The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-02-19
qRItsreI1mEnms.
THRILL1Ne ESCAPES.
Tho Nerve and COOlnsSS Of Veteran EsdsrAi
Holdlor


"What constitutes nervef" asked the
New York World the other day OF its
readers One man will answer that 1t is
preeence of mind; and another that 1t is
pluck; another that it is being cool and
collected in an emergency. 1t is none
Of these. 1t is something back Of all OF
them, and something which man new
or had unless II was born in him. In
stances Of presence Of mind were met
every day in the army. An officer out
in charge OF foragers or on reconnois-
sance would be suddenly attacked. Pre-
sence of mind aided him to form his
men for defense. He had that pres
ence Of mind, even though his face was
white as -four and his chin shaking
Brave men were common enough in the
ranks. Call for men to face certain
death and a hundred privates would
step out at once, yet, test their nerve"
and they had none.
Among two or three cases in mind,
that Of John Melrose. a trooper in the
Sixth Michigan Cavalry, is recalled. He
was an undsr.sized, quiet.spoken man,
and he had that wonderful nerve which
not three other men in the whole bri'
gade possessed. While acting as scout
in the Shenandoah Valley he was one
day eating dinner at farm house, when
in walked seven Confederate soldiers
They knew him for a Union scout, and
he knew them for confederates. A brave
man would have made a rush or had
fight Melrose simply looked up as
they fled in, smiled over his fix and
called out; a"o
"Say, old woman, put on more dinner
here, and we'll have square meal to-
getherl"
"You are my prisoner!" said the Ser
eeant of the squad ss he advanced.
"Yes, 1 know it, but I'll pay for din
ner for you and your men just the samel
Sit right down and make yourselfs at
home"
His nerve upset the soldiers, and after
moment they took their seats at the
table, forming complete circle around
the board. AS soon as they began to
eat he began to think to escape. 1t was
summer, and the window behind him
and ten feet away was open. II he
stood up all the 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
backward, upset his chair, and bounded
through the window. The soldiers ran
out and fred at and pursued him, but he
made good his escape.
In the Luray valley, just before the
affair known as Woodstocks races, Mel
rose and his companion fell out Of ranks
TO forage. After securing supply of
meat they pushed on after the column,
and were riding at a gallop when five
bushwhaCkers, we'll mounted, came out
of the cross road about twenty rods
ahead of them.
"We are dead men !" said the scouts
ompanion as they came to halt.
Looking back they saw four more
bushwhackers climbing the fence to
take position on the highway. Melrose
calmly viewed their position and finally
said:
1--WE will charge them Fall in be.
hind me and there will be less DANGER
Draw your saber and strike hard p
The other dared not try it, though he
was a brave man. He, therefore, kept
his place as the scout dashed forward
Melrose rode straight at the men with
drawn ssber, and the volley they fred
went over his head. He struck the
line, sabered a man as he passed and
soon rejoined the column. His com
panion was never heard Of again, proba.
bly, being murdered in cold blood.
In 1864 Melrose and three other fora
gers we're captured in the Shenandoah |
Valley, taken to a small enCampment
and the four placed in log house under
guard until their cases should be dis
posed Of They talked the situation |
over, and the bravest of them could see
no hope of escape. Melrose quietly lis.
tened to their discouraging remarks, and |
as quietly replied that he would be in. |
side of the Union lines before midnight. |
There was a circle of sentinels placed |
within six feet ofthe building, and those
in front could see the prisoners through |
the doorway. Melrose said that if all |
would rush together the sentinels would |
be confused and either hold their fire or |
fire wild. The three men had partici-
pated in more than twenty battles, and |
were known as brave fellows, but here
they wanted nerve, and nerve was what
they hadn't got.
"Very well-I will 20 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 p was |
the prompt reply. ,oi |
"Yes-Pm going right back !" said the |
scout, and he dashed upon the man, hit |
him a stunning blow and made for the |
woods. He had to run across an open |
field in full sight Of camp, and though it |
was dark, he could be seen quite plainly |
for half the distance. More than fifty |
shots were fred at him, and then pur.
suit began, but he reached the woods
and made bis escape. as
he was one day scouting up the valley, |
having on a mixed uniform, when he |
came upon two ferocious look
ing guerrillas while crossing a thick |
wood. They were seated on a log, back |
to him, but at the sound of his steps they |
Bprang up and covered him with car.
bines. 1t would have been bold to bolt |
and take the chances Of being hit, Mel
rose never slackened his pace nor |
changed countenance. but walked di |
reetly up to the men and quietly said:
1--WE got news for the Colonel, and |
want you both to go along and show me |
the way" ll. q
GCVUL - .asI -. 1JJ 11 A.