Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-17
WHOLE NO. 1898

/. RISKY iarson.-We know that the fol- towing must be true, because we found it in the
 Memphis Appeal, a paper that always and in- evtaby tells the truth, if it can find nothing bet
 ter to tell: A correspondent of that gentle print describes the battle of Stone Bridge, and gives his readers this incident
 "Parson Rippetos, Methodist preacher, and captain of Virginia company, performed prodi- ges of valor at the first taking of Shermans bat. tery (for it was taken, then lost, and then taken again.) He cut the throats of the horses, and then engaged Lieut.. Sherman in hand-to hand conflict with sabres. After a ten minutes fight both being accomplished swordsmen--he sev- cred Sherman's head from his body at one blow" Being anxious to corroborate the truth of this statement, lest people might suspect the AppeoJ man of-of- eXaggeration, to use mild word, we sent special correspondent to see what he could learn, anent this bellgerent divine. Hero
 is the result to the truth if which our correspon. dent is prepared to mako affidavit at any mo- ment
 found Parson Rippetoe at Richmond, look. ing pretty wel considering. When sober, he must be a very fine looking preacher. On in quiry learned that the Appeal man had garb. ed the facts of the parsons exploit, most terri bly,. The fact is, that personal feeling had ex- isted between them for some years, in conse- quence of the parsons father having bit off the nose of the correspondents grandmother, in playful moment, and thrown her eldest child out of a three story window into we'll. All tho Rippetoes are of lively disposition, as may be inferred from the family name.
 The personal aninosity led the correspondents to conceal the real prowess of Brother Rippetoe as far as possible, but the brother has since madO it square, by removing tho others viscere with hand-saw, and sating him down as prime mess pork, for army consumption.
 The truth about the taking of the battery is this Parson Rippetoo-I love to dwell upon that nane-advanced, single handed, with his wrists and ankles securely tied together, until hO had approached within some three feet of the cannons mouth. A perfectly irresistible storm of grape, canister, shell, casebar, chain shot, and other hardware, then opened upon him, and tho entire federal army began throwing bricks.
 Armed with nothing but rfed umbrella, he pursued lis dauntless way. He, indeed, per- formed prodges of yalor! He fell suddenly upon the horses, and engaged them in hand-tO- hand conflict cut the tlroats of the cannon, dis mantled Lieut. Sherman, and aided only by small chaw of tobacco and the customary South ern prayer-that he might fight the Yankees, so long IS goddlemity gave him breath'-sur- rounded the entire battery.
 Amoyement Was now made to cut of his flank, and the battery was taken, re-taken, then lost, found, re-taken and taken again, and finally re- taken, when Parson Rippetoe determined to take it again.
 He advanced this time in columns, close order. When near enough to see tho whites of his eyes, he drew his canteen and went in lemons.-- He killed twelve men with his breath alone, and engaged Lieut.. Sherman and the rest of the Fe- deral army, had pretty good time. After fight ing for ten hours without food or sleep, washing or lodging, board or clothes, he raised his brawny arm on high, waved his sabre three times around h bnol boin alo.l and with one terrible blow, actually cut off the retreat of the Federalists!
 He then took his hat and went home. Par son Rippetoe is a modest man, about five feet seven, and lives in the lap of luxury whenever he can. Just now, as times are hard, he is will ing to take preaching, as well as to go out by the day. He is hard-shell Methodist, and grows his own whiskoy. This is all can learn of him.
 N. B-I wouldn't read the Mempis Appeal any more, if l were you.-Vdnity Fur.
 FoRTIFyINu THE UsQuEHANNA.-Engineer corps, by order of the federal government, are now sounding the Susquehanna from tho mouth of the Juniata to the Chesapeake, locating the lords and bridges, noting the bluffs and inland hills, and exploring the tributary streams within that distance. They intend to accomplish their work so efectually that future reconnoisances of the same country will be unnecessary and the means of defence that they now point out will be of use for all wars to come. There are no in- termediate streams between the Susuuehanna and Schuykill that could be defended at odds. The adjacent country affords few fastnesses of forests and high hills There are in southern Pennsylvania only rolling farm lands and fertile plains, upon which tho invaders could forage, and picture beyond them country more beauti- ful still for rapacity and courage to enjoy. The government has foreseen this and to be fore warned IS to be forearmed. Had ever the rebels of Maryland succeeded in voting that State out of tie Union, the struggle of arms would havo changed it's scene of action from the banks of the Potomac to the banks of the Susquehanna. This is very true and should Q reverse possibly befall our arms, it may still come to pass We regard this reconnaissance, therefore, of our na- tional authorities as second in importance to no enterprise that our government has undertaken. 1t is made in obedience to that wisest of state maxims, '" In time of peace prepare for war; Ha'ris5~yh Union.
 CURIOUS TRAIT IN A GANEsrER.-Of Col Fran cis Edgeworth curious trait is related by his grandson the late Mr Edgeworth file was . man of great wit and gaiety, fond of his profess son quite soldier, and totally regardless of mo- ney Besides being straitened in his circum- stances in his by having for years large join ture to pay to his mother he was involved in difficulties by his own taste for play a taste which from indulgence, became an irresistible passion. One night after having lost all the mos ney he could command, he staked his wfes dia. mond ear rings, and went into an adjoining room where she was sitting with company, to ask her to lend them to him. She took them from her ears, saying she knew what he wanted them for, and that he was welcome to them. They were played for. My grandfather won upon his last stake and gained all he had lost that night In the warmth of his gratitude to his wife, he at her request, took an oath, that he would never more play at any game with cards or dice. Some time afterwards he was found in hayward with friend, drawing out straws from haystack and betting which should be the longest!".
 A TRUE PATR1or.-The Cincinnati Commcr- cal says that Louisville was saved from capture by the vigilance of young Union man employed upon the railroad between Bowling Green and Louisville A long train of cars, filed with reb. els, under Gen. Buckner, ha d reached the vicini' ty of Green River, without their approach oe,ng suspected, and were on their way to Louisyille' where there were uo preparations to resist them. While stopping to get supply or wood ana wa ter the young man seelng that they were hkely to succeed in their plan of surprising the clty' ran around barn a short distance OH. anu wranched out the spikes fastening four rails to the sleepers of the road. The tram soon camo