The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-14
SCOUTS BRAVED DEATH GET
TING NEWS TO GRANT.
March IL, 1865.

Fifty years ago today two scouts
who had come through the Confeder-
ate lines before Richmond with news
from Gen. Sheridan. arrived in an ex-
hausted condition at Gen. Grants
headquarters at City Point.
The news they brought was of the
first importance to Grant. lie had
heard nothing from Sheridan since the
la tier had left the Shenandoah Valley.
with 10000 cavalry. to march toward
the theater of war further east.
\ report from Sheridan had reached
Grant on March 3, giving news Of the
capture of most of Gen. Jubal 4.
EarIys command at Wayncsboro, in
the valley. on March . After its rc-
ceipt Grant had watched daily for
further news from Sheridan, telling
W neither he had ridden to take Lynch
burg. or to join Sherman in North
"a rolina. or to cross Virginia and join
Grant at Petersburg
The last course was the one which
now best Chimed with Grants plans.
lie was ready to move against Lee as
soon as the roads would permit. and
needed Sheridans cavalry to aid in the
movement. With news of Sheridan he
could form some estimate of the time
which must pass before the cavalry
would be at hand.
Nor was information OF SheTidan's
wherea bouts the only good news the
tired scouts brought to Grant. Shcri-
dan had been striking heavy blows at
the enemy by destroying railroad and
canal property and military stores in
his rear. and of these he wrote at
some length in the dispatch he had in
trusted to his scouts.
This dispatch was dated at Column
bia. in FIuvanna County. about forty
five miles west of Richmond in a
straight line. Sheridan had halted
his command for days rest, in a pc
Rod of incessant rains.
On the evening of March 10 he wrote
his dispatch TO Grant (Which will be
found in the War Records. Vol. 46.
Part II. page 91S). He described his
march from where he had vanquished
Early. through Charlottesville and to
the James River in mud horrible be-
yond description" the destruction Of
the Virginia Central Railroad and the
James River Canal. and twelve canal
boats laden with stores and the cap
ture OF fourteen pieces of artillery.
He reported his command in fine
spirits and health" and asked that
supplies be sent him at White House.
on tide water. to which point he pro-
posed marching.
Scouts Narrow Escapes.
Having inscribed his message on it's
sue in duplicate. Gen. Sheridan called
on his chief of scouts. Mai. Harry II.
Young. for four OF the best scouts with
the column. Two scouts were to go
down the James River in a boat. get
,.-;th he
federate army. and at the first oppor-
tunity desert to the Federals.
Two others were to ride overland
and reach the Federals by passing in
and out OF the Confederate lines east
of Richmond. The two latter were
Arch II. Rowand. jr.. and J. A. Camp
bell.
Tho two messages were rolled in tin
foil. and one was intrusted to each
pair of scouts. who. disguised in Con-
federatc uniforms. started on their
missions.
Rowand and Campbell left Shcri-
dams camp in the night. taking the
road to Richmond. Thrice that night
and the next day they fell in with
parties of the enemy, but as they were
expert in the Southern dialect they
passed without suspicion, representing
as members of Gen. Inn
boden's cavalry. which had served in
Western Virginia.
ON the nth they met man and a
boy who became suspicious of them.
and started Confederate cavalry after
them They were then near the Chick
a homlny River. which they sought to
cross by swimming. after removing
most of their clothing and Swapping
it to their saddles. Campbell carried
the precious ball OF tinfoil in his
mouth as they swan the stream.
The enemy were firing upon them
before they could mount the other
bank, which was too steep for the
horses. and abandoning their mounts
and clothing they escaped In a boat
which providentially came to their
hand.
That night and the next day they
tramped clothed only in their under
shirts, through the White Oak Swamp.
arriving finally. weary. mud-stained
and torn by briers. at the Federal
lines near Malvern HILL
At Grants Headquarters.
Kind-hearted soldiers gave them
clothing. such as they could spare. and
the pair. strangely arrayed in misit
were sent down the river by
boat to Grants headquarters.
The general, in the company of
1t dinner when his waiter told him a !
nan was outside who insisted on see !
ing him. Grant asked what sort of /
looking man he was. The waiter re- :
Piled that "hc pears to me like he was |
/ outcast."
Grant asked Col. Horace Porter. of |
MS stan. to step out and see the man. |
He found him to be Campbell. Sheri- |
ian's scout. accompanied by Rowand |
Their appearance bore testimony to
he walters perspicacity.
Campbell produced the tinfoil and |
vas at once ushered into Grants |
presence.
Revived by whisky-for they were
weary for sleep-the two scouts told
heir story, or rather Campbell. as the |
attempted to tell II. Mrs
irant took such q lively interest in
he scout and piled him with so many |