Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-22
GI)fObio 6tatesnan
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE.

| SCOUTS ADVENTURE.
| We had reached the entr ance of narrow
pass which led through some rugged hills. Our
party was but small, but its members were de-
termined men, none of whom were noviees in
scenes OF danger. We marched in silence, that
was broken only by the murmured whispers of
the men, the cries and futtering OF birds, or the
lqulck plunge of some small animal through the
thick foliage, which, from the very edge of the
path we were pursuing, spread amid lofty trees
thinly scattered on the hilla
Day was near it's close. We we're distant
some miles from the camp. The enemy might
be in possession of the defle in overwhelming
numbers 1t was determined that we should
keep in compact order until we had got well
beyond the entrance of the pass, when, as il be-
came more obstfucted or toftuous, we should,
taking Advantage OF every bnsh, rock or iI-
equaiity' advance singly, ready for Tire foe and
reck less of his nunbere
Inc foliage became thicker as we advanced,
and evening tell. O1 our right was a. dense
thicket, which we reached after bavlng lost
sight OF the entrance to the defle in our rear
Tnis thicket reached from the foot OF the gorge
to its summit Each step became frmer, but
more cautious There was no Whispering now,
and every breath was guarded We were far
; In the glen--on one side gray rocks lofty trees,
spreading over the abrupt sides of dark fantas
tic hills, broken at intervals by huge chasms
that CLEANED wildly in the rays of the dcciin
ing sun-on The other eide the impen enetrable
, thcket was buried in gloom.
Still steadily aud etsalthily advancing, each
man, with his rifle grasped easily in his hand,
ganciDg quickly to the right and left, with up-
wearied energy crept along the glen A whis-
tie, quick and clear, sent its wild sound thrill
ling through every heart aud ear. There was
sudden halt in our little troop All was
breathless suspense. That was no birds cry
No throat but human one ever gave out
note go threatening. "Wbat was il2" passed
10 still rapid whisper among US. "Guerrillas !"
"Hush!" We listened long and breathlessly, ?,
and warily peered on every side. Not man Of
US visible but to bis fellows Crouched, with
; our very hearts beating on the earth, covered
by the friendly bush, we lay for many minutes
In the hope OF hearing the whistle repeated
All was as still 81 though the spot had never
known its wild solitude broken by the foot Of
man, or disturbed by his passions, his schemes
or his ambition.
Still we listened, but n vain. No further
sound was heard. Why was there no other
signal2 Was it some solitary wanderer, who
> sent that ehrll cry forth through the stiffness
lin mere wantOnness) and with no other motive
Theie was significance in that sound that
breathed war and defiance as plainly as If 1t had
come from the blast Of trumpet. "Up aBc
. moving meD!" came, in low tones, from the
y lips OF the sergeant in command "Let 'em try
1t again
Our march was resumed as before; but We
slept more stealthily, listened with painful at
tentipn, and glared on every side with the in.
tensity OF blood hounds. The defle took an
!. acute turn to the right, and on the left was Q
|. naked space, extending for some yards, devoid
:; OF all verdure, but the gray moss clinging
" round the gray rocks.
!. We began, hastily, to cross this uncov vered
/. space, when there was report Of many pieces
whilst red flashes from rocks aud bushes in the
n front CLEANED savagely and suddenly upon US
n For moment we were staggered. Then will
n, shout we rushed forward to unearth the am
pushed foe. Again the FIRE was repeated, will
IN the muzzes OF their rifles within few feet o
our faces. gazed round for an instant, ate
discharging my piece at one fellow, and viii
ie my bayonet tranefxiDg another to the sof
sandy rock, against which he fell, and perceiv
ed none Of my party by my side. Bus the thicl
smoke and rapidly falling darkness that nov
ia ruled. in conjunction with yelIs, shots ant
e a. groans, the surrounding glen, made all nvisi
~ ~ BILE beyond the length OF the arm.
s. AT that instant felt sudden pang; a dizz
ness, a blackness, like death, came over;
clutched wildly at the sulphure ius air, reelet
and fell. f... 1tdssFh-rrl ha. -f sll
ia When recovered my senses, discovered
g that was lying on my side, bleeding slight,
!. from a flesh wound in the thigh. l had blet
- profusely, before recovering, for was ssturate
lis in half-congealed gore. Raising myself on m
r elbow, looked around for my comrades. Th
J. moon was shining with all the soitnees OF he
40 beauty on the spot i counted fve bodies lyin
to within compass of almost as many yards.
endeavored to discover their uniforms, but coul
g, not at that distance. arose slowly, and, wit
much difficulty, reached the nearest. He wa
% dead, with blue hole in the center of his for.
head, through which the bullet had passed, an
V' the blood still slowly oozed. crawled to th
ire next one; he, too, was past all earthly aid,
h on to the third, fourth and fifth. The bulls
>, had done its full work on all. These had beer
o. few hours before, my comrades, eager to de-
destruction upon foes, and careless OF the iai
that met them. ! was the sixth and last of ii
party. Ierell I.r3
n But where was the enemy, or what had bee
the enemy2 / heard no sound, and the moo
light falling directly upon the dead men, al
gray, weird.like rocks, produced an effect tn
was siekening and horrible. remembered u
man had slaib | searched for his body, bl
- my, but all had disappeared. There were
dead left on that battle ground but the five IA
len scouts. Yet, that others bad perished theS
was obvious from the blood lying in little poo
!. among the rocks, behind which the ambush,
foe had lurked and poured upon US his dead
= fire. ~. ..,,+l .,,.,
II My wound began to bleed afresh, whi,
broughta iaintness upon me, and sank to Il
earth. A burning thirst was consuming N
=, and l groaned in agony. .r
NJ After little while made another effort
IN, rise, but failed; and then falling back, as cali
n ans ly as possible, yielded to my fate. thoug
ths Of past days, when, In early youth, no cry
will blood had YET awakened that inherent feroci
ate that Turks unseen In the heart of man, until
tss fearful scent rouses IL as IL does the bloc
us. hounds, and 1t springs forth with a swiftne
that sppals and strength that desolates.
a,- ls. A CAPTURE. ias l,'
ms My reverie was broken by the sound
Tor 70 voices. Then came that Of approaching fo
ysi steps. As IL drew nearer a new life seemed
heir quiver through my veins, like the fresh gush
:, virgin spring, The most savage foe,
me whom the torture Of u captive were an una
proachable delight, advancing upon me vi
er the msnsces Of demopiac, would at that u
TrJ ment have been welcome as an angel OF le
B Ia comparison to the loneliness-the utter woe
that dismal glen, and its bloody and unburi
lh dead. .rs its g1d rad grRsas "a iss
u, In few moments dozsn armed men ",
entA on the spot, leaning on their rifles aud gsz
" lround on tho dead Some stopped and txs
a. II a. II. -