The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-15


The narrator hereof knew the late General
lee we'll. and passed through the war close
hy him. says % writer in the Philadelphia
Times. So far as be knows, the following
brief and. perhaps. not very amusing Wal
story Is the only war story that he ever told
To is certainly the only one that the recounter
who heard him tell it. ever did hear fan from
his lips.
Lee was never O great talker, except under
one condition and that was when ne mao
young ladies % entertain. for then his natural
Eallantry got the better OF him. ana ne was q
charming companion, though not what might
Doe called lOquaciOus, and he did not care %
talk OF the war. preferring to choose other
/ topics 1t was in camp however, that he 50
far yielded TO the desires Of couple Of fair
visitors as TO spin "a yarn. He had invited
two young ladies'. cousins of his. 10 dine with
him, and IL was 10 them, and at their persua
sion, that lac told the story Of the Two Con
federate Scouts"
Carefully arranging hts napkin on the table
in front of him, and sitting perfectly erect In
his chair as was his custom. General Lee
said. when this war is over, YOU Will hear
a great deal of praise given the leaders OF
the armies and in the attempt 10 do them
honor, the private soldier Will, to certain
extent, he overlooked. This Is unfortunate,
since some Of the noblest and most daring
deeds of the war were done by privates on
both sides
Il was once in absolute need of positive in
formation as to the movements Of the enemy.
My regular scouts were out, so had to select
from regiment of men who were familiar
with the section Of the country if not with
their mission Two able bodied and iutellt-
gent men were sent to me, to whom intrusted
the dangerous task of crossing the river and
going into the ncighbOring village TO ascer-
tain from StTagglers the coveted infOrma-
ton. They made the trip successfully and re-
turned the next noon not only with the facts,
but with the traps and effects of four Union
soldiers. which they had obtained in a manner
credltahle to the coolest and brayest men OF
either army
After ferreting out Ithe secrets of the en-
envy they started on the return trip, but were
detained by terrific rain storm, of several
hours duration which forced them TO shelter
until night. When they reached the river,
they found TO their Chagrin, that it was too
much swollen to be crossed in canoe, and,
the only thing left. was to make a bed of the
pine tags on thegrOund and sleep until morn
lng, when they would proceed unmOlested.
But they had reckOned without their host.
The enemy pickets, who had been driven to
shelter by the rain. were out early next morn
ing investigating and seeing fresh tracks SuS-
peCted something wrong Five of them started
on the trail, plain in the soft earth, and soon
came upon the sleeping scouts. Feeling con
Hdent OF having their prisoners secure, they
tnougnt to nave some innocent fun with them,
and proceeded to jab their backs with the
points of their bayonets and request them to
come in out Of the rain.
Hello Johnny what are you doing Sleep
ing out here in the wet like thisy You will
take cold. Come on with Us out of the
damp
But the sleeping Confederates could not be
aroused, and the sentinels had a big laugh
over 1t, particularly so when one of them
would turn partially over and grOan out,
%. stop that, What are you polSing me for?
II isn't time for reVetlie vet as If he thought
he was in his own camp safe and sound. Just
In the midst Of their greatest outbreak the
scouts with the agility of wild animals,
sprang from their couches and with their PTS
tolls shot down the two front men. then, as
quickly dropped the other two as the fifth man
hastily retreated, leaving his gun behind
him.
When the scouts heard the federal SQUAD
advancing on them they We're too close to adj
NIT Of retreat, so they resorted to strategy
and feigned sleep, arranging between them
that, at given signal, both should rise and
fire on different men, taking them so by sur
prise that the others could be shot also be-
fore they could get their guns up. The trick
worked perfectly. and to it those men not only
owe their neckS, but the valuable information
for headquarters and four good Snider rifles
and warm overcoats.
Il do not believe that any deed of the
war surpassed this in GOODNESS and BRAY
cry"