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STORY XCIV.

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FORAGING EXPLOIT.

AFTER the battle and capture of Mission Ridge, General Palmer pushed his division forward in the direction of Graysville, and after securing a large number of arms and provisions, encamped on the north side of Chickamauga, and three-fourths of a mile from Graysville.

Major D. W. Norton and Lieutenant J. W. Shaw, of the General's staff, were in want of forage for their horses, and crossed the river, with an orderly, on a midnight forage. Arriving at Graysville, they reconnoitered the houses in search of corn, looked in through a window, and discovered seven Rebels asleep before the fire, with their guns stacked. Entering very quietly, they removed the guns, and then awakened the Rebels; who, springing up, asked

"How far back is the enemy?"

"If you mean the Yankees," replied the Major, "they are not very far."

Rebel. "What do you mean

?"

Major. "I mean that you are our prisoners."

The Rebels started for the place where they had deposited their guns; when the Major and Lieutenant drew their revolvers, and ordered them to lie down; informing them that they had the house surrounded, and would stand guard till morning, when they would be sent in.

The Rebels obeyed the order, and prepared to finish their nap. Leaving them to sleep, the officers went out, dispatched the orderly for reinforcements, entered other

houses, where they secured more in a similar manner, and when the guard arrived, turned over nineteen Rebel prisoners, that they had taken by their sharp strategy, among whom were four commissioned officers.

Other houses were searched, in which Rebels were found, and at one o'clock the officers returned to General Palmer's camp, with about one hundred prisoners. The exploit was a daring one, and highly pleased “Old Pap," as the boys of the 14th Corps style their popular commander.

STORY XCV.

CLINTON WATERS, THE SCOUT.

CLINTON WATERS, a member of the 17th Indiana regiment, probably performed as much scouting as any man in the Army of the Cumberland.

Just before the entry of our army into Chattanooga, Colonel Wilder, with his command, was on the north side of the river, awaiting the development of the enemy's movements, which were such as to excite suspicion.

Waters was selected for the duty of obtaining information, and permitted to take his own course. An opportunity soon presented itself. The following day our soldiers were bathing in the river, on the north side. The Rebels came down the southern bank, stripped themselves, and plunged in.

A few minutes later the soldiers of the two armies were mingling together in the river, cracking their jokes and enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. Gradually Waters made his way to the south bank, and by freely expressing his joy at the kind reception given by

the Yankees, excited no suspicion. Arriving at the bank, he leisurely put himself into a suit of Rebel uniform, and made his way up through the town.

After mingling with the men, he learned the exact state of affairs, and turned toward the river. As he passed the guards, he observed that they eyed him suspiciously, and having learned all that was of importance, he reached the river, plunged boldly in, swam across, and soon after presented himself at the Colonel's headquarters, with the information that the town had been evacuated by Bragg, and that but four regiments of cavalry, and a small force of infantry remained.

Waters soon exchanged his Rebel suit for his own dry clothes, but did not return the stolen wardrobe.

A subsequent exploit is also worthy of record, showing, as it does, the happy faculty he possessed to improve the opportunities offered. On the day of Wilder's fight with Pegram, at Rock Springs, Georgia, Waters was captured while carrying a message. He was sent to Richmond, imprisoned, but bribed a Rebel with a gold watch he had concealed. to permit him to act as nurse. Shortly after, an order came for the exchange of some of the prisoners, and, being under charge as a spy, he was determined to escape.

Providing himself with a pair of crutches on the day of the exchange, he bandaged his legs, scratched his face, applied court-plaster, and otherwise assumed the appearance of a wounded prisoner.

The inmates of his hospital were ordered out, and, assuming the name of a deceased comrade, he succeeded in gaining an exchange, and in due course of time arrived North. He subsequently raised a company for the 123d Indiana, of which he became Captain.

STORY XCVI.

TORPEDO EXPLOSION.

On the 4th of August, 1863, an expedition left Fortress Monroe, under the direction of Major-General Foster, accompanied by the turreted iron-clad Sagamon, and gunboats Commodore Barney and Cohasset, and proceeded up James river. When within seven miles of Fort Darling, at a point called Dutch Gap, a torpedo was exploded under the bow of the Commodore Barney, by a lock strongly connected with the shore.

The explosion was terrific. It lifted the gun-boat's bow ten feet out of the water, and threw large quantities of water high into the air, which, falling on deck, washed overboard fifteen of the crew. Among them was Lieutenant Cushing, Commander of the Barney. Two sailors were drowned, and the rest were saved. Major-General Foster was on board when the explosion took place.

The enemy then opened on them from the shore with 12-pound field-pieces. The Barney was penetrated by fifteen shots, besides a great number of musket-balls, but not a man was injured except the Paymaster, who was slightly wounded by splinters.

The gunboat Cohasset received five 12-pound shots, one of which passed through her pilot-house, instantly killing her commander, Acting-Master Cox, striking him in the back. The object of the reconnoisance being effected, the fleet returned. The Barney went to Newport News for repairs.

STORY XCVII.

HOW A GUERRILLA CAME TO GRIEF.

IN the fall of 1862, Samuel A. High, a notorious West Virginia guerrilla, who had long been a terror to the loyal people of Hampshire and adjoining counties, for some unknown reason, surrendered himself to the authorities; who, from motives equally inexplicable, knowing him to be a murderer and highway robber, set him at liberty; after which, he engaged in kidnapping Union men.

On Saturday night, late in October, Mr. John N. Spencer, of Mill Creek, was laying in the woods, as all loyal men in that region then had to do. The night being rainy, Mr. Spencer became wet and cold, and went to his house and made a fire, when High, and nine or ten other, who seemed to have been waiting for him, rushed from the woods into the house, and seized Spencer, and started off with him in search of another loyal man, near by on the way.

High and one of his comrades got up a dispute, as to who should shoot Spencer, but coming to a brother-inlaw of High's, High and two others stopped to take care of Spencer, and sent the others on.

They went into the house, High and the guards set their guns down, and all gathered around the fire. Spencer, in the mean time, not feeling quite easy after the dispute above alluded to, under the pretence of being too warm, slipped his chair back until he could reach High's gun, in which he succeeded, and in a moment the notorious High was a corpse before him.

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