The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-06-13
TOM JACKSON THE SCOUT.

One of the remarkable men of the
war was Tom Jackson, of the It'll Tenn
essee, in Stonewalls army. He was a
sergeant in Company B of that regi-
ment, Inc attracted the attention of
Capt. Harris in the winter of 1863, who
a him detailed to serve with his
sharpshooters.
He early began to show signs of being
n good scout, and Capt. Harris began
to take him on his scouts inside the
cnemey's lines. a few months develop
ed him into a crafty woods man. He
was about 5 fee 10 very slender and
as why as an eel. The s~harpshooters
said he could go any where q black
snake could and with less noise. Capt.
Harris recommended him to Gen. A. =.
Hill, who kept him until the wal closed.
Some of his escapades read like
romance. On one occasion he was in
side with some scouts Watching a squad
of fcderals washing their clothes.
When they hung them out to dry, Jack
son stole every rag of them and got
away. On another occasion q squad of
five scouts were passing the pickets of
Grants lines by crawling beside Il great
pine log from which the bark had
dropped off, leaving the log nearly
white. Jackson was sneaking in front.
Boone, of Mississippi, next Bond, of
Maryland, next and M other in the
rear. a quick shot rang out and IL ball
struck the log not an mel from Jack
sons head. Not a muscle moved. The
rear man was badly scared, but Jack
SON, Bond n Boone were cool. A
Yankee sergeant cussed the picket,
who declared he saw something. As
soon as the sergeant was gone jackson
commenced his snake-like motion and
was directly on the inside. When the
scouts returned they took the picket
with them just for fun.
jackson and some more scouts were
surrounded in Il house near Cabin
Point inside of Grants line in the
winter of 1906. The Yankees were
within 90 yards of the house when dis
covered. jackson whispered to the Off
Ger that he could outrun the balance of
them. 81 will go this way and draw
their attention, while you get to the
woods. Meet me at Free Sans" Free
sam was q free negro who had always
been a friend to the scouts. A jack
rabbit could not have beaten Jackson
through the garden. He just flew, sew
eral shots were fired, but he was safe
before they recovered from their sur
prise. The other squad was soon safe
In the woods, and met jackson at Free
Sans before midnight.
odoheoH was OncS captured, Out aug
out from Point Lookout with q stolen
suit of clothes. He changed while in
water and crawled into a dugout
with some Yankees and went ashore on
the Virginia side. a week afterwards
jackson was scouting in his old ter
ritory.
He was u born scout, never tired and
knew no fear. His audacity was sim
ply immense. He had u best girl inside
OF Grants lines. He went there to see
her one night, and found by looking
through the window that a Yankee
captain and lieutenant were before
him. The family were genuine Vir-
ginians and loved everything Southern.
jackson managed to find out from the
mother somehow the names of the
Yankees their regiment and brigade,
also a number of other facts which he
might need in an emergency. Boldly
walking to the door he knocked and
asked If Capt.-and Lieut.-of
the--Regiment were there. Stand
ing in the dark he told them that their
were moving, and Col.--
for them to meet the command at
Q point 8 miles from there. He Incl
dentally mentioned some names which
threw them off their guard.
The girls were astounded at his
ludacity, but laughed themselves sick
whea 1T was all over.
Tom jackson now lives In the pan
handle of Texas.