I
was given breakfast, my mare was fed, and I slept most of the day in a
haystack, taking up my journey again immediately after dinner.
Thereafter I had confidence in my disguise, and, while making no effort
to fall into conversation with people, I did not put myself out to
evade anyone whom I met. None of those with whom I talked suspected me
of being a Northern spy.
At the end of a few days I saw that I was near a large body of troops.
It was in the morning after a hard day-and-night ride. Fearing to
approach the outposts looking weary and fagged out, I rested for an
hour, and then rode up and accosted one of them. To his challenge I
said I was a country boy, and had come in to see the soldiers. My
father and brother, I said, were fighting with Forrest, and I was
almost persuaded to enlist myself.
My story satisfied the guard and I was passed. A little farther on I
obtained permission to pasture my horse with a herd of animals
belonging to the Confederates and, afoot, I proceeded to the camp of
the soldiers. By acting the part of the rural Tennesseean, making
little purchases from the negro food-stands, and staring open-mouthed
at all the camp life, I picked up a great deal of information without
once falling under suspicion.
The question now uppermost in my mind was how I was going to get away.
Toward evening I returned to the pasture, saddled my mare and rode to
the picket line where I had entered.
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