The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-07-04

~
THROUGH WHICH 4 BRAVE vIRGINiAN
PASSED.
GMajo, Mcclellan III Philadelphia Weekly
Times.
The second adventure which ! have
promised 10 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 y
seemed could hes. be obtained by an in
dividual scout, and Stringfellow was se-
lected for the service. twas necessary
that he should penetrate the enemys
camps, remain conceaed as long as
possible, and return when he had collec-
ted The desired Information. His opera
tions 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
ofthe enemy's camps. and being intimately
acquainted with all the country, could as
accurately guide him from place 70 place
In tile night as rs daylight. The expcdi-
ton was undertaken on foot, as the dir
tance was not great, and concealnent was
OF prime Importance. The emen We're clad
In their own uniform as scouts, not spies.
The country was difficult one for the
operations of a scout. From the long and
frequent occupation by both the conten-
ding armies tile land bad been almost en-
tirely denuded by its timber, andonly here
and there few thin clusters of trees re-
mained staDling. One day had passed
since they had entered the enenly's lines,
and with nightfall they had commenced
their wanderings among the hostile
camps, mainly with the purpose OF
heating the different corps. and Of as
certaining whether any troops had been
detached from the Army Of the Potomac.
The night bad been nearly consumed IN
this way. when reaching one the clusters
of trees Of which have spoken they lay
themselves 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, aud the
sun was shining bright in their eyes,
when party ossix Federal soldiers, with
their nuiskeIs IN their hands pulled away
the blanket which covered them, and
saluted them with . humorous Good
morning. Johnny Reh wake up y String
fellow, lying upon lis back. was the fret
TO arouse aud to ocomprehend the situation.
Knowing that an open attempt 10 seize his
arms would draw upon himself instant
death, he feigned to be only hall awak-
ened, and much tothe amusement OF his
tormentors, turned upon his side, mutter-
ing and grumbling at being awakened
telling them 70 go away aud let him alone.
But by turning upon his side he gave
10 himself the opportunity ofplacing his
hand, unobserved, upon the handle of lbs
pistol, aud IN another second he sprang
upon his feet aud opened fire. His com-
nanions joiued in the attack, and for
/ few moments the firing was rapid and
fatal. The Federal soldiers stood theiT
ground but nc such close quarters the
murkets was no match for the revolver,
There was no timeio reload under the
quick eye IL Slringfellow, and once dis
charged the muskels were useless. A few
seconds terminated the encouhter, ~
which Stringfellow found himself The
sole survivor Of his party. Parrish wa'
killed; his other comrade had disappeared
he knew not how; four Of tile Federal
saldlers lay dead at his feet; aud the tw'
others, having thrown down their empty
guns, were running for their lives.
ARus FOR LIFE.
Hut though victor In this light, neril'
multiplied themselves around him. Tb,
trees among which he stood were sur
rounded on every side by open iield'
] dotted thick with the enemy's tents, som'
at distance, some close At hand. Con
ccainicnt Was impossible, and lie mus
run nr his lie; but run in wha
direction hc might, enemies would y
sure to intercept his course, for the al
iaccn; camps had been aroused by th'
firing, pnd the soldiers who had ESCAPED
would be- sure TO return with others Z
avengc the death oftheir comrades. AZ
distance ofa few hundred yards a litil'
branch made its way through the opel
fields toward Tie river. Its banks wer
frInged with bushes, aud while it oficre'
only an utterly forlorn hope, StringfelloS
turned toward Il aud ran. lie was seel
Nv those who had already started for hl
capture; seen to cross the open field; sccl
20 enter the brush on the bank Of ~
stream. And now vindlclve shouts an
nodnced that the enemy felt tsecureofthei
prey. But not sol Entering the bed :
the stream, a kind Of Providence guide
A. Ia.