Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-02-06
From the New York Evening Post.
THE ROMANCE OF THE yyAu.

! The public knows little really of the romance
Of the war. The secret history of any military
campaign would be of absorbing Interest," much
more the secret story of our war. In all camps
there are men whose occupation it is TO gain for
the commanding general information of the en-
emy force, position and movements Much
depends on this; and the most successful gener-
ais have always been the best informed.
In our own service during the present war, the
spy service has been performed by different
classes ofmen. Some Of our commanders have
had the wit and the fortune to secure the servi-
ces of men whose hearts were full Of zeal for the
Union and of hatred for the slave arisiocracy
and their rebellion. Such men, when they have
also the activity, presence of mind, ingenuity
and courage needed for this Office, are the best
| that can be got Such we have reasons TO know
are the company known as the Jessie Scouts,
who first served under General Fremont in Mis-
souri,, afterwards in Tennessee under Grant, Nc
! Clernand and others, and again in Virginia un-
der Fremont, Milroy DC.
Probably no man in this war has lived through
as many exciting and desperate adventures as
Captain Carpenter, the leader Of the "Jessie
Scouts" He was originally one of John
Browns men," and participated in the attack on
Harper's Ferry; where he escaped by crawling
| through long culyert or covered drain which
led from the famous engine-house to the river.
The Captain does not love the slave lords: he
ship in men whicht to some would seem extreme;
and he certainly thinks almost anything good
enough for man selling aristocrat who rebels
against the Union
The writer Of this passed few quiet hours
with Captain Carpenter lately, while the latter
was still in this city invalid from severe
wound received last fall in Western Virginia.
Some OF the campaigning stories then heard
will interest the readers of the EsEN1Ne Posr
and will attract the sympathy of all who admire
daring, skill and invention especially where,
as in this case, all these faculties are sharpened
and vivified by single hearted and fiery devo-
tion to liberty and Union. Captain Carpenter
boasts, in quiet way, that no army for which
he has secuted has ever suffered from a "rad" in
It's rear, or has ever been surprised. He has an
idea that such things cannot be done where
trustworthy and Jealous scouts are employed d.
Did you ever see Price?" he was asked He
lreplied, Several times" Once no drove team
in Prices army two days, at the end Of which
time, unluckily, the team and wagon and a ne
gro who happened to be in it, ran away; "and,
curiously enough never stopped till we got into
our own lines" said the Captain with twinkle
in his eye. "The black man is working for him
selfin Iowa, and sold the mules to pay my ex-
penses.
Once he rode down to the rebel pickets at
| Wilson's Creek, dressed as woman, to deliver
a letter To suppositious brother in Prices ar
my. He bears witness 10 the politeness of the
rebel officers who escorted the lady half way
back TO our lines This trip was made because
"the General" wanted to know paecisely the po-
sition Of part of the rebel lines
TAPPING THE TELEGRAPH
After the surrender of Lexington, said the
Capt, General Fremont suspected that the tele-
graph operators between Hannibal and st. Jo-
seph were disloyal and had given information
| to the enemy, and was ordered 10 make an in :
VaQf linn I'm fnnf al. AZ
rebels had tapped" the wire. A woman in ST.
Louis told me. She asked me ifI knew a rebel
spy was in town. asked her who lie was and
what he did; and she replied that he had tel
| egraph apparatus on the Hannibal and st. Joseph
Railroad, and had told her so. He was to see
her and take her TO theatre that evening.
told her would give her fifty dollars if she
would say when he came, that she was sick and
could not go. She agreed, and arranged that
! she should introduce me to him as rebel spy
from Pillows camp, which she did. imme-
dlately gained his confidence. We drank wine
together, and the fool told me everything. Soon
he left the city and / took one of my men with
me and off we started after him.
We found him on the Grand river, near the
railroad, just where he had said. He had hut
in the brush, whore the telegraplling operations
were carried on. There were two men-my man
and other. We crept up TO them, and ON sur
yey, came to the conclusion that we might not
be able to capture them and the best way was
to shoot them. shot my man but Hale only
wounded his. Werushed up. He made fight.
had to despatch him with my pistol. We got
he telegraph Instruments with twenty two
hundred feet of silk wire, two horses, blankets
and sixty five dollars in money. There were
also two daguerreotypes.
ENTERS rRIcEs CANT BEFORE LEXINGTON
Invent into Prices camp when Muligan was
Iol IL
with both locks broken. and rode into the camp
with numbers of country people who were flock
ing to join Price | rode around freely, talking
secession, and very soon saw how things were
going. could see plainly that Mulligan was
in tight place, and started off for ST. Louis as
soon as pOssible, and gave the information that
Mulligan iuust surrender. Twelve hours after
news came that he had.
Fremont did all he could to help Mulligan;
but the telegraph "tapper" Cwho was afterwards
killed. got despatch which was sent by FIRE.
mont; for Sturgs TO move across the river to
the support Of Mulligan; and the rebels, having
possession ofour plans moved against Sturgis
and compelled him to fall back.
AN AMUSING ExPLoIr
Henry Hale, one of the best scouts in the
country left Leayenworth while Mulligan was
before Lexington, with dispatches. AS he rode
along men from every direction were going to
a
little shot gun, and thought it would be a nice
| thing TO drive off the old fellow and take his
horse into Lexington. So he engaged the man
in conversation, andgetting an opportunity, put
his revolver to the sece ssionist's head, ordered
him to tie his gun to the saddle, to dsmount,
and finally to "skedaddle" The old man made
tracks rapidly, glad TO escape with his life
Hale took the horse by the bride, and rode on
whistling Yankee Doodle" He had ridden n
milo or two, when at turn Of the road, he was
suddenly ordered to halt The old secession
lists had procured another gun, and got ahead of
him. The gun was squarely aimed at Hale's
head. SECT off that horse, cried the secession
ist. Hale got down. "Tie that revolver to the
saddle" Hale obeyed. "Pull offyour pants.
Hale did it. "Skedaddle"-an order which
Hale at once carried into effect, merely saying,
"Well Cap, thought my shirt would come
with the two horses, whistling Dixie; while Hale
marched seven miles into Lexington, with only
hs.eoat and shirt on. His coat contained his
dispatches. He will never be permitted to
forget that seven-mile march.
THE CAPTURE OF RANDOLPH.
burned Randolph Missouri. The town was
a rebel depot, where their supplies were gath
cred. The country people came in every day
with provisions and these provisions and other
goods were conveyed to the enemy i went
over with twenty-five men and routed two hun
dred and fifty. 1t was year ago on the 10th
or 18th of Sept l divided my men and had
them approach from different directions. made
them all officers, aud up we went every man Of
el.x..- Il, L.l