The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-28
A NARROW ESCAPE

u one of Custer's 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 regard
ing the enemy's position, and he entered
upon the enterprise with alacrity and
confidence. Dave was known as q
quiet, cool, enduring man, doing his
duty under all circumstances and win
ming the good will of the officers and in
camp or on the march.
1t was not the intention to send the
trooper forward as 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 pair of revolvers and a
knife, and there were plenty of croakers
to predict that he would never return.
After leaving the outpost Dave headed
straight up the valley, determined to
accomplish his task as soon as possible.
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 bave caused instant
alarm. He had discovered that the
neutral ground was overrun with Con-
federate 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
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 yet 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 a 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 colored .man,
when cavalry patrol of about twenty
five men came along the dusty road and
halted at a watering-trough to refresh
their horses. The noise attracted the
attention of the house dog, large
and savage animal, and he ran
down to the highway and barked furi-
ously. Finding that the soldiers gave
him no attention 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
thicket in second, and his angry barks
and growls attracted general atten-
ton.
He's after 'possum," shouted one
of the band.
"More like 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 human
being 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 club, but neither effort was sue
cessful. When sure that the dog was
about to close in on him Dave drew his
knife. The dog sprang in and was
received with blow intended to settle
him then and there, but only gave him
q severe wound. The cut took the fight
out of him and he retreated among the
troopers. AS soon as they noted his
wound they held a whispered consulta-
ton and divided, part going up the
road and part down. When thirty
rods from the thicket they began throw
ing down the fence.
The scout saw that he was to be
flanked. 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- ter
ed the field the scout bounded into the
road and had crossed it before he was
discovered. When the cavalry opened
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-
nanfad to rIln ihroimh IL n,nd nonoas L.