Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-08-26
The Fighting Parsons.

dominic, said Wisconsin man who
has been acquainted with Reed for
thirty years.
"Myron Reed went into the army
private, but was a captain within two
years and in 1864 was offered COM
mission as colonel of an east Tennessee
regiment. He was a daredevil, as
fearless in battle as he is brilliant in
the pulpit, the sort of officer certain to
be called upon when there was I'M
portant scouting to be done. Captain
Reed did a great deal in that line dur
ing his service in Tennessee.
Before daylight one October morn
ing in 1864 an order was received di-
recting Reed to select 20 of the most
trusty men in the regiment for scout
duty and report at the division head
quarters with the least possible de-
lay.
:" Captain Reed, said the general,
you seem to seek hazardous under
takings. l have work of that charac-
ter for you.
"You have mistaken my meaning,
sir. I do not court danger. l ain
simply ready at all times to run risks
if the service demands it.
Every well have it as you will. 1t
is reported on what l call good author
ity that large Confederate force is
coming into this part Of Tennessee
from Arkansas. | want you to take
these men and push in their reported
direction as rapidly as you can to
make at least so miles today. When
you meet the enemy, return without
delay and report and if possible with
out allowing him to discover you.
THE captain and his 20 followers,
all of whom resembled their command
er in one respect-every one of them
being a dare-devil-rode through the
Union picket line soon after sunrise.
Soon after sunset, when the shades of
night appeared and the Tennessee
mountain whose base they were near
ing looked gloomy and forbidding,
they heard something that greatly
added to their gloom, fearless though
they were. 1t was the one word:
Halt
"The speaker was on the side Of the
mountain, out Of sight and not more
than quarter of a mile away. 1t had
been a perfect day and was a perfect
evening. The voice rang out as clear
as a bell. Reed satisfied himself quick
ly that the command had not been IN
tended for his force. His opinion was
confirmed when the same voice was
heard giving these directions
Lieutenant, tell Colonel Jones of
the Tenth Tennessee to 60 into camp
on that side of the road. Have Colonel
Bailey take his regiment just beyond
the Tenth. Let the other three regi-
ments of the brigade camp on this side
of the road.
"The Union scouts, upon hearing
the generals directions for the disposal
of the brigade for the night, moved a
few rods from the road, dismounted,
fed their horses and tried to get little
rest before starting on the 80 miles
ride to the Union lines.
"An hour later they heard the same
voice, little farther up the mountain,
as follows
First Arkansas brigade, if you
will give me your attention | will COM
ply with the very general request of
the command to sing.
"Then for half an hour, in voice
that was as clear and sweet as that
October atmosphere, he sang hymn
after hymn, old fashioned ones such as
the Yankee boys had often heard in
their northern homes. When the sing
ing ceased, the vocalist brigade com
mander told his men to go to sleep
and get a good rest, as they would be
called upon on the morrow to make
forced march of many miles and posi-
bly, end it with hard battle.
"Not long after that Captain Reeds
scouting party started back to camp,
reaching there about 10 o'clock the
next day. His report of the discovery
of an Arkansas brigade led to active
preparations for coming battle, but
it did not occur. The First Arkansas
brigade did not keep its engagement.
1.-The following winter Captain Reed
found himself in charge of large
number of Confederate prisoners.
Among them was one who was much
given to singing hymns. Reed thought
he had heard the voice. Approaching
the singer, he engaged him in conver-
sation, with the following result
"'Have We met before?
"'Not that l know Of, sab.
/ a w 1 -, . &, lila sor,pd