The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-07
FIGHTING PARSONS.
HOW THE REV. MR.. BERRY FOOLED
THE REV. MR.. REED.
They Were Scouts of Opposing Forces Dur
Ing the Civil Wharf.-The Commander Who
Issued Orders In Loud Tone and Sang
Hymns to His Soldiers.

hymns To His Soldiers.
81 can tell you good story about Myron
w. Reed, the brilliant Denver dominic"
said IA Wisconsin man who has been ac-
quainted with Reed for 30 years.
"Myron Reed went into the army pri-
vato, but was captain within two years
and in 1864 was offered commission as
colonel Of an east Tennessee regiment. He |
was daredevil, as fearless in battle as no
Is brilliant in pulpit, the sort of officer
certain to be called upon when there was
important scouting TO be dono Captain |
Reed did great deal in that line during |
his service i'm Tennessee.
Before daylight one October morning |
In 1864 an order was received directing
Reed to select 90 of the most trusty men
in the regiment for scout duty and report
at division headquarters with the least
possible delay.
Captain Reed, said the general you
seem to seek hazardous undertakings. l
have work of that character for you.
You have mistaken my meaning, sir.
l do not court danger. l am simply
ready at all times to run risks if the serv-
Ice demands it,
Every well; have it as you will. 1t is
reported on what regard good authority
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 your
animals can carry you. l want you to
make at least 30 miles today. When you
meet the enemy, return without delay and
report and if possible without allowing
him to discover you.
1.-THE captain and his 90 followers, all of
whom resembled their commander in one
respect-every one of them being 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
nearing looked gloomy and forbidding,
they heard something that greatly added
TO their gloom, fearless though they were.
1t was the one word:
"'Haltp
"The speaker was on tho side of the
mountain, out of sight and not more than
quarter of a mile away. 1t had been
perfect day and was perfect evening The
voice rang out as clear as n bell. Reed sat
ished himself quickly that the command
had not been intended for his force. His
opinion was confirmed when tho 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 Bailey take
his regiment Just beyond the Tenth. Let
the other three regiments 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 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, a little farther up the mountain, as
| follows:
| "sFirst Arkansas brigade, II you will
Give me your attention l will comply
with the very general request of the com
mand to sing.
"Then for half an hour in voice that
was as clear and sweet as that October at
mosphere, he sang hymn after hymn, old
fashioned ones such as the Yankee boys
had often heard in their northern homes.
When the singing ceased, the vocalist bri-
gade commander told his men to go &c
sleep and get good rest, as they would be
called upon on the morrow to make q
forced march of many miles and possibly
end it with hard battle
mot long after that Captain Reed q
scouting party started back to camp, reach
ING there about 10 o'clock the next day
His rcport of the discovery of an Arkansas
brigade led to active preparations Tor
coming battle, but 1t did not occur. Ih'
First Arkansas brigade did not keep III
engagement
The following winter Captain Reet
found himself in charge of large number
of Confederate prisoners Among then
was one who was much given To singing
hvmps. Reed thought he had heard th'
voice. Approaching the singer, ne en-
gagged him in conversation, with the FOL
lowing result:
"'Have we met beforey
"'Not that know of, sah.'
"'Your voice has familiar sound.
"Tben he thought of the hymns he hat
heard on the side of that Tennessee noun
, tain. -,
"'Do you belong to an Arkansas bri
gade9' asked Reed.
, Ono, sab. I'm Tennessee soldier
"'Were you with an Arkansas brigad
when it went into camp on Iennesse
mountain last OCTOBER He named th
locality. -,
| was Oh tne nOuuoaih you oPS"" ~
! hut not with an Arkansas brigade
Q "'Did you sing hymns and then tell Tn
men of your brigade to sleep and rest, 10
$ the next day they would have long, mar
b march and mayhap flghtT
: al sang that night, sab, and made I'd
remark. but not to u brigade, sab.
= "a regimentY
"'No, sab, to six men who were VIII
: mo ON n scout. We saw force of 20 or o
: borsemen nearing our position, ana DC
{ caring to leave just then ana KNOWN
g that we could not fight so large part
Y we rcsorted to that harmless trick to ma
@ the Yankees and give us chance for
@ short rest, after which we rode BACK
G oanp faster than we left it,.
"'What is your name, pleaseY
r "'Berry, Captain Berry OF the -
@ Tennessee cavalry, sab.
d Captain Berry, I'm glad to meet yo'
@ 7 had command of the party you mentor
g Your ruse worked. i marched right Dac
a 70 camp, and we got ready to fight lars
Y bodv of Arkansas troops. You were ge
d tine away from me with as much zeal as
l. wos displaying in getting away from yo'
command. Guess you and had not pe