Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-07-21
Gen. Lees Story.

The narrator hereof knew the late
General Lee well, AMI passed through
the war close behind him, says wri-
ter in the Philadelphia Times. So far
as he knows the following brief aud,
perhaps. not very amusing war story
i the only war story that he ever
told. Ii Is certainly the only one
that the recounter. who heard him
tell il. ever did hear fall from his lips.
Lee was never "a great talker eN-
cept under one condition, aud that
was when he had young ladies To en-
tartaiu. for then his natural gallsntry
got the better Of him and he was
charming companion, though not
what might toe called loquacious aud
he did not care To talk Of the war,
preferring To choose other topics IL
Was in camp. however, that hr 81 FAR
Welded TO the desires OF couple of
fair visitors aS 10 spin u yarn. tie
had invited two young ladies, cousins
OF his. To dine with him, and it WAS To
| them aud at their persuasion that he
told the story OF tie Two Confeder-
ate Scouts
Carefully arranging his napkin on
/ the table in front OF him, and sitting
perfectly erect in his chair, as was his
custom. General Lee said: When
/ thj, war is over YOU will hear great
| deal Of praise given the leaders OF the
armies. and in the attempt 10 do them
/ honor the private soldier will, 90 II
/ certain extent. be overlooked. This
\ j. unfortunate, since some Of the no
| hlrst and most daring deeds OF the
war were done 10y privdtes on both
/ sides
/ Il was once iu absolute need of
| positive information a. to the move
ments of the enemy My regular
| scout, were out, 80 | had 10 select
/ from "A regiment of men unfamiliar
with the section OF the country, IL
not with their mission Two able
bodied and intelligent men wrr" sent
/ 10 me. 10 whom intrusted Tia" dan
gcrous task OF crossing the river aud
| going into the nciShbnring village to
ascertain from stragglcrs the coveted
information They made the trip
I successfully and returned the urNt
\ noon not only with the facts, bat with
| the traps aud effects of four Union
soldiers, which they had obtained ia
"A manner crrditablc to the coolest
aud bravrst men OF either army.
After frrrrtiug out the secrets OF
/ the enemy they started on the return
/ trip, but were detained 10y terrific
rniu-storm OF several hours duration,
| which forced them TO shelter until
night When they reached the river
they found To their chagrin that il
was too much swollen To be crossed
| in canoe. and TIA. only thing left
was to make IA bed of the pine tags
on the ground and sleep until morn
| ing. when they would proceed ammo
| Tested But they had reckoned with
ont their host The enemy's pickcts,
who had also been driven to shelter
by the rain, were ont early next morn
| ing investigating, aud seeing fresh
| Five OF them started on the trail plain
| I'm the soft earth aud soon came upon
| the sleeping scouts Feeling conf.
| dent OF having their prisoners secnre,
| they thought 10 have some innocent
| fun with them, and proceeded TO jab
them in the back with the points OF
their bnyoucts aud request them To
come ia out Of the rain.
"'Hcllo, johnny what are youdoing
sleeping out here in the wet like thisy
You will take cold Come on with ~
out Of the damp.
But the sleepy confederates could
/ not be aroused aud the seutinel- had
/ "A big laugh over IL, particularly 40
when one Of them would turn partial
| ly over and groan out, oh, stop that
Whnt are you poking me for IL isn't
! time for reveille yet, as II 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
] Il. Ia lant t.ts
| tols shot down the two front men,
then ~ quickly dropped the other
two as the fifth man hastily retrcated,
leaving his gun hehind him.
when the scouts heard the federal
/ squad advancing on them they were
! too close 10 admit Of retreat, 20 they
resorted to strategy and feigned sleep,
arranging between them that NJ n
given signal both should rise and fire
on different men, taking them 70 by
surprise that the others could be shot
also before they could get their guns
up. The trick worked perfectly, and
TO II those men not only owe their
necks, bat the valuable Information
for headquarters and four good Snider
rifles and warm oyercOats.
Il do not believe that any deed of
the war surpassed this in cooIness aud
bravery"
To Take Foul Air Out Of a Well.