The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service AgentsBarton, George
History
The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents
Barton, George
Secret service; Spies
Before breakfast that morning he had renewed his journey on foot,
going through the lower counties of Maryland, toward Fort Tobacco.
He traveled thirty-five miles that day and when night came he was so
exhausted that he slept like a log. In the morning he gave a negro one
of his precious twenty-dollar gold pieces to row him across the river
and before noon that day he found himself well within the Confederate
lines. The country was wooded and an unfrequented road, whose general
direction was toward Richmond, suggested his line of advance into the
old dominion. It was a hot day and he was forced to pause frequently to
slake his thirst at brooks by the roadside. He had no settled plan of
future movements, but trusted to circumstances to steer his course. He
was about four miles from the banks of the Potomac when two Confederate
soldiers made their appearance and demanded him to give an account of
himself. He did so, but his story was evidently discounted, for the
soldiers promptly placed him under arrest as a spy. They were friendly
guards, however, and accepted an invitation from their prisoner to
indulge in a glass of ale at a beer shop in one of the townships
through which they passed. One glass, as frequently happens, led to
another, until finally the two soldiers fell asleep on the step of the
beer house and their prisoner went on his way unmolested.
He proceeded along the road toward Manassas Junction, congratulating
himself on his easy escape when four cavalrymen suddenly came out of
the brush and ordered him to halt. They drew their sabers and commanded
him to surrender. He pretended surprise.
“I’m a law abiding citizen,” he exclaimed, “unarmed and on my way to
Richmond, where I have business.”
One of the men dismounted and proceeded to search him and succeeded in
finding a number of letters. It was just the thing that Baker wanted,
for two of these missives were notes of introduction to prominent men
in Richmond. In spite of this, the four soldiers directed Baker to
proceed to Brentsville, about ten miles distant. They rode all the
way and kept him on foot between them. Brentsville was reached about
ten o’clock that night and the prisoner was immediately taken to the
headquarters of General Bonham of South Carolina, who was in command at
that vicinity. The General, who was in full dress uniform, took a seat
opposite Baker and began to question him.
“Where do you come from and where are you going?” he asked.
“I come from Washington and I am on my way to Richmond.”
“What do you mean by coming inside of my lines!” he exclaimed.
Baker’s face in the language of the movies “registered” intense
surprise.
“I’m a loyal and peaceful citizen of the United States, engaged in
an honorable and legitimate pursuit. I have business in Richmond and
desire to get there at the earliest possible moment.”
The Confederate General laughed mirthlessly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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