Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-17
THE LAST EXPLOIT OF JACK STERRY
Thrilling Story of Union Spy Captured Within
the Confederate Lines.

Manassas, at a critical point in the
campaign, a Federal spy, Jack Sterry,
nearly brought disaster to the Confed-
crate army by posing as a courier
bearing orders from Stonewan Jackson
to General Hood. The story Of this
piece Of superb GOODNESS and daring Is
told in q recent pamphlet by Col. John
Cussons of Glen Allen, Virginia, who
was commander Of scouts under Gen.
eral Hood. His narrative is corrobor-
aled in every detail by DR.. B. F. Ward
of Winona, Miss, who was serving in
General Hoods division at the time
and who outlines the situation as fol-
lows in an article in the jackson Issue:
General Lee had sent Jackson, by
detour of more than sixty miles, to the
rear Of Pope's army. Jackson seized
Manassas Junction, destroyed all OF
Pope's supplies, and was practically
between him and Washington City
before Pope was aware OF nis
presence. Jackson was furiously
assailed by Pope and Mcdowell and
was fighting desperately to hold mis-
ground until he could be reinforced by
Longstreet, who was rushing to MD
rescue.
Jackson's situation was desperate In
the extreme Pope was between him
and Richmond and he was between
Pope and Washington. The long
lines Of the Federal army were closing
in around his little command that had
marched and fought till 1t was fainting
from exhaustion, and Lonsstreet still
far away.
On the morning Of August 2S, 1852,
Hoods division, leading Longstreet's
corps, with General Hood riding at the
head of the column attended by his
staff and Colonel Cussons, approached
a fork in the road near the village OF
White Plains, within fifteen miles OF
Jackson" Says DR.. Ward:
Thoroughfare Gap, the only avail
able pass through the mountain, was
seven miles ahead Of US, and McDow-
ell on the other side was rushing to,
seize it before Hood could arrive. The
situation was desperate. II Mcdowell
could seize and hold the pass, Long
street would be cut off, Jackson would
be crushed, and the whole tide OF the
war would be changed.
Here Hood encountered hand
some, well-mounted cavalryman in
Confederate uniform who saluted and
announced himself as a courier from
Jackson, and informed Hood that Nc
Dowell had possession of the Gap, and
that Jackson directed him to take the
left hand and endeavor to join him by
way Of Gum Springs" Upon being
questioned this guide told Of having
received his instructions from Jackson
personally, and gave so much detailed
information regarding the opposing
forces that General Hood asked him
rather sharply how he had learned all
this. Taking UP Colonel Cussons' mar
rative at this point:
Absorbed them from the atmos-
phere, I suppose" answered the guide
rather languidly. Then, correcting
himself with swift utterance, he con-
tinued: Il beg pardon, General Hood;
no offense. mean to say that cour-
Ter absorbs details of this sort from
the atmosphere Of headquarters-the
atmosphere Of conjecture and appre-
hension-the atmosphere so rife with
the counsel Of chaplains and the
strategy Of medical men, and the the
ories of quartermaster's clerks. Why,
general, the very air Is vocal with the
evenings doings! What with cap
tured dispatches, and intercepted bat
tie orders, and the reports Of scouts
and spies, we have literally no rest
day or night Then there are the rev.
elations Of prisoners and the stories of
deserters and the never ending chatter
Of junior staff officers. 1 tell you,
General Hood, we couriers hear enough
in a day to fill a book. And on forbid
den subjects, you know, according to
the proverb, Jack knows more than
his MASTER"
WHO and what are you?" de-
manded General Hood, who was per-
plcAcu dlhlOuSb ySl oSoiSSiy SoS-
picious Of treachery-the guide was so
bland and free and unconstrained.
Il am Frank Lamar of Athens, Ca,
enrolled with the cavalry Of Hampton's
Legion, but now detailed on courier
service at the headquarters Of Stone
wall Jackson"
Where is your saber?"
II captured a handsome pistol from
a Yankee officer at Port Republic, and
have discarded my saber."
Let me see your pistol"
1t was a very fine silver mounted
Colts revolver, one chamber was emp
ty.
When did you fire that shot?"
Yesterday morning, General Hood,
shot a turkey buzzard sitting on the
fence.
General Hood handed the pistol to
Captain Cussons, commander of scouts.
Cussons scrutinized the pistol, and the
guide scrutinized Captain Cussons. AS
the captain drew General Hoods at
tention to the fact that the powder was
still moist, showing that the pistol had
been recently fired, the guide inter-
posed. saying that he had reloaded af-
ter yesterdays practice, and had fired
the shot in question at another buzz
zard just before the column came in
sight, but that he didn't suppose Cen
eral Hood would be interested in such
a matter.
The guide was mistaken. General
Hood was decidedly interested in the
matter! Guides do not practice mark
manship when on duty between the
lines.
1t so happened that the Hampton
Legion had been recently assigned to
Hood. and then marching with his di-
vision. A message was sent down the
line requesting Colonel Gary, who was
commanding the Legion, to report to
the head Of the column.
And then the guide suddenly remem-
1-1g~n