Milford chronicle., 1924-05-30
Only Yarn of War
Ever Told by Lee
Confederate Leaders Idea
of Brave and Cool Deed
by Two Scouts.

7 EE was never a great talker ex-
cept under one condition, and
that was when he had young
ladies to entertain, for then his natural
gallantry got the better of him, and
he was a charming companion, though
not what might be called loquacious,
and he did not care to talk of the war,
preferring to choose other topics It
was in camp, however, that he so far
yielded to the desires of a couple Of
fair visitors as to spin a yarn He
had invited two young ladies', cousins
of his, to dine with him, and 1t was
to them and at their persuasion that
he told the story of the 1.-TWO Confed-
crate Scouts" which a writer In the
Philadelphia Times who knew the
great Confederate intimately declares
to be the only war story ever told by
him.
Carefully arranging his napkin on
the table in front of him and sitting
perfectly erect in his chair, as was his
custom, General Lee said: "When this
war is over you will hear a great deal
of praise given the leaders of the
armies, and in the attempt to do them
honor the private soldier will to a GER
tain extent be overlooked. This is un-
fortunate, since some of the noblest
and most daring deeds of the war
were done by privates on, both sides.
1 was once in absolute need of posi-
tive information as to the movements
Of the enemy. My regular scouts were
out, so l had to select from a regi-
ment Of men who were familiar with
the section Of the country, If not with
their mission.
After ferreting out the secrets Of
the enemy they started on the return
trip, but were detained by a terrific
rainstOrm of several hours duration,
which forced them to shelter until
night. When they reached the river
they fOEnd to their chagrin that 1t
was too much swollen to be crossed in
a canoe, and the only thing left was
to make a bed of the pine tags on the
ground and sleep until morning. when
they would proceed unmolested. But
they had reckoned without their host
The enemy's picketS, who had also
been driven to shelter by the rain,
were out early next morning investi-
eating, and seeing fresh tracks sus-
pected something wrong. Five Of them
started on the trail, plain in the soft
earth, and soon came upon the Sleep
ing scouts. Feeling confident of hav-
ing their prisoners secure, they
thought to have some innocent fun
with them and proceeded to jab them
in the back with the point of their
bayonets and request them to come
In out of the rain.
Hello Johnny, what are you doing
sleeping out here in the wet like this?
You will take cold. Come on with us
out of the damp
But the sleeping Confederates
could not be aroused, and the SEN
tinels had a big laugh over it, par
ticularly so when one Of them would
partially turn over and groan out, Oh,
stop that! What are you pOking me
for? It isn't time for reveille yet, as
If he thought he was in his own camp
safe and sound. Just in the midst of J
their greatest outbreak the scouts,
with the agility of wild animals,
sprang from their cOuches and with I
their pistols shot down the two front i
men, then as quickly dropped the
other two as the fifth man hastily re-
treated leaving his gun behind him. t
"When the scouts heard the federal
squad advancing on them they were t
too close to admit of retreat, so they
resOrted to strategy and feigned sleep, !
between them that at given
signal both should rise and fire on
different men, taking them so by sur
prise that the others could be shot u
also before they could get their guns h
lp. The trick worked perfectly, and
% it those men not only owe their a
lecks, but the valuable information a
or headquarters and four good Snider
ifles and warm OvercOats. C.
81 do not believe that any deed Of
he war surpassed this in coolness G
md bravery. Chicago Herald. N