Daily Republican., 1879-02-25
CHARLES n. BELL.
Death Of tho Famous UniOn scout
Mt the Soldiers Home I'm Dayton.

Mt the Soldiers Home In Dayton
The Dayton (Ohio) Journal Of satur
day says:
"There died peacefully at the Sol
diers' Home on Tuesday last, one o.
those heroic spirits, who, amid the
clash of contending arms in a great
war, help to make the history CT a ma
ton. That man was Charles 5. Bell, .
journalist by profession, and scout and
spy in the Union Armv. Any extended
notice of the stirring events in which h'
took so large share would be a thrill
ing narrative Of the campaigns of Gems
Grant and Sherman, from the surrender
of Vicksburg to the last drum-roll al
Appomattox.
"Charles s. Bell was a man of adj
nlirable presence and fine physique
Entering the army in the first year Of
the war, when very young, his bold
ness, dash and indomitable courage
soon attracted the attention of Gen
Grant, whose trusty spy and scout he
was until the close Of the war. The
tales told of his daring while thus EN-
ployed trench so much on the marvel
Gus az TO come within the domain ol
fiction. He was known to enlist in the
rebel army, don the gray uniform, and
serve in the ranks for months at a time
in order to obtain valuable information
for his chief. In the character of a
rebel scout, in 1868, he led Gen. Chal-
mers, now in Congress from Mississippi,
into General Hurlburt's lines, and in
the light which ensued the rebel Gener-
al was shot in the face, the scar OF
which he bears to this day.
In 1862, while serving in the Trans
Mississippi Department, he conducted
a large detachment Of the enemy across
the river OIL the ice, ostensible to sur
prise Union camp, but, instead, led
them into prepared ambuscade, where
the entire force was captured. One
officer, at the last moment, suspected the
deception, but ere he could make his
suspicious known the scout shot him
down. He was taken prisoner in 1858
and his real character discovered but
while cn his way to Richmond, heavily
ironed, he leaped from the train running
at full speed and lnade his escape.
IAN incident will further serve tt
show the nerve and daring Of the man
While scouting within the rebel lines
in Tennessee, after his last escape he
had hidden his blue uniform up syca
more tree, aud arrsyed himself in con'
federate gray. Returning to secure hi'
clothes, he lad commenced to climbthe
tree, when q rebel Lieutenant Of gigan
tic stature arose from the bushes neal
by, and covering Bell with his pistol
demanded that he throw up his Hands
and surrender. The hold scoat wa.
equal to the emergency. Gazing fixed
ly up the valley-'There,' said he
'comps regiment Of Yankee cavalry
it's my turn now, YOU are my prisoner.
The Lieutenant turned his glance for :
moment in the direction indicated, wher
quick as lightning, Bell drew his re-
volver and shot him dead.
" After the close 6i the war de wrote
series of romantic adventures, rela
ting his own experience, for the New
York LEDGER" and subsequently ed
tied small sheet devoted to brokers
interests and finance in. Wall street
New York. His health breaking down
he came to the HON. on the 18th o
July last, suffering from consumption
He went to Arkansas some weeks ago
hoping the change Of climate woult
benefit him, but finding this unavailint
returned here soon after to die. Peac.
to his ashes. Az far as known he ha'
no relative living, save brother wh'
is insan. at the Soldiers Home ir
Wash ingto.I."