The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-05-03
BLUE AND THE GRAY
eRAVE MEN WHO MET ON THE
FIELD OF Battle


fhrillinS Stories Of the Rebsllion-
Old soldie4's snd Sailors Relate Remi.
niscences Of Life In Camp and or
the Field-Iucidents of the War.
1t is claimed by authorities on the art
Of war that the greatest blow of the
campaign between Greece and Turkey
was struck by Col. MahmOud Bey.
who. with one swift stroke Of his
sword. completely severed Greek Off
GERS head from his body. These same
authorities generously admit that this
trick may have been quite common in
ancient times, when stalwart men
swung heavy battle-axesS but they
agree that it is practically unknown in
modern warfare. They point trium-
phantly to the fact that there is no rec
ord of any such feat having been per-
formed during the FrancO-Prussian
war. though cavalry charges and fierce
hand-tO-hand conflicts were frequent;
and the Prussian has a reputation as a
saber swinger. Therefore they are in-
clined to be skeptical on the subject
and speak Of MahmOud Bey's feat as a
marvellous example Of strength and
dexterity.
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, tor obvious reasons, does not
help the subject. Scott describes a
similar episode in ''The Talisman:" but
the best decapitation story, from an
artistic point Of view. is found in the
memoirs Of Capt. John Smith. The
doughty captain vouches for the verac
ity Of the details, though that Is NO
good reason why we should not use the
customary pinch Of salt. According to
his truthful chronicle, he overcame In
tournament 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
yataghan was loaded with quicksil-
yer. A yataghan, he explains. is a short
sword, shaped something like butch
er's cleaver, with an apparently hollow
tube running along the back from hilt
to point. This tube carries a charge of
quicksilver. When the sword is held
upright this quicksilver rests at the
hilt. As a blow Is struck the liquid
metal is hurled down the grooved chan
mel, lending deadly additional weight
to the blow. Such a weapon. it is
claimed, was In Mahmoud Bey's hands
when he dashed ahead Of his troops
and decapitated the Greek officer who
was firing at him.
The assertion made that this is the
sole instance Of its kind In the history
Of a hundred years Is not borne out by
facts. The same feat was performed
during the civil war, not with a load
ed" yataghan, but with an ordinary
United States army saber. The man
who welded the sword in this episode,
Col Z. BlOss Parsons, died recently in
Rochester, n. Y. Col. 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 illustra-
ted and described In Harper's Weekly
at the time.
It was In 1864. Col Parsons, who
was noted as a hOrseman, was attached
to General Sheridan's stan. While
reconnOitering one day with a squad Of
troopers under Gen Davis, they were
by detachment Of COnfe.ler-
ate cavalry. A pitched battle ensued,
and Parsons. who was in the rear. saw
q rebel officer Level a revolver ut Gen
Davis head. Jabbing the spurs into
his horse, he swung his saber above his
head, and, dashing by just as the officer
fred, 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 1t is consid-
cred that Parsons was a slim, beardless
fellow Of q. In comparison, Mahmoud |
Bey's single slash with his yataghan |
loses much Of its importance.
Col. Parsons was breveted general |
for distinguished services during the |
war; but characteristic modesty .f0r- |
bade the use Of that title when he re-
turned to civilian life. Not only did he |
perform the only authentic feat Of de- |
capitation during the civil war. but he
was the hero of q remarkable ride. A
few days before the battle Of Gettys-
burg was fought Gen. Meade had an
important message to send to Gen
Harding, q hundred miles distant. As
The route was through country
with rebels, the message
vas written ON tissue paper, that 1t
night be swallowed in case the carrier
vas captured. The commander was in
iOubt regarding a suitable messenger.
He summoned Gen. Davis to headquar-
ers.
General, who is the hardest rider as
we'll as the most trustworthy man in
he service?" asked Meade.
"COl Parsons, sir" was the prompt
'eply.
''Send him to me at once"
1t was 6 o'clock on a Monday night
when Gen. Meade gave the young Off
'er his instructions. He was to ride
With all haste to Gen. Harding's head
quarters and return at once with an
Inswer.
The messenger saluted and retired.
Two hundred miles were to be covered.
Exactly ut noon on the following day
,Ol Parsons entered Gen. Meade's tent.
The latter's face grew purple with rage.
nj he ripped out a string Of Oaths.
rs this the way You obey Orders?"
e Numbered. what are you hanging
round camD fOr9 YOu Ought tO he