Spirit of the age., 1863-07-27
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From the Magnolia Weekly.
TIRE OLD SCOUT,
BEN PHELPS ADVENTURE IN THE
YANKEE LINES.

der in the Peninsula Campaign, will not fail
to reihcnber old Ben Phelps the Scout
Old Ben was native and resident OF Hamp-
ton and no man was ever more attacked to.
or prOuder CT his birthplace, than he was of
ms When General Magruder gave the or
der to burn the town, he was among the first
to obey it, saying that he preferred seeing it
III ruins, to beholding it in possession Of the
Yankees. But in his heart, Old Ben swore
deep and mighty oath: That he would nev-
er spare Yankee, while the war lasted. He
was constantly on the alert, and il the ca.
pacty of Scout, rendered invaluable assis-
lance to General Magruder. He know every
inch OF ground from Williamsburg to Old
, Po!ut, and all the by-paths and short cuts
were as familiar to him as the streets OF
iampton He was very quiet also. He new
er boaSted Of his exploits, but no man ever
performed more service than he did. Nearly
every morning, VIC would see him leave camp
on ms horse, and move out slowly in the dI-
r1ct'on of HamptQn and about sunset he
would return, usually with an extra rife or
two, thrown across his horse, in front of him.
and laden with various kinds of plunder. In
answer to our inquiries, as to what he had
seen and done, he would simply reply. tha.
he had been "Yankee hunting" and had
met with very good success. lie usually
rode at very leisurcly pace, with the,reins
hanging over his horses neck, so that When
ever we saw him come into camp with the
rcins in his hand, and riding brisklv, we
knew that something was the matter -
Whenever this was the case he would always
seek General Magruder's Headquarters, " here
he would remain for short time in close
consultation with the General and then dis
appear again, and almost immediately there
would be skirmish, or some movement of
troops
-srsss 40 k.,ys. aSyf,ii- -I5e1 III hampton, and
when met him again in the army, he SEEM
cd to take great fancy to me. With most
persons he was very distant and reserved.
but with me he was more familiar. He would
frequently come to my tent, and sit there for
hours with me, talking of old times in Hamp
ton. He would also tell me many Of his ad-'
ventures, which were as romantic and thrill
ing as any that had ever heard Of One
evening he came to my tent and threw him
self down on my bed, saying that he felt,very
tired. asked him where he had been, for L
had not seen him for two days. He smiled
and said he had been on grand Yankee
hunt"
"What luck had you ?' asked.
every good" was his reply, and then he
told me what he had been doing while away.
The story, as nearly as l recollect it, is as
follows:
Two days before, he had started out on
foot for a grand scout within the Federal
lines. Our regiment was encamped at Lees
mill, and the enemy's position was but 6
short distance in front of US. The army O
General Mcclellan held all the country be-
tween Yorktown and Hampton, ard such al
expedition as that upon WHICH Ben Phelps
started, would have been dangerous in tn
extreme to any one but himself But he,
verify believe, knew every hollow tree AM
hole wherein he could hide in the neighbor
hood. After leaving our position and pass
ing our pickets, he moved cautiously toward
the Federal lines, frequently pausing to lis
ten for persons approaching. After proceed
fu.. n short distance, he found himself directl
Ia front of large redoubt which the enem
had constructed to protect their position. Il
was now fairly within their lines, and pro
ceeding as near to the works as he deemed
prudent to venture, he slung his..gun acroS
his shoulder and climbed tree. Secretin
himself among the thick branches, and par
ING the leaves, he gazed down into the en-
campment, which lay in the rear of the r
doubt ~ use his own expression, it WI
literally blue with Yankees" He could s.
them moving backwards and forwards, al
sometimes could overhear their conversatio
During the day, party of Engineers can
under the tree in which he was conceal
and began to discuss the prOpriety of havil
il cut down, in order to construct ne
work in front of the redoubt, it being tht
intention to approach the Southern positi
bv regular lines Of parallels. He trembl
lest they should cut down the tree, and tn
take him prisoner, and it was with no slie
feeling of relief that he heard them deci
to let it stand. The old fellow clutched
gun nervously, resolving that if he were ca
tured he would sell his life dearly. He lor
ed to send ball into the party below hi
but such course would only bring abou