The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-10-10

Just before the battle Of Cedar Greek
one Of Clusters troopers, named Dave
Harrison, had an adventure full 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 quiet,
cool. enduring man, doing his duty UNI
der all circumstances, and winning the
good viii Of officers and men in camp
or on the march.
Ii was not the intention to send the
trooper forward a a spy, but his in
structions were to scout over the neutral
but dangerous ground between outposts
and as near the enemy as he could. He
left our camp in his Federal uniform,
armed with a pair Of revolvers and
knife, and there were pienty of croak-
ers to predict that he would never re-
turn.
After leaving the outpost Dave head
ed straight up the valley; determined
to accomplish his task rs soon as posi-
Bile. lie of course took to the woods
and brush, As the highways were more
or less travelled by the enemy and by
country people, and the sight Of his uni
form would have created instant alarm.
He left our camp Just at daylight, and
at noon he was munching his bareback
in the bushes three miles away. He had
discovered that the neutral ground was
overrun with Confederate scouts and
foragers, 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
forests If he would ret nearer the ene-
my's lines. He had seen cavalry, ar
tillcry, infantry and army wagons NOV
ing and marching BY this road or that.
and had drawn his own conclusions, but
yet this did not satisfy him. Surmises
and conclusions were not the informa-
ton desired at headquarters. To secure
facts he must cross the open fields and
highways. and By mid-afternoon he was
prepared to do 80. His last cover was
q thicket by the roadside. Nearly OPP
posite him and about twenty rods away
was log farmhouse, the front door
standing wide open. The scout was
hoping 10 get word with some colored
men. when cavalry patrol Of about
road and halted at watering-trough 10
refresh their horses. The noise attracted
the attention Of the house-dog, large
and savage animal, and he ran down 10
the highway and barked furiously.
Finding that the soldiers gave him no at
tcntion. he trotted up and down the
road and finally got the scent Of the
scout hiding in the thicket. The dog
was over the fence and into the thickct
in second, and his angry barks and
growls attracted general attention.
Hes after possum," shouted one
Of the band.
"More likely scoutl- added a sec
ond a. he rode up to the fence.
"Come out Of that, you devil!n or
dered 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 IN investigation. Per-
haps they would have been but for the
condnct II the dog, which seemed de-
termincd 10 come to close quarters. To
shoot him would have betrayed the man
insianter. He tried to coax the brute
with meat and to intimidatc him with a
club, but neither effort was successful.
When sure that the dog was about "a
close IN on him Dave drew his knife
The dog sprang in and was received
with blow intended 10 settle him then
and there, but il only gave him severe
wound. The cut took the fight out Of
him and he retreated among the troop.
crs. A. soon rs they noted his wound
they held whispered consultation and
divided, part going up the road and 3
part down. When 80 rods from tho
thickct they began throwing down Tho
fence.
The scout saw that he was 10 bs
fankcd. The woods were too far away