Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-08
WOttester Daily Spy
CAPT. CARPENTER AND THE s.JESSIE
SCOUTS"
DARING AND ROMANTIC ADVENTURES.


Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
MARTINsBURG, Va, July 1.-Of the many
picturesque individuals one encounters in
this latitude, Capt. Carpenter of the Jessie
Scouts Is by no means figure to be passed
by. Fancya poacher who is half brigand and
wholly dare devil, and you catch glimpse of
his air. High-top boots are drawn up over
wide black velvet trowsers. No vest is worn,
and the eXpanse of a broad chest affords a
line field for the once snowy shirt-bosom OF
Partisan pretenSions and fine material, form
ed of divers putting and plating, its front fold
being garnished with studs, and two rather
large bosom pins joined by gold chain. I'm
der broad collar is loosely tied a black silk
scarf in large, careless bows, and hanging
fringed ends. hunting coat of black velvet,
decked with the buttons and epaulettes of his
rank and rakish hat of the sombrero STYLE
with long black plume and divers gilt orna-
ments complete costume masked with an
attractive eccentricity.
Beneath the brim of this hat CLEANS a face
that tells its own story; keen Spanish bright
eyes, a wild luXuriance of hair and mustache,
bronZed cheeks and features all aglow with
health and Tigor. As one notes his step of
careless, defiant, selt-confdence, one could
readily credit accounts of even more reckless
deeds of daring and audacious bravery than
those linked to his name. Jessie Scouts
were organized in Kansas by Capt. Carpenter,
and comprise twenty -four young men of I'M
daunted courage and finished hOrsemanship.
They were accepted on the 9th of August, at
st. Louis, by Gen. Fremont, who was then in
command of that department. One of the
first personal exploits of the captain, while his
men were adversely employed, was an excur-
sion to New Madrid in response to a desire
expressed by Gen. Fremont, for information
respecting Gen. Pillow. Disguised as a con-
N,iSi
planters residing in St. Louis and represent
ing himself as an officer whose term had ex-
pired, took their confidence and secured from
them letters to Gen. Pillow, a horse, and 9TH
er needed accessories to his success. Thus
provided he merrly wendell his way toward
Gen. Pillows camp, then stationed at New
Madrid, and consisting of thirty-two hundred
men.
He adroitly ingratiated himself into the
confidence OF Gen. Pillow, learned from him
many of his plans, and engaged himself to
raise a company of scouts from st. Louis for
his service. The general, delighted, gave
him instructions how to proceed, furnishing
him with passes and knowledge how to SNUG
gle his recruits across the river to Paducah,
the only available entrance into the conteder-
ate lines. Before Capt Carpenter departed
on this expedition, he entered Gen. Pillows
marquee, helped himself to all loosely dispos-
ed papers and documents in the name of the
United States, mounted the horse furnished
him. and triumphantly rode away. AT Padu-
cab he hailed the Union gunboat Connestoga,
and with some difficulty proving his identity,
was conveyed to St. Louis, where he de-
livered the valuable intelligence he had
obtained. This information was the means
of securing the safety Of Colonel Oglesby,
who was in garrison at Cairo. His next eX-
plot was visit to the camp of jeff. Thomp-
son, upon which excursion he appeared in the
character Of a crazy man, hatless, shoeless,
and appropriately costumed, rejoicing in a
wound over his eye, which he had conven-
iently reopened for the occasion. The con-
federates received him with some show of
compassion, and their medical director, after
examining his wound, pronounced it a com
pound fracture of the skull. He was permit
ted the freedom tthe camp, and soon learned
that they were aware of the failure of Gen.
Pillows Cairo and st. Louis plans. After OBJ
tanning all the information to be had, flash of
insanity prompted the adoption Of fine horse,
and bold gallop through the pickets.
Delivering the intelligence he had gained
to Gen. Grant at Cape Girardeau, he was
made bearer of dispatches to Gen. Montgom-
cry by Gen. Fremont. En- route he encoun-
tered the fearful accident at Platt's Bridge,
from which, however, he escaped at first I'M
injured. After securing many wounded, he
went to the aid Of the conductor, Stephen
Butler Of New York, who was lying crushed
upon car While endeavoring to eXtricate
him, the car again gave way, killing Cutler
instantly and breaking Capt. Carpenters
shouder-blade, who lay with the dead body of
Cutler in his arms for five hours before he
was rescued. This incident detained him five
days in Kansas City. On the sixth he mount
ed his horse, and the eighth saw him at the
Mt I
Scott since promoted to a captaincy in the
. u. S. A., and Lieut.. RObb. Crossing the
river, by command of Major Barry, in order
TO take observations, they suddenly came upon
a party of eight men, mounted, who claimed
to be squirrel hunting The captain, saying
he was an old hunter himself, desired to in
spect the sort of shot they used in their sports.
The result was a discovery of 250 rounds Of
cartridges in the pockets and saddle-bags of
the first man overhauled. After twitting
them awhile for their illy-selected ammuni.
ton for squirrel huntng they confessed that
they belonged to company from Platt's coun-
ty, and were on their way to re-entorce Gen.
Price, who was then preparing for an attack
upon Mulligan, at Lexington.
Capt. Carpenter sent them under guard to
Major Barry, asking for re-enforcements.
The major responded by sending 60 men and
howitzer mounted on an old pine box wag-
on; DuU before tneSe arrived, the Captain, be-
coming FESTIVE, made a dash into Randolph.
ia deserted town, the rendezvous of the rebel
bands,) and captured II prisoners, killed of
the band, and routed the rest. He took thir-
ty-fve horses, fifteen or twenty shot guns.
and a large quantity of ammunition. Before
leaving, he reduced Randolph to ashes. In
this foray he was hit by ball over the
eve, which, to use his own expression, con
" raised blood-blister." The news of this
exploit spread rapidly through the coun-
try. and upon his return to Kansas City
he and his band were met by the ac-
CARNATIONS of about 1000 people. Reporting
himself at st. Louis, he was sent by General
Fremont to see what the rebel General Price
was about. Dressed as a farmer, he passed
their pickets, and was employed by the chief
quartermaster as Il teamster, and made one
trip into the country, giving complete satisfac-
ton Discovering what he wished, the next
day he drove off with fine team of mules,
and neglected to return. The mules he sold
for $50, his title not being very good.
Returning to headquarters, and seeing a
little distraction from the pursuits of war, he
made the acquaintance of Il woman, who told
him that the rebels had plan laId to destroy
the Hannibal and st. Joseph railroad; also
that there was a rebel spy then in town, who
was associated with some telegraphic opera
tor intercepting all dispatches passing from
one portion of the Union forces to another
upt nd IL