Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-01
WAR KeTCnEs BY A NORTHERN
RANGER.
A Scouts Adventure

SCOUTS adventure,
We had reached the entrance of narrow
pass which led through some rugged hills.
Our party was but small, but its members
were determined men, none of whom were
novices in scenes Of danger. We marched
ini silence, that was broken only by the
murmured whispers of men, the cries and the
hutteriDg of birds, or the thick plunge of
some small animal through the thick foli-
age, which, from the very edge of the path
we were pursuing, spread amid lofty trees
thinly scattered on the hills.
Day was near its close We were distant
some miles from the camp. The enemy
might be in possession of the defle in over
whelming numbers. 1t was determined that
we should keep in compact order until we
got well beyond the entrance of the pass,
when, as it became more obstructed or tor
tuous, we should, taking advantage of every
bush, rock or inequality advance singly,
ready for the foe and reckless of his num-
bers. q.
The foliage became thicker as we ad-
vanced, and evening fell. On our right was
q dense thicket, which we reached after
having lost sight of the entrance to the de-
file in our rear. The 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,
Towering plants and creepers in wild con-
fusion spreading over the abrupt sides of
dark, fantastic hills, broken at intervals by
huge chasms that 81 amed wildly i'll the
rays of the declining sun-on the other side
the impenetrable thicket was buried in
gloom.
Still steadily and stealthily advancing,
each man, with his rifle grasped easily in
his hand, glapcing quickly to the right and
left, with unweariei energy crept along the
glen. A whistle, quick and clear, sent its
wild sound thrilling through every heart
and ear. There was a sudden halt in our
little troop. All was breathless suspense.
That was no bird cry. No throat but
human one ever gave out a note so threaten
ing. "What was t?' passed into a still,
rapid whisper among us. "GuerrillasP
"Hush !" We listened long and breath.
lessly, and warily peered on every side.
Not a man of us visible but to his fellows.
Crouched, with our very hearts beating on
the earth, covered by the friendly bush, we
lay for many minutes in the hope ofhearing
the whistle repeated. All was as still as
though the spot had never known its wild
solitude broken by the foot of man, or dis
turbed by his passions, his schemes or his
ambition.
Still we listened, but in vain. No further
sound was heard Why was there no
other signal2 Was it some solitary wan
derer who sent that shrill cry forth through
the stiffness lin mere wantonness,) and
with no other motive than that of break
ing its monotony. Not so. There was
q significance in that sound that breathed
war and defiance as plainly as if it had
come from the blast of trumpet. Cup and
moving, menn came, in low tones, from the
lips of the sergeant in command. Let
'em try it again
Our march was resumed as before but we
stepped more stealthily, listened with pain
full attention, and glared on every side with
the intensity Of blood-hounds. The dehle
took an active turn to the right, and on the
left was u 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 uncovered
space, when there was report of many
pieces, while red flashes from rocks anC
bushes in the front CLEANED savagely anC
suddenly upon us. Fora moment we Wer'
staggered. Then with a shout we rushed
forward to unearth the ambushed foe
Again the fire was repeated, with th'
muzzles of their rifles within a few feet oi
our faces. l gazed round for an instant
after discharging my piece at one fellow
and with my bayonet transixing another
to the soft, sandy rock, against which ht
fell, and perceived none of my party by my
side. But the thick smoke and rapidly
falling darkness that now ruled, in con
junction with yells shots and groans, the
surrounding glen, made all invisible beyond
the length of the arm.
At that instant felt a sudden pangi
dizziness, a blackness, like death, came
over me l clutehed wildly at the sulphurou:
air, reeled and fell
When recovered my senses, l discovered
that was lying on my side, bleeding
slightly from flesh wound in the thigh
had bled profusely, before recovering, fol
was saturated in half-congealed gore
Raising myself on my elbow, looked round
for my comrades. The moon was shining
with all the softness of her beauty on the
spot. / counted FIVE bodies lying within {
compass of almost as many yards. en-
deavOred to discover their uniforms, bu
could not at that distance. l arose slowly
and, with much difficulty, rec ched tn
nearest. He was dead, with blue hole il
the center of his forehead, through whicl
the bullet had passed, and the blood still
freely ooged. i crawled to the next one; h
too was past all earthly aid. So on 10 tn
third, fourth and fifth. The bullet had don
its full work on all. These had been, fey
hours before my comrades, eager TO deG
destruction upon foes, and careless Of th