Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-02-18
'sNERvE."
n Miehissndsr With Lots of It--A Few Thrilling
Adventures.

NERVE.
n Miehiaandsr With Lots of TIA Few Thrilling
Adventures.
TFroro the Detroit Free Press.1
"What constitutes nerve?" asked the
New York World recently, of its readers.
One man will answer that it is presence
of mind, another that it is pluck; another
that it is being cool and collected In an
emergency. 1t is none of these, it is
something back of all of them, and some
thing which a man never has unless it
was born In him. Instances of presence
of mind were met with every day in the
army. An officer out In charge of for
ayers or on a reconnaissance would be
suddenly attacked. Presence of mind
aided him to form his men for defense.
even though his face was white as -four
and his knees shaking. Brave men are
common enough in the ranks. Call for
men to face certain death and hundred
privates would step out at once, yet, test
their "nerve" and they had none.
Among two or. three cases III mind,
that of John Melrose, trooper In the
Sixth Michigan cavalry, is recalled. He
was an understood, quiet-spoken man,
and he had that wonderful nerve which
not three other men In the whole brigade
possessed. While acting as q scout In
the Shenandoah valley, he was one day
eating dinner at a farmhouse, when in
walked seven confederate soldiers. They
knew him for 8 union scout. and he
knew them for confederates. A brave
man would have made a rush or bad
fight. Melrose simply looked up as they
filed In, smiled over his fix. and called
out:
"Say, old woman, put ON more dinner
here and We'll all have square meal to-
getheE!''
sYou are my prisonerl'' said the ser
geant of the squad as he advanced.
eyes, I know it, but I'll pay for
dinner for you and your men just the
same! Sit right down and make your
selves at home"
His nerve upset the soldiers, and after
a moment they took seats ct the table,
forming complete circle around the
board. AS soon as they began to eat he
began to think to escape, It was sum-
mer, and the widnow behind him and ten
feet away was open. IF he stood up all
eyes would be on him, and any excuse to
leave the room was not to be thought of.
The meal was about half finished, and
captors and captive were chatting away
when Melrose suddenly flung himself
backwards, upset his chair, and bounded
through the window. The soldiers ran
out and fred at and pursued, but he
made good his escape.
In the Luray valley, just before the
affair known as Woodstock Races.
Melrose and his companion fell out of
ranks to forage. After securing a sup
ply OF meat they pushed on after the
column, and were riding at gallop
when five bushwhackers, well mounted,
came out of cross-road about twenty
rods ahead of them.
eve are dead men!" said the scouts
companion, as they came to halt.
Looking back they saw four more
bushwhackers climbing the fence to
take position on the highway. Melrose
calmly viewed the situation, and finally
said:
eve will charge them! Fall In be-
hind me and there will be less danger.
Draw your sabre and strike hard!"
The other dared not try it, though he
was brave man. He therefore kept
mis- place as the scout dashed forward.
Melrose rode straight at the men with
drawn saber, and the volley they fred
went over him. He struck the line,
sabered a man as he passed, and soon
reioined the column. His companion
was never heard of again, probably be-
ing murdered in cold blood.
In 1864 Melrose and three other for
ayers were captured In the Shenandoah
valley, taken to q small encampment.
and the four placed in Lighthouse under
guard until their cases could be disposed
Of They talked the situation over and
the bravest of them could see no hope of
escape. Melrose quietly listened to
their discourag1ng remarks, and as quiet
Iy replied that he would be inside of the
union lines before midnight. There
was circle of sentinels around the
building, which had no door. The
sentinels paced within six feet of the
building, and the one in front could see
the prisoners through the doorway.
Melrose said If all would rush together
the sentinels would be confused and
hold their fire or fire wild. The three
men had participated in more than
twenty battles, and were known as brave
fellows, but here they wanted nerve,
and nerve was what they hadn't got.
every Welt will go alone!" was
the quiet announcement, and as night
came on Melrose was ready. Standing
in the doorway, he asked the sentinel
what time it was
"You git back thar or I'll shoot I"
was the prompt reply.
"Yes-Pm going right back +" said
the scout, and he dashed upon the man,