The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-06-28

A THRILLING STORY or a CON-
FEDERATE LLEU1ENANT'S AD
VENTURE.
Major Mcclellan, Confederate in Philadelphia
Times.

The Frank StrinRfellow, whose adven'
ture is described in this extract, has since
the war entered the Ministry in the
Protestant Episcopal church. He was
General Jeb stuart's favorite scout
Ed
The second adventure which I promis.
ed to relate occurred when the Federal
army occupied Culpepper Court House,
and the Confederate army lay in Orange
county, Virginia. General Lee desired
certain information which it seemed
could best be obtained by an individual
scout, and Stringfellow was selected for
the service. 1t was necessary he should
penetrate the enemy's camps, remain
concealed as long as possible, and return
when he had collected the desired infor-
nation. His operations were to be con-
Quoted mostly at night. He wished to
beaccompanied by two men, one OF whom
Parrish by name, had his home in the
immediate vicinity of the enemy's camps
and being intimately acquainted with all
the country could accurately guide him
from place to place in the night as by
daylight. The expedition was underta-
ken on foot, as the distance was not great
and concealment was OF prime lmpor-
tance The men were clad in their own
uniform as scouts, not spies. The coun-
try was difficult one for the operations
Of scout. From the long and frequent
occupation by both the contending enc
mics the land had been almost entirely
denuded of its timber, and only here and
there few thin clusters of trees remain
ed standing. One day had passed since
they had entered the enemy's lines, main
ly with the purpose of locating the differ
ent corps, and of ascertaining whether
any troops had been detached from the
Army OF the Potomac. The night had
been nearly consumed in this way, when
reaching one of the cluster Of trees, Of
which | have spoken, they laid them
selves down to catch few moments rest
A single blanket covered the three men,
Treacherous, fatal sleep! Their fatigue
was greater and the night further spent
than they had supposed, and the sun was
shining bright in their eyes when a party
of six Federal soldiers, with their mus
kets in their hands, pulled away the
blanket which covered them, and salut-
ed them with humorous "Good morn
ing, Johnny Reb wake upp Stringfel
low living upon his back, was the first to
arouse and comprehend the situation
Knowing that an open attempt to seize bis
arms would draw upon himself instant
death, he feigned to be only half aWak
ened, and much to the amusement of his
tormentors turned upon his side, mutter
ing and grumbling at being awakened
telling them to go away and let him
alone. But by turning upon his side he
gave to himself the opportunity ofpIacin&
his hand unobserved, upon the handle
of his pistol, and in another second hi
sprang upon his feet and opened fire
His companions Joined in the attack, anC
for a few moments the firing was rapiC
and fatal. The Federal soldiers stood
their ground, but at such close quarter
the musket was no match for the revol
yer. There was no time to reload unde
the quick eye of Stringfellow, and ono
discharged the muskets were useless. 4
few seconds terminated the encounter IL
which Stringfellow found himself tn
!. sole survivor of his party. Parrish wa
! killed his other comrade had disappear
ed, he knew not how four of the Fedora
l soldiers lay dead at his feet; and tn
; two others, having thrown down thei
: empty guns, were running for their hve'
i Run for Life.
But though victor in his fight, peri
multiplied themselves around him. Tn
trees among which he stood were SUI
: rounded on every side by open field
dotted thick with the enemy's tent
some at distance, some close at hanC
Concealment was impossible, and h
t must run for his life; but run in what dl
rection he might, enemies would be sur
!, to intercept his course, for the adjacen
camps had been aroused by the firing
and the soldiers who had escaped woul
be sure to return with others to aveng
e the death of their comrades. At dit
!, tance of a few hundred yards littl
J, branch made its way through the ope
fields toward the river. Its banks weI
fringed with bushes, whlleit offered onl
IS an utterly forlorn hope. Stringfello
turned toward it and ran. He was see
by those who had already started for h
capture; seen to cross the open field; see
to enter the bush on the bank OF tn
stream. And now vindictive shouts al
- nounced that the enemy felt sure of the
}, prey. But not sol Entering the bed
c the stream, kind Providence guide
y him to spot where the waters had no
lowed out for him hiding place, benin
the roots of an old stump. Underneat
d the bank and behind these roots he for
h ed his body, having hastily collected wh'
u u driftWood was within reach still furtht
r to conceal his person; and there he la.
e half covered by the water and the NUT
;, and awaited the result.
4 From every direction men were hui
a rying to the spot with the perfect assn
y ance that the daring enemy would 500
d be within their power. For long, lor
IS hours did scores Of searchers continue
examine every foot Of the brush that lii
ia ed the stream. Many times did hosti
feet pass directly over Stringfellow's bod
and once a man more inquisitive tina
: the others stopped, while walking in tt
bed of the stream, to examine the vel
spot where he lay. But the wood whiC
% he had skillfully arranged for his concea
d ment deceived the man and he passe
t; on without making the discovery. L
oi ward afternoon the search slackene
and by nightfall it was abandoned. b
not until the noise of the camps WI
d hushed in slumber did Stringfellow da
It It to leaYe his retreat, Then following f
Of some time the course of the stream,
passed in safety out of the enemy's lin
,s swan the Rapidan between the pickle
and thankful to God for his deliveranC
found himself once more among b
friends.