The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-09-01
Fighting Parsons.

can tell you SOOu SlOIy dUOuI
Myron w. Reed, the brilliant Denver
dominic" said Wisconsin man who
has been acquainted with Reed for
thirty years.
" Myron Reed went into the army
private, but was captain within two
years and in 1864 was offered COM
mission as colonel of an east Tennes-
see regiment. He was daredevil, as
fearless in battle as he is brilliant in
pulpit, the sort of officer certain to be
called upon when there was important
scouting to be done. Captain Reed did
a great deal in that line during his SER
vice in Tennessee.
Before daylight one October MORN
ing, in 1864, an order was received di-
recting Reed 10 select twenty of the
most trusty men in the regiment for
scout duty and report at division head
quarters with the least possible delay.
"' Captain Reed" said the general,
you seem to seek hazardous undertak-
ings. l have work of that character
for YOU
90 You have mistaken my meaning,
sir. 1 do not court danger. | am
simply ready at all times to run risks if
if the service demands it,
"' Very well; have it as you will.
1t is reported ON what l regard good
authority that large Confederate force
is coming into this part of Tennessee
from Arkansas. l want you to take
these men and push in their reported
direction as rapidly as your animals can
carry you. l want you to make thirty
miles to-day. When you meet the
enemy, return without delay and report
and if possible without allowing him to
discover you
1.-THE captain and his twenty follow
ers, all of whom resembled their COM
mander in one respect-every one OF
them being daredevil-rode through
the Union picket line sooI after sun
rise. Soon after sunset, when the
shades of night appeared and the Ten
nessee mountain whose base they were
nearing 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 mile away. 1t had
been a perfect day and was perfect
evening. The voice rang out clear as
a bel. Reed satisfied himself quickly
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 go into camp
on that side of the road Have Colonel
| n ailau taka his raniDnant inst haunn1
the Tenth. Let the other three regi-
ments of the brigade camp out on this
side of the road
The Union scouts, upon hearing
the general 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 30 miles
ride TO the Union lines.
San hour later they heard the same
voice, little farther up the mountain,
as follows:
First Arkansas brigade, if you will
give your attention | will comply with
the very general request of the COM
mand to sing
Il" Then for half an hour, in voice
that was as clear and sweet as that Oc-
tober atmosphere, he sang hymn after
by mn, old fashioned ones such as the
Yankee boys had often heard in their
Northern homes. When the singing
ceased, the vocalist brigade commander
told his men to get sleep and get q
good rest, as they would be called upon
on the morrow TO make forced march
of many miles and possibly end it with
hard battle.
"Not long after that Captain Reeds
scouting party started back to camp,
reaching there about ten o'clock the
next day. His report of the discovery
of an Arkansas brigade led TO active
preparations for coming battle, but il
did not occur. The First Arkansas
brigade did not keep its engagement.
The following winter Captain Reed
found himself in charge of large
number of Confederate prisoners
Among them was one who was much