The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-10-17
BEHIND THE KITCHEN DOOR.

Just before the battle of Cedar Creek
one of Clusters troopers, named Dave
Harrison, had an adventure fud of peril.
In the absence Of regular scouts he was
detailed to work his way up the valley
and discover all he could regarding the
enemy's position, and he entered upon
the enterprise with alacrity and conf
dence. Dave was known as a quiet.
cool, enduring man, doing his duty un-
der all circumstances and winning the
good viii of the officers and in camp or
on the march.
It was not the intention to send the
trooper forward as a spy, but his in
structiOns were to scout over the neu-
raj but dangerous ground between out
posts and as near the enemy as he could.
lie left our camp in his Federal Uniform,
armed with a pair of revOlvers and q
knife, aud there were plenty Of crOakerS
to predict that he would never return.
After leaving the outpost Dave head
ed straight mp the valley. determined
to accomplish his task as soon as posi-
bic. He of course took to the woods
and brush, as the highways were more
or less Travelled by the enemy and by
the country people, and the sight of his
uniform would have caused instant
alarm. He had discovered that the neu-
tral ground was Overrun with COnfeder-
ate scouts and fOrageTs, and his plan
was to go slow.
The trooper had made another two
miles after dinner, when he found that
he must leave his cover of the friendly
forest if he would get nearer the enemy's
lines. He had seen cavalry. artillery.
infantry and army wagons moving and
marching by this road or that. and had
drawn his own conclusions, but vet this
did not satisfy him. SUrmiseS and con-
cluSiOnS were not the information desir-
ed at headquarters. To secure facts he
must cross the open fields and highways.
and by mid-afternOOn he was prepared
to do so. His last cover was thicket
by the roadside. Nearly opposite him
and about twenty rods away was log
farmhouse, the front door standing
wide open. The scout was hoping to
get a word with some cOlOTed man.
when a cavalry patrol of about twenty
five men came along the dusty road and
halted at a watering-tTOugh to refresh
their horses. The noise attracted the
attention of the house dog. a large and
savage animal, and he ran down to the
highway and barked fWioUsly. Find
ing that the soldiers gave him no atten-
tiOn he tTotted up and down the road
hiding in the thicket. The dog was
over the fence and into the thicket in a
second, and his angry barks and growls
attracted general attention.
Hes after a 'pOssum,' = shouted one
of the band.
''AfOre like a scout - added the sec
ond as he rode up to the fence.
Come out of that, YOU devil :" order
ed the lieutenant in command
The scout realized that they ONLY
guessed at the presence of a human be-
ing there, and he hoped they might be
satisfied without an Investigation
Perhaps they would have been but for
the conduct of the dog, which seemed
determined to come to close quarters.
To shoot him would have betrayed the
man instanter. He tried TO coax the
brute with meat and to intimidate him
with a club, but neither effort was success
fuI. When sure that the dog was about
to close in on him Dave drew his knife.
The dog sprang in and was received
with a blow intended to settle him then
and there. but it only gave him a severe
wound. The cut took the fight out of
him and he retreated among the troop
ers. As soon as they noted his wound
they held whispered consultation and
divided, a part going up the road and a
part down. When thirty rods from the
thicket they began throwing down the
fence.
The scout saw that he was to be
ianked. The woods were too far away.
and he must bolt in some direction or
tamely surrender. He was not man
TO do the last while there was any show
Of escape. As soon as the cavalry en-
tered the field the scout bounded into
the road and had crossed it before he
was discovered When the cavalry OPEN
ed fire he ran straight for the house.
Two white women, several colored ones
and three or four children were running
about the yard. and Dave bOlted through
the crowd and into the house. He ex-
pected to run through it and across the
back fields, but seeing the people gath
ering at the back door he went no far
ther than the kitchen. The doors all
stood open. After a glance around for
a hiding-place, the scout stepped be-
hind the one leading up stairs This
door swung close to the floor and hit
the wall, SO as 10 leave quite corner
where the walls joined.
The scout was scarcely hidden when
the house was full OF men. All had
seen him enter. and they felt sure of cap
turing him. While some stood guard at