen a human soul. Ahead of me about ten miles was the village -of J---- and as all seemed quiet, I decided to stop there, if nothing -turned up in the meantime, and get supper and some information by which -to shape my plans for the next day. - -The night, unlike the previous one, was beautifully clear, and the -moon, full a few nights before, was up when I entered J----. - -I knew very well where a notorious Rebel by the name of Deputy lived, -and thinking it would do him good to serve his country for once in his -life by telling me what I wanted to know, I made my way toward his -house, which stood near the center of the village. - -I found him swinging a tow-headed boy on the gate, the urchin shrieking -with delight whenever the clumsy thing came to with a clap that -threatened to dislodge him from his perch. As Deputy caught sight of me -he stopped that interesting occupation and was ready to ply me with -questions before I had drawn rein. He took me for one of Leonard's men -at once, which gave me a hint that they, if not already in the vicinity, -were expected. - -I fostered his mistake and told him that I was one of a foraging party -sent on ahead and that I had lost my way. This information was rewarded -by a cordial invitation to "light and take supper." Going up to the open -door he called to some one inside: - -"Say, Sallie, hurry up supper, one of our boys is a stoppin'." - -Coming back he put down a good bundle of fodder and some oats for my -horse outside the gate. I followed him in to the supper he had called -his wife to hurry up for me. - -I gave that man more news about what had happened down below than he had -had for a long time. I did not care a hard tack about keeping to facts -and no punctillo prevented me from arranging the stories to suit his -taste. In return he told me all he knew about the late movements of -troops, and as he had just returned that afternoon from M----, he was -pretty well posted in affairs across the river. Returning to the -immediate vicinity, I soon discovered that the country in the direction -I was going was clear. I did not care what high jinks they cut up down -the other way just then, as long as I was not detained. - -I also learned that word had been brought in that afternoon that -General Leonard and his troops were to pass through the town before -morning, and that the red-hot Rebels which made up the population were -planning to give them a loyal reception. - -I was finishing an excellent cup of coffee when a shout from the little -fellow at the gate took Deputy out. I heard a call or two and some hasty -talking with passers by, then Deputy entered, much excited. - -"Lucky for you, some of Leonard's troops are just crossing the bridge -and some in advance have already stopped on the Square," was his -astounding announcement. - -"Sure it's not some of the Yankees?" I asked. - -"You bet it ain't; Jim Buckner came in with them and that man I was -talkin' to was Bill Stiver, hurryin' down to tell Jim's folks to go up -and see him, because they ain't goin' to 'tinner on long." - -I did not wait for a very formal leave taking. With a muttered excuse -about my being obliged to report at once, I hurried out, untied my horse -and was off. - -I could see a crowd in front of the tavern as I passed into a side -street. When I turned into my road again I struck into a gallop. As I -passed a road running into mine at an obtuse angle, a small squad of -cavalry was coming down it at a leisurely pace. I saw plainly in the -bright moonlight that there were not more than two dozen of them. They -sang out a challenge, but I neither stopped or increased my speed. -Looking back I saw them turn toward town when they entered the road I -was on. - -They must have had their suspicions roused, however, and turned back -almost immediately, for I soon heard the sound of fast riding behind me. -I put my horse to his best speed, but he was jaded, while theirs were -evidently fresh. The bullets soon came spattering against the rocks and -trees around me with alarming frequency. They certainly did their best -to persuade me to stop, but did not happen to touch a spot to make their -coaxing effectual. - -The moment to lose my horse, which I had been anticipating from the -first, had come at last. My pursuers were gaining on me and the question -of which of them should have the pleasure of shooting me was merely a -question of who should hit first. They were still too far behind and the -moonlight too indistinct in the narrow and wooded gorge, which the road -had just entered, for them to see me, but they were drawing closer every -moment. Freeing my feet from the stirrups, I gave my horse a cut with -the whip and slipped to the ground. Lightened of his burden he flew on -with accelerated speed, his hoofs ringing down the rocky road and -guiding my pursuers past where I lay at the bottom of a ravine, down the -sides of which I had tumbled with celerity and a series of somersaults -of which a circus rider need not have been ashamed. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -I was not in a very amiable frame of mind and passed a bad quarter of an -hour while I sat down there on a stump, recovering myself and deciding -what to do next. - -I still had over thirty miles to go and instead of reaching my -destination before morning, as I had just decided I would be able to do, -I was left without a horse and in very poor trim to make good speed on -foot. However, I started on, determined to investigate every place along -my road and get a horse if possible without leave or license, but -fearing that all not already confiscated were in too secure hiding for -me to unearth. I had some hope of finding my own poor beast, but it was -not realized. - -Every house I came to was dark and forsaken looking and all the inmates -seemed to be away or asleep. Even the dogs made no disturbance, if -there were any around. My search in stables, sheds and pasture lots only -took up time, without gaining help, for not a sign of a horse did I -find. - -At last, while making a circuit to bring me around by the place of a man -named Carter, thinking he might have something left in the way of -horseflesh, as he had a remarkable way of holding on to everything -belonging to him, I saw a light in a small cabin perched near a road. I -had come on the place from the rear, as I was taking a short cut. -Drawing near with much circumspection, I could hear the sound of voices -and laughing. Evidently from the noise a good time of some kind was in -progress. - -I crept up in the shadow of the house near enough to look around an -angle and see into the room. Three officers in Confederate gray were -seated at a table taking supper, and laughing and joking with a long, -lean mountaineer, who seemed to be plying them with questions, while -his wife served them. As I watched, a pretty girl entered from another -room with a jug of cider, which she proceeded to pour out into tumblers. -At the sight of the foaming liquid one of the officers trolled a verse -of a rollicking drinking song. - -It did not take me long to conclude that they must be the very fellows -who had been in such hot haste after me, to infer that they had given -over pursuit and that their horses must be somewhere near. I retreated -into the shadow of the trees and thus sheltered made my way around to -the front of the house. To my exceeding joy, I found there three slick -Confederate steeds tied to the fence. I hastily untied the halters, for -while I did not intend to perform another circus act by riding all three -at once, I did not care to leave any behind to aid in my pursuit. I led -them as gently as possible down into the road and mounted one, a -powerful black. The other two at first made some resistance, but an -energetic pull or two decided them to follow. The noise of my departure -brought out the pleasure-loving cavalrymen in hot haste, but they were -not quick enough to do any effectual work. - -I followed the obscure, little-used road, on which the house stood, for -a short distance, then turning from it I made a cut between two hills -and came out on a road running parallel with the one I had started from -J---- on. After going several miles I turned the extra horses loose and -they soon stopped to graze. - -My late acquisition was possessed of prodigious activity and I soon made -up the time I had lost. I had no further detention and as the gray dawn -again appeared I reached my destination. - -Turning from the road I walked my horse slowly up the wide, tree-lined -avenue toward the mansion. Tired as I was and interested in but one -object, the deserted, desolate appearance of the place impressed me -deeply, and I drew rein for a moment to look around. I knew the family -had been away but a comparatively short time, yet the house and -surroundings had already that uncared for, lonely look that soon hangs -over a closed house. It was the first time I had ever seen that wide, -hospitable mansion when it was not filled with life and mirth. It was -the first time I had ever come to it without receiving a warm welcome. - -Leaving the lawn in front, I made my way to the quarters of the family -servants beyond the house. To my surprise I found them empty and -deserted. I knew that when the family went to G---- all except two of -the servants had been left behind and I expected to find them there. I -knew my aunt would not leave without making ample provision for their -comfort and I felt certain they were too strongly attached to the family -to run away, so I could not understand the vacant cabins. - -I could not believe but what some of them were still around the place. -I searched and called without unearthing a soul, and had just returned -from another tour around the house, and was pondering how best to effect -an entrance into it when I caught sight of a gray head peeping out of an -opening in the top of the kitchen, which stood a few rods from the -house. It was instantly withdrawn, but not until I had seen it belonged -to Ned, an old negro owned by my mother, but who made his home at S----. - -He had evidently been watching me from his place of concealment, but had -not recognized me in my rough clothes. Going into the kitchen it -appeared as empty as before, but I finally discovered the frightened old -negro curled up on top of a wide set of shelves behind a barricade of -cooking utensils, taking a reconnoissance from the ventilator just -above. - -"Come down, Ned," I called, but he made no sign of having heard. - -It was some time before I could convince him who I was, but as soon as -he could get his scattered wits together his delight was unbounded, and -he came down from his elevated perch to an accompaniment of rattling -tinware. - -I soon learned that when my aunt found she would be detained -indefinitely, she had sent back word for all the servants to go to a -neighboring plantation, which they had all done with the exception of -Ned, who had staid behind intending to make his way to me and beg me to -keep him for my body servant, an office he had always desired. - -While Ned prepared and served me with a breakfast, which I insisted on -taking in the kitchen, he gave me the family news and told me all about -the death of his wife, which had occurred a few weeks before. - -After I had finished my meal and Ned had fed my horse, he brought out -the keys from their place of concealment, and if I would have permitted -him to do so, would have thrown open the whole house in my honor. Much -to his disappointment, I dared not allow him to unclose a single shutter -or even turn the slats, except at the back of the house. I explained to -him that it must still present a closed appearance to any chance -observer, and that no one must know that I was there. - -We entered the house and proceeded through the long, dusky hall and up -the wide stairs to the second story. After Ned had gathered everything -necessary to my comfort into the room which I occupied whenever I was at -S----, and which was always left undisturbed in my absence, he left me. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -Weary as I was I yet had something to do before I could take the needed -rest, which every atom in my jaded frame was loudly demanding. - -The time had come to test the feasibility of the plan which had flashed -into my mind as I sat in General Foster's tent, and which I had thought -over and elaborated along the way. - -When the idea first entered my head that I could personate my cousin -Salome, enter the enemy's lines, meet her Rebel lover, and from him -learn what the enemy were going to do, and by my own eyes determine the -strength and position of their forces, I had only thought what a huge -joke it would be. Had General Foster returned at once the idea might -have died without further growth, but in the time of waiting I had idly -thought over and over how easily it could be done, and planned this and -that detail until finally the project seized a firm hold of me, and I -had determined, hazardous as it was, to attempt it. - -None knew better than I the dangers surrounding such a trip, but I -realized our need of reliable information to take the place of the -flying rumors that could not be trusted, and well I knew that I would -stand every chance of succeeding where others had failed. My love of -adventure, my ambition, my duty to my country, all urged me on. There -was nothing to weigh against the last. - -I was acquainted with every inch of the country. I had gone more times -than I can number up and down both sides the river, to and from -Washington and places in the vicinity. I was almost as much at home at -several places near Hagerstown and Frederick as I was at S----, and -every inch of the country between was familiar to me. I had hunted over -it and knew every cross road and rabbit path, every short cut and ford, -and I was well aware that I could baffle pursuit from an enemy not so -entirely familiar with the country. - -I had no fear but what I could successfully personate my cousin. My -cousin Salome and I were within a few months of the same age. She had -but one sister and I was an only child. We had been together so much -that we quite looked on ourselves as brother and sister, and I think our -affection was strengthened by the exceedingly strong likeness we bore -each other. So strong was the resemblance that when children we were -constantly taken by strangers not only for brother and sister, but for -twins. One of the favorite pranks of my boyhood had been to don one of -Salome's dresses, and answering the first call made for her, deceive -even her own mother, until a closer view proved the fraud. - -Since Salome had grown to the dignity of long dresses and done up hair, -and I to long tailed coats, the resemblance was not so striking, and I, -not liking to look so much like a girl, had done all I could to make it -less so. - -Only the Christmas before, however, when we had all been together at -S----, (I had not then joined the Union army), Salome and I had arrayed -ourselves as two old ladies, with close-fitting, lace-frilled caps, and -it had been a long time before any one could decide which was which, -although all the company present had known us both from childhood. - -I had never met Captain DeLacy. He had been a stranger to Salome until -they had met three months before at the White Sulphur, where he was -staying to recover from a wound. It was a case of genuine love at first -sight, and the engagement had been contracted on the eve of his -departure for his regiment. At that time I had just entered the Federal -army and Salome was feeling very sore over it, so I was pretty certain -she had never confided to him that she had a cousin fighting against -him, or indeed told him anything about me. - -I had learned in Washington that Captain DeLacy was with Dare's -division, which had crossed the Potomac with Luce. My plan was to make -my way across the Potomac, find the whereabouts of Dare's division, make -my way beyond it, assume my disguise and turn back toward the river so -as to approach the Rebel lines after dark. I knew I would be stopped as -soon as I encountered the first Confederate soldiers and an exhibition -of my pass demanded. I would account for its absence by saying I had -lost it. When permission to proceed was refused, as I knew it would be, -I would insist on going on and finally demand an interview with Captain -DeLacy to prove my identity. - -Once in his presence, I had little doubt but that I could pass myself -off for Salome. I would tell him I had been called to New York by the -illness of my sister and was trying to get back home, which would be a -plausible story and not likely to be questioned. - -I knew I would have to run great risks. There would be first and always -a chance of being picked up and summarily finished in an unprepared -moment. There would be the possibility that Captain DeLacy had been sent -on temporary duty to some other point than that where I expected to find -him. And if I found him, there would be a chance of his having received -a late letter from Salome, which would prove my story a falsehood. Of -the latter, however, I did not think there would be much danger. In our -army orders had gone into effect some days previous that no letters or -papers of any kind should be sent or received. It was most likely that -mail was equally scarce among the Rebels. - -I thought it would be strange if I did not gleam a few facts, which -would be of use to us, during my interview with Captain DeLacy and -during the time required to make my way in and out of the Confederate -camp, wherever it might prove to be. - -I left my chamber and made my way through the darkened hall to the -family rooms at the front of the house, my footsteps sounding loud in -the unaccustomed stillness. Determined as I was to do what I had -planned, I involuntarily hesitated a moment before I opened the first -closed door, then shaking off the feeling of reluctance, I went on with -my work. - -A search of Salome's and my aunt's rooms soon secured me an outfit -sufficient for my purpose--a dark dress, several white petticoats, a -pair of shoes, a long, black cloak and an embroidered neck scarf, which -I had often seen Salome wear, also a heavy black veil and a pair of -gloves, odorous with the perfume Salome always had about her. I carried -the clothes to my room to try the effect. - -After putting on the other things I muffled my head in the veil. The -disguise was perfect. Even I was startled for a moment, so precisely did -I look like Salome. I had drawn the veil enough over my face to entirely -conceal my short hair and had contrived to fasten the curl of Salome's, -which I always carried with me, to an inner fold in such a way that it -showed below it at the left side, in exact imitation of the way Salome -had worn one when I had last seen her. - -My training had left me deeply tinctured with the idea that an army -officer must have no inconvenient emotions, but I then and there, early -in my career, proved that they do. It was absurd, but I could have wept. -Salome's exact image looked back at me from the mirror, and an intense -longing to take the deceiving reflection into my arms came over me. For -a moment I lost all the pride and valor of a son of Mars. I was only a -very ordinary mortal, to whom the war was hateful in the extreme. I had -no more ambition than an assistant company cook. - -It did not last long. I swallowed away at the wretched lump in my throat -and looked at myself, as reflected, with the critical eye of a person -trying to penetrate a disguise. - -I could pick no flaw and was soon viewing myself with much complacency, -for my exceedingly ladylike appearance meant that success was nominally -certain. - -During that trip was the only time I ever blessed my then slight form -and effeminate voice. Hard service during the war and years of army life -on our Western frontier since, have changed all that, and lost me every -trace of that hated "prettiness," which at that time had gained me from -my associates the sobriquet I so detested, and caused me so much genuine -anguish of soul and many downfalls of pride. - -Fully satisfied, I divested myself of my borrowed apparel and darkening -the windows, just as the sun rose over the mountains, I was soon -oblivious to everything around me. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -I was conscious of nothing more until Ned's voice sounded in my ears. I -had ordered him to waken me at ten o'clock, no matter how soundly I was -sleeping or how much I might expostulate with him at the time. I guess -the poor fellow did have a rather hard time awakening me. Being on a -civilized bed seemed to have obliterated the feeling of caution which -had kept me on the _qui vive_ since the beginning of my trip, and his -voice in my ears at first roused me only to a semi-consciousness and -faint impression of my surroundings, so accustomed was I to Ned's -lingering awakenings. Not until his "Mars, you done said I wuz ter get -you up, acaus' dis yer wa'" finally penetrated my dull ears did he rouse -me effectually to present circumstances. - -While thinking over my arrangements as I was dressing, I determined on -taking Ned with me. It was the one additional item needed to perfect the -plan I had originated, and I wondered that I had not thought of it -before. - -Ned belonged to our family, but during one of our long visits at S---- -he had married a girl on a neighboring place and on our return home had -been left behind. A high price had been offered for the girl, -considerable more than she was worth, but her master would not part with -her, so Ned had staid on at S---- from year to year. I doubt if he would -have been willing to remain had we not been there so often, for he was -deeply and honestly attached to our family. - -He was a particularly shrewd and intelligent old negro, and I well knew -that I could trust him to any extent. He would die rather than betray me -or any secret information I might find necessary to entrust to him. His -intelligence, quickness of wit and caution would likely enable him to -get out of any ordinary danger or emergency that presented itself. To -have him along would somewhat lessen my chances of escaping observation -on the way, but he would add much to my disguise when among the -Confederates. - -Few, if any, outside the two families knew but what he belonged to the -S---- plantation. He had made several trips with my aunt and cousin -during the past two years and had been with them at the Springs. I knew -that Captain DeLacy would recognize him again and that it would seem -quite proper to him, or any person whom we should meet, that he had -accompanied his young mistress. - -I did justice to the dinner which Ned, with great pride in his -exhibition of culinary skill, had ready for me when I went down. I then -told him where I was going and for what. He was horror struck at first -and went off into lamentations, bemoaning these troublous times and -prophesying that I would never get there and back alive. But he -gradually became used to the idea and was soon begging me to take him -along. As I had already decided to do so, I was glad to have him get -around to the proposition himself, and readily gave my consent. - -I gave him a minute account of all that had occurred since I left the -Capital. I thought wise to do this in order to make him familiar with -what he would be likely to meet with after we started, and I explained -fully to him what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, and how I might -have to do it, going into full details. I was much pleased at the -correct grasp he seemed to get of the matter and felt I could dismiss -all apprehension on his score. - -We were to go on horseback. If possible we were to keep together, but if -necessary we were to separate at any time without any delay and neither -was to pay any attention whatever to the safety of the other. I -explained to him that, except when I was personating Salome, any -display of concern on his part about me would only increase my danger, -and that in case we unexpectedly fell in with any troops on the road, he -must act as if I were a total stranger whom he had just met, unless he -first heard me make a direct statement to the contrary. - -Ned knew, as well as I, that he run but slight risks of being interfered -with. At that time the Confederates paid but little attention to the -coming and going of the negroes. They were allowed to move from place to -place, and run in and out the lines without question or detention, and -their queries made from curiosity excited no distrust. Ned also was -aware that he would have no trouble in getting a pass on any slight -pretext if he should need one. - -I gave him a number of places along the way, where we were to meet after -any enforced separation if we could, but if by so doing either of us -incurred the slightest risk or delay, we were each to make our way -separately to a point which I named and which I felt confident was -beyond the invading troops. I was to wait there until as late as nine -o'clock that night for Ned, but in case he reached there first he was to -stay until I came, unless I did not get there for three days, thus -allowing for my possible capture, detention and escape. I also told him -on what points I wanted him to get information, by observation or in any -other way possible. - -From my entertainer of the night before, I had learned enough about the -movements of Luce's army to enable me to block out my plans with a -considerable degree of confidence. If I did not know exactly where the -particular division I wanted to strike was, I knew where it was not, and -that was a good deal. - -Events sometimes follow each other with startling rapidity, but if no -unusual hurry had occurred I felt quite sure my destination would be -between two points, and not more than twenty miles back from the river. -More explicit information as to their precise location must be obtained -on the way, also exact knowledge as to Captain DeLacy's whereabouts. - -All the preparation Ned made was to hide his few valuables and securely -close the house. This done, he was ready to follow me to the ends of the -earth if need be. - -It was barely twelve o'clock when we started on our way. Ned rode the -horse he had provided in anticipation of coming to me. The clothes had -been done up into a compact roll, with the cloak outside, in order to -look as much like a rolled-up blanket as possible, and I carried them -like a huge rag baby on the saddle in front of me. I did not dare either -trust them to Ned or fasten them to my saddle. I might have to part with -either, or both negro and horse on any sudden emergency, but I was -determined to hold onto and make use of my disguise unless death or -capture prevented me. - -For obvious reasons we avoided all well-traveled roads and made our way -through fields, along lanes, and as much as possible in the shelter of -the timber. Our route was through a well-settled country until we neared -the river. We crossed it by a ford that was little known and seldom -used, but at that time, I, like the illustrious Susan, did not care for -a crowd. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -It was nearly six o'clock when we finally reached the point where I -thought I could safely commence my retrograde movement. As soon as I -would turn to the right, the division of Luce's army I wanted to reach -would lay directly between the place I would be then and the Potomac. -During the last of our ride I had, by a bold move or two, managed to get -very definite knowledge of the disposition of the Rebel troops in the -vicinity, and by a lucky accident, during an enforced separation, Ned -had discovered almost to a certainty that Captain DeLacy was where I had -thought him. We had also in the middle of the afternoon each secured a -fresh horse, and by far greater good fortune than I had dared hope for, -they were fine, un-jaded animals. That we took them without leave or -license troubled us not a bit. - -Looking back now, it seems strange that we were able to make our way as -rapidly as we did through that section, filled as it was with troops, -without being taken prisoner, scientifically bushwhacked, or picked off -by a sharpshooter. - -A number of times we did barely escape encounters which would have cost -us dear. About the middle of the afternoon we had come near running into -a body of the Rebel troops. We were on a hill not far from a road -running directly northwest, when through an opening in the trees there -became visible a cloud of dust, which meant either sheep or Rebels. -Taking into consideration time, place and circumstances, I knew the -chances were that it meant Rebels. Dismounting I ordered Ned to take the -horses and himself into concealment in an adjacent ravine, and I made my -way to a large tree I had noticed for some time. It had been used by -one side or the other as a signal station, and I thought it possible -that it commanded a good view of the road along which the dust was -advancing. It did, and I soon felt I was up a tree mentally, as well as -physically. - -The extent of the knowledge I gained was that a move of some kind was on -foot, which I did not understand. I was near enough to have thrown a -stone down on the moving column, and I could recognize General -Middlesworth riding with his staff. Why he was angling away from the -main part of Luce's army and toward the Potomac puzzled me, and at a -time when I did not care to solve any more enigmas than absolutely -necessary. What General Middlesworth's move meant occupied my thoughts -off and on all afternoon, as none of the intelligence I managed to -gather could be made to explain it, and I determined to find out all -about it when in the Rebel camp if possible. - -Before turning back in the direction of the Potomac I gave our horses a -short rest. They had made remarkable good time and though comparatively -fresh, they would, after we got beyond the Rebel lines again, have to be -pushed to the full extent of their endurance. - -Besides, I did not care to start back too soon, for I wanted it to be -dark when we would reach the vicinity of T----. I knew the moon would -not rise that night until a little after eight, and between dusk and -that time I had planned to get beyond T----, procure a vehicle of some -kind and assume my disguise. That done, I was ready to encounter the -enemy at any time, although I aimed to run against them later and -further on. Ned made an excursion into a neighboring field and brought -back some feed for the horses. As soon as they finished their meal we -started. - -Ned soon suggested that we might find a conveyance that would answer our -purpose at Goodhue's, a place on our left a little ways off. We made -our way there, taking a short cut and a rough road through a lane, which -approached the place from the rear. The house, which faced a road -beyond, looked deserted, but we did not go near enough to be certain. - -The stables stood off by themselves and we were well enough satisfied -not to find anyone around them and did not investigate further. The -carriage and horses were gone, but we found a good set of harness and an -old fashioned light buggy, which suited our purpose admirably and were -all we needed. We had left our horses in the woods across the lane. I -went on ahead to reconnoiter. Ned followed, pulling the buggy. - -By the time I was arrayed in my disguise Ned had the horses harnessed to -the buggy and my clothes and the saddles and bridles stowed compactly -away under the buggy seat. It was an extra piece of luck finding a -vehicle so near, for I could not assume my disguise until one had been -procured, but now, instead of going around T----, I could pass directly -through the village, which saved considerable time. - -I had on starting from S---- forbade Ned to address me except as Miss -Salome, for I was afraid if he did not have some practice he would in -any sudden fright forget and let slip the "Mars," which would be sure to -rouse suspicion. I impressed on him that he must, until we were through -with the rather unpleasant affair before us, act as if I were in reality -his young mistress, whom he was trying to get safely to her home, and -protect to the best of his ability in a dangerous and unsettled country. - -It was a decided change in our mode of progression for us to be speeding -along over good roads in a comfortable buggy and not actually shunning -observation, as I had been obliged to do until then. But while it was a -rest, it was the kind of a rest one experiences when awaiting a -surgical operation, which is to commence as soon as the surgeon comes, -the exact moment of his arrival having been left mercilessly indefinite. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -"Hi, Miss Salome, look dar," whispered Ned suddenly. - -We had been driving for some time at full speed when Ned's low tones -roused me from an imaginary conversation with the Captain. - -"Where?" I asked. - -"Over dar," he returned, pointing toward his left, around the curve we -were just making. - -A short distance ahead, in an open space between the road and the heavy -timber beyond, I saw the light of camp fires and a few moving figures -showing dark against the glow, while a dark mass at one side looked like -horses and wagons. - -Telling Ned to drive over toward them and ask the way to General Dare's -headquarters, as soon as we came abreast of the nearest groups, I -scanned the surroundings, anxiously trying to determine what we had run -into. I had not expected to meet any Confederates for two or three miles -yet. But I knew it could not be any of our own troops, for we were too -near the Rebels for that. As we approached closer I saw several officers -in gray grouped around a fire and about a dozen men cooking supper at -other fires a little apart and nearer us. It looked like a topographical -camp or something of that sort. - -One of the men, who seemed to be doing a sort of picket duty, and -broiling a bit of bacon on the end of his ramrod at the same time, -started up as soon as he saw us driving up and demanded what we wanted. - -Ned told him we were trying to get to General Dare's headquarters and -asked where they were, but before he had time to reply one of the -officers advanced toward us, and Ned repeated his question to him. -Before answering the officer asked us a number of questions as to where -we were going and where we were from, eyeing us keenly all the time, -then drew off a little ways to confer with one of the other officers. -They were near enough for me to catch most of their conversation. - -"It's all right, I believe," said the one who had been talking to us, -"or they would want to go the other way." - -"Only a feint most probably," replied the last comer and older of the -two. "They may be spies and, as soon as they are out of sight, whirl off -in another direction. There really does not seem to be anything very -suspicious about them I must say," he added; "still it might be wise to -detain them here until morning." - -"I think they are just what they say they are," returned the first -officer. - -Just as I was wondering if it would not be best to make a run and leave -them to decide at their leisure whether or not we were spies, one of -the men passing, called out: - -"Hello, Ned," and stopped. - -Ned gave something between a grin and a gasp in return. Then, stooping -over as if to untangle the reins, he whispered barely loud enough for me -to hear: "It's Mars Furbish. He lived ober dar at E----, and knowed Miss -Salome." - -I caught the clue the quick-witted old negro had given me, and leaning -forward, addressed a polite "Good evening, Mr. Furbish," to the man I -had never seen before. He pulled off his cap in return. - -"I am very anxious to get on without delay," I added. "Will you kindly -tell those gentlemen who I am? I think you can assure them I am not a -spy." - -His action had been noticed by the officers, and as I spoke, they called -him over to them. - -"Do you know that lady!" I heard them ask. - -"Yes, and the nigger too. It's Miss Salome Poillon, and she lives at -S---- plantation, across the river," was the answer. - -"Then she is a resident here, and there is no danger of their being -spies?" put in the cautious one. - -"Lord, no! Why, she's the biggest Rebel 'round. So's all the family, an' -she's got a Rebel lover," replied my champion emphatically, adding the -last fact as if it were a clincher. - -That settled it, and the two officers then came over to the carriage and -told me I was at liberty to go on, and regretted that they had been -obliged to stop me at all. I thanked them, and asked if I would have -much difficulty in getting through. - -"I am afraid so," replied the one who had first met me. - -"This is your most direct route, is it not?" asked the older officer, on -whom the rest of the conversation devolved. - -"It is much the nearest way," I replied. - -"It leads directly on, near where a considerable body of our troops -are, yet I think it will be safer for you to keep it than to try side -roads, where you would be constantly stopped. I will give you a note to -the general in command, and a pass, which will aid you until you reach -him. He will likely give you an escort for some distance," he added, -writing as he spoke. - -When he handed me the papers, I asked him about the positions of the -Yankees, and in answering he told me also something new about how Luce's -army was located, which was one of the clues that I wanted to learn. - -I had no idea of using the papers unless I should fail in all efforts to -find Captain DeLacy. I told Ned not to refer to them in any way or to -our encounter, while he should be separated from me, and impressed on -him that he was not to get out of the buggy if he could help it, or -leave the horses one moment unless dragged away by force. I regretted -that we had run into the camp, for it took valuable time, and it did not -make me feel any better about it to know that it had happened through my -own carelessness. If I had been watching out, as I ought to have been, I -would have noticed the fires in time to have avoided them by making a -detour, and I believed that I could have gotten later the valuable bit -of information the talkative officer had given me. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -The encounter had one good result, however. It got us over our stage -fright, as it were, and rather raised us up to the grand climax. - -We had driven nearly three miles farther before we ran into the Rebel -camp again. When we finally found ourselves making our way under guard -to General Dare's headquarters, we were far more composed than we could -possibly have been had we not already had some experience. - -When stopped, I had insisted on being allowed to proceed, but as I -expected and desired, the simple privilege of following my own way was -denied me. My statements regarding my identity were received with -incredulity. I insisted on the truth of my story, and I demanded that I -be taken to headquarters at once. After some parley, my request was -acceded to and a couple of soldiers took their places at the horses' -heads and slowly led them forward, while a guard walked at the side of -the buggy until we reached a cluster of tents pitched somewhat apart, in -front of which stood four or five officers conversing. - -The officer who had brought us in advanced to the group, and I could -hear him reporting the circumstances of our arrest. A handsome subaltern -came forward to assist me from the buggy, and I was soon answering the -curtly-put inquiries of the middle aged officer to whom I had been -conducted. I repeated my story. He questioned and cross-questioned me -severely, but I was too entirely familiar with my ground to be caught -tripping. I felt a good deal as if I were an actor in a play, and while -I must say that I did not particularly admire the setting, I began to -have an intense interest in rendering my part well and having all go off -smoothly. - -Ned was seated in the buggy within hearing distance and I saw he had -assumed, or was really feeling, about the right amount of anxiety, and -that no one seemed to be paying any attention whatever to him. - -I did not recognize the officer interrogating me, but I heard him -addressed by one of the other officers as Colonel Sofield. When after -telling him my story, he utterly refused to credit it. I asked to see -the General in command. Col. Sofield replied that General Senhouse had -gone over to confer with General Leonard and might not be back until -morning, not for several hours certainly, and followed the explanation -with an intimation that both myself and my servant would be well off -under guard until his return. - -I was somewhat nonplussed when the officer said General Senhouse. I had -looked on General Dare only as a guide to Captain DeLacy, and had no -interest whatever beyond that in him. At the same time I was a trifle -surprised that I had not been taken before him, and that reference had -not been made to him instead of to General Senhouse. I began to wonder -if it were possible that I had not reached Dare's headquarters, but I -did not dare ask directly or betray more knowledge of army details than -a girl would be likely to know. After pondering a moment, I said: - -"I ought perhaps to have stopped at A----, as I was advised to do, but I -was so very anxious to get on, that I could not make up my mind to delay -there. Will you tell me what regiment this is? I have friends and -relatives with General Luce and there may be some one here who can -identify me." - -An orderly was presenting a paper to Col. Sofield as I finished -speaking, and another officer, who had come up but a short time previous -and was standing near, in company with the others, answered: - -"This is General Dare's division, but General Senhouse is in command at -present. Over on the left there is the ---- Regiment, ---- Brigade; -others are further on. If you will give the names of your friends, and -they are here, they can be sent for." - -"Captain DeLacy is with General Dare. If I could see him, he would -assure you that I am just who I represent myself. He is a very intimate -friend of the family," I said, turning again to my first interlocuter. - -"Impossible," he replied, "Captain DeLacy has just started to inspect a -position several miles from here. There is no telling when he will be -back." - -"Beg pardon, Colonel, but Captain DeLacy has not got off yet. He passed -us on the way over here, and I saw him go in Colonel Lounsbery's tent a -few minutes ago," spoke up another officer. "There he comes now," he -added, as a tall figure came out of a tent near by. - -Affairs progressed rapidly in the next few minutes. In less time than I -could write it, Captain DeLacy had been called over to identify me; had -done it, even to the satisfaction of the obdurate Colonel, and beard the -story of my detention, and my anxious request that I might go on at -once. - -Captain DeLacy asked and received permission to take me into a -neighboring tent, where I could wait, freed from the gaze of those who -had gathered around to see what was going on, until he could procure the -passes necessary to insure my safe conduct through their lines. Colonel -Sofield, whose good manners had increased in proportion to the -strengthening of his convictions that I was not a spy, told him to take -me into General Dare's tent, as it was the nearest one unoccupied, then -to return to him for passes. - -A moment later I was alone with the only man of them all who could -penetrate my disguise. His first words assured me that he had not heard -from Salome lately enough to imperil my statements. And his hurried -whispers of love and devotion, together with his grave concern at my -having undertaken a journey through that section at so dangerous a time, -proved that he accepted me in perfect good faith. - -Even at that desperate moment, at the touch of the Captain's lips I was -filled with an unholy glee. - -Fortunately, he had little time to play the lover. Love and war are an -ill-matched couple, and except that both set at naught all interfering -laws, they have nothing in common. The latter never relaxes the grasp of -a master and exacts that all who serve him shall fulfill their duty to -the utmost, without delay or flinching, although by so doing all -pleasures, affections, ties of kindred and life itself are yielded up. - -My expressed anxiety for his safety, and pretended impression that he -was on some dangerous raid, led Captain DeLacy to assure me that he was -with Luce, and to tell me what forces Luce had with him, but no more -about his future movements than I had already gathered, which amounted -to but little beyond a clue to the meaning of General Middleworth's -movement, which I had witnessed that afternoon. I questioned as closely -as I dared, but elicited nothing further. My shrewdest efforts were a -failure. I saw that he either had not been informed of the object of the -campaign, or felt bound not to reveal it even to one whom he held as -dear as he did Salome. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -While conversing with Captain DeLacy, I had become as familiar with the -interior of the tent as I could by the light of one inferior candle and -the use of my eyes. There seemed nothing there to invite investigation. - -Even after Captain DeLacy had reluctantly left me, a closer inspection -revealed nothing more promising. I sat on a camp stool, in a corner; -near was a pile of blankets; a rough camp chair stood between me and the -bed; a bayonet stuck in the ground did duty for a candlestick, and on an -empty wooden box near me lay a paper-covered book. - -I had just had time to run a hasty glance through the book, when the fly -was raised and an officer entered. As was only natural, he started when -he saw me, then lifted his hat with a half-spoken apology, tossed a -newspaper carelessly on the bed, threw his overcoat over the chair and -went out again. - -I recognized him instantly as General Dare. His actions and looks struck -me as those of a man who felt at odds with the world and who was nursing -a grievance, but I was too deeply concerned about my own affairs to be -more than casually impressed with what I learned afterwards was the -case. - -It is a strange fact that in times of most intense suffering, deadly -peril and deepest thought, the eye will be attracted by the most trivial -objects. While I anxiously pondered my next move, my eye mechanically -followed in and out the fantastically curved line made by the shadows -cast by the pile of blankets, then by the edge of the coat cape as it -trailed along the floor. I had followed it almost to the end when my -gaze was arrested by a spot of color differing from the rest. With a -start, I realized that I was looking at a flat, long book. I could not -tell then and I cannot tell now whether it fell from the overcoat or was -lying there when I entered, but I do not see how it could have been -there at first and escaped my observation. - -I determined at once to see the contents of that book. There was not one -instant to be lost. I well knew that even then some one might be -standing at the entrance and that the Captain would return at any -moment. But examine that book I must, even at the risk of surprise, -detection and death. It was the most critical moment I had yet -encountered. I had to think and act together. - -Throwing myself at full length on the grassy floor, with my head -screened from the first glance of any one entering, intending to feign a -swoon if any one did come, I extended my arm above my head, in the -shelter of the chair, and had the book in my impatient fingers. - -Opening it hastily, I scanned it in the dim light which came over my -shoulder from the flickering candle. I was confronted by a series of -blank pages. General Dare's name was on the fly leaf. Only the first -three pages were written on, and they contained nothing except detached -items of interest to him only. Evidently, the book had been newly -purchased, for the dates ran but a few days back. - -Bitterly disappointed, I ran over the pages again, and a folded paper -slipped into view. Even to this day I can distinctly feel the wild bound -of exultation my heart gave when I knew that I held in my hands a copy -of Special Order No. 000, issued by the Rebel Commander in Chief only -four days before, and regulating the movements of all the divisions of -his army for several days to come. - -At the sight of that paper every drop of blood in my body seemed to rush -to my heart, only to leave it again with a wild speed that turned me -faint and dizzy. The letters danced before my eyes, but even in that one -hasty glance I took in enough to know that I need seek no further -information. I had succeeded even beyond my hopes and expectations. If I -could get safely back with that paper, and whatever else I had learned, -I felt check to the Rebels must be insured. - -Hastily concealing the paper, I pushed the book under the bed, and had -barely regained my place when Captain DeLacy re-entered with the passes. -There was no time for further private conversation between us, which I -regarded as a piece of good luck. - -Captain DeLacy told me, while he hastily assorted the papers in his -hand, that he was obliged to proceed without delay on the important duty -for which he was preparing when Colonel Sofield had called him to me; -that as the first part of our way lay the same as his, he could act as -my escort until his road turned off from the one I was to follow. From -where he had to leave me, to H---- was only ten miles, and he exacted a -promise that I would remain there with friends until morning. - -I could not but be touched at his anxiety about me, impatient as I was -at the delay which it caused. - -We started almost immediately. Captain DeLacy rode at the side of the -buggy and the squad of men with him a short distance in advance. The -road was clear, and we made excellent time. - -At last the moment of separation came. His real farewell had already -been said, so before following his men down the dark path, into which -they had turned, the Captain paused only for some cautions to Ned and a -quickly spoken "good bye" to me, which held as much as was ever put in -that simple word. - -I realized fully what the parting was to him. He had accepted me as -Salome, without doubt or question, and to leave me with no other -protector than Ned tried him sorely. - -I leaned out of the buggy and looked back after him, with a feeling of -pain that surprised me. As he disappeared, a presentment that I should -never see him again crept over me, followed by an idle speculation -whether it was he or I who was first to meet our fate, a feeling which I -remembered well a few months later, when I received the news that -Captain DeLacy had been shot in battle. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -Shaking off the dim sense of foreboding, I gave my thoughts entirely to -the task before me. I had decided to make my way down the side of the -river I was then on. From what I had learned of the position of the -enemy, I knew the risk would be no greater than if I crossed to the -opposite shore, and I hoped to save many weary miles of travel. Being -well aware of the extreme caution shown on our side, I thought the -chances were that our army would be yet in the neighborhood of the place -where I left them, and I aimed for that point. - -I told Ned that I had secured a paper of the utmost importance, and that -if I were shot and he escaped, he was to take the paper from its place -of concealment and carry it on. - -We turned to the left, down the first road we came to, after parting -with Captain DeLacy and his men. Just before we reached it, we were -stopped by a small party of Confederates on horseback. I offered my -passes. Striking a match, an officer read them, and after a few -questions, allowed us to go on. That was the only time the passes were -of use to us, for as soon as I parted with my disguise they were, of -course, worthless. - -In order to make the best time possible, and avail ourselves of short -cuts and bridle paths, it was necessary to leave the buggy and return to -horseback. That we did at the earliest practical moment. As soon as we -came to a rough bit of road, after our first turn, Ned drove the buggy -to one side, and, knocking off a wheel, left it to its fate. When I was -again in my own clothes, we made the harness and my disguise into -several bundles, which Ned weighted and dropped into the first creek we -came to. - -That done, we hurried on. The night had turned cloudy and dark while we -had been in the Confederate camp. It did not rain, but before long we -struck a place where it had very recently, and our horses for a short -distance were obliged to plough through slippery clay. Frequently we -would see the fires of some outpost, and often a picket shot, sometimes -startlingly near, would ring out on the murky night. - -Well as I knew the country, I finally made a false turn in the confusing -darkness, and approached the river when I thought we were still several -miles away from it and following its course. - -Leaving Ned in safe hiding, I crept forward to reconnoiter. I made for a -rock overhanging the water, at the head of a bend in the river, from the -edge of which I hoped to be able to tell if the fires opposite were -repeated down the side I was on. - -As I gained a sheltered place near the top and in the rear of the rock, -I heard a boat grate on the pebbles beneath, and two men ascended to the -very spot I had started for. I lay low behind the scanty bushes, while -they sat down near me. From what they said, I gathered that they had -crossed from the Rebel camp over the river to investigate the bank up -stream for some purpose, but not liking the looks of something that had -attracted their notice, they had stopped there to decide what they -should do. - -I was too near to move away without them hearing me. I was caught in a -trap. Chaffing at a delay, when every moment was precious, and fearing -that Ned, alarmed at my protracted absence, might come to look for me, I -was obliged to crouch, motionless in my hiding place, while the two men -so near me idly discussed topics relating to everything but the duty -they were on. While I waited, the clouds began to break away, and once -or twice the moonlight shone out full and strong, leaving me with little -to shield me, had they chanced to turn around. - -Finally, after what seemed hours to me, one decided to go over for -re-enforcements and descended to the boat. Cautiously rising, as the -other advanced to the extreme edge of the rock, I saw that his back was -toward me and that he was intently watching the progress of the boat, -then in mid-stream. - -It was possible then for me to have slipped away unnoticed, but I was -exasperated beyond endurance. An uncontrollable impulse seized me. Even -if I had been sure that the whole Confederate army would have started to -his rescue, I could not have helped pushing that man into the water. -Moving noiselessly behind him, with the end of my revolver I gave him a -sharp punch in the middle of the back. Taken completely off his guard, -without a word, but with a wild whirl of arms and legs, he went -straight down into the deep water beneath. I have wondered hundreds of -times since, what that man thought was the matter with him. If he has -lived to read this, he knows now. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -I returned to where Ned was, and we began retracing our steps. - -Although we made frequent attempts to get news, it was not until nearly -morning that I learned that our troops had advanced to a point, nearer -the place where I had made my way into the enemy's camp, and, -consequently, nearer where I was then, but to my left. We immediately -changed our route. - -From the moment the order had fallen into my hands, my one desire and -aim was to get it where the information it contained, together with what -other I had gathered, could be put to instant use. Every nerve throbbed -with impatience. Every delay was intolerable. Yet that entire ride back -was a series of vexatious and dangerous delays. I was beset on every -side by dangers, which closed in on me at every point where I tried to -evade them. Every mile counted for four in my eagerness to get on. I was -obliged, time after time, to retrace my steps and make long detours to -avoid running into bodies of skirmishers, to escape the vigilance of -pickets, and to baffle the pursuers on our tracks. - -Twice that night we stood with our coats drawn tightly over our horses' -heads to keep them from making a sound to betray our presence to the -enemy, passing so closely below that by stooping, we could have lifted -the hats off of their heads with a ramrod. - -Shortly after daybreak, as the first rays of of the sun showed over a -neighboring hill, I lay in a hollow log, while a man from the column of -passing soldiers sat on it to beat the dirt and stones from his remnants -of shoes. The dust from the inside of the log, loosened by his pounding, -choked me, until in my efforts to keep from coughing, I bit through the -sleeve of my coat, and left the print of my teeth on my arm. About six -hundred soldiers marched past me, as I watched them from a crevice in -the log. - -Across the road and half way up the hill beyond I could see where Ned -crouched, keeping the horses back in the shelter of a low thicket. -Knowing exactly where to look for him, he stood out with terrible -distinctness to my abnormally keen sight, and I trembled whenever I saw -a soldier turn his head in that direction. - -Even now, as I think it over, with all my increased experience and -knowledge of hair-breadth escapes, it seems simply incredible that we -ever got through. But get through we did. - -By eight o'clock, exhausted to faintness from hard riding, lack of food -and loss of sleep, and with horses reeling from fatigue, we turned out -onto a road which in a few minutes took us beyond danger. Loyal hands -placed fresh horses at our disposal, and with little loss of time, we -were covering the last ten miles of our ride. - -Soon the bit of paper, that "Lost Dispatch," which through all that long -and fearful night had been the elixir that nerved me to my work, was in -the hands of the proper officer, and I had communicated to him the -additional information I had gathered. Both information and dispatch, -without delay, were carried to the Commander in Chief. - -I only did my duty. My responsibility ended there. But looking back now, -it seems, as it did then, that better results should have been obtained -through a quick action on the intelligence gathered. - - -THE END. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Dispatch, by Anonymous - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST DISPATCH *** - -***** This file should be named 51803.txt or 51803.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/8/0/51803/ - -Produced by Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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