The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-06-28
A CONFEDERATE SCOUTS ADVEN-
TURE.
surprised by the Yanks while Asleep, E4e
Makes a Desperate and BLOODY Fight
Strange HidIng-PIace and u
Wonderful Escape.

by the Tanks while Asleep. f1e !
Makes a Des PeraGe and BLOODY Fight
Strange HidIng-EsIace and
Wonderful Escape.
When the federal army occupied Gull
pepper courthouse and the confederate
army lay in Orange county, Va, Gen.
Lee desired certain information which 1T
seemed could be best obtained by an
Individual scout, and StringtellOw was
selected for the service. 1t was necessary
tnat he should penetrate the enemy's
camp, remaining concealed as long as
possible, and return when he had collected
the desired 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 well rs 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 own uniform as
scouts, not spies. The country was
dificnlt 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 a few
thin clusters of trees remained standing
One day had passed since they had
entered the enemY's lines, and with
nlghttall they commenced their wander
ings among the hostile camps, mainly
with the purpose of locating the differ
ent corps, and of ascertainiDg 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 q
few moments rest. A single blanket
covered the three men.
Treacherous, fatal sleep! Their IA
! tigue 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 soldiers, with
their maskets in their hands, pulled
away the blankets which covered them
with humorous" Good morning, Johnny
Reb! wake up! StringfellOw, lying
upon his back, was the first to arouse
and to comprehend the situation.
| Knowing that an attempt to seize his
arms would draw upon himself instant
death, he feigned to be only half awak-
ened, and, much to the amusement of his
! tOrmentOrs, turned upon his side NUT
terring and grumbling at 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
/ ho hiS foot anH ny,oToH
| fire. His companions Joined in the at,
| tack, and for 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
for the revolver. There was no time to
reload under the quick eye of Stringfel-
! low, and once discharged the muskets
| were useless. A few seconds terminated
the encounter, in which StTingfellOw
| 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 their lives.
But though victor in his fight, peril
multiplied themselves around him
The trees among which he stood wecC
surrounded on every side by open field!
dotted thick with the enemy's tents
some at distance, SOME close at hand
COncealment was impossible, and ht
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 thu
soldiers who had escaped would be SURE
to return with others to avenge the dtatl
Of their comrades. At a distance of ;
few hundred yards little branch made
its way through the open fields TOWARD
the river. Its banks were lringed will
bushes, and while it offered only an ut
terly forIoin hope, StringfellOw turneC
towards and ran. He was seen 10y thUs
who had already started for his capture
seen to cross the open field seen to ente
the brush on the bank Of the stream
And now vindictive shouts annOunc
that the enemy felt secure of their pre-,
! But not sol Entering the bed of tn
steam a kind providence guided him to
) spot where the waters had followed on
for him hiding place beneath the root
; of an old stump. Underneath this ban
and behind these roots he forced his body
T., having hastily collected what driftwOO
was within reach still further to cOnCea
his person; and there he lay, half GOV
cred by the water and the mud, an
: awaited the result.
From every direction men were hui
i rying to the spot with the perfect assul
ance that the daring enemy would 500
I be within their power. For long, lon
; hours did scores of seafchers COntinl
l. to examine every foot of the brush tina
: lined the stream. Many times did hos
=, tile feet pass directly over stringlellOw'
: body, and once man more iuqIisitiv
: than others stopped, while walking /
the bed Of the stream, to examine tn
!, very spot where he lay. But the drift
= wood which he had so skillCuliy arrange
u for his concaalment deceived the mar
y and he passed on without making tn
= discovery. Toward afternoon the scare
4 was abandoned. But not until th
!, noise of the camps was hushed in stun
E Der did StringfellOw dare to leave his r.
j treat. Then, following for some time th
course Of the little steam, he passed j
safety out of the enemy's line, swan th
Rapidan between the pickets, and, thanl
= ful to God for his delivery, found hin
r self once more among his trieuds.-G De,
Mcclellan IN the PhjLadcIphsa Times.
Steam Engines.
The first steam engine was introduce
, into France in 1889. On account of tn
= Il