The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-26
SELECTED MisGE14ANR!
BELL, THE SCOUT.

His Perils and Escapes us a Scout Under
Grant.
The following is an account SOf an
adventure of C.S. Bell the Union6cout,
in Mississippi. 1t was publishedin the
New York Ledger in 1869, and 1sWas
made doubly interesting in viewSs Of
the prominence given Bell by his tes4s
timony before Clymer's Congressional
committee in the St. Louis]whisky cases:
After a few days of rest Bellsswas
sent to Gen. Chalmers with al force
of twenty men, with Sergt. Scalesas
his second in command, on an expedi
ton to the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad. Chalmers had made second
attack on Colliersville, and had met
with a bloody repulse. He felt angry
and revengeful, and said so Bell:
''Tear up the track. Fire into the
train. Throw them over an embank-
ment. Do all the damage you can,
don't show any mercy
Bell left the camp very much trou-
bled as to what course to pursue to
retain Chalmers favor, and to prevent
damage to the Union cause.e III
About IL O'Clock on the night of the
second day out, stheys fountt themselves
about nine miles south. OF. Memphis,r
passing through wooded region on
the fernando road. 1t was quite dark
and they were approaching the line of
the railroad. s~r.'r ,9-~"> =
Bell said to his men that himself and
Scales would ride ahead distance of
two or three hundred yards, and, look
out for any force that might be guard
ing the track; and if they should stop,
or utter Il word, the men were to; halt
at the same moment, without any order
to that effect.
The scout rode on cautiously for some
distance, accompanied by Scales, when
suddenly they noticed that their horses
raised their heads and pricked up their
ears, as though they heard: something
in the advance. ..''
81 believe there's Yankees in the
road ahead of u.s. whispered Bell to
Scales. ''Look at our horses =. .~..
81 hope not, said Scales,
Their discussion of@the subject was.
cut off Immediately after by a click
ing of muskets and cry of ''Halt.''
Bell determined that, if possible he
would not allow any of his mento be
shot or captured.
tsDon't Shoot" cried Bell in loud
voice, so that his men I'M the rear could.
hear him. owe are friends..n., @ss
Scales nervously clutched Bell 'sarn,&
and was about turning to escapeyWhen
the latter whispered to him hoarsely:
Gas you value your ife don't at
tempt to run. We will be shot off our
horses; Keep quiet and I will get you
out Of this ~ .r.s ;.r-...
Bell urged his horse forward, and
was soon face to face with the Federal
column.
He exclaimed. "Who commands this
force p
A grim voice, with a strong Teutonic
accent, replied:
II doesh. Who you vas?"
''We are the advance of a scouting
party of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry,
from Collersville. Where is your
force from 90
''Ve ish de Dwenty-virst Missouri
poys, unit I'm Gaptin-."
The name was a succession of gut
tural consonant sounds that would be
impossible for an American to spell
correctly.
'sSergeant,'' said Bell, turning to
Scales, ride back and tell our men not
to fire on this command. They are our
Scales took the hint and rode to the
rear.
Bell then said to- the German. officer.
"What are you doing down here in
the night! 1t seems to me a move
ment Of this kind is attended with a
great deal of danger. Troops are liable
to fire into each other by mistake.
You might have shot the sergeant and
myself before we could make ourselves
KNOWN
"Nein F! nein - said the captain, 81
don't tell my soldiers for. shoot mitout
somebodies makes droubles NIT dem.
We ish after schmugglers. Veil! You
fun den Seventh illinois Cavalry Who
wash in command, den %
''Major Trafton,'' responded Bell.
We are in pursuit of some guerrillas
who are lowering in this vicinity
"Yah Den you vas after cooreellas {?
Yah. All dryght. Ven you gifts him
you hangs 'em. Say. Dey blays too
much smash nit de railrOad.''
Bell kept up the Conversation as long
as possible, aware that his men were
making good use Of the time in re-
treating at full speed. Finally he iex-
claimed:
my men don't seem to come up. I
will ride back and order them to come
on. Don't fire into us
He turned his horse to ride away.
saying:
Il will have my men come up by de-
tachments.''
Something in this movement seemed