Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-04-27
BELL, THE SCOUT.
His Perils and Escapes as Scout Ind
Grant.

His Perils and Escapes as a Scout Unde
Grant.
The following is an account of Al
adventure of C.S. Bell, the Union Scout
in Mississippi. 1t was published in tn
New York Ledger in 1869, and it wa
made doubly interesting in view o
the prominence given Bell by his ties
timony before Clymer's Congressional
committee in the st. LouisMhisky cases
After few days of rest Bell wa
sent to Gen. Chalmers with a fore
of twenty men, with Sergt. Scales a
his second in command, on an expedi
ton to the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad. Chalmers had made a SECOND
attack on Colliersville, and had me
with bloody repulse. He felt angr!
and revengeful, and said so Bell:
'Tear up the track. Fire into thu
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 tC
retain Chalmers favor, and to prevent
damage to the Union cause.
About ii O'Clock on the night of the
second day out, they found themselves
about nine miles south Of Memphis
passing through wooded region on
the fernando road. 1t was quite dark
and they were approaching the line of
the railroad.
Bell said to his men that himself and
Scales would ride ahead 4 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 q word, the men were to halt
1T the same moment, without any order
to that effect.
The scout rode OH 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.
Il believe there's Yankees in the
road ahead of u.s. whispered Bell to
Scales. ''Look at our horses
Il 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 men to be
shot or captured.
Don't Shoot cried Bell in q loud
voice, so that his men in the rear could
hear him. 'We are friends.''
Scales nervously clutched Bells arm,
and was about turning to escape, when
the latter whispered to him hoarsely:
LAS you value your life don't at
tempt to run. We will be shot off our
horses. Keep quiet and will get you
out Of this
Bell urged his horse forward, and
was soon face to face with the Federal
column.
He exclaimed. 'Who commands this
force -
A grim voice, with a strong Teutonic
accent, replied:
II doesh. Who you vas?''
1--WE are the advance of a scouting
party of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry,
from Collersville. Where is your
force from!''
"ye ish de Dwenty.virst Missouri
poys, unit I'm Gaptin-."
The name was succession of gut
tural consonant sounds that would be
impossible for an American to spell
correctly.
sergeant" said Bell, turning to
Scales, ride back and tell our men not
to fire on this command. They are our
friends of the Twenty.frst Missouri. :"
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 nein ~ said the captain, Il
don't tell my soldiers for shoot mitout
somebodies makes droubles nit dem.
We ish after schmugglers. Veil! You
fun den Seventh Elinois 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 plays 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 ex'
claimed:
MY men don't seem to come up. !
will ride back and order them to come
on. Don't fire into U.S.
He turned his horse to ride away.
SAYING:
tachments.'' -~
Something in this movement seemed
to strike the mind of the captain as
rather peculiar, and he walked his
horse little ways after Bell. Bel
rode on the faster, and it commenced
to dawn on the captain that he was
the victim of strategy. A.~
''Say, vat you means! Comes pack
here, say - he cried.
Bell took no heed of him.
"Comes pack, here - he yelled ir
thunderous tones.
He received no reply.
'Halt! Halt! Shtop dere!''
The scout took no notice of him fur
Their than to put spurs to his horse,
"Shtop! Shtop him! Fire on him, :
he shouted. 81 ""' -sa, - It,
Several muskets were discharged
but Bell was already out of sight
leaving the 4Teutonic captain to con
slider the uncertainty of human af
fairs, and possibly to reflect will
Hans Breitmann: @a .s.s -7@s "a
"Oh, vat ish al dis earthly blissi
Oh, vot Is mans soocksessi t 49,
Oh, vot is various ginds Of dings! r