The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-23
PARSONS TWOsFEATS.
A HARD STROKE AND A REMARKABLE
RIDE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

Gu. MINIS Head or with a saber-Roas
Two Hundred Miles In Eighteen Hours.
Other Instances OF Dccapitation Tn lint.
tie.
1t is claimed by authorities on the art
of war that the greatest blow of the
campaign between Greece and Turkey
was struck by Colonel Mahmoud Rev.
who with one swift stroke of his sword
completely severed 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
bnttleaxes, 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
OH its accomplishment. The original of
all such stories is, Of course, s.The Ad-
ventures Of Jack the Giant Killer"
which. for obvious reasons, does not
help the subject. Scott describes sim
liar episode in ''The Talismap. (" but
tho best decapitation story, from an
artistic point of view. is found in tho
memoirs of Captain John Smith. Tho
doughty captain vouohes for the veracity
of the 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 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 WIG "loaded" with quicksilver.
The yataghan, he expl@ns, is short
sword, shaped something like butchers
cleaver. with an apparently hollow tube
running along the back from hilt to
point This tube carries charge of
quicksilver. When the sword is laid up
right, this quicksilver rests at tho hilt.
AS blow is struck tho liquid metal is
hurled down the grooved channel, lend
ing deadly additional weight to the
blow.
The assertion made That this is the
solo 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, but with an ordinary United
States army saber. The man who WELD
ed the sword i'll 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-
scribcd i'll Harper's Weekly at the time
1t was in 1864. Colonel Parsons, who
was noted as horseman, was attached
to General Sheridan staff. While rec
onnoitering one day with q 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
rebel officer level revolver at Gen
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 terrific full
arm sweep. The Confederate's head
leaped from tho shoulders as swiftly as
If it had been severed by guillotiue
The feat is more remarkable when it 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
tho 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 q 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
OH tissue paper, that it might be swat
lowed i'll case the carrier was captured
The commander was i'll doubt regarding
suitable messenger. He summoned
General Davis to headquarters.
General, who is the hardest rider,
as well as the most trustworthy man, in
tho service?" asked Meade.
Colonel Parsons, SIR" WAS the
prompt reply.
Send him to mo ct orcc.'
1t was O'Clock Oh Il Monday night
when General Meade gave tho young
officer his instructions. lie was to rilo
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.
Evontl, Of ,oo,, ~, tl,o fol11,u:.>r, .lo,,