The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04
ONE OF CARNEYS STORIES
The Close Call Scout Experienced I'm tn,
Hands of Bloodiess SecessionIsts.


Hands of Bloodiess SecessionIsts.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Several
narratives of scouting adventures have al
ready been printed in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, but, so far as / know, the follow
ing has not heretofore appeared.
During a portion Of the last years of the
war it was my lot 10 be detailed among a
company of scouts and at that time the
duties devolving upon us all required great
secresy, care, and attention TO business. A
good General will always endeavor to OBJ
tain as far as possible definite information
in regard to The movements of the enemy,
and for this purpose scouts constitute very
important part Of an active army in the field.
Though few in number, they have unusually
hazardous duties 20 perform; and skill,
energy, watchiulness and promptness of
action are required.
The scouts Of whom desire to speak were
attached 10 the Bureau Of Information of the
Army of The Potomac, and had to go wher-
ever they wfre sent if it was az all possible
for them to get there. They frequently made
trips for miles inside of the lines of the
enemy, and if their adventures were written
ami gathered into book-form, il would take
very large volume TO hold them all.
w utlc IbC Alhby VI WAY ell
camped near Brandy Station Va, and in
the vicinity OF Culpeper Courthouse, the
scouts mate frequent excursions across the
Rapidan River once or twice week. The
objectwas if the rebels were doing anything
to fiud it out; and if they were doing moth
ing, it was important to ascertain that also
Our men used to 20 many miles back into the
country, and visit Union man. who secured
Inf a he from -
time, and when our boys visited him he told
them all he had been able to learn about the
movements of any part of the Army OF
Northern Virginia
OF course the scouts made these visits
under cover of darkness, and whenever
possible very dark night was selected.
They had long india-rubber bag, which
could be filled with air, and when Stats were
placed lengthwise and crosswise upon it this
little boat would carry two men across the
river.
About 10 o'clock at night the scouts would
paddle silently across the Rapidan, and after
reaching the opposite shore pull their light
craft up on the bank, and 20 on about their
business. OF course, they avoided the
plckets as well as the camps of the enemy,
and with revolver in hand made their way
through the country as silently as possible.
But / shall confne myself to one event
full trip, from which the scout was fortu-
nate in escaping with his life; and, lest
fshall be charged with unduly coloring the
matter, shall endeavor TO give the story as
nearly as possible in the words of Arson b.
Carney, who was for long time employed
as one of the scouts at Army Headquarters.
Carney is now living at West franklin.
Bradford County, Pa, and he says that this
adventure was the occasion of his first capt
ure by the enemy. He thinks he then came
nearer to being killed than at any other time
in his life. Here is the story, substantially
as Carney told it:
While a. member of the company OF
scouts, and about the time I was making
preparations to go into Winter camp in
| the Fall of 1868, was ordered 10 report at
Army Headquarters. On arriving there |
was informed that some rebel deserters had
come into our lines and reported that part
of brigade-or, perhaps, Two or three bri-
| gades-of the enemy had left Gen. Lees
army and taken all their camping-outfit
with them. The deseriers said they knew
this to be fact. but they could not tell no W
| many rebels had departed, neither could
| they give their business or their destina-
ton.
Il received orders to go out and find on,
| if possible the truth or falsity of this report
and bring back all the news / could gather
| regarding this movement. Judson Knight
| the well-known scont, went with me, and
crossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford
we marched on through the country till We