Class [:=_£_^^ Book_JjiJ=?_ GopgluN^- - - COPnUGHT OEPOSm a DEEDS OF DARING BY BOTH ^ ^ ^ BJAJE ANJJ (IE AY THRILLING NARRATIVES OF PERSONAL ADVENTURE, EXPLOITS OF SCOUTS AND SPIES, FOR- LORN HOPES, HEROIC BRAVERY, PATIENT ENDURANCE, IM- PRISONMENTS AND HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES, ROMANTIC INCIDENTS, HAND TO HAND STRUGGLES, HUMOROUS AND TRAGIC EVENTS, PERILOUS JOUR NETS, BOLD DA SHES, BRIL L I A N T S UCCESSES, MA G NA NIMO US ACTIONS, ETC., ON EACH SIDE THE LINE DURING THb] (iKKAT (M\ IL WAlx. BY D. M. KELSEY, Author of " Pioneei' Hei^oes and DaHng Deeds." No niori! sliall tlu' war-cry sever. Or till' wiucliuf? rivers be red ; Tlicy liaiiisli our aiiffer forever When tliey laurel the graves of our dead ! Fi-dtn " The Blue anil the Gittij. riH)Pr^SKLV 1 l.LFSMM^ ATmx PHILAWKLI'IIIA AND ST. LOUIS: ,- ' SCAMMELL »!t COMPANY. IH'BTJSIIERs, FOND DU LAC. WIS. : O. L. UENJAMIN. 188:5. ill Copyright. ISS;^, By H. B. SCAMMELL. All Risrhts Resented. t^^ X fRDFACE. THIS volume does not assume to be a formal history, nor even to relate more than a modicum of the innumerable incidents of personal adventure and examples of bravery exhib- ited on both sides during the Civil War, But it is believed to be the first volume in which a representative collection has ever been made of such examples by both Federal and Confederate participants, impartially related. Many have been the books which have been written and published from each interested standpoint, in which the coloring of the narrative by the preju- dices of the writer was only too evident. Such books were nec- essarily (and not irtiproperly) one-sided in view. But is there not abundant room for a volume that shall exhibit those traits of personal courage which all Americans claim to be a common heritage ? In the belief that there is such room, and that, after the lapse of a generation of time, the most captious can hardly demur, there is here given the only collection of authenticated exploits by both the Blue and the Gray yet made, and one of nearly seventy chapters. It is believed that the narratives are true ; there is no one of them which does not rest upon good authority, after laborious research and frequent comparison ; and it has been the aim of the author to make the work as nearly impartial as possible; to give no offense to the strongest partisans, North or South — not from subserviency, but because only neutrality is proper in such a work. As to the degree of success, the reader must bo the judge. Of course, after the lapse of nearly twenty years since the close of the War, it is less difficult to see both sides fairly than it was at first ; but it has often been not a little puzzling vi Preface. to decide just how much was to be believed in accounts in which the armies were designated, respectively, as patriots and trai- tors, or chivalry and mudsills. Such books, however, being chiefly the work of non-combatants, have been but seldom con- sulted — never relied upon; preference being given to the more moderately expressed writings of the soldiers themselves. 'No reasonable being can fail to admit that there must have been great courage on both sides; if it were not so, the South would have been conquered immediately, or not at all. D. M. Kelsey. lONTE-NTS. CHAPTEE I. A PERSEVERING MESSENGER. The Dispatch Bearers — Danger of the Mission — An Unlucky Meeting — The Messen- ger Gets Left — Sent Back — Another Start — A More Unkicky Meeting — Court- martialed by Guerillas — A Friend in Need — Sent Back Again — Irrepressible — A Rendezvous in the Woods — Important Information — Why He Went Back — Gives It Up 23 CHAPTER II. ZOUAVES ON A SCOUT. Ready to Move — Spoiling for a Fight — Reconnoitering — ^Returning — Three to One — " We'll Back You " — A Surprise — A Skedaddle — A Brisk Engagement — A Rapid Retreat — The Spoils of the Battle — Caring for the Wounded — Another Surprise -A Strong Position — A Desperate Defense — A Hand-to-Hand Encounter — Terrible Odds — Every Man for Himself — Help Comes Too Late — Marks of the Fight 30 CHAPTER III. BURNING A PRIVATEER. Aft'airs at Pensacola — Setting Out — Their Presence Discovered — The Vessel Boarded — The Fight — The Retreat — The Burning Vessel — Cut Loose From Her Moor- ings—Drifts Out to Sea— A Grand Sight 43 CHAPTER lY. CAUGHT A TARTAR. A Reconnoissance — A Hard Road to Travel — Surprised — Surrender of Arms — His Captors Get His Ammunition, and He Gets His Liberty 48 CHAPTER Y. A SCOUT TO BALTIMORE. Necessity for Information — Obliging Videttes — A Successful Ruse — An Unexpected Guest, Who Finds Himself in a Hornet's Nest, But Doesn't Get Stung — A Cor- dial Reception — Attentions from the Officer of the Day — Danger Ahead — Getting the Countersign — A Drunken Officer, Who Speedily Sobers Off— A Changed Home — Trustworthy (?) JNIessengers — A Deserved Fate — A Friendly Chat, That Ends Unpleasantly — Crossing the River — The Enemy Alarmed — Pursuit — Vexation of the Pursuers — The Pursued Triumphant 53 CHAPTER YI. ZAGONYI'S FAMOUS CHARGE. Fremont — Zagonyi — Fremont's Body-Guard — A Kid-Gloved Brigade — The Prairie Vni CONTENTS. Scouts — VnluaWo Infornintion — Stroiiixth and Disposition of the Confederates — " Fivnioiit and the Union " — Tlio ^'ail^■y of Death — Matlienvi's Attack — Retreat of tlio Enemy — A Determined Foe — His Fate — The Figlit Ended — Not a Kid- Glovod Brigade 64 CnAPTEK VII. A MSNTUllESOME VENTURE. Too Venturesome for a Leader — A Good Chance — In Ambush — A Disappointed Part}- — A 81im Chance — A Woman in the Case — A Desperate State of Afl'airs — A Golden Opportunity — That Proves to bo Less Golden — A Division is Brought Out — Capture of the Scouts — Exchange 73 CHAPTER VIII. THE GREAT RAILWAY RAID. The Georgia State Railroad — Tho Backbone of the Confederacy — Going South — Twenty Minutes for Breakfast — An Unlooked-for Interruption — A Ridiculous Race — Cutting tho Telegraph Wire — Beauregard's Powder — A Dangerous Delay — The Retison For It — A Fatal Mistake — First Signs of Pursuit — Tho Race Explained — Leaping Over the Obstructions — The Impossible is Done — Unsuc- cessful Ruses — A New Danger — A Ray of Hope — Tho Engineer's Plan — The Captain's — The Pursuit on Foot — Captured — Escape of Captain Andrews — Re- capturi^ — His Fate — Fate of His C(Miipanions — A Daring Escape — The Presi- dent's Praise — The Missing 81 CHAPTER IX. A SOLITARY SCOUT. His Errand — In the Enemy's Country — A Cordial Reception — A Mistaken Crowd — Cool Impudence — Tlio Gunboats for Land Use — A Yankee Trick — Decidedly Brilliant — A Horse in Church — A Scared Justice — A Friendly AVarning — Asleep in tho Storm — In a New Role — Tho Guest of a Regiment — An Unsuc- cessful Attempt — Pursued by Bloodhounds — Running Water — A Novel Bed — A Dusky Friend — A Feast — A Horse and Buggy Impressed — Arrived in Style —Safe in Camp 99 CHAPTER X. STRINGFELLOW AGAINST ODDS. A Small-sized Raid — Posting tho Force — A Bearer of Dispatches — Disobedience of Orders — An Alarming State of AtVairs — The Biter Bit — Injured Innocence — An Indignant Prisoner — Something Wrong — The Prisoner Refuses to bo Released — Between Two Fires — A Strong Temptation — Resisted — A Sudden Revelation — A Littlo Battle — A Surrender and Skedaddle — Astonishing the Pickets — A Race — A Battle of Larger Forces — Retreat of the Confederates — Taking Stock of the Spoils— He Called Himself a Fool— And Nobody Contradicted Him... 115 CHAPTER XL A 3L\D CHASE. The Armies in Mississippi — Driving in tho Pickets — Reinforcements — A Slight Skirmish — Something 3Iore of a Race — The Foremost Man — A Lucky Detour — Thirteen Prisoners 126 • CONTENTS. iX CHAPTER XII. CAPTUlllNG A CAPTAIN. A Ghostl}' Visitor — Investigations — A AVonian in the Case — Trooly Loil — A Sus- picious Officer — Deteriiiined to Find it Out — lie Finds it Out — But Gets Lost Himself: 130 CHAPTER XIII. m THE WRONG PEW. A Federal Aid's Errand on tlie Battle-ticld — See Where the Enemy Is — Ho Sees — Cheek — Tiie Message Hampton Didn't Send — Tlio Enemy Sees Him — Goes Several Better — He Stakes His Pile — Can't Bhifi' Them — A Pleasant Conver- sation — A AVounded Leg — That lluns Well — Escape 134 CHAPTER XIV. A DESPERATE CHARGE. Mechanicsville — Gaines' Mills — Position of the Federals — The Battle — .Jackson's Arrival — Fourth Texas — Charge on a Federal Battery — The Privates — Fight for the Guns — Victory — The Cost 1 40 CHAPTER XV. A SPY'S ADVENTURE. The Spy — His Work Dotip — Leaving the Camp — Hunting the Boat — A Vain Search — His Character Suspected in Cam}-) — Pursued — Bloodhounds — The Stream —Nearly Caught— The Dog's Fate— The Spy's Escape 146 CHAPTER XVI. COMMISSIONED BY THE ENEMY\ A Dangerous Errand — A Sharp Trick — Captured — Condemned — The Mysterious Bullet — A Curious Officer — Curiosity Gratified — The Commission — The Spy's Pretended Distress — His Release 162 CHAPTER XVII. CAPTAIN LIGHTNING'S TRICKS. Morgan's Kentucky Raid — One of his Assistants — Reason for the Nickname — A Good Bogiiiniiig — A Strange Coincidence — A Practical Joke — Lebanon — A Vanished Operator — A Bet AVon — And Inforn'.ation Gained — An Astonished Operator — An Important Message — The Enemy Knew Too JSIuch — But Not For Long — A JNIissing Instrument — An Alarmed Operator — Embarrassing Questions — Unsatisfactory Answers — Telling the Truth Does No Harm — A Pru- dent Operator — "Fixing Up a Plan to Capture Jlorgan" — A Sharp Repri- mand — An Astonishing Statement — The Signature Explained — General Or- ders No. 1 — No More Such Work— Ellsworth's Invention 156 CHAPTER XVIII. A WONDERFUL RIDE. Self Praise is Half Scandal — An Enemy's Generosity — Charge on the Battery — A Cannoneer's Resolve — Saving a Gun — Five Hundred Bullets — The Mark Un- hit— Cheered by the Enemy— Safe 168 CHAPTER XIX. A GENERAL'S ESCAPE. Manassas or Bull Run — Hunting for Troops — An Unexpected Meeting — A Trio of St CONTENTS. ♦ Stragglers— Who Exchanged Opinions— One is Suspected- They had Better have Let Him Go — A Surprised Federal 173 CHAPTER XX. A PAIR OP FORAGERS. They "Want their Breakfast— How They Got it— A Traitorous Hostess— Pursued— Close Quarters— A Narrow Escape— Detected— A Good Thing for the Com- mand ^~~' CHAPTER XXI. A SCOUT INTO ARK^VNSAS. On the March— A Disappointment— As Good » Plan— The Unexpected Guests— The Capture — Destruction of the Saltpeter "Works— The Prisoners— Return.. 182 CHAPTER XXII. RESCUING A COMRADE. Infantry Curiosity — Cavalry Disgust — floral of the Stor}' — Attack on the Train — The Charge — Repulsed — Harper's Perilous Position — A Generous Offer — A "Warm Meeting — Safe — A Close Shave — A Frank Confession — A Second Charge, and its Result 187 CHAPTER XXIII. SECRET SERVICE. A Mysterious Order — The Man Needed — Explanation of the Order — Disappear- ance of the Soldier — Sudden Appearance of the Quaker — Interviewing the Picket — Distributing Tracts and Examining Fortifications — An Innocent Note — With Much Meaning — An Unlucky Meeting — The Quaker Disappears — The Kind of Tracts He Meant — Suspicions Verified — News to Gen. Bragg — A Fine Old Country Gentleman — And Equally Fine Old Whisky — Gen. Bragg's Intentions — Tom Sees the Joke — Delay — Dangerous Proximity — Allaying Sus- picions — A Narrow Escape — A Second Mysterious Order 194 CHAPTER XXIV. ONE OF MOSBY'S RAIDS. Affairs at Fairfax Court House — Disposing of the Pickets — The Meaning of It — Prisoners and Booty — A Narrow Escape — Different Statements 209 CHAPTER XXV. AN ADVENTURE OF PAULINE CUSKMAN. Startling Advice — The Toast — Effect on the Audience — "Banished South" — Her Wanderings — Securing a Disguise — Setting Out — A Camp Fire — Friends or Foes ? — Foes — Betrayed — Pursued — The Wounded Federal — Help — Captured — Scaring Her Captors — Escape — After Adventures 213 CHAPTER XXVI. A DARING RESCUE. A Mysterious Hero — Seeking Danger — Stirring News — Friends in Peril — Recon- naissance — The Journey — A False Alarm — Outside the Jail — In the Jail — Keys of the Cells — A Singlc-Handcd Attack — The Keys Secured — Release of the Prisoners — Retreat — Pursuit Eluded 227 CONTENTS. XI CHAPTEE XXVII. A YOUNG GIRL'S SERVICK Seeking a Guide — In Hot Pursuit — A Guide Procured' — Her Kuse to Save the Gen- eral — He Refuses a Living Shield — The Work Accomplished — The Offer of Recompense — Her Choice — Fully Repaid 235 CHAPTER XXVIII. CAPTURIISIG A BATTLE-FLAG. Chancellorsville — A Fated Regiment — Hand-to-Hand — The Colors — Avenging Their Comrades— A Double Victory— The Trophies 239 CHAPTER XXIX. A PRISONER'S NEWS. A Friendly Chat — An Unwilling Listener — Exciting Tidings — His Resolve — Cir- cumstances Favoring His Escape — His Departure — Asking Aid — The Guide — Progress Under Difficulties — The End of the Journey — What Was Saved 243 CHAPTER XXX. A SPY AT STUART'S HEADQUARTERS. The Work Cut Out— A Trusty Servant— A Solitary Scout— The Disguise— A Country Chap — A "Rale Ginral" — Gives Stuart Some Valuable Information — That Saves a Federal Train — Dismissed — Hears the Arrangements — An Ama- teur, Postmaster — He Doesn't Forward the Mail Matter — Prisoners and Booty —Return 250 CHAPTER XXXI. CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF MORGAN. The Partisan — The "Marion of the West" — Different Opinions — Reasons for Raid — First Triumph — Called Back — Second Start — In Kentucky — Capt. Hines' Scout — A Warm Reception — Marauding — General Scare — Rapid Marching — High Water — Lessening the Force — Surrender of Morgan with Remnant of Command — Securing the Prisoners — Ohio Penitentiary — "Old Man Hevay" — The Prisoners Ride the Guard's Hobby — The Tunnel Begun — A Second Guard Taken in by Flattery — Reconnoissance Made Possible — A Prize in the Shape of a Spade — ^Tunneling — Necessity for Haste — A Brother's Devotion — Outside the Penitentiary — Was there Collusion ? — A Traveling Companion — The Es- cape — Discovered — Morgan's Death 266 CHAPTER XXXII. A PERILOUS JOURNEY. Necessity for the Trip — Volunteers — The Extra Tallow Cans — Running the Batter- ies — Pursuit — The Obstacles — Useless Efforts — The Fireman's Plan — Oiling the Track — Pursuit Baffled — Escape — Delivery of the Dispatches 276 CHAPTER XXXIII. A CRIPPLED MESSENGER. The Siege of Vicksburg — Caps and Dispatches to be Carried in — Departure — A Pleasing Sight — Past the Pickets — Loss of Crutch and Horse — A Canoe — On the River among the Enemy's Gunboats— A Lazy Fisherman — Passing the Feder- Xll CONTENTS. al Guns— Tailing Strength— In Vicksburg — Return— Finds a Horse — A Fora- ger — An Unreliable Guide — A Cautious Enemy — A Lucky Find — Delivers his Dispatches 286 CHAPTEE XXXIV. IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP. The Scout's Fate — His Successor — The Errand Stated — Setting Out — Precautions — A Friendly Greeting — A Ready-made Disguise — A Guide Provided — The Countersign — The Sentry Disposed of— A Struggle — A Council of War — An Uninvited Member — A Wide-awake Sentry — Discovered — "No, You Don't !" —"Tallahassee, Tallahassee :"—The Chase— Escape— The Result 295 CHAPTER XXXV. THE INSANITY DODGE. Necessary Precautions — Have You Seen a Horse — A Second Meeting — A Well Played Part — An Unsuccessful Search — Delivery of Dispatches 305 CHAPTER XXXVI. RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. Why Necessary — " Cheek " of the Sumter — Usual Precautions — The Alabama's Trial Trip— The Florida and the Lee— Difficulty about Coal— The Lee Gives Way — Result of the Generosity — Chased by a Federal Steamer — How the Speed was Increased — Exciting Race — Evading the Iroquois — The Blockad- ing Fleet — The Lee's Presence Perceived — A Signal — The Lee Replies — Blockaders Mystified— The Lee Slips Past 310 CHAPTER XXXVII. A LEAP FOR LIFE. A Tempting Sight — Busy as Bees — The Bees are Scattered — He Fears their Sting — Pursued — On the Edge of a Precipice — The Pursuers Draw Near — The Leap — The Scent is Lost 317 CHAPTER XXXVIII. A DARING CAPTURE. The Prince George Cavalry — An Enterprise of Privates — Betrayed by a Dog — The Arrest — To McClellan's or Lee's Headquarters? — The Captors Prefer to Go to Lee's — Effect on the Crew 322 CHAPTER XXXIX. CAPTURING A PAY'MASTER. Unreliable Information — Fortress Monroe — The Approach of the Paymaster's Boat— The Collision— Effect of the Shell— Picking up the Crew— The Spoils —The Return 327 CHAPTER XL. A BOLD DASH. A Hasty Advance — A Retreat — Skirmishing — Advance of Enemy — Position of Forces — Sharpshooting — Two Men Cut Off— Their Danger — A Generous Offi- cer — A Charge — Forrest to the Rescue! — Success — Retreat Continued 331 CONTENTS. Xm CHAPTER XLI. A DARING ESCAPE. A Meeting with Friends — Wolves in Sheep's Clothing — Docile (?) Prisoners — A Successful Ruse— Detected— A Mad Chase— The End of It 835 CHAPTER XLII. ATTACK ON THE NEW IRONSIDES. The Two Navies — The New Ironsides — Stage of the Wai- — Selection of the Men — Approaching the Vessel — Hailed — Explosion of the Torpedo — Effect — Re- treat of the Confederates — Swimming to Shore — " Good-bye, Boys, I Can't Swim" — One Returns to Steamer — Escape 341 CHAPTER XLIII. AN ESCAPE FROM LIBBY. Defj'ing Search — Resolution to Escape — Opinion of Others — A Companion — An Unsuccessful Plan — Another Mode Proposed — M^-stifying their Comrades — Passing the Guards — At the Rendezvous — A Keen-eyed Stranger — The Source of Help— At the Picket Post 347 CHAPTER XLIY. A DANGEROUS MISSION. Necessity for Trusty Messenger — Col. Baker Volunteers — Dispatches Delivered — • Danger Ahead — Worse and More of it — The Whole Confederate Army — A Break in the Colunm — Dashes Through — Pursued — Difficulties — Stratagem — Success — A Close Contest — Bull Run — The Stream is Crossed — Escape of Messenger. 356 CHAPTER XLY. A STEADIER CiiPTURED. The Unsuspected Passengers — Well-Managed Acquaintanceship — Night at Sea — A Friendly Chat — A Surprising Sound — Something Wrong in the Engine Room — Crew Secured — Vessel in the Hands of the Passengers — A Rene- gade's Advice — A Well-Planned Affair — Lieut. Parr Indicted — Acquitted — Reason for Indictment .......; 365 CHAPTER XLVI. A BREAK FOR LIBERTY. The Old Prison — Efforts to Escape— Col. Rose's Tunnel — A False Alarm — Hor- rors of the "Dead Cellar" — Capt. Moran Fhids tlie Passage — The Entrance to the Tunnel — Comrades — Into the Upper Air Again — Out of the City — Pur- sued — Separation — The Swamp — Surrounded — A Dash for Liberty — Into the Enemy's Arms — Back to Libby 371 CHAPTER XLYII. ADVENTURES OF AN ARTFUL DODGER. The Scout's Errand — His Force — Mode of Proceeding — A Bivouac in the Woods — Salt Mule and Sheet-iron Crackers — A Rude Awakening— "Let Me Dream Again" — Not So Fast Asleep as the Enemy Thought — Flight — Surrounded — Concealed — Discovered — The Difficulty of Riding a Mule — Where is He ? — Nowhere — Safe , 384 XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTEE XLVIII. CAPTURING A PARTISAN. The Partisan's Record — Efforts to Take Him — A Discovery — Pursuit l)y Two Men — A Rough Road — A Cold Bath and Its Results — Dashing Onward — The Scent Lost — Another Finds It — The Capture — Return — Value of the Prisoners — The Captor's Surprise 395 CHAPTEE XLIX. COL. MENEFEE'S RIDE FOR LIFE. The Partisans and Their Outfit— A Skirmish in the Woods — Federal Reinforce- ments — Retreat of Confederates — Pursuit — The Mountain Side — For the Sake of One of His Men— A Steep Descent— A Dash Down It 400 CHAPTEE L. DAHLG REN'S RAID. The Object — Difference of Opinion — Organization of the Force — Dahlgren's Record — Departure — A Heavy Storm — Failure to Co-operate — Skirmish near Richmond — The Retreat — Crossing the Stream — Movements of the Confeder- ates — The Ambush in the Woods — Death of Col. Dahlgren — Action of the Confederate Government 405 CHAPTEE LI. ADVENTURE OF FORAGERS. Relaxing Discipline — Three Foragers — A Promising Barn — Captured — A Coun- cil of War — Ten Minutes to Pray In — They Prefer to Pray Somewhere Else — A Race and an Interested Spectator — Who Soon has a Race of His Own — Escape — Revenge 414 CHAPTEE LII. ESCAPE FROM A FEDERAL STEAMER. A Running Fight — Capture of the Officer — From One Prison to Another — Re- assuring Sounds — The Queen City Disabled — The Fight Continued — A Discussion between Engineers — The Guard Hoodwinked — A Lengthy Swim — Eluding the Gunboats — Reaches the Confederate Pickets 420 CHAPTEE LIII. BURNING THE ENEMY'S STORES. The Situation — Safety of the Stores — ^.A Daring Scout — Too Great a Tempta- tion — Surprising the Guard — A Big Blaze — Pursuit — Escape 425 CHAPTEE LIY. GILMOR'S RAID INTO MARYLAND. The Force Promised — The Actual Force — Rapid Advance — Ishmael Day — An Infuriated Command — Day's Concealment — Obstructing the Railroad — The Train Destroyed — Important Prisoners — A Second Train — Burning the Bridge— Cutting the Telegraph — To Baltimore — A W^arm Reception — The Committee of Reception is Bashful — And Well Mounted — Worn Out — A Sleepy Set — " We're All a Nodding" — They Wake Up to an Unpleasant Fact — Gen. Lee's Praise 429 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTEE LV. LIEUT. BAILEY'S EXPERIENCE. Siege of Atlanta — A Mission of Danger — A Determined Charge — A Firm Ke- sistance — Captured — A Drunken Captor — "Fall in, Prisoners" — An Eftbrt to Escape — Eetaken — The Bivouac — Buried Alive — The Grave — Waiting — Eesurrection — A Friend — More Friends — In the " Quarters" — Jim — Setting Out — A Young Scout — Who Proves Unreliable — "Tie-tickets" on the Rail- road — Worn Out — Disappointment — Rest^A Sleepy Sentinel — Recaptured — Forebodings of Evil — Two Tete-a-tetes — A Plan — A Good Place to Die in — The Funeral Arranged — Two Miinitcs to Pray — A Leap for Life — The Pursuit — Wounded — A Friend in Need — Return Home 440 CHAPTER LVL VISITING HOME UNDER DIFFICULTIES. A Disappointment, to Begin With — Determined to Go — Reluctance of Officer — The Union Men of Tennessee — Tinker Dave Beatty — Tricking the Feder- als — Capt. Guild's Plan — A Friend — Dangers of the Attempt — "Our" Men — In Sight of Home — Reception — Departure — Fate of his Comrades — With Friends 461 CHAPTER LVII. CAPTURED BY MOSBY. Congratulations — Spencer Rifles — Congratulations Postponed — Col. Mosby — The Auction — A Disgusted Darkey — Mosby's Defense of his Men — On to Rich- mond — The Bivouac — Plans for Escape — A Charming View — A Slim Chance — Scarce of Horses — A Successful Ruse — "Now's the Time, Boys" — A Sudden Melee — The Enemy Scattered— The Flight — Concealment — Why Wash Went for the Corn — Why He Hurried Back — " Looking out for Yanks"— Finding Them 472 CHAPTER LVIII. ARRESTING A SMUGGLER. Reasons for the Trade — The Eflbrts of the Police — The Military Authorities — Going it Alone — A Green Soldier — A Surly Sailor — A Fine Boat — The Ar- rest — A Combat of Will — He Ct)ncludcs to Surrender — The Lumber Yard — Completely Vanquished 488 CHAPTER LIX. TWO OP THE BLACK HORSE CAVALRY. Organization of the Corps — Circumstances of One Adventure — The Price of Liq- uor — Honor Pledged — " As Easy as Lying " — A Part of the Price — The Rest of It — An Important Prisoner— Gen. Stuart's Gallantry Tested — He Sees the Joke — The Corps Disbanded 495 CHAPTER LX. DESTRUCTION OF THE ALBEMARLE. Torpedoes — The Albemarle — Lieut. Cushing's Plan — The Expedition — Precau- tions Adopted — The Journey — Defenses of the Ram — The Attack — Confusion — The Launch — Disabled — Federals Captured — Lieut. Cushing's Narrow Es- XVI CONTENTS. cape — Senseless on tlie Shoro — Hears of His Own Death — Creeping A\Tay — Difficulties — The Swamp Road — An Astonished Darkey — A Satisfactory Re- port — A Prize — Floating Down the Roanoke — Perplexed Marines — A Sur- prise — Honor Claimed by Another Man — The Claim Disproved 504 CHAPTEE LXI. CONFEDERATES IN SHERIDAN'S CAMP. Necessity for Information — The Party — "One of Blazer's Scouts" — A Sleepy Picket — The End Accomplished — Another Trip — Confederate Votes for Lin- coln — Issuing Orders to a Federal Officer — Blazer's Scouts in Reality — A Hot Pursuit — Taking the Fence — Back to His Men — A Desperate Skir- mish — After Events 516 CHAPTEE LXII. AN ESCAPE FROM A TRAIN. The Road — Removal of Prisoners — Carelessness of Guards — Heavy Rain — Es- cape — Escape Discovered — ■ Pursued — Baffling the Bloodhounds — The Swamp — A Great Loss — Helped by the Negroes — A Scare — An Unexpected Friend — Reinforcements — Hope Deferred — A Surprise — A Battle — Flight — Alone and Hopeless — Friends — Counting the Loss — Safe 526 CHAPTEE LXIII. A RAID FOR HORSES. A Mount Wanted— A Chance to Get One — Bad Weather— "A Thrifle Near- er" — A Little too Near — Success — A Brick — A Charge and a Chase — A Fall on the Ice — Another Prisoner— Riding Double— An Affecting (?) Farewell- Bad Luck — A Call on the Ladies — War Toilets —The Dinner They Miss- ed—The Dinner They Didn't Miss — A Good Time — A Rude Awakening — Captured — Well Guarded — "Good Night" — A Prearranged Signal — "He Hasn't Escaped, but He's Going to" — And He Does — Chasing a Riderless Horse — The Rider Escapes on Foot — Gen. Sherman's Opinion on Horses and a Soldier's Mode of Procuring Them 536 CHAPTEE LXIV. CAPTURE AND FLIGHT OF THE CORRESPONDENTS. The Newspaper Man — Running the Confederate Batteries at Vicksburg — Captured — Libby — Plans to Escape — Castle Thunder — Salisbury — Hurry Up — Change in Management — A Forged Pass — Another Plan — An Apologetic Guard — Past the Outer Guards— Prudent Halt— The Gray Mare— Cold Weather— Sable Friends —Losing the Way— " The Old United States"-" Nobody Ever Gits Thar"— The ]\Iarch across the Mountains — Dan Ellis, the Famous Guide — Generous Enemies — Danger Threatens— A Pretty Guide— The Federal Pickets 551 CHAPTEE LXV. WHEELER'S CAVALRY ESCAPADES. Stage of the War — Gen. Wheeler's Determination — A Companion — Swimming the Peedee — An Uninvited Comrade — An Earnest Appeal — A Borrowed Name — " Sam. Johnson" — A Hearty Welcome — Sam's Bashfulness — A Sudden Alarm — CONTENTS. XVll Unfounded Anxiety — " Scare 'em out of their Boots" — Signs of tlie Enemy — • The Bugler — Ketreat of the Enemy — Incidents of the Pursuit — Advance of Gen. Hampton 669 CHAPTER LXVI. DESTROYING THE ENEMY'S STORES. The Deserter's Information — Wouldn't be Outdone — The Invitation Accepted — The Departure from Camp — Pompey's Distrust — At the Point Threatened — Access to the House — Enemies Near — Caution — The Powder Securely Dis- posed of — A Sudden Attack — A Desperate Struggle — Victory — Rapid Re- treat — Pompey's Dismay 679 CHAPTER LXVII. CAPTURING TWO GENERALS. An Attractive Idea — Cumberland — How They Got the Countersign — Gathering in the Reserves — '• Scouts from New Creek " — No Time for Ceremony — A Faith- ful Servant — "Sent Out to Reconnoiter" — Necessity for Haste — Pursued — Escape With Prisoners — Recognition of Services 590 CHAPTER LXVIII. DETERMINED TO ESCAPE. A Spirited Engagement — A Victory Barren of Trophies — Disposition of the Prison- ers — Prison Pastimes — Base Ball — "Opinions of the Press" — Better Sport — Efforts to Escape — Tunneling — Failure — A Drunken Driver — Almost Free — Recaptured — A Daring Plan — Scaling the Parapet — He Escapes — Almost in Canada — Retaken by Farmers — Spirit Broken — Spirit Gets Mended — Busy at Work — A Wonderful Achievement — " An Escape Planned " — Guards Doubled — Strict Examination — Review of Inspecting Party — Discovery of Prisoner Among Them — A Sensible and Generous Officer — Remanded to Prison — How He Was Freed 697 ItiST OF Illustrations. Full Page, Full Page, Full Page, Full Page, Full Page, Eescuing the Condemned Scouts, "You're a Yankee spy," A Headlong Pursuit, The Fight on Kelley's Island, Burning op the Privateer, Catching a Tartar, "Mine isn't," Major Zagonyi, Charge of Fremont's Body Guard, Attack on Zagonyi, " There's only four of them," Cutting the Telegraph Wires, The Pursuit, Escaped Prisoners Captured with Bloodhounds, Full Page, A Horse in Church, ..... "Hi, uncle!" . ... "Stop a minute, won't you?" The Scout, Four to One, " Why do you wear men's boots ? Playing Possum, The Defense, The Charge, The Spy and the Bloodhound, "Do as I TELL YOU, AT ONCE ! " Bull Eun Battle Field, The Cannoneer's Ride, . . . Full Page, Turning the Tables, The Mysterious Signals, Quick Work, A Cavalry Charge, .... Full Page, Eescuing a Comrade, Gen. Earl Van Dorn, Van Dorn and the Quaker, Full Page, Frontispiece. 26 34 40 46 61 61 65 68 71 76 84 88 94 . 103 110 . 112 Full Page, 114 . 119 132 . 137 Full Page, 142 Full Page, 143 Full Page, 150 . 161 169 170 175 178 180 188 193 198 199 18 List of Illustrations. XIX "What does this mean, sir?" Pauline Cushman, A Midnight Visitor, Guerillas in Camp, Nearinq the Chasm, Showing the Ford, Green's Capture of the Colors, Seeking a Guide, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, Gen. John H. Morgan, Morgan's Raiders, Harassed Raiders, The Escape, Running the Gauntlet, Oiling the Track, "Like a shot past the picket," Passing the Port-holes, Giving the Countersign, The Struggle with the Sentry, Peering into the Tent, Firing the Rockets, The Insane Dodge, A Leap for Life, Boarding the Vessel, The Explosion of the Shell, Gen. N. B. Forrest, The Flight, Exploding The Torpedo, LiBBY Prison, Passing the Guard, In Hiding, A Shot from the Thicket, The Pickets Take a Hand, An Intruder in the Engine-room. The Prisoner's Dream of Home, Diagram of the Tunnel, In the Dead Cellar, A Rude Awakening, The Mule Changes His Mind, A Cold Bath, Col. Menefee's Eide, 2 , 211 214 , 217 Full Page, 220 . 222 , 236 . 241 . . 247 . 253 , 257 Full Page, 262 2G6 274 Full Page, 278 284 288 292 299 301 302 303 308 Full Page, 318 324 328 332 339 344 348 351 354 360 Full Page, 362 368 Full Page, 372 375 377 387 391 397 403 XX List of Illustrations. Gen. H. J. KiLPATRiCK, . Crossing the Eapidan, Col. Ulric Dahlgren, Death op Dahlgren, The Foragers Surprised, Floating by the Gunboats, . Burning the Storehouses, An Obstinate Unionist, "Where are the prisoners?" . The Burial, .... The Eesurrection, A Short Shrift, Stealing by the Pickets, " Halt — Surrender I" Col. John S. Mosby, "Now's the time, boys!" " Did any of you ever eat any negro "Don't you dare to draw, sib!" Black Horse Cavalryman, A Eepast Disturbed, Lieut. William B. Cushing, Destruction op the Albemarle, A Concealed Listener, Meeting the Darkey, Beguiled by Whisky, A Bad Jump, Homeward Bound, The Surprise, The Toilet, ... " Surrounded by Yankees ! " The Signal — "Bonnie Doon," . The Catastrophe, Castle Thunder, Salisbury Prison, Dusky Ministering Angels, Fugitives Crossing the Blue Eidge, Capt. Dan Ellis, Gen. Wade Hampton, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, " The best singer in the army," Following the Bugle, . 406 . 407 409 Full Page, 412 416 423 427 431 438 445 445 458 468 474 476 Full Page, 482 485 . 492 496 . 502 505 . 508 511 . 513 518 Full Page, 522 529 . 534 642 . 544 548 Full Page, 554 556 . 568 561 . 564 666 . 670 572 . 574 676 List of Illustrations. xxi Pompey's Anxiety, ...... 582 Putting the Eeb in the Well, . . Full Page, 586 Getting the Countersign, ..... 592 Old Capitol Prison, ..... 698 Changing Clothes with the Drunken Soldier, . 601 Stoning the Guard, ..... 603 "Where's your cartridge box?" .... 606 Introduction. '■^A tower before his native toivn He stood, and fell as fall the brave. The conqueror wins the brighter crown, The conquered has the nobler grave. He who brave life shall bravely close, For home, and hearth, and altar slain. If mourned by friends, shall glory gain Out of the lips of foes." DEEDS OF DARING BY BOTH BLUE AND GEAY. A PERSEVERING MESSENGER. The Dispatch Bearers — Danger of the Mission — An Unhicky Meeting — The Messen- ger Gets Left — Sent Back — Another Start — A More Unlucky Meeting — Court- martialed by Guerillas — A Friend in Need — Sent Back Again — Irrepressible — A Rendezvous in the Woods — Important Information — Why He Went Back — Gives It Up. IT was the night of the 21st of April, 1861, when four men took their seats on the train from the National Capital to Annapolis. They held no communication with each other, and any ordinary observer would have supposed them entire stran- gers ; but this was only an assumed manner, in order to increase the chances of doing the work assigned to them. They were Col. Lander, Maj. Welsh, Mr. Van Yalkenburg and Commissary Patton of the New York Seventh Regiment, and were charged with dispatches of importance from Gen. Scott, then in com- mand of the United States Army, to Gen. Butler. The mission was fraught with peculiar danger and difficuhy, as so many of the Marylanders were ardent Secessionists; and the Union men could not, at that early stage of the war, tell readily what chance-met friend would turn out a foe. But the four with whom we have to deal thought they were to be favored by for- tune in this respect, as they reached the Junction without any one of them having been recognized. Such good fortune was not to last forever, though ; for, as the train drew up at the platform, and Mr. Patton, with the 23 24 A Persevering Messenger. other passengers, stepped olf the car, his hand was warmly grasped by an old acquaintance. "Why, how are you, Patton ? I thought you were a National Guard — what are you doing here ?" " Oh, nothing in particular. You oughtn't to think so much." "Oughtn't to think so much? What do you mean?" Mr. Patton quietly explained as much of the real state of aflFairs as was necessary and not imprudent; but the mischief was already done. In those days there were men always ready to play the spy over another's actions, to gain in an underhand and surreptitious manner knowledge having a market price; and although few officers were willing to hold any converse with such men, there were some who held that all things were fair in war. One of these informers had happened to overhear the bluff greeting, and lost no time in conveying the fact that a mem- ber of the National Guard was in town. Mr. Patton strolled toward the Annapolis train with his friend, little suspecting that any note had been taken of that friend's words. But the suspicion had spread rapidly, and when he went to the hotel, to find when the train would start, he was put otf by evasive answers to that simple question ; they had no time table up to date — thought it would go in fifteen minutes — and the speaker appealed to a bystander. Mr. Patton was about to re- monstrate somewhat angrily, when he saw the train, some forty or fifty yards from him, move off. At the same time he was approached by a resident of the town, whom he afterwards found to be a prominent lawyer there. "What is your business in town, sir ?" this individual asked. "It is not with you, sir," replied Mr. Patton, as politely as the meaning of his words would permit. " But mine is with you ; you are suspected of being a spy." "I am no spy, but a messenger from the War Department at Washington to the commandant at Annapolis." The stranger bowed and withdrew ; but only a few feet ; from the new position he signaled to the captain of a militia com- pany that was drilling a short distance away. The drill was interrupted, and the entire force marched towards them. The captain stepped up to Mr. Patton and demanded his business. " I am a messenger from the Secretary of War to the Command- ant at Annapolis. I do not understand why you question me; are you an officer of the United States ?" A Persevering Messenger. 25 " I am in command of the militia volunteering for home pro- tection. We are not United States soldiers." "I was not aware that this state had seceded. In any event, I demand that you treat me as a prisoner of war, for I am an officer of the United States Government." A little cowed by the prisoner's resolute tone, the officer withdrew to hold a council of war with two or three of his sub- ordinates. The conference was a short one; all had heard every- thing that had been said, and had been affected in the same way. After a moment the captain turned again to Mr. Patton : "Well," he said, "you can't go on, anyhow; you've got to go back to Washington. We'll send you back in a wagon." "Very well," replied Mr. Patton ; " I suppose your wagon is not ready yet? I'll walk along the road until it overtakes me." This was assented to ; but if he had any hopes of escaping from them in that way, and continuing his journey, they were doomed to disappointment, for the wagon overtook him in a very short time, and he was driven to the outposts of Washing- ton. But, although he had not objected to their arrangements when he was in the hands of the militia, he had no notion of carrying out their plans any farther than necessity compelled. So that the wagon was hardly out of sight when he turned to re- trace his steps, hoping to reach Annapolis by a road which did not lead through the Junction. Being very tired, he felt that he would be unable to proceed much farther, when he was over- taken by a farmer driving home. The offer of a dollar for a " lift," was gladly accepted, and Mr. Patton slept in the bottom of the wagon until the countryman arrived at his destination. Once more on foot, he must find a guide, that the journey might be accomplished as speedily as possible ; and was fortun- ate enough to overtake a boy who agreed, " for a consideration," to act in that capacity. Everything appeared to go well upon this second start, and he began to hope that his progress would not again be interrupted. But as they turned into the main road, they were met by a half-drunken fellow armed to the teeth, who ordered them to " hold on, there." " Who are you ?" he demanded. "My name is Moore," replied Patton, anxious that his real name and errand should not be known to the guerillas, of whom this fellow was evidently one. " Where (hie) you going to ?" 26 A Persevering Messenger. " I'm going to Annapolis, to collect some money due mo there." The questioner eyed him critically for a moment, and Patton thought that suspicion would fail to get into that befuddled brain, when the guerilla broke out with : "Say, I don't (hie) b'lieve a d — d word o' that. You're a Yankee spy; tha's wha' y'are." "I have told you my name and business," said Mr. Patton firmly; " now let me pass." "Won't let any d — d Yankee spy pass. You've got to (hie) come with me to tav ern . Come 'long, now." If the messenger had spoken firmly, his waylayer showed signs of stubbornness su.ch as is only to be seen in a man some- thing more than half- seas-over; and know- ing that a shot, or any other alarm, would speedily call a larger force to the ground, Mr. Patton decided to go to the tavern, hoping to escape on the way, or to find that his captor had no reinforcements there except liquor. But, unfortunately, his calculations were based on false grounds ; and he found several other guerillas there, all fully armed, and all as drunk as his captor. The latter announ- ced that he had taken a prisoner, and the whole company was speedily resolved into a court martial. " Gen'lm'n, 'fore we proceed ter c'nsideration (liic) this case, le's have 'nother drink all round," " I move to 'mend — two drinks." The drinks wore accordingly ordered and discussed. The captor was called as witness. " Court martial's always held in writing — too much trouble in this case for such a fellow's that. Where'd you ketch him?" "Down 't the fork; he's a spy." " Voure a Yankee Spy." A Persevering Messenger. 27 "Then he ought to be shot," decided the first, who acted as chief of the judges, and appeared to have some kind of author- ity over the others. " 'Taint so," growled a third ; " hang him, if he's a spy." " Don' know," remarked a fourth, who appeared to be less drunk than the others; " better lock him up." Number five had been nodding over his empty glass ; but now awakened with a start, and sagely remarked that they had bet- ter take another drink on it. The wisdom of this decision was so apparent that there was no argument following it, and the liquor was unanimously called for. But if before they had had any idea of prudence, or of obedience to the laws of war, it was washed completely away as the fiery stuff was gulped down j and in a moment more they were all resolved to hang the spy. A rope was procured, and the prisoner, who saw no possibility of escape, was marched out into the yard. The rope was ad- justed over the limb of a tree with as much skill as if the mem- bers of the court martial had occasionally assisted Judge Lynch, and the preparations were complete. " Hallo ! What are you doing there ?" asked a horseman, who had ridden up while they were making their few rude arrange- ments. " Groing to hang a d — d Yankee spy," was the answer, in a tone in which obstinacy and deference were curiously mingled. " Fall back !" was the authoritative command • and the horse- man, as soon as his order was obeyed, approached Mr. Patton, and said : " I know you ; you are a member of the National Guard ; I drank with you in Baltimore. Where were you going when they captured you ?" "To Annapolis." " On your own business, or that of the United States Govern- ment?" " That of the Government." " Well, I can't allow you to go on ; that would be inconsistent with my duty as commander of this district ; but if you will give me your word of honor that you will go straight back to Wash- ington, I will release you." Patton, glad to be released on any conditions from the drunk- en set who had held him prisoner, readily consented to do this, and was soon retracing his steps a second time. He arrived at 28 A Persevering Messenger. Washington without further adventure, and reported the failure of his efforts to Gen. Scott. In the capital he learned that three colloaguos with whom ho had set out, had been no more success- ful than himscir, having been arrested and sent back before they reached Annapolis. But he was not thus to bo baffled ; he had made two efforts and failed ; and with faith in the magic of the mystic number, he determined to try the third time. His parole, of course, did not bind him to any course of action, except the direct return to Washington; he had re-entered the capital in accordance with his promise, and had reported to the general in command of the forces there ; he was then free to enter upon any other work, and he chose to make the attempt once more. He next disguised himself completely, and in company with a friend who owned a very fast team, drove out of the capital in a buggy. The object of the trip was to search for a stolen horse; and every one whom they met was questioned as to whether he had seen the animal in question. Strangely enough, no one had seen any traces of such a stray horse as the two described, and they drove onward. Their ruse forbade their traveling by night; so, as darkness came on, they stopped at a tavern for supper, lodging and breakfast. Having duly refreshed the in- ner man, the two retired to the room assigned them. But Pat- ton, in order to gain time, decided to push through on foot. It was important, however, that this movement should not be known to the people in the house until the next morning; so he departed by stealth, when they supposed he had gone to bed ; his companion remaining to take the buggy and horses back to Washington. He made his way to the woods, fearing that on the road he might be stopped ; and journeyed to a consideruble dis- tance without meeting with any adventure. But now the sound of horses' feet were heard and the voices of men. He hastily concealed himself; and all his haste was needed ; he had scarce- ly a moment to spare before they were within a few feet of his hiding-place. There, much to his dismay, they halted, and were soon joined by two or three other parties that came from differ- ent quarters. It was evidently a rendezvous, but whether of guerillas or regularly enlisted Confederates, he could not tell. "Where's the Seventh, now?" asked one who appeared to have the authority of a commanding officer. "Embarked on the Washington train this evening," said one. A Ter severing Messenger. 29 '' Is that bridge all right ?" " Yes, sir/' replied another j the nuts are all off the bolts ; the train is bound to go down." This was evidently the chief thing to be reported, and in a little time the whole body moved off. Creeping from his hiding- place as soon as they were far enough away to render it safe, Patton hastened back to the hotel and aroused his companion. Together they started towards the bridge which had been so tampered with, intending to prevent thG passage of the train. His effort in this case was successful, for the train was not quite due when they arrived at the end of the bridge, and many lives were saved by the timely warning. The third effort to get to Annapolis was now foiled ; for, even if his identity and business were not known at the hotel, he had at least aroused suspicion by leaving with his friend in the mid- dle of the night. Then, too, he was utterly worn out by the three attempts, having driven eighty miles and walked thirty in the thirty hours. So after three distinct efforts to perform the task assigned him, he was finally obliged to turn it over to others, with only the consolation of a duty bravely attempted, though baiffled by circumstances. ;pHAPTEI^ 11 ZOUAYES ON A SCOUT. Ready to Moto — Spoiling for a Fight — Eeconnoitoring — Returning — Throe to One — " We'll Back You " — A Surprise — A Skedaddle — A Brisk Eiigagcnicnt — A Rapid Retreat — The Spoils of the Battle — Caring for the Wounded — Another Surprise —A Strong Position — A Desperate Defense — A Hand-to-IIand Encounter — Terrible Odds — Every Man for Himself — Help Comes Too Late — ^larks of the Fight. COLONEL WALLACE, in command of the Zouaves at Cum- berland, in 1861, was accustomed to post his mounted scouts at different points alono; the approaches to that place j but, hav- ing failed, on the 27tli of that month, to obtain some very neces- sary information of the enemj-'s movements, he determined to employ these men in a bodj' as a reconnoitering party. There were but thirteen of the men, but they "svere the pick of nine different companies, and constant practice for a number of months had made them valuable and efficient in their peculiar line of duty. Accordingly he sent for one of them, I). B. Hay by name. "Corporal Hay, do you know where Frankfort is?" '' Yes, sir; it's on the pike between here and Eomney." "Very well J you will take the twelve other scouts as your command, and go to Frankfort and find out if there are any rebels there. Start immediately." Hay saluted and turned away to collect his men. The latter part of the order was not difficult to obey, for the scouts, accus- tomed as they were to be suddenly called on for active service on such expeditions as this, were soon ready. Canteens and haversacks were hastily filled, and strapping their rifles to their backs, the twelve men mounted their horses, much the worse for 80 Zouaves on a /^cout. 31 hi\vd service, but tl>o only animals that were available, while their officer bestrode the only steed worthy of his master, that belonged to the command — a trophy of a skirmish a few days be- fore. Notwithstanding the broken-down condition of their mount, however, there were no laggards in the little party that rode out of Cumberland that June morning j nor did the gen- eral opinion of their comrades, that Hay was spoiling for a fight and wouldn't come back until he had had one, deter them. To men of their bold and dashing courage such a prediction was not a check, but a spur. Onward they rode, until, as they drew rein on a small emin- ence, the little village of Frankfort lay in full view. Along the one crooked street, the mere widening of the road that led to and from the town, were scattered the houses of various grades, from the substantial brick mansion of the merchant or lawyer or doctor down to the rough and fragile frame cottage of the laborer. Along the street, too, standing talking in groups, walking slowly along, or lounging before the stores, wore many Confederate infantrymen; while the number of horses picketed near the town showed that there must be a considerable force of cavalry there. Not for an instant did the men who, from the grove-crowned summit of the hill, looked upon the scene, think of the danger to themselves; that was always the last consider- ation. There was merely a sigh of regret that, independently of the enemy's numbers, they must ride away without attacking; for they must return, with the information they had obtained, to Col. Wallace. As soon, then, as they had each made a care- ful estimate of the enemy's numbers, and, comparing them, found them to agree with each other, they turned their horses and rode leisurely back to Cumberland. For some reason they chose to return by a different road than that by which they had reached Frankfort; nor docs this choice admit of any reasonable explanation; it was by no means the "shortest way home," but, on the contrary, rather the " longest way round ;" there was no real necessity for them to explore it, as they would probably never be sent that way again ; and there was no ground for believing it safest. Far from it. They had reached a point between three and four miles distant from Frankfort, and wore descending a steep mountain side, when a sharp turn of the road suddenly showed a considerable body of Confederate cavalrymen not far from them. Instantly all 32 Zouaccs on a Scout. drew rein, as if they were but puppets worked by the same piece of mechanism; and though there had been no word of command uttered, each proceeded, as the little party halted, to count the men before them. "How many do you make of them, Hollenback ?" asked Hay. " Forty-one," answered the man, whom he had addressed. Hay looked around the group questioningly, and each man nodded as the leader's eye met his ; each had reached the same result. "Well?" he asked, briefly. "Go in, Dave; we'll back you," was the reponse of one, echoed in the same silent way, and emphasized by a grim smile on each bronzed face. " Are you ready, now ?" he asked. "Yes, ready for anything ; go on, and we'll follow," was the reply, as they unslung their rifles. "Come on, then, and the devil take the hindmost!" cried Hay, as, setting spurs to his horse, he dashed down the decline. On rode the Zouaves after their leader, at a speed as nearly headlong as the character and condition of their horses would permit. Though so far outnumbered, the Federals were not without advantages which somewhat counterbalanced the supe- rior force of the enemy. The road was but narrow, and, as we have said, on sloping ground, the Federals being somewhat above the Confederates; an abrupt declivity on their left and a nearly precipitous wall ascending on their right would prevent the formation of a line of battle by the Southerners, who would not have room even to wheel their horses and charge up hill at the handful of men who proposed to attack them. The situation of the Zouaves was one in which the renowned Davy Crockett would have gloried, for to "go ahead," was the one course pos- sible. Even if they halted, danger more than ordinary awaited them, for the impetus acquired in their rapid descent would car- ry the Federals into the very midst of the enemy. As Hay came thundering down the hill, shouting to his men, the Confederates, until then in blissful ignorance of an enemy's presence, halted, surprised, to look back. The assailants were not more than seventy or eighty yards away, and were rapidly approaching. Never once supposing anything but that there was a large force about to attack them, and recognizing the dif- ficulties of their position, the Ecbs put spurs to their horses and galloped hastily onward in no very good order. The Zou- Zouaves on a Scout. 33 aves, who had hitherto, save for the brief answers given their leader, preserved a grim silence, now vied with each other in the wild yells which they uttered. Onward, onward, they rode, these grim huntsmen of human game, and their cries, echoed and re-echoed by the hill-sides, grew more and more unearthly. Owing solely to the superiority of his mount — for'they every one rode recklessly — Hay was far in advance of his men. The Confederates had not quite reached the foot of the hill when he overtook them, firing his rifle when almost in their midst. As one of the Confederates reeled in the saddle, he hurled the now useless weapon (for he had, of course, no time to reload) at a second; the Eeb, stunned by the force of the blow, fell; but Hay, without waiting to see the result, drew his revolver and plunged into their midst. For a minute or two the bullets flew hither and thither; as a gray-jacket was pierced by one from Hay's pistol, another struck the Federal ; maddened by the thought that the wound might be fatal, he fired again with the same deadly aim as before; then another, and another, before a second struck him. Two more shots and his revolver was ex- hausted. Drawing his sabre-bayonet, he prepared to use that, when', with a flash in the sunlight and a whir of swift motion, a sabre, in the hands of a Confederate behind him, descended up- on his own head. Still, weakened as he was and half-blinded by the blood which soon began to flow over his face from this cut, he thrust to right and left most manfully. It was the commanding officer of the Confederates who had dealt the sabre cut. Hauling back for a fresh blow, he at the very instant that his hand began to descend, received a wound in the arm that paralyzed its power. The ball came from the rifle of a Zouave, Lewis Farley, who had just reached the scene of battle in time to see his officer's danger. Still advancing with unchecked speed, he was unhorsed by the encounter; but the accident did not render him useless. Grappling with the enemy who had been similarly served by his onset, there was for a moment a desperate struggle ; at last the Federal was thrown. But by this time the whole of Hay's little force had come up, and before the Confederate could make use of his advantage over Farley, another Zouave, Hollowell, had knocked him down. Springing to his feet, Farley vaulted into the saddle of a horse that Hay's revolver had made riderless, and that far surpassed the one from which he had been thrown. 34 Zouaves on a Scout. So sudden had been the onset, so sharp had been the conflict, that the Confederates were still uncertain as to the number at- tacking them; while the irregular but headlong advance of the Zouaves made it appear as if they had dropped from the clouds. How long it might rain fighting devils clad in big breeches and small caps, they could not tell ; and thinking discretion the bet- ter part of valor, they put spurs to their horses and continued the flight which Hay's solitary onset had arrested. Madly down the hill they rushed, until the track of the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad was reached; then along the road-bed, with something like the speed a horseman might use if chased by a locomotive in a tunnel, they dashed away. A Headlong Pursuit. But even at that early day in the history of the war, the im- portance of this line of railroad was fully appreciated, and there had been an efl'ortmade to stop travel on it. A culvert had been burned by some marauding party, whether Northern or South- ern is uncertain and unimportant; certainly the fact that it had been so destroyed was not known to either of the two parties whose fortunes we are now following. The Confederates, indeed, did not discover the gap in the road until it was too late to check their horses j they must take the leap. Spurring their Zouaves on a Scout. 35 animals to yet greater speed, that the added impetus might in- crease their chances of safety, they plunged on. Many reached the farther side in safety, but eight, wounded, or less excellently mounted than their comrades, failed to gain the roadway again ; and falling heavily into the rugged chasm, were either crushed under their horses or killed by the force of the fall. Hay, wounded as he was, was the foremost in the pursuit, and to him, as to the Confederates, the dangerous leap was unavoid- able. His spirited horse, however, carried him safely over J but the noble animal had received in his body more than one bullet meant for his master, and weakened by loss of blood and by the severe exertion to which he had been subjected, had borne his rider but a short distance from the culvert when a deadly tremor passed through every limb, and he fell dead upon the earth. Hay had barely time to extricate himself from his stirrups before the horse fell. Thus deprived of his only means for pursuing the fugitives, and unable, by reason of his wounds, to drag himself onward, he sat down upon the ground beside the dead horse, and cried like a child over its loss. The scouts, seeing the dangers of the leap across the burnt culvert in time to check their horses, turned aside from the road a little and by a slight detour were enabled to reach their wounded comrade without incurring the risk. Of course pur- suit was now useless ; so they devoted themselves to taking care of the spoils. Seventeen good horses, in fair condition, with all their equipments, had been the reward they had earned by their brave attack ; while eleven of the Confederates lay dead upon the ground. Congratulating themselves upon the brilliant vic- tory which they had achieved, they set their leader upon one of the captured horses, each man selected one in place of his own broken-down steed, and they continued their journey to the town of Cumberland. "Boys," faltered their officer, in a weak voice, when they were but a few miles from the scene of conflict ; '' Boys, I'm getting so weak I don't believe I can go any farther." " Can't you hold out to Cumberland ? 'Tisn't much farther," " It's a long way off for me, for I can hardly manage to sit my horse — " The words had been spoken firmly, though the voice was low and weak • but the resolution at last gave way before the deathly faintness that came over him, and only the quick, strong arm 86 Zouaves on a Scout. of one of his men saved him from fulling from the saddle. This was unmistakable evidence that they must stop. Dismounting, they laid the wouiuied man upon the grass, where the thick foliage kejit the sun's rays from proving annoying ; two went to find a wagon at some neighboring farm house, another went to the river for water, while the others busied themselves in bind- ing up his wounds as well as possible with the rude bandages they could prepare, and in otherwise attending to his comfort. But even while they were engaged in this humane task, a brisk fire was opened upon them from the hill to their left. Fortu- nately, Hay had recovered his senses under the liberal applica- tion of the cold water, and was somewhat strengthened by a draught from his canteen. *' Put me on a horse, boys, and leave me to take care of my- self." His desire was complied with, and clinging painfully to the saddle, lying down upon the neck of his horse — for he was still too weak to sit upright — he forded the Potomac in safety. The first thought of the Zouaves, after securing the escape of their wounded leader, was for the horses that they had captured in such an unequal fight; and the delay occasioned in getting all of them together proved dangerous to the soldiers. "Let the horses alone, and give tlie Eebels h — 1 I" thundered Farley, as he saw the uselessness of the attempt, and the design of the enemy. Evidently, the Confederates, having a much superior force, were trying to surround the Federals. The lat- ter now numbered but ten, for Baker and Punlap, who had been sent for the wagon, had not yet returned. Of them we shall hear later. " Tain't anj- use, boj's," said Farley, at last, "we can't stay here, or they'll get us sure." The crack of his rifle followed this observation. "What are we to do'!"' asked another, as he rammed the ball home. " It's a pretty slim chance, but if we could get to the big rocks yonder, the river 'd be between us and them." *' How are we to get there?" " ^[ake a rush for the island." They wore on the pcunt of land projecting between the Poto- mac on the one side and Patterson's Creek on the other. The bowlders were not on high ground, but would answer admirably Zouaves on a Scout. 37 for breastworks. The stones, washed naked by the stream, almost wholly covered the surface of Kelley's Island. At a given signal, then, they made a break for the stream, and amid a shower of bullets from the enemy, who saw the wisdom of the attempt, they gained the coveted position. *' All right, boys? Anybody hurt?" "All as sound as new fifty-cent pieces." "Not whipped yet, not by a long shot." " Be careful of the cartridges ; they'll soon begetting mighty scarce." Crouching behind the rocks, they waited ; each man with eager, gleaming eyes and set teeth, his finger ready to dispatch the messenger of death as soon as there was a certainty that it would reach an enemy. It surely could not be difficult for their force to dislodge such a handful of men, thought the Confeder- ates; and, rushing down from the hill like an avalanche, they swejjt across the little plain, and the foremost man was in the stream. "Whew, boys ! more than seventy; let them have it now." Almost with one report, the rifles were discharged; the man in the stream threw his arms above his head and fell backwards as his feet lost their hold on the bed of the creek ;• the water grew dark around him as he went down ; here and there, in the mass of men ujion the land who were about to follow him into the water, one would fall j another would stagger a moment as if bending beneath a heavy load ; and then would turn and retreat toward the shelter of the grove as rapidly as the nature of his wound would permit. Hardly a bullet of the ten failed to take effect; and surprised by the excellent marksmanship of the men they were about to attack, the Confederates halted irresolutely a moment, then turned and fled to the nearest shelter. When each was protected by the trunk of a tree, by a bush, the side of a ravine, or some such natural object, as the Federals were by the rocks, there began that most exciting kind of combat known to the soldier — sharpshooting. As one man exposed him- self in order to take aim at an enemy, half a dozen pairs of eager eyes would mark him, and before his own ball was sj^ed, five or six others would come whistling past his ears. So the fight went on for more than an hour, and at last the river was again reddened ; but not with blood this time; it was but the reflection of the clouds about the setting sun. As the 88 Zouiurs on a Scout. sky fadiHl, the Confodoratos received a reinforcement of a small partj^ of horsemen. The shower of shots from the island soon warned the new-comers that, raised so i'ar above tiie level of the ground, they were iu the greatest danger, and they speedily dismounted. One of them, who appeared to be an officer of con- siilerable rank, and who afterward ]iroved to be a brother of the famous Col. Turner Ashby, took command; and seemingly in- sensible to all danger, walked coolly from point to point arrang- ing an attack that should be more successtul than the first that had been made on the island. " Hold your tire, men, until we see what they are going to do," commanded Farley, intently watching the movements of tlie enemy. But they were not left in cbnibt many minutes. As it seemed to them, looking through the gathering darkness from behind the rocks, the Confederates sprang from their coverts at a given signal and made a rush for the stream. Onward the}' came. "Now let them have it," cried Farley. And at the Avord there were ten tlashes of tire from behind the rocks; only one or two reports, for the discharge was almost instantaneous; men in the river groaned and sank; men about to plunge into.the water sprang back and fell, each "with his face to the sky and his feet to the foe ;" men behind them looked around more than doubtfully. Only the leader seemed resolute; but, as is often the case, one man's courage was sutlicient to re- animate many. The 'Federals, in the confusion, could not dis- tinguish what he said ; probably his own men could not; but the former felt that they now had a foeman worthy of their steel, and the latter followed him, pressing close in his footsteps, right up to where the rocky shores of the island rose from the water's edge. The fight was now hand to hand. Despite their losses, the Confederates were still strong — at least six or seven to one. Against such terrible odds at such close quarters, it was madness to fight ; yet the Zouaves fought on with the strength and cour- age born of despair. The night darkened over the conflict, and in place of the white smoke that had wreathed the muzzles of rifles and revolvers, there wore flashes of fire ; that was all the change that the darkness brought. The noise of the shots, the shouts an^l curses oi' the con\batants, made night hideous. Still the Zouaves foui^ht on, feeling that the one thing left to Zouaves on d Scout. S9 tliom was to sell their lives as dearly as possible; fought in- stinctively, as the leoi)ar(l struggles to free himself from the deadly coil of the anaconda. Had the light of diiy shone upon them it would have seen strange pictures; pictures terrible to look upon, so full of ani- mal ferocity they were. There is something grand in the thought of thousands of men laying aside their daily work, going to fight, perhaps to die, for the right; but follow those nrien to the battle field, and the moral heroism has vanished; the sacrifice has been made, and is over ; they are mere bull-dogs, game-cocks, urged on to each other's destruction by the command of another animal, called an oflicer. O, it is a horrible thing to see men fighting as these fought there, in the darkness, upon the rocky island, with the river flowing so peacefully around them ! Before long, Farley found himself in direct combat with the Confederate officer ; the duel had lasted some minutes, now one, now the other, gaining a slight advantage, but it seemed about to result in the defciat of the Federal, when another of the Zou- aves, Ilollowell, perceiving his leader's danger, hastily swung his rifle at the Rebel's head. The blow was a heavy one, and the Confederate, without a groan, fell dead at the feet of his late antagonist. "D — n it," was IIollowcH's* brief comment, "it's ruined my rifle," and stooping down an instant, ho possessed himself of the dead man's revolvers. A third Zouave, Thomas, had fired twice with deadly aim, and wasjustinthe act of reloading when a pistol ball grazed his head, knocking him senseless. As he fell to the earth, the Con- federate who had fired the shot, fearing it might be ineffectual, had drawn his saber, and was about to finish the work so well begun, when a comrade of the wounded man fired upon him. The blade gleamed in his hand a moment, then fell to the ground as his grasp relaxed, and in an instant more his dead body lay across the unconscious form of Thomas. Such were some of the scenes that might have been seen, could the sun have suddenly lighted up the darkness. Knowing that Hollenback had fallen, and sup])osing that Thomas had been killed, the Zouaves began each to think of saving himself, if it were possible. One after the other, under cover of the darkness, the eight survivors plunged into the stream and swam away from the scene of car- nage. The enemy, finding what they wore endeavoring to do, •U) Zoiiiircs on a >SVo///. ^'era- i^s ^'' 'Mf'^'w.^':}'^^^ Zouaves on a Srout. 41 pjavo chase ; but boforo lon^ deckled that the fnf>;itives were too much scattered for them to pursue with advantaji;e. They accordingly returned to Kelley's Island, in order to bury their dead and care for their wounded. Thomas, whose senses had now returned, crawled into a little thicket of bushes and vines as he realized the state of affairs. Thence he could see the dead bodies carried away, thence he could hear their every word. "Hallo! here's a Yank!" "Alive or dead ? " "Alive; come got out o' this." "I can't; I'm wounded," murmured Hollenback, faintly. " Get out 'o this, I say ; can't you understand English ?" The command was uttered so threateningly, and accompanied by such a show of force, that the wounded Zouave dragged him- self slowly and painfully to his feet, and, still at the point of the bayonet, waded the narrow stream. Thomas lay in the bushes unseen, unsuspected, until the last Confederate had dis- appeared ; then he crept out, and, by wading and swimming, succeeded in reaching the opposite bank of the Potomac. The two men who had been sent for the wagon had heard the earliest shots of the second fight, and knowing that since there were so many fired, there must be a considerable force opposed to their comrades, galloped off to the camp for reinforcements. Fifty men were immediately detailed to go to the rescue; but such was the enthusiasm excited by the report of the two mes- sengers, that the force was swelled to four times that number before it had left the town. Fast as they could go, the progress of the fight had been so rapid that, when they arrived at the field of battle, there was no one there. Stains of blood upon the smooth white rocks, guns lying where they had fallen from the dying hands, broken pistols that had been thrown angrily away — these were the traces that remained of the desperate fight. Eeturning to camp, they told the story of what they had seen. It was then late at night; early the next day, a larger force, consisting of two companies, were sent to search for the living and to bury the dead. But this detachment mot with but little more success than the former. The body of Hollenback, which the Confederates had left behind them in their flight, and eight of the horses the party had captured, were all that they brought back to camp with them. But perhaps the best part of their 42 SSt9tutwt$ Ml 0i Aqmr* MuoMM «riM tiM UifoniMtlKMi tfc«7 <»l>tAin««i that tlk« C«a6il«fsl«« Im4 c»rri«4 aW t L. . .. - - . : he proud- ly dftUF<&r«d tb« captured pi«toI« to CoU Walla^se. ♦ . oar own d- ■;ri,rvwj r>iil ti Uri*t, th«^y ruiewi rue commerce of the United States. 43 44 Burning a Privateer. The Alabama had not yet become the terroi- of the seasj but with a prophetic instinct of what would be, these officers re- solved that the vessel in question must be destroyed. An expe- dition was accordingly planned, in all its details, by the fiag- officer and captain of the Colorado, and Lieut. Russell named as the commander of the force to be sent. Of the eiforts made to carry out that plan, and the degree of success attained, it is our present business to tell. It was between three and four o'clock on the morning of Sept. 14th, 1861, that four launches, each containing about twenty-five men, moved away from the blockading fleet, near Santa Rosa Island. With measured stroke the men pulled for the main- land, for the Navy Yard, two miles away. Their oars were muffled; the night was a dark one; and they were near the wharf before their presence was discovered by the enemy. There was a heavy guard on board the schooner, and a field piece and battery on shore were so placed as to command the approach to the vessel by sea. Such precautions, it would seem, ought to be sufficient protection. The watch descried, through the darkness, the launches ap- proaching the schooner, and at once gave the alarm. The guard was on the alert, and as soon as it was perceived that the ncAV comers did not intend to reply to the challenge of the watch, a volley of musketry was fired. But even this failed to bring the launches to ; the men only bent to their oars with the more en- ergy, as one or two in each boat bent forward, wounded unto death. In a moment more, they were close alongside the ves- sel, and had grappled to her. The leader was first to spring up her side. " Board her !" he shouted, as with cutlass in one hand and a flaming torch in the other, he led the way. An officer who says " Go !" may find his men lacking in enthu- siasm; but one who says " Come!" rarely lacks followers. It was so in this case, at least, for the men came close in the wake of their leader. Hurling the torch into the hold, he prepared for the fight which all knew would ensue. It was a sharp strug- gle, but the Confederates, surprised and confused, were beaten back. For some reason, the troops on shore did not assist them ; and they were driven from the schooner to the wharf. There they made a stand, pouring a rain of bullets upon the Federals, who were endeavoring to make them fall back still farther. The Burning a Privateer. 45 United States force was endeavoring to hold possession of the steamer until the return of a small partj^ that had been sent on shore to'spike one of the largest of the guns — the one placed so as most effectually to command their avenue of escape. But this perilous task was safely accomplished by the handful of men set to perform it; their retreat was covered by the fire of their com- rades on board the schooner; and the Federals had done all that they could do. The order was given to retreat. " Pull for dear life, boys," was the command as they were once more in the launches, " there'll be a shower of grape after us in a minute." His words were speedily verified ; for they had hardly died away before the boom of the guns was heard over the water, and pull for dear life they did, until the order was given to stop for a certain purpose. This was nothing else than the discharge of the brass howitzers, one of which had been placed in each launch. Six charges of canister were fired into the yard, but with what effect it was, of course, impossible for them to ascertain. Again thoy bent to their oars, and although their fire was speedily answered by volleys from the shore, they pulled steadily away. But in describing the advance and retreat of the Federals, we have neglected to speak of the success of their expedition. Lieut, Eussell hurled the flambeau into the hold of the vessel, where it lighted, fortunately for the plans of the Federals, in the midst of some highly inflammable material left there by the workmen who had been employed to change a United States coasting vessel into a Confederate privateer. The flames spread rapidly, and before the Confederates, driven to the shore as they had been by the sudden onslaught of the attacking party, could come to the rescue, the terrible element had gained too great a headway to be successfully fought. The fire filled the hold ; the deck was carpeted with tongues of flame that ran like winged serpents along the caulked seams; they changed their nature, and shot up with lightning-like rapidity into the rigging. There was no chance of saving the vessel from which so much had been hoped; the most that could be done was to prevent further damage. Fortunately for the Confederates, the tide was going out; had it been coming in, the problem might have been a more difficult one. Eesolved to save the wharf and the Navy Yard, they cut her loose from her moorings. As she drifted 46 Burning a Privafeer. Burning a Privateer. 47 slowly out of Iho harbor with the tide, the flames leaped higher and higher. Tiie hull was a mass of fire resting upon the dark waters, the rigging outlined in fire against the dark sky. A weird brilliancy followed in her wake, as she floated ofl", illum- ing the darkness for miles around her track. Slowly she passed away from the wharf, beyond the blockading squadron, to which Lieut. Russell and his men had by this time returned, until, far out at sea, the flames died down, and she became a mere speck of light upon the horizon. When daylight came, there were but a few pieces of charred wood, tossed hither and thither by the waves, to tell of the splendid spectacle which had glorified the night. But that was not all. On board the vessels of Santa Rosa's Island, there were nearly a hundred men who felt that they had performed a perilous but important duty j that in at least one instance they had done good service to their country ; and they dropped a soldier's tear for those who, in the performance of that self-same duty, had not only risked, but lost their lives. CAUGHT A TARTAR. A llecoiinoissance — A Hard Koad to Travel — Surprised — Surrender of i^jiiis — His Captors Get His Auimuuition, uud He Gets His Liberty. ONE day, early in September, 1861, Capt. W. E. Strong, of the Second Wisconsin Volunteers, was ordered to pro- ceed to the woods near Catnip Advance, at which the Second was then stationed, to see if the outer line of pickets ought to be extended. Proceeding along this line until the last post was reached, he found that he was some four hundred yards from the river. To the right, between the pickets and the stream, was a dense thicket of pine undergrowth. In Capt. Strong's judg- ment, this portion of the ground should be occupied, as the thick brush oftored such facilities for the advance of small parties of the enemy upon the outer post. He accordingly so reported to the superior officer who ordered him to make the inspection ; and was directed to make a minute examination of the grounds, reporting again at 3 P. M. A short time after noon, then, he departed upon this second errand, and " thereby hangs a tale." Passing the outpost, he pushed on through the thicket, and found that distance had in- deed lent enchantment to the view. He had thought that the brush would shelter the enemy in any flank movement that might be attempted ; but he found that the ground was so rough and the woods so dense that no force could penetrate it. Having made liis way to the river, the officer concluded that his work had been thoroughly done, and that he might return by some pleasanter road than that by which he had advanced. He ac- cordingly turned back on a Hue about one hundred rods in ad- 48 Caught a Tartar. 49 vance of the outer line of pickets, intending to turn towards camp as soon as ho got fairly into the open country. All along this route there was underbrush of greater or less density, but none so difficult to penetrate as that thicket through which he had just made his way. Thinking nothing of any danger, ho pursued the path calmly but rapidly, in order to get back to camp and report at the time designated. He was hasten- ing along when ho came to a somewhat denser thicket than any which he had yet passed since leaving the river. Suspecting nothing of danger within such a short distance of the Federal lines, he plunged into the shady recesses. Suddenly, from be- hind every bush there appeared to spring a man ; and in an in- stant there were six Confederates surrounding him and demand- ing his surrender. "Gentlemen, you have me," replied the Federal, somewhat ruefully, as he saw that there was no possibility of escape. "Who are you?" asked one of them, whom the others, later on, addressed as "Sergeant," and who appeared to be in com- mand of the squad. " Your prisoner," he answered, evasively ; at which there was a general laugh at the " cute Yankee." " Where were you going ?" "Back to camp." " Where had you been ?" " Gentlemen, I must decline to answer any such questions," he answered. This produced considerable dissatisfaction among his captors, and they began to discuss, in no very pleasant mood, how they should dispose of him. " Oh, let's hang the d d Yankee scoundrel," suggested one, pointing to a limb overhead, such as Judge Lynch has often wished for. " Let's take him to camp and hang him there," proposed an- other. " Well take him to camp," decided the sergeant, without inti- mating what was to follow when once they had arrived there. The procession was, to the prisoner, an imposing one. He himself was the central figure. Two of the Confederates were cavalrymen, and these rode, one on each side of him. Before him were two infantrymen, while the remaining two brought up the rear. There seemed absolutely no possibility of escape 50 Caught a Tartar. by any way that could he thought of, and Strong felt hopeless. Whether they did not wish to linger so long almost in the very face of the Federal pickets, or whether, in that early stage of the War, the capture of an enemy was so novel an experience that they did not " know the ropes," we cannot undertake to say; but certainly the little column had marched some twenty rods before it occurred to the sergeant that a point of some im- portance had been neglected. <' See here, stranger," he said, turning to the prisoner, "I reckon I'll trouble you for your sword and pistols." " Certainly, sir," replied the captive, stopping short in the road to get the weapons, in order to give them up. The sergeant had omitted to order a halt, and as a natural consequence, his men marched on. As Capt. Strong brought his pistol pouches around to the front of his bod}^, and his hands touched the stocks, the idea suggested itself that here was a chance to escape. The soldiers had passed on and were about fifty feet away ; they were in a comparatively open portion of the woods, but about sixty yards to the rear was a small thicket; the prisoner was fleet of foot, and a good shot. All these points were thought of as he changed the position of the pouches; he touched the stocks ; he drew out the pistols at full cock, and aiming, first at the sergeant, then at the two infiintrymen who were nearest to him, fired. Hardly had the bullets sped from the barrels when he was off to cover, like a deer before the hounds. He had moved so readily to give up his weapons that the Con- federates had not the slightest idea of his intention, when the shots rang out, both at once, upon the still air. For a moment they were paralyzed by surprise; then, as they realized thesitu- uation, gave chase. But that moment's inaction had enabled the fleet-footed Federal to get a good start. He had nearly reached cover before a shot was fired. But the bullets, when they did come, were not ill-aimed. One passed through his cheek, coming out at his mouth; a second perforated his can- teen; and the others whistled unpleasantly close to his ears. In the meantime the Confederates had hastily arranged apian of pursuit. The sergeant was not hit, but two of their number had fallen by the fire of the prisoner ; there were then two horsemen and two unmounted men remaining. The latter gave direct chase, trusting that their own speed would prove greater than Caught a Tartar, 51 that of tho Federal ; the troopers made a circuit, ono to each side, so as to head him off and drive him back upon the two in- fantrymen. As Capt. Strong, glancing back over his shoulder, saw the ar- rangements that were being made for the pursuit, he fired three or four shots at the pursuing infantrymen ; but he dared not pause to take careful aim, and the shots had no effect. He ran on, still at tho top of his speed, until a small knoll was passed, and he was thus shut off from the pursuers ; he was almost within ^) ^O '1 sS*»^ ' ^■i^-:^ ■"'===- ^^Z&^ ^^ .#\f^*4 m^mmlf^ ^^ ^^i^AJ'^ ^fmf^M^^ Catching a Tartar. hailing distance of one of the Federal pickets. But, even as he felt that in a few minutes more he would be safe, he was sud- denly confronted by tho two troopers. " Halt ! Surrender ! " called the sergeant. For answer, Capt. Strong turned and ran in the other direc- tion; the sergeant spurred his horse onward, and was, in a mo- ment's time, nearly up with the fugitive. The Federal turned, took deliberate aim, and pulled the trigger. The cap snapped. The trooper had his carbine unslung by this time, and was hold- ing it with both hands on the left side of his horse, the barrel pointed to the Federal's breast, and without bringing the weapon to his shoulder, the Confederate fired. It was a good shot, when 52 Caught a Tartar. the aim is considered ; though it failed of its object; the ball passed through coat and shirt, grazing the skin on tlie left side between the fifth and sixth ribs. An inch to the right, and it would have been fatal. By this time the fugitive was ready with another shot, and this time his revolver did not fail him. When the smoke cleared away, he saw ahorse, empty-saddled, galloping oif towards the Confederate camp, the rider dragged along the ground by the foot, which still stuck in the stirrup, as the Trojan prince was dragged at the chariot wheels of Achilles. Other Confederates there were none visible; warned by the fate of half their num- ber, they had hastily beaten a retreat. Capt. Strong ran on un- til the pickets were reached, when he thought he might take it a little more leisurely ; being much exhausted by the exertion and the loss of blood from tlie wound in his face. Whether he reached camp in time to report punctually at the hour set, does not appear ; but as the official written report from which the outlines of this story are drawn, was dated the day after the adventure, we conclude that the surgeon interfered to prevent over-exertion in the way of talking. He was uninjured, save for the shot in his cheek. He never heard again of his captors who so narrowly escaped with their lives. They evi- dently carried oif the bodies of the two infantrymen, as these were killed very near the Confederate lines; and the dead trooper was, as we have seen, dragged back to camp by the frightened horse. j!!Ihapter Y- I A SCOUT TO BALTIMORE. Necessity for Information — Obliging Yidettes — A Successful Eusc — An Unexpected CiLiest, Who Finds lliinsolf in a Hornet's Nest, But Doesn't (iet Stung— A Cor- dial Keception — Attentions from the Officer of the Day — Danger Ahead — Getting the Countersign — A Drunken Officer, Who Speedily Sobers Off— A Changed Home — Trustworthy (?) IMcssengers — A Deserved Fate — A Friendly Chat, That Ends Unpleasantly — Crossing the Eivcr — The Enemy Alarmed — Pursuit — Vexation of the Pursuers — The Pursued Triumphant. THE War between the States afforded peculiar facilities for obtaining information, on eitlier side, by means of scouts or spies ; for in every state that lay along the dividing line there were men who held with the North, and others who held with the South. Such men, of course, from their peculiarly intimate knowledge of the surrounding country and its inhabitants, were invaluable to the commanders to whom they attached them- selves. Such a man was Elijah White, a wealthy planter of Maryland, who, like many others, incensed that that state re- mained in the Union, volunteered to serve in the Confederate army operating in the sister state, Virginia. In October, 1861, Gen. Evans, of the Confederate army, whose forces were then at Leesburg, was much annoyed by the knowl- edge which the Federals frequently showed of his plans. Sus- picion immediately fell upon the townspeople, but could not be confirmed with regard to any particular persons. Not only was this the case, but the enemy indulged in many maneuvers which, in his entire ignorance oftheir movements and intentions, often discomforted his forces. Accordingly, several Marylanders in the Confederate service volunteered to cross the Potomac and, pene- trating as far as Baltimore, sixty miles away, bring back the news, 53 54 A Scout to Baltimore. Four men nuido u]> tlic party, ono of thoin boing Mr. White. Ridinii; to that ])oint selected for fording the river, they found that the .stream was ch)scly watched on tlie other side. Strata- gem, of course, must bo cm])h)yed, and some accommodating vidottes wore pressed into service. "Just you fuss about and attract as much attention as you can, will you?" was tlie j)ro])osition j ''and then maybe we can get across." Doubtless the Federal pickets Avondered what was the mat- ter with the videttes across the river; certainly, they paid their undivided attention to those gentlemen, and did not see the four men iu blue uniforms who swam their horses to the Maryland side. These, of course, were White and his party; and once more on dry land, they changed their blue uniforms for citizens' clothes, and rode away. But by the time that they were ready to do so, the Federals had discovered that the "fussing about" on the part of the videttes had been merely a ruse to draw their attention from something else, and blue-clud cavalrymen were now galloping hither and thither in search of the daring enemy. But the Marylanders had no mind to bo found ; each felt that "his foot was on his native heath," and if no clan surrounded him, each was a liost in himself. To them, a road was a superflu- ity, and, striking into the thick timber, they rode for thirty miles without other guide than their knowledge of the country and "^riio coiil, <;tc('ii niosyos, To the iiortlnviird ol'tlio tri'os." Of course, for them to enter Baltimore in a p:u*ty wc^uld prob- ably excite suspicion, as tliat city was then in the hands of the Federals, who knew not Avhom, among its inhabitants, to trust; so, a short time before reaching the suburbs, they separated, having first assigned one of the principal hotels as a rendez- vous. True, the city being an important point and more than suspected of having Southern ])roclivilies, was closely guarded; but the four Confederates succeeded in evading any trouble- some inquiries. The very fact that they had so many acquaint- ances in the cit}' was in itself a danger, but they were so skill- ful and fortunate as to avoid meeting with any who might betray them. But as the adventures of throe of th^ pm*ty were of no particular interest, and might be told in a few words, let us fol- low the chief of the expedition, then, as he made his way about tlie city. A Hcout to Baltimore. 56 Stablinpj his liorso in .in out-of-thc-vvny place, ho carefully re- moved all traces of his rido from his person, and bent his steps toward the residence of a friend in whom he knew he could trust, a Mr. W . But what was his surprise to find his friend's parlors fiih^d witli a considerable party, twelve of whom were Federal officers. W , however, was well used to dis- sembling in the presence of such as his present guests, and ex- claimed, as ho shook the new comer heartily by the hand: " Why, I had no idea wo should have the pl