The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-02
TWO FIGHTING PARSONS.
MyrOn w. Reeds Experience with "a
Tennessee Preacher-scOut.

]. A. Watrous, in Chicago Times-Herald.
Il can tell you good story about Myron
w. Reed, the brilliant but erratic Denver
dominic who is just now much III evidence
in connection with Eugene V. Dens'S colont-
cation or socialistic scheme, S id Wis
consin man who has been acqu, 'nted with
Reed for thirty years.
"Myron Reed went into the ar y pri-
vate but was captain within TWO years.
and in 1864 was offered a commission as
colonel of an East Tennessee regiment He
was a dare devil, as fearless in battle as he
is brilliant in pulpit-the sort OF an officer
certain to be called upon when there was
important scouting to be done. Captain
Reed did a great deal in that line during MS
service in Tennessee.
Before daylight one october morning in
1864 order was received directing Reed
to select twenty of the most trusty men in
the regiment forAScOut duty and report at
division headquarters with the least posi-
:" Captain Reed said the general, you
seem to seek hazardous undertakings /
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 service de-
mands it
Very we'll, have it as you will. 1t is re-
ported on what L regard as good authority
that a 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
at least thirty miles to-day. When you
meet the enemy return without delay and
report, and if possible without allowing him
to discover you
The captain and his twenty followers,
all of whom resembled their commander 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 We're
nearing looked gloomy and forbidding, they
heard something that greatly added TO their
gloom, fearless though they were. 1t was
the word
1.-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 clear a bell. Reed
satisfied himself quickly that the command
had not been intended for his force His
opinion was confirmed when the same voice
was heard giving these directions:
" Lieutenant tell Colonel Jones, of the
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 gen.
erals 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 thirty-mile ride to the Union lines.
An hour later they heard the same voice,
lows:
First Arkansas Brigade, if you will
give me your attention | will comply with
the very general request of the command
to sing
Then. for half an hour, in a 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 bril-
gade commander told his men TO go to
sleep and get good rest, as they would
be called upon on the morrow to make a
forced march of many miles, and possibly
end ii with hard battle.
Not long after that Captain Reed s
scouting party started back to camp reach-
ing there about 10 o'clock the next day. His
report of the discovery of an Arkansas
brigade led to active preparations for a
coming battle, but it did not occur The
First Arkansas Brigade did not keep its
engagement.
1.-THE following winter Captain Reed