Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-09
JOHN MELRosEs NERVE.
The Story OF A MICHIGAN Scour-A
PRISONER WHO WOULD NOT STAY
CAPTURED.
From the Detroit Free Press

From the Detroit Free Press.l
"What constitutes nerye:" asked the
New York World the other day 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 collect
ed in an emergency. 1t is none of these.
1t is something back of all of them, and
something which man never had unless
it was born in him. Instances of pres
ence of mind were met with every day
in the army. An officer out in charge Of
foragers, or on reconnaissance, would
be suddenly attacked. Presence Of mind
aided him to form his men for defense.
He had that presence 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 hundred pri-
Yates would step out at once, yet, test
their "nerve," and they had none.
Among two or three cases in mind
that of John Melrose. trooper in the
Sixth Michigan Cavalry, is recalled. lie
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 a scout in
the Shenandoah Valley he was one day
eating dinner at a farm house when in
walked seven Confederate soldiers. They
knew him for Union scout, and lie knew
them for Confederates. A brave man
would have made rush or had 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 well all have square meal to-
gether."
"You are my prisoner said the SER
geant Of the squad as he advanced.
"Yes, know it, but I'll pay for a
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
moment they took seats at the table,
forming complete circle around the
board. As soon as they began to eat he
began to think Of escape. 1t was sum-
mer and the window behind him and ten
feet away was open. IL he stood up all
eyes would be fixed on him, and any ex-
cuse to leave the room was not to be
thought of.
The meal was about half finished and
captors and captives were chatting away
when Melrose suddenly flung himself
backward, upset his chair and bounded
through the window. The soldiers ran
out and fred and pursued him, but he
made good his escape.
In the Luray Valley, just before the
affair known as Woodstock races, Mel
rose and his companion fell out Of the
ranks to forage. After securing supply
of meat they pushed on after the column
and were riding at gallop when five
bushwhackers, well mounted, came out
Of the cross-road about twenty rods ahead
C Ileu,.
I'VE 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 calm
ly viewed the situation and finally said:
1--WE 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
his place as the scout dashed forward.
Melrose rode straight at the men with
drawn sabre and the volley they fired
went over him. He struck the line,
sabred man as he passed and soon re-
joined the column. His companion was
never heard Of again, probably being
murdered in cold blood.
In 1864 MeIrase and three other forag-
ers were captured in the Shenandoah
Valley, taken to small encampment
and the four placed in a log house 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
discouraging remarks and as quietly re-
piled that he WOULD be inside Of the Tn
lon lines betnye midnight. There was a
circle of sentinels around the building,
and the one in front could see the prison.
ers through the doorway. Melrose said
that if all would rush togeteer the SEN
tinels would be confused and either hold
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
mVery we'll, ! will 60 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.
"Y0u git back thar, or l ii shoot. was
the prompt reply.
"Yes; I'm 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 dusk he could see quite
plainly for half the distance. More than
fifty shots were fired at him, and then
pursuit began, but he reached the woods
and made his escape.
He was one day scouting up the val:
ley, having on MIXED uniform, when
he suddenly came upon two ferocious-
looking guerillas while crossing thick
wood. They were seated on log, back