ied that my Indian scouting trips had been equally
dangerous, as capture meant torture and death, yet I had always
willingly undertaken them.

"Do you think you can find Forrest's army?" he said. "Well, if you
can't find an army as big as that you're a mighty poor scout," he said
grimly.

General Smith then turned me over to the man who was in charge of what
was called "the refuge herd," from which I found a mount built on the
lines of the average Tennessee farm horse. This man also provided me
with a suit of farmer's clothing, for which I exchanged my new soldier
uniform, and a bag of provisions. Leading me about a mile from camp, he
left me with the warning:

"Look out, young fellow. You're taking a dangerous trip." Then we shook
hands and I began my journey.

I had studied carefully the map General Smith had shown me, and had a
fairly accurate idea of the direction I was supposed to take. Following
a wagon road that led to the south, I made nearly sixty miles the first
night. The mare I had chosen proved a good traveler.

When morning came I saw a big plantation, with the owner's and negroes'
houses, just ahead of me. I was anxious to learn how my disguise was
going to work, and therefore rode boldly up to the house of the
overseer and asked if I could get rest and some sort of breakfast.

In response to his inquiries I said I was a Tennesseean and on my way
to Holly Springs. I used my best imitation of the Southern dialect,
which I can still use on occasion, and it was perfectly successful. 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 he