New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-09
SECRET SERVICE HISTORY
Some Truths More Exciting
than Fiction.


PIP 287. Harper & Bros.
II, as a great soldier has SAID war Is
hell, two traits in man-loyalty ana
courage-are stars shining down INTO
the abyss Their light eliminates the
pages Of this volume. a record OF facts
which in thrilling effect may vie with
any fiction Of adventure. 1t deserves
10 take a permanent place in the IT.
erature Of war, presenting as 1t does
an ASPECT of the struggle not TO be
found elsewhere. Official RECORDS
offered little material 10 the author
for the deeds OF the Secret Service
men in search Of precious information
we're naturally not matters to be pro-
claimed or docketed. 1t was with in
finite painstaking and through a period
OF several years that he collected these
fascinating chapters Of history, three
Of them being largely taken down from
the reluctant lips OF their leading fig
ures. Reluctant indeed. for the actors
in these dramas were as modest in old
age as they were brave in youth.
Death, and a shameful death by the
rope II not by an instant shot, lay in
ambush before every one OF these men
who were disguised in the enemy's uni
form, and daily they dared capture
over and over again. 1t was not only
reckless daring they showed; foresight
and resource were theirs to a remark
able degree. The stories Of the tight
places" out Of which they escaped. al
most by miracle, are countless. with
each day Of service in the ranks OF the
scouts" writes MIR. Beymer, danger
became more imminent; the chances
increased OF meeting again some party
OF Confederates with whom previous
lies and explanations would not tally
with present movements. Also In the
Federal army there were sure TO be
Southern spies whose business IL was 10
report descriptions Of the scouts, and, II
possible. their movements. Within tho
Confederate lines recognition because
OF these descriptions might take place
of any moment. And then there
was the danger OF meeting death at the
hands Of their own men. II happened
not once. but many times, that, discov-
cred and hard pressed by the enemy,
the scouts in their gray uniforms rode
for their lives for the safety OF the
Union lines, only TO be met By the muir
derous yolley Of their own mistaken
pickets. But II was exciting" So ex-
citing. in truth, that even the readers
pulse must beat a little faster as he
turns the leaf.
Archibald Rowand was one OF the
two scouts who brought to Crook at
Cedar Creek, only to be disbelieved, the
news OF the advancing Confederate
army. and the generals incredulity
meant a lost battle and rout In the
fog OF the early morning. Then came
sheridan's riding like mad from twenty
miles away. Rowand and Campbell
his companion scout, stayed together
as the day wore on, and the former
caught the first glimpse Of the famous
black horse. "A young lieutenant win
a 10Th Corps badge on his cap was
hurrying by" said Rowand. sheridan
wheeled around to him. Lieutenant
where is your commando i don't
know the lieutenant shouted, and was
burrving on again. Damn you, turn
back and find IT. Sheridan yelled and
passed on. The lieutenant stopped
Who was that, scout?' That was
General Sheridan, l said. I'll turn
backr he cried" And all the run
aways turned back as the grim little
rider on the powerful black horse tore
along UP the valley TO the sound OF "a
great roar Of cheers" Tragic episodes
Of those scouting days came back to
old Rowand's memory as he talked;
They were just scoutin, like the day
they shot Captain stump. Iney mao zen
in the mountains-"Oh, just some iittle
scout: I don't remember why!-and az
a house where they had stopped they had
! "gathered in a Confederate captain
stump. It was bitterly cold that DAY,
bound his hands would have meant that
he would freeze; they put him IN their
midst and rode swiftly away. he was
an oddly genial soul; ne kept t up q con,
angry shout went up from one OF the
scouts; the prisoner had been caught in
the act Of stealing a revolver from a
| drowsy member of the band. He was de.
liant, yet laughing as he talked; he had
| q right. He had not surrendered. ohLy
been overpowered, and they would never
get him into the Federal lines. he said.
"1ll have you killed II you try that
again." Major Young told him.
! 1t was savagely cold. The worn men,
drowsy with the frost, nodded in their
| saddles: only the prisoner was wide
awake He rode now at Major Youngs
side, talking gayly laughing at his own
tests. Rowand, close behind. woke from
doze In time 10 see the prisoner
straighten In his saddle and snatch his
hand from behind Major Youngs back.
Hes trying to get your gum hoWand
Young refined in his horse With jerk.
aside. boys. Plug him, RowandF,
| Half a dozen men fired on tho instant
They left him lying In the snow where
| he fell.
Such were the fortunes Of war; often
enough II was the Federal scout who
fell to the guns Of the South. OF Major
Young, a daredevil who. unlike other
scouts, preferred TO be alone, there are
many stirring tales. This was the man
who. dressed as a Confederate private,
captured Southern brtgadier general
behind his own lines and took him past
the rebel army to a Federal prison.
l - l. .Ix4 L.