The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-11
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY II, 1862,

FRIDAY MORNING.. JULY IL, 1862.
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Romantic AdvenIures aud Daring
Feats OF Capt. CarPs dteF OF the
''Jessie" scouts. pi h.a'l
A correspondent of the N. Y. 1pb,me,
writing from Martinsburg, Va, relates
the following romantic narrative Of cell
ebrated Union Scout:
Among the many picturesque individ-
uals one encounters in this latitude, Capt
Carpenter of the Jessie Scouts is by no
means n figure 20 be passed by. Fancy
poacher who is half brigand and who'll
ly dare devil, and you catch q glimpse Of
bis air. High top. boots are drawn up
over wide black velvet trowsers. No vest
is worn, and the expanse Of broad chest
affords fine field for the once snowy
shirt bosom os Partisan preteusions and
fine material, formed of divers pulling
and plating, its front fold being garnish-
ed with studs, and two rather large
bosom pins joined by gold chain. I'M
der broad collar is loosely tied black
silk scarf, in large, careless bows, and
hanging fringed ends. A hunting coat
Of black velvet, decked with the buttons
and epaulettes of his rank, and rakish
hat of the sombrero atyle, with a long
black plume and divers gilt ornaments,
complete a costume masked with an at
/ tractive eccentricity.
Beneath the brim OF this hat CLEANS a
| face that tells its own story; keen Span
ish bright eyes, wild luxuriance OF hair.
and mustache, bronzed cheeks and fea-
lures all aglow with health and vigor. AS
one notes his step of careless defiant
self-coniidence one could readily credit
accounts Of even more reckless deeds of
daring and audacious bravery than those
linked 10 his name. 'Jessie Scouts" were
organized in Kansas by Capt. Carpenter
and comprise twenty -four yong men Of
undaunted courage and finished horse
manship. They were accepted on tho
9th of August, at 81. Louis, by General
Fremont, who was then in command Of
that Department. One of the first per-
sonal exploits of the Captain, while his
men were diversely employed, was an ex-
cursion to New Madrid in response TO a
desire expressed by Gen. Fremont, for
information respecting Gen. Pillow. Dis
guised as a Confederate officer, Carpen-
ter visited several planters residing in
ST. Louis, aud representing himself as an
officer whose term had expired, took their
confidence and secured from them letters
to Gen. Pillow, horse and other needed
accessories TO his success Thus pro-
vided, he merrily wended his way TO.
,,-ard Can DiiIourio Damn fhan afatton az
at New Madrid, and consisting Of 3,2OC
men.
Z He adroitly ingratiated himself into
the confidence of Gen. Pillow, Learned
from him many Of his plans, and engaged
himself to raise company Of scouts from
St. Louis for his service. The General
delighted, gave him instructions how h
proceed, furnishing him with passes anC
knowledge how 10 smuggle his recruit
across the river to Paducah, the onll
} available entrance into the Confederate
lines. Before Capt. Carpenter departed
{ on this expedition, he entered Gen. Pill
. lows marquee, helped himself TO al
loosely disposed papers and document
+ in the name Of the United States, mount
! ed the horse furnished him, and triumph
. antly rode away. AZ Paducah he haile'
{ the Union gunboat Oonestoga, and wit
I some difficulty proving his identity, wa
2 conveyed TO St. Louis, where be deliver
4 ed the valuable intelligence he had oh
j. tained This information was the mean
= OF securing the safety Of Col. Oglesby
+ who was in garrison at Cairo. His mex
T. exploit was visit TO the camp of JET
ID Thompson, upon which excursion he ap
y peared in the character Of a crazy mar
10 hatless, shoeless, and appropriately cos
q tuned, rejoicing in a wound over his eyt
Z which he had conveniently reopened fc
q the occasion.
The Coniederates received him wit
4 some show of compassion, aud their Mid
b. ical Director, after examining his wound
y pronounced tia compound fracture Of tf
e skull. He was permitted the freedom {
., the camp, and soon learned that the
lt were aware Of the failure Of Gen. Pillow
Cairo and ST. Louis plans After oil
tanning all the information 10 be had,
flash of insanity prompted the adoptio
Of Of fine horse, and a blOd gallop throug
the pickets.
e. Delivering the intelligence he ha
n gained to Gen. Grant At Cape Girardea
Is he was made bearer Of dispatches
"a Gen Montgomery by Cen. Fremont
,i Enroutc be encountered the fearful a.
GSr cident at Plates Bridges from whic
II however, he escaped at hrst uniniwe
AZ After securing many wounded, he Wel
a to the aid Of the conductor, stephen Gu
lg Ter, Of New York, who was lying crush'
D" under a car While endeayoring 10 e.
tricate him, the car again gave way, Nj
ing Cutler instantly aud breaking Car
-, Carpenters shoulder blade, who lay wi
ng the dead body Of Cutler in his arms {
five hours before he was rescued. Ih
Il. incident detained him Eve days IN ka
DO sas City. On the sixth he mounted b
.asi horse, and the eighth saw him at the hel
lr Of his men. His officers were Licutena
ns Scott, siaccpromoted 10 a Captaincy
the United States Army and Lioutena