The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-07-07
PARSONS TWO FEATS.
a HARD STROKE AND a REMARKABLE
RIDE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.


RIDE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
Cut a Man. Head oG with saber- Rode
Two Hundred Miles In Eighteen Hours
other Instances of Decapitation In Bat
tle-
1t is claimed by authorities on the art
Of war that the greatest blow OF the
campairn between Greece and Turkey
was struck l,y Colonel Mahmoud Boy,
who with one swift stroke Of his sword
completely severed Greek officers
head from his body. These same author
itias generously admit that this trick
NAV have been quite common in ancient
times. when stalwart men swung heavy
battleaxes. but they agree that it is
practically unknown IN modern war
fare
History is silent on the subject. There
is not plethora Of literature bearing
ON its accomplishment The original OF
all such stories is, of course, The Ad-
ventures OF Jack the Giant Killer,
which, for obvious reasons. does not
help the subject. Scott describes sim
liar episode in 1.-The Talisman." hut
the best decapitation story, from an
artistic point of view. is found in the
memoirs of Captain John Smith. The
doughty captain vouches for the veraclty
of the details, though that is no good
reason why we should not use the Gus
tomary pinch of salt According 10 his
g--n - Il l., Sr,r rr,r7r
nament the three champions Of the
Turkish army, decapitating each one
with a single blow of his heavy sword.
A writer who is evidently informed
on the subject claims that Mahmoud
Bey could not have accomplished the
feat Of decapitation with an ordinary
saber and asserts that the Turks yata-
CHAN was loaded with quicksilver.
Tire yataghan, he explains, is a short
sword, shaped something like butchers
cleayer. with an apparently hollow tube
running along the back from hllt TO
point This tube carries q charge Of
quicksilver. When the sword is laid up
right, this quicksilver rests at the hilt.
AS blow is struck the liquid metal is
hurled down the grooved channel, lend
ing deadly additional weight 70 the
blow
The assertion made that this is the
sole instance Of its kind in the history
of 100 years is not borne out by facts
The same feat was performed during
the civil war, not with LOADED" yata-
CHAN. bot with an ordinary United
States army sabeE The man who WELD
ed the sword in this episode. Colonel p
Bloss Parsons. died recently IN hochea-
ter. CoIoosl Parsons was one a the
wealthicst and hest known men In New
York state. and though he had never
related the story the details were found
among his private papers after his death
The incident was illustrated and de-
scribed in Harper's Weekly at the time.
1t was in 1854 Oolmel Persuns who
was noted rs a horseman. was attached
70 General Sheridan's staff While rec
onnoiteIing one day with a squad of
troopers under General Davis they were
surprised by a detachment of Confeder-
ate cavalry. A pitched battle ensued,
and Parsons, who was in the rear, saw
a rebel officer level revolver at Gen
eral Davis head Jabbing the spurs in
10 his horse, he swung his saber above
his head. and. dashiDg by just as the
officer fired, he made a terrific full
arm sweep. The Confederate's head
leaped from the shoulders as swiftly as
if it had been severed by gui!lotine.
The feat IL more remarkable when il is
considered that Parsons was a slim,
beardless fellow of 81. In comparison
Mahmoud Bey's single slash with his
yataghan loses much of Its importance.
Colonel Parsons was brevetted gener-
al for distinguished services during the
war, but characteristic modesty forbade
the use of that title when be returned
20 civilian life. Not only did he per-
form the only authentic feat Of decapi-
tation during the civil war, but be was
the hero Of a remarkable ride. 4 few
days before the battle of Gettysburg
was fought General Meade had an i'm
portant message TO send TO General
Harding, 100 miles distant As the
route was through a country swarming
with rebels, the message was written
on tissue Taper. that il might be swal-
LEVIED in case the carrier was captured.
The commander was in doubt regarding
a suitable messenger. He summoned
General Davis TO headquarters.
General, who is the hardest rider,
as well as the most trustworthy man. in
the service!" asked Meade.
Colonel Parsons, sir" was the
prompt reply.
''Send him to me at once !"
II was O'Clock ON a Monday night
when General Meade gave the young
officer his instructions. He was TO ride
with all haste TO General Harding's
headquarters and return at once with
an answer.
The messenger retired. Two hundred
miles were to be covered. The roads
were heavy. and they led through the
enemy's country.
Exactly at noon ON the following day
Colonel Parsons entered General
Meade's tent The latter's face grew
purple with rage. and he ripped ont a
string Of oaths.
is this the way you obey orders:'
he thundeIed. "What are you hanging
around camp for? You ought to be with
General Harding by this time. -
Il have just returned from General
Harding, sir.
''You hep' exclaimed the exasperated
general.
Parsons face paled, and he dug the
nails IN his hands TO restrain himself
General Meade" he said in "A voice
that i'll concealed his anger. If you
We're not my commanding officer, |
would knock you down for that insult. -
Without the formality of a salute he
turned or his heel AID left the tent.
Meade afterward made an ample apol-
ogy.
Colonel Parsons killed two horses and
wen, himself without a particle OF food.
For ~ hours be was not out of the sad
dle.--Chicago Times Herald.