Part 2 (2/2)

We reached the recruiting camp at Murfreesborough without further incident, and Harry and I soon settled down to the routine of duties that fell to our share. Harry served General Forrest temporarily as a courier, while I was billeted with Captain Bill Forrest's company of Independents, sometimes known as the Forty Thieves, owing to their ability as foragers.

I had time to ramble about in the woods, and I took advantage of it to explore the whole countryside in the neighborhood of the camp.

Returning one day from a ride that was partly on business and partly for pleasure, I was informed that General Forrest had sent for me.

When I responded to his summons he was reading a late copy of the Chattanooga _Rebel_, and was evidently much interested in what he read.

He handed the paper to me when he had finished, and pointed out an article that was printed under a great display of black type.

A Federal scout, Leroy by name, and well known in both armies (so the newspaper said), had entered General Bragg's lines under very peculiar circ.u.mstances and had then managed to escape. Two pickets had been found bound and gagged. The whole story appeared to be absurd.

It was stated, among other things, that the scout intended to turn his attention to General Forrest. He directed my eye to this, and said he wanted me to take the matter in hand. I inquired how the correspondent knew the intentions of the scout.

”Why, he guessed 'em,” replied General Forrest, ”and he guessed right, too. I've got information from one of my men who is thick with the Yankees that this chap will soon be nosing around here, and I want to give him the worth of his money. I don't want the other side to know how many men I've got, and I don't want 'em to know that my superior officer has refused to honor my requisition for arms and horses. I'd cut a purty figure with the Yankees if they know'd that some of my men had muskets that were used in the Revolutionary War. If they found this out I'd never whip another fight. And there's another thing: I don't want to have it said that any Yankee scout can stick his nose in my camp and not git it pulled. That's why I sent for you; I want you to catch this fellow and fetch him to me.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I want you to catch this fellow and fetch him to me.”]

I tried hard to get out of the difficulty. I protested that I didn't know the scout from a side of sole leather. But the General said that this was one of his reasons for detailing me to perform this duty. He said he would have given it to Jasper Goodrum, of the Independents, but everybody in Tennessee knew Goodrum.

”He was born and raised around here,” the General said, ”and he's got a tongue like a bell-clapper. Now, you're not much of a talker, and your face gives you the look of a big baby that has got out of its mammy's yard and don't know how to git back.” I suppose I must have turned red under this back-handed compliment, for he went on, ”I wish I had a thousand like you. I watched you that day on the hill and at the river, and you may put it down that I'll trust you anywhere.”

I tried to thank the General for his confidence, but he stayed me by a gesture. He settled all the details that could be thought of beforehand, and, as I turned to go, he rose from his chair and followed me to the door. ”If you have to shoot that fellow,” he said, ”do it and don't wait too long before you do it; and if you have to shoot two or three men, don't let that stand in your way--charge 'em up to me. But you must catch that fellow; I want to string him up just to show the balance of 'em that they can't fool with me.”

As everything had been arranged to my hand I was soon going about the camp and the town arrayed in jeans clothes and looking like anything but a soldier. I had thought to surprise Whistling Jim, the negro, with my garb, but, as it turned out, the surprise was mine, for that night, when I went to see whether the horses had been properly groomed and fed, I found the door of the stable unlocked. I was not only surprised but irritated. Both Harry Herndon and myself had tried hard to impress the negro with the necessity of taking unusual precautions to secure the safety of the horses, for they had attracted the attention of the whole camp, which was full of questionable characters, some of whom would have answered to their names if Falstaff had appeared to call the roll of his ragam.u.f.fins.

The key had been turned in the lock, but the bolt of the lock had failed to catch in the socket. It was plain that the negro thought he had locked the door, but it was quite as plain that he had been careless, and I made a resolution then and there to look after the safety of the horses myself. I swallowed more than half of my irritation when I found that the horses were in their stalls, warmly blanketed, and an abundance of food before them. I was on the point of locking the door with my own key, when I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. There were two men, civilians, as I judged, and one of them stuttered. Their conversation was of a nature to interest me.

They paused near the door of the stable. ”This is the place where they keep them,” remarked one of the men. ”They are the finest horses in the rebel army, and it would be a good job to run them into the Union lines some fine night. I know a man that would pay a cracking good price for them.”

”But the n.i.g.g.e.r sleeps in there with 'em,” said the other man, ”and what are you going to do about him?”

”That's as easy as picking up rocks in the road. A n.i.g.g.e.r will sell his immortal soul for ten dollars, and I'll git him to leave the door open some night when he's got a job of jiggering on the peanner and whistling with his mouth at the tavern in the woods.”

”But that's horse-stealing.”

”No, it ain't; it's turn and turn about. How many horses has old Forrest took from the loyal citizens of Tennessee? You couldn't count 'em if you was to try. I'll give you three hundred dollars for them three horses delivered at my brother's house--three hundred dollars in gold--and you'll have two men to help you. Don't you call that picking up money?”

”An' whilst I'm a-gittin' the horses, what'll you be doing?”

”Ain't I told you?” answered the man with some display of irritation.

”I'll be putting up the money, the cold cash. What more do you want?

I've always heard that good money is good enough for anybody.”

They pa.s.sed on, and I slipped from the stable, taking care to lock it behind me, and followed them.

V

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