Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-08
WHEELNG w. YA SATURDAY. MORNING. APRIL 8.

ceiying that wound, has been disabled up
10 the present time, and he is not only in
destitute circumstances but in very bad
health. The particular merit OF this claim
is that notwithstanding the severe wound
received by this scout at that time he con,
tinued to keep his seat in the saddle, ana
rode for two miles to give lnformatlon 70
the UnitedStates troops in camp, who were
unaware of the approach OF the enemy In
the neighborhood, and saved that army
from destruction. The officer states in his
report that il it had not been for the intor-
nation gwen by this scout at the time the
camp would have been surprised. SUB
nit, sir, that if Congress gives pensions for
the purpose of recognizing meritorious ser.
vice by a person in the military service OF
the United States, there can be no stronger
case presented than this, and that the Dill
ought to receive the favorable consideration
of Congress"
On motion OF Mr. Plumb, the bill was
amended so that it provided that the PEN
sion of those should not be greater than ne
would be entitled to had he been private
soldier, which was accepted by both Cam
den and Davis, the latter saying that 1t
it only made plain what was intended
As this is a most extraordinary case,
YOUR correspondent quotes at length the
testimony of Lieut.. Col. Hatton, OF the
Twentieth Virginia Cavalry OF the Con-
federate service, and who, during the war,
served principally on the West Virginia
frontier, where it was well known who
were acting as scouts and guides for the
Federal forces in that vicinity. Col. Hatton
says:
Jesse +. Phares was we'll known to be one
of the most active and dangerous scouts and
guides operating against us. His knowledge
OF the country was thorough; he was smart,
daring and vigilant, and capable OF great
endurance. In consequence OF the know
ledge we possessed of this fact, every
possible exertion was made on our part to
capture him, but without success until the
23d day of April, 1865, when General
Imboden advanced upon the Federal
forces then stationed at Beverly COM
manded by Col. George K. Latham.
in order to cut Off all scouts that might
be outside the Federal pickets, we sent by
night party of men through the woods to
gain the road near the outside Federal
picket post before daylight on the morning
of April %, 1868 About daylight said
Phares, who was thus cut of, approached
said party of men upon horseback, and was
ordered to halt, but dashed forward and
past the men, when he was fired upon by
them, one ball taking effect passing through
his body-through the lungs-from the ef-
feCts OF which he is now almost wholly
disabled He retained his seat, however,
until he reached the Federal plcKetand gave
information OF our advance.
Beverly was evacuated the same day by
the Federal forces and occupied by the
Confederates, and PhareS fell into our
hands.
HE was cared for by me personally
about fifteen days, but large amount OF
goods, general merchandise, groceries ETC.,
household furniture and other persona!
property, to the vslue of several thousand
dollars fell into Confederate hands and was
used or destroyed by them, leaving him and
his family in very destitute circumstances,
in which condition, principally in conse'
quence of his disability, they remain 70
this time. He has four children living, and
one, his oldest, daughter, died OF con,
sumption in 1870, induced by hardships and
exposure, and his wife is worn down by
care and labor
This same bill passed the Senate at the last
session of Congress on an ddr"rSc report
from the Committee on Pensions, as then
constituted. Notwithstanding the adverse
report, Senator Hereford had the bill placed
upon the Calendar and succeeded in secur
ing its passage.
Phares is about 43 years of age and has
been for several years failing rapidly il
physical strength, in consequence Of thu
wound above referred to. &.