The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-16
GEN. Z i, ONLY STORY.


The CeussderAts Leaders Idsa Or , Bravo
and Cssl Decd.
Lee VA never ! crest talksr except under
me condition, and that was whom b Hhad
youag ladies TO entertain. for thon biz
natural g~allantry gos ths better Of him. mi
hs Wa : charming companion. though mot
what might be called loQuacious, and No did
not sass 10 talk Of ths war. pSsfsSsinR 70
choose othsr topics. II Was In CAMP. how.
sver, that BIO 10. far yielded 70 tbs desires Of
: scuple Of faif ~viaitors - to spin . yarn.
He had invited two young ladies. cousins
OF his, 10 dine with him. and y wae 20 them
OF the 1.-TWO Confederate Bcouts," which a
writer in tile Philadelphia Ttmsa who knew
the great confsdsrate intimately declares
to BIZ the only war story evst told By him.
Carefully arranging bis napkin on the
tabls In font OF him and sitting perSectly
etect in his chair. 40 WAS his custom, Gen.
Lee said: 'Whon this war Il over you will
hear = great deal ef praise given ths leaders
Of the armies. md In the attempt TO DO
them honor the private soldier will TO .
certain extent DO overlooked. This 10 IN
~1ortunats, sinoe, some Of the noblsst and
most daring deeds OF tho war were dons BY
p~rivates on both sides. l was once in abs0.
lutte need Of r~ositive information A. to ths
movements OF the ensIny. My regular
scouts were out. 80 I had to select from =
regiment Of men who were familiar with
the section OF the country. II not with their
men were sent to me. 70 whom / intrustsd
tho dangerous task Of crossing the rlver, and
going into the neighboYing village TO asosY-
tain from stragalers the coveted iniorma-
ton. They made the trip successfully and
returned the next noon. mot only with the
facts but with tho traps and effects Of four
union soldiers. which they obtained in a
manner creditnbIe to the coolest and brayest
men Of either o my.
after ferreting out the secrets of the
enemy they started on the return trip. but
were detained by a terrific rainstorm Of
"a shelter until night. When they reached
the river they found to their cbaR in that
il was too much swollen TO be crossed in a
canoe, and the only thing left was TO make
a bed OF tho Pine taga on the ground and
sleep until morning. whom they would pro.
without their host. Tho enemy's picket,
who had also been driven to shelter by tie
rain. were out early next morning investi-
eating, and seeing fresh tracks suspected
something wrong. Five OF them started on
the trail, plain in the soft earth. and soon
confident OF having their prisoners secure
they thought to have soma innocent fun
with them md proceeded to inb them in
the back with the points of their bayonets
and requested them to come out OF the
rain.
"Hello. Johnny, what arc You doing
sleeping ont here in the wet like this2 You
will take cold. Conn on with rs ont Of the
damp
But the sleeping co~nfedcrates could not
be aroused. and the sentinels had a big
laugh over it, particularly 30 when ono Of
them would partially turn over and groan
out. oh. stop that! What q 9 you poking
me for? 1t isn't time for ~reveiIle yet,' az II
he thought he was in his own camp safe
and sound. just in the midst Of their
greatest outbreak the scouts, with the aQil-
{ty of wild animals. sprang from their
couches and with their pistols shot down
the two front men. then as quickly dropped
the other two MS the fifth mar hastily re-
treated, leaving his gun behind him.
when the scouts heard tho federal squad
advancing on them they were too close to
admit Of retreat, SO they resorted to STRAIT
spy and feigned sleep, arranging between
them that at a given signal both should rise
and fire on different men. taking them 30
by surprise that the othera could be shot
also before they could got their guns up.
The trick worked perfectly. and TO IL those
men not only owe their nscks but the vaiu-
able information for headquarters and four
good Snide rifles and warm overcoats.
lido not believe that any decd of the war
surpassed this in coolness and bravery"