The National tribune., 1902-05-29
FATE OF A SCOUT.
Daring Deed That Cost the Life Of Brave
Man.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In The
National Tribune recently there appeared
queries from comrades regarding the exc
cution of a Union spy and a rebel deserter
in Culpeper Co. Va, in 1862. They were
separate incidents.
When Lee moved his army nOrthward
going to meet his repulse at Antictam. he
sent Longstreet's Corps across the Rap
idan at Raccoon Ford on Aug. 20. while
.Jackson's Corps proceeded up the Orange
Turnpike on the south side. Fitz Lees
cavalry preceded LOngstreet. while Stuart.
moving directly forward. passed through
Stevensburg and had a fight with Bayard
at Brandy on the Goth. the latter falling
back to Rappahannock Station and resist
ing the crossing of the Rappahannock
there. As Longstreet contemplated cross
ing at Kelly's. Fitz Lee took crossroad
near Stringfellows and reached the Fred
'ericksburg Road near Shepherds Grove.
down which he turned toward Jack
Stones Mill.
Next morning, 21st, he found his ad-
vance sharply resisted, the Union cavalry
having a good position and battery in
service on the ridge north of Mountain
Run. As Longstreet was close up, his col
umn had to halt on the road. extending
back for some miles. He was near Charles
Dnggett's house. on the road. talking with
Pickett, and had just ordered Hemper's
Brigade forward to help the cavalry clear
the ford at Jack Stones, when a man in
the uniform of a Confederate Captain
rode up to where he was. surrounded by
his staff. The man saluted Longstreet.
and said: Gen. LOngStreet. Gen. Jackson
sends his compliments. and directs you to
withdraw to Germanna Ford" Long
street looked ut him keenly, and said:
To- nrInT mn RI Wit W
to Germanna by you?' Yes. sill" replied
the man. whereupon Lonrstreet seized him
by the collar, and his staff soon had him
prisoner.
About half an hour before Longstreet
had sent message TO Jackson. informing
him of the resistance he was meeting at
Rappahannock and Kelly's. and the cou-
rier was killed Mt Lick Branch by this spy,
and the dispatch taken from him. 1t was
found on the spy when they searched him.
and he admitted killing the courier four
ed a drum-head court-martial lat once
which convened in fence-corner and
speedily sentenced the spy to be executed
They were about to suspend him from a
cherry tree in front of Charles Doggett's,
but Doggett and his wife protested so earn
estly that they took him about 100 yards
away to Barnes's Branch and swung him
there. / have never been able to ascertain
the name or regiment of this Union scout
and spy. Scme say it was Martin; others
say that he belonged to the LIST Me. Cav;
but he was certainly daring fellow. His
object was to detain Longstreet's advance,
yet he committed the error of delivering
suDpOsitory orders from Jackson, not
knowing that Longstreet ranked him, and
therefore would not receive any orders
from him. His remains were removed to
the Culpeper National Cemetery after the
war. He was tried and executed over four
miles from Stevensburg, toward Freder-
icksburg.
The rebel deserter, / was informed, be-
longed to the I'd S. c. Cav, and went to
the Union army and enlisted in cavalry
regiment in the Fall of 1862. Soon there
after he was with Union scouting party
which came to Stevensburg, not knowing
that his former regiment and other rebel
cavalry were campcd near by. As he sat
his horse in the streets of Stevensburs, he
boosted to the citizens that he was Il de-
serter from the rebels. and was going to
make it hot for them. Soon after his party
left the village and was pursued by de-
tachment of the 4th Va. Cav, who picked
him up down the road and brought him
back to Stcvcnsburg.
The old citizens tell that while the de-
tachment was at the crossroads at Ste
venSburg to allow the ID s. G.. Cav. to
pass coming from RaccOon Ford, this man
saw his former Captain at the head of his
company, and shouted to him: Hello. Cap.
Dor, you know me-" The Captain hear
ing a familiar voice emanating from a
man in blue uniform. rode up to him and
recognized him, and he was tried and exc
.uted as dcserter near Norman's Mill.
My opinion is that no man would be
such n fool as to do as this deserter is re-
ported to have done. l believe, however,
that when he was Dragging in Stevens
burg about being deserter from Capt.
So-and-So's company of the I'd s. c.. it
was noted by the citizens. So when that
Captain came along with his company,
most of the officers being known in Ste
vensburg from being camped there pre-
viously and at this time two weeks, some
of the old citizens FASTENED to inform him
that a man who claimed to be dcserter
from his company was a prisoner at the
crossroads, and so he went up and rccog-
niZed him.
The deserter was shot to death near
the I'd s. &. camp. on a ridge southeast of
Norman's Mill, and as the regiment was
ordered away Immediately, they left the
body lying on the ground covered by a
blanket.
My brother-in-law, Clark Doggett. then
boy OF u, tellS me that he was gong
over to the milldam fishing, and took the
short cut across the ridge from his house.
AS he nearcd the abandoned camp of the
ID $. &. he saw something on the ground
with n blanket over it, and curiosity
prompted him to investigate. When he
raised the blanket and saw the dead body
with the bloody wounds in it he let go all
hold and made his very fastest running
for home, the fishing being put off for that
day. And he says that he can never cross
that field. night OF day, without remember
ing the horrible sight that met his eyes
that day.-WM. L. DOYLE.