The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-06-23
PARSONS TWO FEATS.
A HARD STROKE AND A REMARKABLE
RIDE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

other instances OF Precipitation In Hat
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 Mnhmoud Boy,
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
battleaxes, but they agree that 1t is
practically unknown i'll 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. 1.-The Ad-
ventures of Jack the Giant Killer,
which, for obvious reasons, does not
help the subject Scott describes sim
liar episode III Tho Talismun, but
the hest decapitation story. from an
artistic point of view. iS found in the
memoirs of Captain John Smith. The
doughty captain youches for the voracity
of the details though that il 10 good
reason why we should not use the Gus
tomary pinch of salt. According to his
truthful chronicle, he ovcrcame in tour
nament the three champions of the
Turkish army, deeapitating each one
with IA 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 doeapitation with an ordinary
saber usd asserts that the Turks yata-
CHAN was loaded with quicksilver.
The yataghan, no explains is short
sword, shaped something like IA 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 II blow is struck the liquid metal is
hurled down the grooved channel. lend
ing deadly additional weight to the
blow.
Tho assertion made that this il the
sole instance of its kind in the history
of 100 years ia not borne out by facts.
The same feat was performed during
the civil war; not with "lnaded" yata-
CHAN, but with an ordinary United
States army snber, The man who WELD
ed the sword III this episode, Colonel +.
Bloss Parsons, died recently III RoehCs.
ter Colonel Parsons was one of the
wealthiest and best known men in New
York state. and though he bad never
related the story the details were found
among his private papers after his death.
The incident was illustrated and de
scribed IN iiarpor's Weekly at the time.
II was i'll 1864. Colonel Parsons who
was noted as IA horseman, wus attached
to General Sheridan = staff While rec
onnoitering one day with u squad of
TROOPERS untler 1enernl DAVIS they were
surprised by detachment Of CoDfeder
ate cavalry. A pitched battle ensued,
and Parsons, who was i'll the reRr, saw
Il rebel officer level Il revolver ut Gen
eral Davis head. Jabbing the spurs in
to his horse, he swung his suhcr above
his head, and, dashing by just as the
officer fired, lac mnde II terrific full
arm sweep. The Confederate head
leaped from the shoulders as swiftly as
| if it had been severed by n guillotine.
| The feat is moro remarkable when it il
considered that Parsons was u slim,
beardless fellow of II. In comparison
Mahmoud Bey's single slash with his
yataghan loses much Of its importance.
Colonel Parsons was Drevcttcd gener-
al for distinguished services during the
war, but characteristic modcsty forbade
l,, 80 10 .I
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 Il remarkable ride. A few
days before the battle of Gettysburg
was fought General Meade had an i'm
portnnt message to send to General
Harding roo miles distant. As the
route was through n country swnrming
with rebels, the message was written
on tissue paper, that it might be swnl
lowed in case the carrier was captured.
The commander was i'll doubt regarding
suitable messenger. He summoned
General Davis to headquarters.
General, who IL the hardest rider,
III we'll rs the most trustworthy man. in
the serviceT' asked Meade.
Colonel Parsons. sir. was the
prompt reply.
Send HIM to mo ut once.
1t was 6 O'Clock on II Monday night
when General Meade gave tho 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'a country.
Exactly at noon ON the following day
Colonel Parsons entered General
Meadc's tent The latter's face grew
purple with rage and he ripped out "A
string Of oaths.
is this the way you obey ordersY'
he Numbered "What are you hanging
around camp forl You ought to be with
General Harding by this time. -
81 have j'ist returned from General
Harding, sir =
'You lier" exclaimed tho exasperated
general.
Parsons face paled, and he dug the
nails in his hands to restrain himself.
General Meade. he said in n voice
that i'll concealed his anger, ''if you
were not my commanding officer.
would knock you down for that insult. "
without the formality Of a salute he
turned on his heel and left the tent.
Meade atterwaId 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
die. Chicago Times Herald.