The Clayton call. (Clayton, Del.) 188?-189?, 1897-07-06
A HARD STROKE AND A REMARKABLE
RIDE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

Cut Mans Head on with saber-Rode
Two Hundred Miles In Eighteen Hours.
other Instances of Decapitation In Bat
tie.
1t is claimed by authorities on the art
IF war that the greatest blow of the
campaign between Greece and Turkey
was struck by Colonel Mahmoud Bey,
who with one swift stroke of his sword
completely severed q Greek officers
head from his body. These same author
tiles generously admit that this trick
may 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 a 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 a sim
liar episode in 1.-The Talisman, but
the best decapitation story, from an
artistic point of view, is found i'll the
memoirs of Captain John Smith. The
doughty captain vouches for the veracity
of thu details, though that is no good
reason, why we should not use the GUS
tomary pinch of salt. According to his
truthful chronicle, he overcame in tour
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.
The yataghan, he explains, is a short
sword, shaped some ching like butchers
cleaver. with an al Tparently hollow tube
running along tie back from hilt to
point. This tube carries a charge of
quicksilver. When the sword is laid up
right, this quicksilver rests at the hilt.
AS a blow is strueh the liquid metal is
hurled down theygrooyed channel, lend
ing deadly sTlitional weight to the
blow.
The ASSERT disp. ade that this is the
sole instance II r1a kind in the history
of 100 years Is not borne out by facts.
The same fe4t was performed during
the civil war, hot with "loaded'' yata-
CHAN, but with an ordinary United
States army sd ber The man who WELD
ed the sword il this episode, Colonel e.
Bloss Parsons, died recently in Roches-
ter. Colonel Parsons was one of the
wealthiest and best 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 1864. Colonel Parsons, who
was noted as horseman, was attached
to General Sheridan's staff. While rec
onnoitering one day with squad of
troopers under General Davis they were
surprised by detachment Of Confeder-
ate cavalry. A pitched battle ensued,
and Parsons, who was in the rear, saw
a rebel officer level a revolver at Cen
eral Davis head. Jabbing the spurs in
to his horse, he swung his saber above
his head, and, dashing 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 a guillotine.
The feat is more remarkable when it is
considered that Parsons was slim,
beardless fellow of 81. In comparison
Mahmoud Esy'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 he returned
to civilian life. Not only did he per-
form the only authentic feat of decapi-
tation during the civil war, but he was
the hero Of a remarkable ride. A 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 country swarming
with rebels, the message was written
on tissue paper, that it might be swal-
! lowed in case the carrier was captured.
The commander was in doubt regarding
suitable messenger. He summoned
General Davis to headquarters.
General, who is the hardest rider,
as we'll as tbs most trustworthy man, in
the service?' asked Meade.
"Colonel Parsons, SIR" was the
prompt reply.
"Send him to me at once.
1t 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 out a
string of oaths.
''Is this the way you obey orders?"
u6 kuuAuSlOO. Wuub dAG yOu us1iiS S1DB
around camp for? You cught to be with
General Harding by this time.
az have just returned from General
Harding, sir, -
''You ieF' 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
were not my commanding officer, l
would knock you down for that insult -
Without the formality of a salute he
turned ON his heel and left the tent
Meade afterward made an ample apol-
ogy.
Colonel Parsons killed two horses and
went himself without particle of food.
For IS hours he was not out of the sad
dle.-Chicago Times Herald
Quotation, sir, is good thing. There
is community of mind in it. Classical
quotation is the parole of literary men
all over the world. johnson.
CA9TORIA.
Tai liaiis H. n /<c-M Mm