Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-07-26
wALuALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, JULY &c, 1877.
"A Rebel Scouts Adventure !

pepper Court House, and tho Confederate
army lay ia Orange County, Virginia, Gen.
Lee, desired certain information which it
seemed could be beat obtained by an indi-.
yidual scout, aud Stringfellow was elected
for tho service. 1t was necessary that he
should penetrate tho enemy's oa,nps, re-
manning concealed as long as possible, ahd
return when he had collected the desired
information. His operations were to be
conducted mostly at night. He wished to
DO accompanied by two men, one Of whom,
Parrish by 1name, had his homo in the
immediate vicinity of tho enemy's camps,
and being intimately acquainted with all
the country, could accurately guide him
fron place to place in tho night as by day
light. The expedition was undertaken on
| foot, as the distance was not great and con-
cealment was prime Importance. Tho
| meu were Glad in their own uniform rs
scouts, not spies. The country was diff
cult one for tho operations Of scout
From tho long and frequent occupation by
both the contendipg armies, tho land had
been almost entirely donuded Of its timber,
and only here and there few thin clusters
of troes remained standing. One day had
passed since they had entered tho enemy's
lines, aud with nightfall they commenced
their wanderings among the hostile camps,
mainly with the purpose Of locating tho
different corps, aud of ascertaning whether
any troops had been detached from tho
army Of the Potomao. The night had been
nearly consumed in this way when, reaching
| one of the clusters Of trees Of which I have
spoken, they laid themselves down to oatch
| a few moments rest. A single blanket
covered the three men. 'ihl H.'7Ft PIP '
Treaoherous, fatal sleep! Their fatigue
was great, aud tho night was further spent
than they had supposed, and tho sun was
shining bright 10 their, eyes whom party
of six Federal of6ccfs, with their muskets
in their hands pulled away the blankets
which covered them, and saluted them with
! harmonious .tGood morning, Johnny, Reb!
wake /, upp' Stringfollow lying upon his
back, was the first to arouse and oompre-.
hend the aituation. Knowing that an open
attempt TO seize his arms would draw upon
himself instant death, he feigned to be only
half awakened, and, much to the amuse-
mcnt of his tormcntors, turned upon his
side muttering and grumbling at being
awakened, telling them to 60 away and lot
him alone. But by turning upon his side
he gave to himself an opportunity of
placing his hand unobscrved,' upon the
handle Of his pistol, apd in another second
| he sprang upon his feet and opened fire.
His companions joined in, tho attack, and
for few moments the firing was rapid and
fatal The Federal soldiers stood their
ground, but at suoh close quarters the mus
ket was no match for the revolver. Thore
was no time to reload under the quick eye
of Stringfellow, and once discharged tho
muskets were useless. A few seconds
terminated the encounter; in which String.
fellow found himsolf tho sole survivor of
his party. Parrish was killed; his ,othor
oomrade had disappeared, no knew not how;
four Of the Fodoral soldiers lay dead at his
feet, aud tho two others, having thrown
down their empty guns, were running for
their lives
But though victor in this fight, pcrils
multiplied themselves around him. The
trees among which he stood we're surrounded
on every side by open fields dotted thick
with the enemies' tents, some OF distance,
and Home CLOSE at hand. Concealment, was
| impossible, and he must run for his life; but
run in what direction he might, enemies
would be sure to intercept his course, for
the adjacent camps had been aroused by
tho firing, and tho soldiers who had escaped
would DO sure to return with others to
avenge tho death of thoir comrades. AT
distance of fow hundred yards little
branch made It's way through the open
fields towards the river. It's banks were
fringed With bushes, and while it offered
only an utterly forlorn hope, stringfellov
turned towards it and ran. lie was seen
by those who had already started for his
capture; seen to GROSS the open field; seen
to enter the brush on the bank Of the
stream. And now vindictive shouts an.
nounced that the enemy felt secure Of their
prey. But not sol Entering tho bed Of the
stream, kind Providence guided him to
the spot whore tho wators had followed out
for him hiding place beneath the roots of
an old stump. Underneath this bank and
bohind these roots he forced bis body,
having hastily collected what driftwood was
within reach still further to conceal his
person; and there .ho lay, half covered by
the water and mud, and waited the result.
From every direction men were hurrying to
tho spot, with the porf$ct assurance that
tho daring enemy would soon be within
their power. For long, long hours did
scores Of searohers continue to examine
evory foot of tho brush that lined the
stream. Many times did hostile feet pass
directly over. Stringfellow's body, aud once
man moro inquisitive than the others
stopped, while walking in tho bed Of the
stream, to examine tho vory spot whore he
lay. But the driftwood which he, had
skillfully arranged for his eopcoalmcnt
deceived the man, and he passed. on without
| Ii Al, r.