Perils of Scout-Life; Or, Exploits and Adventures of a Government Scout and Spy in the Great Rebellion (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ... Provost-marshal General what I had learned. He told me to keep watch, and when it started out to capture it. The next day I went to see about carrying it out myself, and was told that a man had already made arrangements to carry it, and that it was packed up, ready to go. While talking about the mail, another of my new acquaintances came up, and I invited the two to walk over to the Italian saloon with me and take something to drink. "' You go with me," said the new-comer, " over to the saloon where I get my drinks.." "Very well," said I, and we all went over. In front of the saloon was hitched a horse and buggy. In the saloon, besides the proprietor, was a very gentlemanly-looking-man, who, soon after we entered, asked the proprietor if he had any word that he wanted to send to Hernando. The man said he was going down that way, and if he had anything to send. he would take it. / As he had nothing to send, the gentleman, without making any further business, went out. The thought now occurred to me that the mail was in the buggy at the door, and the man that went out was the mailcarrier. I excused myself from my companions, as soon as Icould, and started out to watch the suspected gentleman. When I_ went out he had unhitched and started down the street. I followed along, through one street after another, until the buggy stopped at a provision-store. There the gentleman purchased a demijohn of something, and a side of bacon. I saw him place them in the buggy, and then return to the provision-store.. I then went to Captain Taylor, who had charge of the government horses in the city, whom I found sitting on his horse at his stables. I told him that a rebel mail was going out through the lines, and that I wanted his hors...