the Confederacy long
ago. We hope it will now be heeded. Further, let a
sufficient guard be placed to watch the government stores in
this city; and let increased vigilance and watchfulness be
put forth by the watchmen. We know one solitary man who is
guarding a house in this city, which contains a lot of
bacon. Two or three men could throttle and gag him, and set
fire to the house at any time; and worse, he conceives that
there is no necessity for a guard, as he is sometimes seen
off duty for a few moments, fully long enough for an
incendiary to burn the house he watches. Let Mr. Shakelford,
whom we know to be watchful and attentive to his duties,
take the responsibility at once of placing a well-armed
guard of sufficient force around every house containing
government stores. Let this be done without waiting for
instructions from Richmond.

One other thought. The press is requested by the Government
to keep silent about the movements of the army, and a great
many things of the greatest interest to our people. It has,
in the main, patriotically complied. We have complied in
most cases, but our judgment was against it all the while.
The plea is that the enemy will get the news if it is
published in our papers. Now, we again ask, what's the use?
The enemy get what information they want. They are with us
and pass among us almost daily. They find out from us what
they want to know, by passing through our country unimpeded.
It is nonsense--it is folly, to deprive our own people of
knowledge they are entitled to and ought to know, for fear
the enemy will find it out. We ought to have a regular
system of passports over all our roads, and refuse to let
any man pass who could not give a good account of himself,
come well vouched for, and make it fully appear that he is
not an enemy, and that he is on legitimate business. This
would keep information from the enemy far more effectually
than any reticence of the press, which ought to lay before
our people the full facts in everything of a public nature.

CHAPTER VI.

Stupendous "Man Hunt"--My Own Adventures--Playing Acrobat--Perilous
Crossing of a River--Hunger--The Bloodhounds--Flying for Life--No Sun
or Star to Guide me--Traveling in a Circle--Nearing Chattanooga--Lost
in Deadened Timber--Glimpse