Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-20
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
THE SILENT ViDETTE.
How His Murder Was Avenged by Hi
Faithful Comrades.


In 1868, Suffolk, Va, was the extreme
| advance post of the United States army
| in Southeastern Virginia. 1t covered
Norfolk, the mouth of the James and
| Fortress Monroe. The Confederates,
entrenched, lined tho Blaclwater river,
a few miles from our front, and the
| pickets of both sides, but short dis
tance apart, were often hotly engaged.
But we suffered sadly and frequently
from guerrillas or bushwhackers-men
out of uniform, who snealted in on our
| lines and cruelty shot down our senti-
nels on post, or fred from ambuscade on
some passing scout
Our picket station on what was
known as the Franklin road in tho
| winter OF '63, was about four miles out
from the post, and consisted of one com
pany OF cavalry and one of infantry.
One bright moonlight night 1 posted
guards and videttes, the latter being
mouted men placed outside all the lines
to give the alarm If the enemy advanced
on us for surprise.
Out on the road beyond the Deserted
House, nearly mile from the reserve,
left young cavalryman belonging to
Company M, N. Y. Mounted Rifles, with
orders to fire and ride into the reserve
on the approach of an enemy. 1t was a
lonesome place, shadowed by grove of
pines, and 1 told young Stoddard to
keep bright lookout, for / felt as if
there was danger in the air. He was
favorite of mine, for had known him at
home in Warren County, N. Y, where
he had married lovely girl but year
before the war broke out.
After posting all the sentinels and vi
dettes, 1 rode back to the post dis
mounted, piclketed my horse and went
for a cup of coffee to take off the chill of
the night air.
had just drained tin cup OF tho hot
beverage, when far off from the south
west, we heard the dull report of gun.
1t was but single shot, and the instant
heard it cried out:
That is from Stoddard's post, but it
was no carbine shot. j hope the poor
boy hasn't come to harm"
Five to ten minutes went by, and then
all hands were put on the alert as a
horse came furiously down the road. In
q few seconds, running right up to the
picket fires, he was caught and l saw at
the first glance that it was Stoddard's
horse.
The saddle was empty. but the front
of the saddle and the shoulders of the
horse, covered with blood, told that the
rider was either dead or badly hurt.
Into the saddle, and with twenty men
at my back, l rushed to his post as fast
as our horses could carry us.
There he lay in the clear moonlight,
on his back near clump of bushes, yet
alive, but dying-his breast fairly rid
died with bucl1shot.
/ raised him up and gave him sip Of
liquor from my cantcen, but it was of no
use.
"He crept upon me in the bushes-he
was right under the head of my horse
when he fired, and 1 had no chance"
gasped the dying man. Tell Emma /
was bushwhacked at last!'
1t was all he could say-gasping this,
he died.
"You shall be avenged, my poor boy"
1 cried. "There is frost on the ground
and we'll track your murderer"
We followed the track on the thick
frosted ground for nearly two miles to
dii olu lcdI
pile of old straw we found
man in butternut clothes, with a double
barrelled gun by his side. The barrels
were yet moist from recent discharge.
Can you run?" l asked the fellow
who stood before us, dark and sullen.
Let me try" he growled.
go" said /.
The next instant, to my men-ten in
number-the order low and stern:
Ready
Away bounded the guerrilla, running
for life. But ten seconds after his start
followed the order:
Fire low and let him have it."
Ten sharp carbi mes rang loud on the
night air as one report, and the mur-
derer, with one fearful leap ended |
race and life in the same breath. Poor
Stoddard was avenged.-Cor. Toledo
Blade.
A CONFEDERATE PLOT.
1t Was Well Planned, But Betrayed by |