The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-07-31

rest. A single blanket covered the three
men.
Treacherous, fatal sleep Their IA
tlgue was greater and the night was fur
ther spent than they had supposed, and
the sun was shining bright In their
eyes, when q party Of six Federal sol
diers, with their muskets In their hands,
pulled away the blankets which covered
them, and saluted them with humor-
Gus Good morning, Johnny Reb
wake upl" Stringfellow, lying upon
his back, was the first TO arouse and to
comprehend the situation. Knowing
that an open attempt to sleze his arms
would draw upon himself instant death,
he felghed to be only half awakened and
much to the amusement of his torment
ors, turned upon his side, muttering and
grumbling at being awakened, and tell
Ing them to go away and let him alone.
But by turning upon his side he gave to
himself an opportunity Of placing his
hand, unobserved, upon the handle of
his pistol, and in another second he
sprang upon his feet, and opened fire.
His companions joined in the attack and
for few moments the firing was rapid
and fatal. The Federal soldiers stood
their ground, but at such close quar-
ters the musket was no match for the
revolver. There was no time to reload
under the quick eye Of Stringfellow, and
once discharged the muskets were use
less. A few seconds terminated the en-
counter, in which Stringfellow found
himself the sole survivor of his party.
Parish was killed his other comrade
had disappeared, he knew not how; four
of the Federal soldiers lay dead at his
feet, and the two others, having thrown
down their empty guns, were running
for their lives.
But though victor in this fight, perils
multiplied themselves around him. The
trees among which he stood were sur
rounded on every side by open fields dot
ted thick with the enemy's tents, some
at distance, some close at hand. Con-
cealment was impossible, and he must
run for his life; but run in what direc-
ton he might, enemies would be sure to
intercept his course, for the adjacent
camps had been aroused by the firing,
and the soldiers who had escaped would
be sure to return with others to avenge
the death of their comrades. At dis
tance of hundred yards q little branch
made It's way through the open fields
towards the river. It's banks were firing
ed with bushes, and while it offered only
an utterly forlorn hope, Stringfellow
turned toward it and ran. He was seen
by those who had already started for
his capture, seen to cross the open field;
seen to enter the brush on the bank Of
the stream. And now vindictive
shouts announced that the enemy felt
secure of their prey. But not so En-
tering the bed of the stream, kind
Providence guided him to the spot
where the waters had followed out for
him hiding place beneath the roots of
| an old stump. Underneath this bank
| and behind these roots he forced his
body, having hastily collected what
driftwood was within reach still further
to conceal his person and there he lay,
half covered by the water and the mud,
and awaited the result.
From every direction men were hur-
rying to the spot with the perfect assur-
ance that the daring enemy would soon
be within their power. For long, long
hours did scores of searchers continue to
examine every foot of the brush that
lined the stream. Many times did hos
tile feet pass directly over Stringfellow's
body, and once man more inquisitive
than others, stopped, while walking in
the bed of the stream, to examine the
very spot where he lay. But the drift
weod which he had skillfully arranged
for his concealment deceived the man,
and he passed on without making the
discovery. Toward afternoon the search
was abandoned. But not until the noise
of the camps was hushed in sIumber did
Stringfellow dare to leave his retreat.
Then, following for some time the course
of the little stream, he passed in safety
out of the enemy's line, swan the
Rapidan between the pickets, and,
thankful to God for his deliverance,
found himself once more among his
friends.