The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-06-29
A CONFEDERATE SCOUTS ADVEN
TURE.
Surprised by the SanEs while Asleep, He
Nakcs ~ Dm pcrite and Bloody Fight
Strange E9iding-Piacc ana IA
WcndcTful Escape.

1 StIsfbs' fht tsAs' WV "a
Wcndcrfui Escape.
, When the federal army occupied Cul
pepper courthouse and the coniederat
, army lay in Orange county, Va, Gen
Lee desired certain information which i
seemed could be best obtained by al
individual scout, and Stringlellow wa
selected for the service. 1t was necessar,
:, That he should penetrate the enemy
camp, remaining concealed as long a
possible, and return whenhe had collected
the desired information. His operation
were to be conducted mostly at night
He wished to be accompanied by two
men, II of whom, Parrish by name, had
his home in the immediate vicinity OF
the encmy's camps, and being intimately
acquainted with all the country, could
accurately guide him from place to place
in the night as well as by daylight. The
expedition was undertaken on foot, as
the distance was not great and conceal
ment was of prime Importance. The
men were clad in their W uniform as
scouts, not spies. The country was a
dihicnlt one for the operation OF a scout,
From the long and frequent occupation
by both the contending armies the land
had been almost entirely denuded OF its
timber and only here and there Il few
thin clusters of trees remained standing.
One day had passed since they had
entered the enemY's lines, and with
nightiall they commenced their wander
ings among the hostile camps, mainly
with the purpose of locating the differ
ent corps, and of as%certaining 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 clusters Of
trees, of which | have spoken Of, they
laid themselves down to catch a
few moments rest. A single blanket
covered the three men.
Treacherous, fatal sleep! Their IA
tigue was greater and the night was
furtherspent than they had supposed and
the sun was shining bright in their eyes,
when q party Of six federal soldiers, with
their muskets in their hands, pulled
away the blankets which covered them
with Il humorous " Good morning Johnny
Reb! wake up!' Stringfellow, lying
upon his back, was the first to arous
and to comprehend the situation.
Knowing that an attempt to seize his
arms would draw upon himself instant
death, he feigDed to be only half awak-
ened, and, much to the amusement OF his
tormentors, turned upon his side NUT
terring and grumbling Mt being awak-
ened, telling 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 sec
ond he sprang upon his feet and opened
fire. His companions joined III the at
tack, and for a few moments the firing
was rapid and fatal. The federal sol,
diers stood their ground, but at such
close quarters the muSket was no match
Tor the revolver. There was no time to
reload under the quick eye OF %Strlngfel-
low, and once discharged the muskets
were useless. A few seconds terminated
the encounter, in which Stringfellow
found himself the sole survivor of his
party. Parrish was killed; his other
comrade had disappeared, he knew not
how four of the federal soldies lay dead
at his feet and the two others, having
thrown down their empty guns, were
running for theirhves.
But though victor in his fight, perils
multiplied themselves around him.
The trees among which he stood were
surrounded on every side by open fields
dotted thick with the cnemy's tents,
some at n distance, some close at hand.
| Concealment was impossible, and he
must run for his life; but run
in. what direction he might, enc
mics would be sure to inter
cept his course, for the adjacent camp
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 a distance of a
few hundred yards a little branch made
its way through the open fields toward
the river. Its banks were lringed with
bushes, and while it offered only an ut
terry forloin hope, Stringfellow turned
towards 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 announce
that the enemy felt secure of their prey
But not so! Entering the bed of the
steam a kind providence guided him to a
spot where the waters had followed out
for him a hiding place beneath the roots
of an old stump. Underneath this bank
and behind these roots he forced his BODY.
hastily collected what driftwood
was within reach still further to conceal
his person and there he lay, half cov-
cred by the water and the mud, and
awaited the result.
From every direction men were hur-
rying to the spot with the perfect assur-
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 a 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
wood which he had so skillfully arranged
for his concqalment 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 slum-
Der did StringfellOw dare to leave his re-
Then, following for some time the
e of the little steam, he passed in
out of the enemy's line, swan the
.apidsn between the pickets, and. thank
ul to God fJr his delivery, found him.
once more among his friends.-Gea.
r. - : N nlV-J - w.