CHAPTER XVI.

Our Scout. With Gen. Stahel. - Guides Cavalry Corps from Fairfax C. H. to Frederick City, Md., June, 1863.- Ordered to Watch Movements of Rebel Army, Marching on its Grand Invasion of Pennsylvania. — In Disguise he Visits Rebel Gen. Stuart. Captures Rebel Army Mail, with Important Dispatches, at Hagerstown, Md. - Carries Dispatches from Gen. Grant to President Lincoln, during Battle of the Wilderness. Among the Rebels near Weldon & Petersburg R.R. - Hard Tramp through Woods and Swamps. The Colored Guide. - Gladly Reaches our Lines Again.

At the time of the Rebel invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, in 1863, I was chief scout of Gen. Stahel, commanding division of cavalry in Defenses of Washington. June 24, 1863, I guided the cavalry from Fairfax Court House on its way into Maryland. We forded the Potomac at Young's Island, two miles below the mouth of Goose creek, and marched to Frederick City. I put up at the Dill Hotel, the headquarters of the general. At eleven P. M. the general sent for me. Obeying the summons, I found him with Major Kephart, Captains Kidd and Chauncey, of his staff, engaged in drawing sketches and routes of the enemy from a large map, spread out before them. Rising from his seat the general bade me a pleasant "good evening," and added:

"Sergeant, I have a very hard trip for you. If you

think it can be accomplished, I wish you to commence it to-night, for, if it is to be done at all, now is the time."

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Well, general," I replied, saluting him, "I am ready to do all in my power to help the cause, and if we are to commence the work to-night, the sooner we get to business the better."

He then directed me to repair to the Potomac near Williamsport, to watch the movements of the enemy, to ascertain his strength and the routes taken by the different columns, &c., and to communicate all serviceable information to himself, or to Gen. Meade, who had just assumed command. I was to take as many men as I needed, to mount them on horses secured by his order, to take such routes as, in my own judgment, were best, and to return only when I thought the interest of the service so required, or I should receive further orders from him.

My horse was soon ready, and, after receiving the general's order for ten picked men out of Col. Price's brigade, I bade him good bye, and set out to Middletown, near which Col. Price was then encamped. It was ten A. M. when I presented my order to the colonel, with the request that the men should be taken from the 1st Michigan Cavalry, each of ten companies to furnish its bravest and best man. These gallant troopers were soon ready, and, having reported to me in due style, we began our toilsome march over the South Mountain for Boonsboro', which we reached at four A. M. next day.

Here we learned that the Rebels were crossing the river at two points, Falling Waters and Williamsport, but their advance had not yet entered the town. We spent the day riding up and down the river on different roads, watching

their movements. At night I left my men at the United States Hotel, kept by a good Union man named Smith, and started for Hagerstown. I soon found that the main body of their army was moving towards Chambersburg, Pa. Having spent the night in the vicinity, I returned early next morning, and dispatched a messenger to the general with what information we had obtained.

These proceedings occupied our time until Saturday night of that week, when Gen. Stuart, commanding Rebel cavalry, came into Hagerstown.

I was very anxious to learn all about his force, and the movements contemplated, and resolved upon a plan to see the general himself, or some of his staff.

Of a Union man I procured a suit of raglings, knocked off one boot heel to make one leg shorter than its mate, and put a gimblet, a tow string and an old broken jack-knife in my pockets. My jewelry corresponded with my clothes. I adopted the name of George Fry, a harvest hand of Dr. Farney's, from Wolftown, on the north side of the mountain, and I was a cripple from rheumatism. Having completed arrangements with Dr. Farney, Mr. Landers and other Union men, that they might be of service to me in case the Rebels were suspicious of my character, I hobbled away on my perilous journey, and entered the city, by leaping the high stone wall which guards it on the north side, near the depot, just as the town clock struck one.

It was a clear starlight night, and the glistening bayonets of the sentries could be seen as they walked their lonely beat. Scarcely had I gained the sidewalk, leading to the centre of the town, when the sentry cried, "Halt! who goes there?" "A friend," I replied. "A friend to

north or south?" "To south, of course, and all right." "Advance then," was the response. I told him I had come

in to see our brave boys, who could whip the Yankees so handsomely, &c., and we fell to discussing the war questions of the day. In the midst of our colloquy, up came the officer of the guard, who, after asking me a few questions, said: "Had you not better go with me to see Gen. Stuart?" "I should reelly like ter git a sight of the giniral," I quickly replied, "for I never seen a reel giniral in all my life." I was soon in the presence of the general, who received me very cordially. I told him who I was and where I lived when at home. "Wolftown?" remarked the general," have not the Yankees a large wagon train there?" I told him they had, and, turning to one of his staff, he said, "I must have it, it would be a fine prize.” I noted his words, and I determined, if I possessed any Yankee wit, to make use of it on this occasion. "Giniral," said I, "you all don't think of capterin' them are Yankee wagons, do you! u?" "Why not? I have here 5,000 cavalry and sixteen pieces of artillery, and I understand the train is lightly guarded."

I told him they came there that afternoon, with twelve big brass cannon and three regiments of foot soldiers, and if he was to try to go through the gap in the mountain, they would shoot all the cannon off right in the gap, and kill all of his men and horses. The general laughed, and said I had a strange idea of war, if I thought so many men would be killed at once, and added, that I would not be a very brave soldier. I replied, that many times I had felt like going into the Confederate army, but my rheumatism kept me out.

After a while the general concluded not to try the train,

and I was heartily glad, for he would have taken 2,000 wagons easily, as they were guarded by not more than three hundred men.

He then gave orders to have the main body of his cavalry move toward Green Castle, and I distinctly heard him give orders to the major to stay in town with fifty men as rear guard, and to send on the army mail, which was expected there about six the next evening. I made up my mind that it would be a small mail he would get, posed to myself to be postmaster for once.

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After seeing the general and his cavalry move out of town, I went directly for my horse, which I had concealed in a safe place some distance from the city, and surveyed the ground to see which way I could best come in to capture the mail, and determined to charge the place on the pike from Boonsboro' and made my arrangements to that effect. I got a Union man by the name of Thornburgh to go into the town and notify the Union people, that when the town clock struck six P. M. I would charge in and capture the Rebel mail, at the risk of losing my own life and every man with me. I had now but eight men, two having been sent to the general with dispatches.

I then returned to Boonsboro', and found my men waiting for me. I told them my intentions, and offered to send back to his regiment any man who feared to go with me. But every one bravely said he would not leave me, nor surrender without my order. I ordered them to bring their horses, and we were soon on the road. It was a moment of thrilling interest to us all, as we approached Hagerstown, and lingered to hear the signal strokes of that monitor, in the old church tower. At the appointed time