In my own saddle-bags I took only such toilet articles as I had long carried, and which were not of a warlike nature.

We destroyed papers that might give information to the enemy, and kept only our note-books, from which all reference to the strength of our army was carefully stricken out.

We determined, in case of capture, to announce ourselves as journalists, and display our credentials.
One of our party was a telegraph operator as well as a journalist.

He did not wish to appear in the former character, as the Missouri Rebels were then declaring they would show no quarter to telegraphers.
Accordingly, he took special care to divest himself of all that pertained to the transmission of intelligence over the wires.

A pocket "instrument," which he had hitherto carried, he concealed in Springfield, after carefully disabling the office, and leaving the establishment unfit for immediate use.
We passed the dangerous point five miles from town, just as day was breaking.