Nine years previous to that time I had been engaged in chopping steamboat wood on that very island. Two winters I had chopped wood there; consequently, I was no stranger to the locality. About a quarter of a mile from where I landed, near an old wood-chopper's shanty, I found an old shirt; with that I stopped some of the worst leaks, which, having accomplished, I re-embarked on my perilous voyage. I kept my bark to the north of the middle bar, and ran into the Sterling chute, and then landed at Helena, near the foot of Main street. The moment my dug-out touched the shore, two guards stood ready to capture me, and accosted me with: "Halloo, old fellow! what's the news on the other side of the river?" "The news is favorable," I replied. "Well, I reckon we'll have to take you to the Provost-marshal," said one of the guards. "Boys, I am a soldier, and I want you to take me to the General in command of the post." "Our instructions are to take all such customers as you are to the Provost-marshal." "I can't help that I am a Federal soldier, and I want you to take me to the General." They then called the corporal of the guard. I knew him; he belonged to the 25th Indiana Infantry. I had frequently seen him in Memphis, during my stay there in the winter; but he knew me as my secesh acquaintances had known me--as a rebel Major. I prevailed on him, however, to send me to the General, whom I learned from him was General Prentiss. As soon as we arrived at the General's quarters, the guards explained how they had captured me, and then returned to their post, leaving me with the General. When ready to attend to me, he said: "Well, where do you belong?" "To General Grant's army." "What are you doing here?" "I came in from the other side of the river." "What do you want here?" "I want to take a steamboat down the river and report myself to General Grant." "Yes, to General Grant! That would be a nice way to get off! I guess the best place for you to report is to the Provost-marshal!" "General, I am a Mississippian, and a soldier sworn into the service of the United States; and I belong to the Army of the Tennessee, under General Grant; the 17th Army Corps, General McPherson; the 3d Division, General Logan; the 2d Brigade, General Leggett; the 20th Ohio Regiment, Col. M. F. Force, and to company H, Capt. E. C. Downs; and I am detached as a scout for General Grant." "Yes, a _Mississippian_! There are a _great many_ Mississippians coming into our lines nowadays! Have you any papers to show that?" "No, sir, I have not; but I can tell you all the principal movements of the Federal army on the east side of the Mississippi River, since the capture of Fort Donelson, up to the present time." "Well, what are they?" I then told him what they were, and where General Grant's forces then were; and then I added, "I can tell you all about your surrendering at Shiloh, and what Confederate regiments captured you."