Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-04

l
When the federal army occupied Gull
pepper Court House and the Confederate
army lay in Orange county, Virginia,
General Lee desired certain informal
ton which it seemed could be best OBJ
tanned by an individual scout, and
Stringfellow was selected for the SER
vice. It was necessary that he should
penetrate the .enemy's camps, remain
ing concealed as long as possible, and
return when he had collected the desir-
ed information. His operations were
to be conducted mostly at night. He
wished to be accompanied 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 undertaken on foot, as
the distance was not great and con-
cealment was Of prime importance.
The men were clad in their own uni
form as scouts, not spies. The coun-
try was difficult one for the operations
ola scout. From the long and frequent
occupation by both the contending
armies, the land had been almost en-
tirely denuded of its timber, and only
here and there a few thin clusters of
trees remained standing. One day had
passed since they had entered the
enemy's lines, and with nightfall they
commenced their wanderings among
the hostile camps, mainly with the
purpose of locating the different 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 clusters of trees,
ofwhich 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 was
further spent than they had supposed,
and the sun was shining bright in their
eyes, when a party of six federal SOL
diers with their muskets in their hands,
pulled away the blanket which covered
them, and saluted them with humor-
GUS ''Good morning, Johnny Reb wake
up!" Stringfellow, lying upon his back,
was the first to arouse and to compre-
bend the situation. 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 amusement of his tormcn-
tors, turned upon his side, muttering
and grunbling at being awakened, tell
ing them to 60 away and let him alone.
But by turning upon his side he gave to
himself the 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 a few moments the firing was
rapid and fatal. The federal soldiers
stood their ground, but at such close
quarters the musket was no match for
the revolver. There was no time to
reload under the quick eye of String
fellow, and once discharged the muskets
were useless. A few seconds terminal
ed 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 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
dotted thick with the enemy's tents,
some at distance, some 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 adj
jacent camps had been aroused by the
firing, aad the soldiers who had escap-
ed would be sure to return with others
to avenge the death of their comrades.
At distance of few hundred yards,
. little branch made its way through
the open fields toward the river. Its
banks were tringed 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! Entering the bed of the stream
q kind Providence guided him to the
spot where the waters had followed out
for hima hiding-place, behind the roots
of an old stump. Underneath this
bank and behind these roots he forced
his body, having hastily collected what
drift wood 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