The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-01-07

IVefgne. tAe ADVANCE SCOUTS, tnlTty~
eight in nussber, were picked men
from companies GA" and 'H;" and
were men of no little discretion and
great deal of experience in such mat
ters. So cautiously did we move that
their pickets we're taken without the
FIRING Of musket, and l may say with
truth that had there been other guard
within two hundred yards, it would
have been extremely doubtful whether
they would have discovered the cap
ture of their fellows; certainly not
supposing them to depend upon their
ears. Having secured their pickets
we moved forward for the distance of
two miles without encountering any
obstacle, when Suddenly, as if by
magic, a thousand camp fires loomed
up before our eyes not more than three
quarters of mile in our advance an d
a short distance this side of Lavcrgne.
This caused halt and a consultation.
The fires we're burning brightly, and
figures were to be seen constantly mo-
wing by them, and it was evident they
were preparing for All early start in
the morning. The resalt of the con-
sultation was that volunteers from the
advance scouts should carefully adj
vance as near to the camp as their
commander, in his judgment, should
deem prudent. You who live in your
comfortable homes, far from the scenes
of war, and all unacquainted with the
manner in which the soldier learns to
hate those against whom he has sworn
to perish if necessary,-undtr the
circumstances which / have Just de-
lscribed, would think the number of
Volunteers extremely small; but the
contrary proved true--thirty-eigh
volunteered and were anxious to 90.
On further consultation it was thought
proper that not more than four should
be chosen. These, under command
of Lieut.. Bates, started at about half
past one clock in the morning. So
loiselessIy did they move that even
the falling of the leaves might have
been heard, The winds howled MOURN
fully as they swept throug the boughs
Of the great oaks, while the dismal
hooting Of the owl broke through the
silence Of the night, as if to admonish
them of the MANY dangers by which
they were surrounding themselves al
eycty step. It was bat few minutes
walk, however, that brought them to
spot where tie shouts and curses of
the busy rebels fell upon their ears
with startling distincthcss. The Lieut..
now moved some twenty yards ir adj
vencc, cautioning his men to keep
that distance in the rear. They now
moved much slower, and if possible
more cautiously than beforc-now
crawling breathlessly along behind
logs and fences, now on tip-toe thro'
cutters and bitches, now slowly and
carefully on hands and knees; and
thus they kept moving till they near
cd the top of small emincnce, from
which they could distinctly see and
hear every word and movement of the
enemy, whose boistcrous glee proved
how little they imagined that they
were closely watched by those who
would spoil their best laid plans. Our
scouts, aware of the danger in which
they had placed themselves, halted un.
der cover of a small th;tket, and lis,
tened with breathless attention to ey-
cry word that was spoken. They had
lain thus but few minutes, when they
were startled by some one but a few
yards distant, who halloed- a.r.s.
"IIi, Hi; How do you like the pros
pect of smelling Yankee grmpowder
in the morningt"
And the answer ......... .....
go, talk to my mule, my head
aches,' a#s sA Il
This seemed to irritate' the first
speaker, who responded in terms not
to be used here. These two worthless
soon ceased to talk, and the noise of
the camp had occupied the attention
4 of our scouts for some time, whtii the
| loud report of q guard $ muskct but a
few PAGES to the front caused them to
| fly. Bullets whistled amohg them
/ like hail; but ON they sped through the
darkness, over bitches, logs, fences,
through swamps and thickets, on they
flew, up hill and down hill, till at last
the noise and firing of the enemy had
almost died away in the distance; but
they slackencd not their speed until
they came up with theregiment, which
had hmriedly moved back upon hear
ing the tnusEetry Of the enemy. Here
they discovered that the Lieutenant
wos missing, and as it was near the
dawn of day we were obliged to make
all haste for camp, where we arrived
at eight o'clock, A, NJ. Not q amomcnt