The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-01-28
THRILLING ESCAPES.
THE NERVE AND GOODNESS OF A VETERAN
FEDERAL SOLDIER.

THE NERVE AND GOODNESS OF A VETERAN
FEDERAL SOLDIER.
''What constitutes nerve % asked the New
York World the other day of its readers
One man will answer that it is presence OF
mind and another that it is pluck another
that it is being cool and collected in an emer-
gency. 1t is none Of these. 1t is something
back OF them and something which a man
never had unless it was born in him. In
stances of presence of mind were met with
every day in the army. An officer ont in
charge of foragers or on a reconnaissance
would be suddedly 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 flour ard his chin
shaking. Brave men were common enough
in the ranks. Cali 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 in mind, that Of
John Melrose, a trooper, in the Sixth Niichi-
gan Cavalry, is recalled lie was an under
sized, quiet-spokeE man, and he had that
wonderful nerve which not three men in the
whole brigade possessed. While acting as a
scout in the Shenandoah Valley he was one
day eating dinner at farmhouse, when i'll
walked seven Confederate soldiers. They
knew him for a Union scout, and he knew
them for Confederates. A brave man would
have made rush OF had a 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 2 square meal to-
gether -
'YOu are my prisoner - said the Sergeant
Of the squad as he advanced.
Yes, l know it, but Iii pay for a dinner
Tor you and your men just the same! Sit
down and make yourself at home"
His nerve upset the soldiers, and after
moment they took their seats at the table,
forming a complete circle around the board.
As soon as they began to eat he began to
think to escape. 1t was summer, aud the
window behind him, and ten feet away, was
open. If he stood up all the eyes would be
on him, and any excuse to leave the room
was not 10 De thought Of.
The meal was about haf-hnished, and
captors and captive were chatting away
when Melrose suddenly flung himself back
ward, upset his chair, and bounded through
the window. The soldiers ran out and fired
at and pursued him, but he made good his
escape.
In the Luray valley, lust before the affair
known as WoodstOcks' races, Melrose and
his companion fell out OF ranks TO forage
After securing supply Of meat they pushed
on after the column, and were riding at =
( gaIlop when FIVE 5ushwhackers, well mount
ed. came out of the crOss-rCad and twenty
rods ahead of them.
1--WE are dead men 80 said the scouts
companion a. they came to a halt
/ Looking back they saw four more bush
. whackeTs climbing tie fence to take position
on the highway. MelrCse calmly viewed
their position and finally said:
I'VE viii charge them Fall in behind me
and there viii be less danger. Draw your
sabre and strike hard -
The other dared not try it, though he was
a brave man. He, therefore, kept his place
ss the scout dashed forward. Gdelrose rode
straight at the men with drawn sabre, and
the voIley they fred went over his head.
He struck the lire, saOTed a man as he pass
ed, and soon Tejoined the column. His com
panlon was never heard Of again, probably
being murdered in cold blood.
Ia 1sGI MerOse and three other foragcrs
were captured in the Shenandoah VALLEY
taken to . small eHcampment ana the foul
placed in a log house under guard until theil
cases could Toe disposed of. They talked tht
situa lion over. and the brayest Cf them cOulC
see no hope Of escape. Meirose quietly lis
tened to their discouraging remarks, and a.
quietly replied that he would &c inside th,
4fau limos Iefors D,i5uiol TIara vyas .
circle of sentinels around the building, whicl
had no door The senGne!s paced within
SIX feet of the building, and the one in from
could see the prisoners tiu0ugh the doorway
: 8Ielrose said that if all would rush tCgethe
. the sentinels would be confused and eithe
hold their FIRE or FIRE wild. The three mel
had participated in more than twenty battles
and We're known as brave fellows, but her
they wanted nerve. and nerve was what the
hadn't got.
, Very we'll viii 90 alone - was ia
! quiet announcement, and as night came o
/ Melrose was ready. Standing in the dool
r way, he asked the sentinel what time it was
: You GIT back thar OF III shoot - was III
: prompt reply.
= "Yes-I'm going right back" said tn
] scout, and he dashed upon the man, hit hin
: a stunning blow and made for the woods
2 lie had to run across an open field in fu
sight of camp, and, though it was dusk, h
could be seen qaite plainly for half the di
= tance. More than fifty shots were fired g
him, and then pursuit began. but he reache
t the woods and made his escape. Detroit FT,
] Press