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IE"9'rrc?r''"j AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER; . WJS.1S'
Vol. VII. , New Bloomfiold, 3Pa., Tuesday, &optcmlei- 23, 1873. . TXo. 38.
fet gloomfitlb fimts.
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THE SCOUT'S ADVENTURES.
A' BOUT tlie middle of April I recoived
orders to report at the front. I Lad
been working at the headquarters of anoth
er division, further caBt, and was glad of
the order to Bond me up the Rapidan, the
more so as I received a hint that a scout
had been planned for mo. Reporting at
Stevensburg, or in the Federal camp oppo
site, I was turned over to two scouts who
bad served several months with the gener
al, and told to secure from them such in
formation as I desired in regard to the
country south of us. When I came to think
the matter over, I found that they could
only aid me in one way ; which was to give
me some idea of the Confederate force in
Stevensburg, and along the road, jleading
past Pony Mountain, and thence running
southwest, or nearly so, to Old Tavern,
Mine Run, etc., points celebrated after
wards as hotly contested battlefields. I
had .traveled the road once, had bceu at
Cbanoellorsvillo, Old Tavern, and other
points on the pikes, and only wanted . to
know what was required of roe by the gen
eral, and something of the forco of troops
around Pony Mountain and at points be
yond. ' I was told by one of the scouts, who had
crossed the ford, passed the mountain, and
been five miles beyond, that the enemy was
in heavy force along the road, as it seemed
the idea of the Confederate commander
that the Federal troops, on the opening of
the campaign, would force the ford, and
endeavor to advance toward Old Tavern by
the regular route.
The general informed mo that I was to
cross, enter Stevensburg, and not return
until I was thoroughly competent to re
port the strength of the enemy guarding
tho road between the town and Old Tav
ern, making the longest aud most danger
ous expedition which I had ever under
taken. It was not to be a scout, for scouts
seldom entor the enemy's camp, but a reg
ular spy expedition, where I muBt con
stantly carry my life in my hand, the road
being lined by Lee's troops in winter quar
ters. While -acting as scout and spy in the
army I always made it a rule never to un
dertake an expedition without first count
ing all the chances for and against me ;
and after I bad canvassed the prospects of
this 0110 I came to the conclusion that I
would . bo arrested, tried, convicted and
hung as a spy within twenty-four hours
after crossing the river. However, I was
there to obey, and the chances being
against me made no difference with the
general. lie wanted information, and I
do not suppose that the news of my death
while trying to obtain It for him, would
have occupied his mind more than five
minutes by the clock. This is not intend
ed as a reflection on the humanity of tho
army generals, for they had no such fool
lug ; at least that is my experience. Many
a private soldier forgot that there was
such a word, and mado war and Its ghastly
attendant horrors his sole study ; and as
for commanders, a soft heart would have
resulted in a court martial for neglect of
duty. However, I gave no thought, after
my resolution was taken, to what might
bapien, and on the afternoon of a certain
Wednesday had recoived all the instruc
tions which the general saw fit to give. He
had some idea of the route and Its dangers,
aud did not add that I was to make the
journey with the speed which might be
expected of au express train.
" You will cross the river as you choose,
plan as you see At, go as fast or as slow as
you like, and come back, if possible, within
a week." '
Such were his words as he waved me
out, and there was no need of more. I
had tli ice hours of daylight left, and these
I used in making my final arrangements.
I learned from the pickets at the river as
near as could be the location of the Con
federate pickets opposite, and how deep
the water was on the ford, and this was all
I wanted of them. I then gave my revol
vers a thorough overhauling, brought out
and put a keen edge on a fine knife which
had been presented i me a few days before,
and my war preparations were complete,
I next brought out my boots, a pair which
I had "constructed" to order in Wash
ington. The heels wore made to screw
on, the soles could be sprung open to
admit a paper, there were pockots in each
boot-leg, and, altogether, the boots were
"wonderfully and fearfully made," and
had stood me more than one good turn.
I gave them a thorough greasing, drew
them on, and then thore was only one more
preparation. 1 wanted the uniform of a
Confederate officer. Of course, any reader
will understand that I could not have
moved about in the Confederate camps lit'
a Federal uniform, and I would not be
hung any quicker if ' caught playing Con
federate than I would if arrested in plain
clothes. As I said before, it was to be all
spy and no scout.
A few days before a Confederate lieuten
ant of infantry had been captured by somo
Yankee raiders, and was then in camp,
waiting to be forwarded to Washington.
Ho was in full uniform, as well as in a
now one, and I was conducted to his quar
ters. Ho had rofused a parolo, and was
confined as closely as any of bis men would
have been. Being admitted to his pres
ence, I prevailed upon him to exchange his
uniform for a suit of blue. Ho murmured
considerable at being forced to don gar
ments so entirely misrepresenting his sen
timents, but, as the alternative was no suit
at all, he made the exchange like a sensi
ble fellow, and I walked out of the hut a
Confederate officer. I never saw the gen
tleman afterwards, of bad a chance to beg
his forgiveness, and so I do it here, desir
ing him to understand that the suit came
as near causing my death as he could have
hoped for, and that I bear him no ill-will
for the epithet which he hurled after mo !
as I went out and left him trying to solve
the question as to what us'e he could make
of the extra two feet of pant legs with
which he was provided. . If that particular
pair of pants were two feet too long, Uncle
Sam had thousands of other pants two feet
too short. ,
The pickets at the river were of the opin
ion that I could not cross at the ford, ow
ing to the vigilance always exercised at
that point by the enemy. There had been
a lively rainstorm a day or two previous,
swelling the Rapidan until I should have
to swim for it, and so it mattered very little
whero I crossed as far as the getting over
was concerned, naif a mile below tho
ford the banks were high and covered with
brush, aud taking a . last observation just
at dark, I made up my mind to shun the
ford, aud risk my chance below. By land
ing on the south bank, anywhere below
the ford, I would not find the pickets at
the water's edge, and would have a little
time to recover myself after the cold swim.
The night came on all that could be de
sired. There wus half a gale blowing, tho
sky was covered with black olouds, the air
was damp and full of mist, and one could
not see a white tent over three rods away.
It was just such a night as 1 wanted, and
an hour after dark I was on the bank
ready to cross. One of the scouts and the
general's orderly were with me to assist
me in my arrangements, but there was lit
tle to do. All I wanted was something to
float me as an aid in crossing tho river,
and this we had brought along, in the
shape of two wldo boards made fast to
gether, forming a raft about seven feet
long and four feet wide. The water was
cold as ice, and I could not dip my hand
into the stream without a shiver. How
ever, I removed my uniform, rolled it up
in a tight bundle, bad the scout lash it to
the top of my bead, and in a few minutes
was ready to take to tho water.
" You will be back before morning, be
cause you can't even get Into Stevensburg,"
remarked the scout, as I stepped Into tho
water. " If you are not back, we'll know
that you woro captured and put through."
Tho good-by did not warm the water
any, for the first moment after I pushed
off, I thought I should speedily freeze.
My legs were so numb that I could hardly
move them at lirst, bnt I got a little used
to the sensation before I bad drifted far
down, and headed my float diagonally
across the stream. It was the coldest job
I over had, reaching the other bank, and if
it bad not been fur my float I should have
gone down like a bag of saud. As it was,
J kept my head and shoulders above water,
gripped the boards tightly, aud floating and
swimming, at last bumped the south bauk.
When I went to raise myself up I was so
chilled that I could not stand, and had to
crawl from the water and up tho bank on
all fours. Had there been a picket on the
bank, I should have been captured then
and there, for I could not but help cry out
as my knees camo in contact with the
sharp stones. However, I got over the
bank, crawled under a small tree, and in a
few minutes had donned my clothing.
Quite sure that there was no one in the im
mediate vicinity, I danced up and down
until my blood got to circulating again,
and then was ready to move forward.
The reader will have noted that I meant
to play the role of a Confederate officer.
Knowing that I might be asked the loca
tion of , my regiment, and for what reason
I was travelling around, I had writton my
self tho following pass :
, . i . . .'.' . - "April 10th, 1864.
"Pass George M. Chapin, 1st Lieutenant
Co. B., 10th Virginia Infantry, to Rich
mond and return. Good for thirty days.
Lieutenant Chapin is hereby assigned to
duty iu the Quartermaster's Department
at the , headquarters of Goneral Long
street's division, and will report at the ex
piration of his leave of absence."
I bad seen the signature of General Leo
several times, aud I put his " fist" to the
document with a grand flourish. I had
also taken care to write the pass in a
cramped hand, so that I was hardly able to
read it myself when finished. Of course
the document was informal, and drawn up
altogether unlike a regular furlough or
leave of absence, but I dopended almost
altogother on the influence which the sig
nature would have with pickets, sentinels,
or any one else who had authority to de
mand my document. On a similar pass,
signed by Goneral Grant, I oould have
made the round of the Union array, and
passed every picket. Much more would
depend upon my conduct than the sight of
the pass. ;
, I was ready at last to proceed on my
way, and stepped off in the darkness
toward the town. . I knew that the village
was held by a strong force, there to guard
the ford, but I plodded along with the step
of a soldier safe within his own lines, and
soon entered tho eastern outskirts of the
village, without having encountorcd a sin
gle person, as (here were no pickets Out in
that direction, or I was lucky enough to
pass them, if any were there. Getting into
tho town, I found plenty of soldiers and
civilians abroad. The hotel was full of
men, thore was a saloon or two whero sol
diers were drinking, and I ran across them
at every point. Passing by the hotel two
or three times, and seeing that the bar
room was crowded, and hearing the men
talking in loud tones, as if arguing some
matter, I concluded to go in. There was
nothing hazardous in the project, for it
was not likely that any one would give me
particular notice so long as I was a listener
and not a disputant. Waiting near the
door until I saw two soldiers about to pass
in, I joined them, and we all went in to
gether. The room was full of tobacco
smoke, nearly every one was drinking, and
I took a seat by the stove, without attract
ing any notice.
"The war" was the topio of conversa
tion with every one. Some believed that
peace would soon come, others that the
South was getting badly worsted, and must
quickly submit, and some of the disputants
displayed considerable temper. A little
ragged darkey stood near me, and I sent
him to the bar for some cigars. When he
returned I offered one to a sergeant of
cavalry who sat next to me, aud after we
had commenced smoking a conversation
began. He addressed me as "Lieuten
ant," and bad not the least suspicion that
I was other than a Confederate officer.
However, my face was new to him, and he
presently inquired
" You are from up the road, are you
not ? I do not remembor of having seen
you down here before."
"Yes," I replied, "my regiment is in
quarters near Old Tavern, and I am on a
furlough. Do the Yanks over the river
bother you much this winter ?"
" Not much, but we look for lively times
next month. It seomi to be generally un
derstood that Grant will try to go to Rich
mond by this route when tho campaign
opens, aud if you have just come down the
road, you saw what preparations have been
mado to defend the route. I was up at
Mine Ruu a few days ago on furlough, and
I think the Yankees will have hot work
when they come this way."
It was evident that the Confederates
realized the necessity of holding every
foot of the road, and tho sergeant's talk
led me to believe thut It was being forti
fied, and tho number of defenders increas
ed. He told me tho strength of the forco
in Stevensburg, the location of various
corps, tho number of troops in the im
mediate vicinity, the number of batteries,
and during our hour's conversation I
gained much valuable information from
him.
He had said that he must return to
camp, and all tho commissioned officers
bad left the hotel, when two half-drunken
soldiers got into a hot dispute about the
battle of Sharpsburg, and one of them ap
plied to me to decide if the battle was
not a victory for the Confederates. I re
plied that the fight had always been con
sidered a "draw," when he immediately
blustered up and shouted : . .
"Who in are you? I never saw you
before !"
. " I don't want you to talk that way . to
me, sir 1" I replied, rising up, and looking
at him in a threatening way.
"You don't, eh?" he replied, being just
drunk enough not to care what he said or
did. " Well, I will talk that way, and I
should like to see you stop mo !"
" If you repeat your words I will have
you arrested and court-martialed I" I ex
claimed, looking around as if about to
carry my threat into execution.
"No you don't I" he replied, throwing
off his overcoat, and getting nods of en
couragement from half a score of his com
panions. " You don't belong here and I
don't know as you are a lieutenant, at all !
I'd as quick believe you to be a Yankee
spy !"
It needod only this declaration to set
nearly every one in the room against me.
While the man had no reason to believe me
a spy, and did not utter his words from
any such belief, the rank and file of the
army always had a certain antipathy for
officers, arising, perhaps, from jealousy,
and the men in tho room hoped to sco a
fisticuff fight betweeu us two.
" That's it, Tom ! Go for him 1 Smash
his noso ! ne's a Yankee 1" were ex
pressions heard all around tho room ; and
I saw that serious trouble was coming.
" The men are drunk, lieutenant," whis
pered the sergeant, " and that follow is
going to make you trouble. Back iuto the
corner, and I'll stand by you 1"
Ho drew his sabre, I drew out my
" Colt," and we retreated until it was not
possiblo to attack us except iu front. The
movement put every man in the room
against us. Some had guns, some sabres,
and nearly all bad revolvers, and the wea
pons came out with haste. Holding a
heavy sabre in his hand, "Tom" . headed
tho crowd now advancing aoross the room,
and a row seemed imminout.
" Tom Ferguson, you'd better look out!"
warned the sergeant, as their sabres were
about to cross. " It will be doath to you
and all the rest if you strike the lieuten
ant 1"
The words were timely, and the men no
sooner realized their force than they ceased
to crowd forward, and there was a chance
for a parley. Seeing an opening, I was not
long in taking advantage of it by saying :
" As for this man, 1 shall have him ar
rested and court-martialed. The rest of
you are not so much to blame ; and if any
of you behove that I am a Yankee spy, as
ho bos assorted, here is the proof to the
contrary."
I put up my revolver, brought out the
pass having the signature of " Uuclo Rob
ert," handed it to the nearest mau, aud iu
two minutes they had mo at tho bar drink
ing,aud were nearly crowding me on top of
it. Not one of them doubted the genuine
ness of the signature, but all saw that I
must be In good standing to be able to se
cure a pass directly from General Lee. AU
was excitoment for the next fifteou min
utes, and not until I would agree to forgive
and forget, would they lot mo go. Just as
we wore getting roady to leave a soldier
came in with the information that the man
Tom Ferguson, who had caused all the
trouble, had boon shot. Fearing that I
would carry out my threat to have him
court-martialed, he had sneaked out of the
hotel, mado for the ford, and was shot by
the Confederate pickets while in the act
of desortlug to tlie Um'ou linos,
When the meu had all loft I bad a short
conversation with the landlord, who claim
ed to be my friend all the way through the
trouble, and then I was tucked away for
the night In one of his best rooms. I had
made my debut, had passed an "examin
ation," aud, as I could see little of Stevens
burg during a dark night, I hod made up
my mind to have a rest, aud to prosecute
my observations by daylight. For expe
rience had convinced me that a bold
" brassy" course was the best course for a
a spy iu the enemy's camp.
After a round sleep and a fair breakfast,
I went out upon the street, informing the
urbane landlord that he might expect me
back to dinner. I intended to make a
thorough examination of the town, and to
do it openly. Tho main thing was to see
what works had been thrown up along the
river.
Sauntering down the main streot, I pres
ently came in sight of several earthworks
mounting guns, and noticed a line of
breastworks and a number of rifle-pits.
Walking close down to the ford I was en
tirely away from cover, when a bullet from
a Yankee musket came singing close to
my ears, and a soldier' shouted to me to
jump behind the breastwork. '
"You must be new here, lieutenant,"
he remarked, as I sought cover. " Why,
it's a great wondor that you did not get a
bullet in your body."
I explained to him that I had recently
arrived at Stevensburg, and was not aware
of the danger I ran in approaching the
ford. The gun from across the river pro
voked a return fire, and for half an bout
the pickets wasted their ammunition in
attempting to do each other injury. Dur
iug the firing a lioutonant-colonol came
along down behind the defences, and com-,
ing over he shook hands with me and be-
gan a conversation. Ho' asked after my -regiment,
division, commanders, etc., and
I thought I had answered all his questions,
satisfactorily, when ho suddenly turned,
upon me and remarked :
"There's nothing strange in your bofag
granted a furlough or being assigned to
other duties ; but our location here, right
in the face of the enemy, compels us to
carefully scan such faces as we do not
know. I suppose you have your document
with you ?" ' k
"Certainly I have,'? I replied, lugging
out my pocket-book, and preparing to open
the paper. " .
" No, lieutenant, beg pardon ; I da not
mean to question your word. Of course
you are all right ; and I hope you will have
a pleasant visit to your friends, and find
your new position all that you hope for." ,
I had mentioned to him in our conver
sation that I was going to Richmond, had
been transferred to the Quartermaster's
Department, and that I had many friends
iu Richmond. The alacrity displayed in
producing my document seemed to disarm
his suspicions, and he invited me to lunch
with him at his tout at 2 o'clock. After
promising to be there on time, I explained
to him that I was looking around to grat
ify my curiosity, and resumed my stroll,
taking mental notes of all I saw.
Tho place was very well defended, and it
was certain that the Confederates, who had
much advantage in the make of the ground,
could hold the ford against superior num
bers. A large force of men were then busy
adding to tho defences, aud with several
soldiers with whom I conversed I found
that they were every day expecting that
tho Union force opposite would make an
aggressive movement.
It was noon when I hod completed my
examinations, and I returned to the hotel
for dinner, calculating to leave tho town
directly after and proceed up tho road.
There were very few people about tho
hotel, and no one seemed to give me any
thought. While eating, I found that some
of my notes were slipping from my mem
ory, and so I wont to my room to write
them down. Procuring paper, I made a
drawing of some of the defences, jotted
down all that the goneral would care to
know, and then folded np the paper and
prepared to seorete it. I had unscrewed
the heel of my left boot, deposited the
paper in the cavity, and was about to af
fix the heel again, when I caught a sido
glance of some one at the doer. Concluded
next week. 1
Durability of Diffcreit Woods.
Experiments have been lately made by
driving sticks mado of different woods,
each two feet long, and one end one-half
inch square, into the ground, only one-half
inch projecting outward. It was found
that in five years all those made of ck, '
elm, ash, fir, soft mahogany, and b rly
every variety of pine, were totally rotten.
Larch, hard pine and teak wood were de
oayed on the outside only, while acacia,
with the exception of being slightly at
tacked on the exterior, was sound. Hard
mahogany and cedar ot Lebanon were In
tolerably good condition j but only Virginia"
cedar was found as good as when put in the
ground.
tW Lovo matches are ofton formed by
people who pay for a month of honey with
a life ot vinegar.