Year: 1877

IL hEs


Surpriaed by the Yanks while Asleep, He


Makes n Desperate and BloOdy Fight


ASiranse uiding-PIs ana u


Wonderful Escape.


When the federal army occupied Cul-
pepper courthouse and the confederate
army lay in Orange county, Va, Gen.
Lee desired certain information which it
seemed could be best obtained by an
individual scout, and Stringfellow was
selected for the service. 1t was necessary
t1at he should penetrate the enemy's
camp, remaining concealed as long as
possible, and return when he had collected
the desired information. His operations
were to be conducted mostly at night
He wished to be accompanied by two
men, one of whom, Parrish by name, had
his home in the immediate vicinity of
the enemy's camps, and being intimately
acquainted with all the country, could
accurately guide him from place to place
in the night as well as by daylight. The
expedition was undertaken on foot, as
the distance was not great and conceal
ment was of prime Importance. The
men were clad in their own uniform as
scouts, not spies, The country was a
dificnlt one for the operation OF scout
From the long and frequent occupation
by both the contending armies the land
had been almost entirely denuded of its
timber and only here and there few
thin clusters of trees remained standing.
One day had passed since they had
entered the enemy's lines, and with
nightfall they commenced their wander
ings among the hostile camps, mainly
with the purpose of locating the differ
ent corps, and of ascertaining whether
any troops had been detached from the
army Of the Potomac. The night had
been nearly consumed in this way,
when reaching one OF the clusters of
trees, of which / have spoken OF, they
laid themselves down TO catch a
few moments rest. A single blanket
covered the three men.


Treacherous, fatal sleep! Their fa-
tigue was greater and the night was
further spent than they had supposed and
the sun was shining bright in their eyes,
when party of six federal soldiers, with
their maskets in their hands, pulled
away the blankets which covered them
with a humorous" Good morning, Johnny
Reb! wake up! Stringfellow, lying
upon his back, was the first TO arouse
and to comprehend the situation.
Knowing that an attempt to seize his
arms would draw upon himself instant
death, he feigned to be only half awak-
ened, and, much to the amusement OF his
tormentors, turned upon his side NUT
terring and grumbling at being awak'
ened, telling them to 60 away and let
him alone. But by turning upon his
side he gave to himself an opportunity
of placing his hand, unobserved. upon the
handle Of his pistol, and in another sec
ond he sprang upon his feet and opened
fire. His companions joined in the at
tack, and for few moments the hring
was rapid and fatal. The federal sol
diers stood their ground, but at such
close quarters the musket was no match
for the revolver. There was no time to
reload under the quick eye of Stringfel-
low, and once discharged the muskets
were useless. A few seconds terminated
the encounter, in which Stringfellow
found himself the sole survivor OF his
party. Parrish was killed; his other
comrade had disappeared, he knew not
how four of the federal soldies lay dead
at his feet; and the two Others, having
thrown dswn their empty guns, were
running for their lives.


But though victor in his fight, perils
multiplied themselves around him.
The trees among which he stood were
surrounded on every side by open fields
dotted thick with the enemy's tents,
some at a distance, some close at hand.
Concealment was impossible, and he
must run for bis life; but run
in what direction he might, enc.
mics would be sure to inter
cert his course, for the adjacent camp
had been aroused by the firing, and the
soldiers who had escaped would be sure
to return with others to avenge the death
of their comrades. AT distance of a
few hundred yards little branch made
its way through the open fields toward
the river. Its banks were iringed with
bushes. and while it offered only an ut.
terly forloin hope, Stringfellow turned
towards and ran. He was seen by those
who had already started tor his capture
seen to cross the open field seen to enter
the brush on the bank Of the stream
And now vindictive shouts announce
that the enemy felt secure of their prey
But not SOL Entering the bed Of the
steam kind providence guided him TO 8
spot where the waters had followed ou,
for him hiding place beneath the roots
of an old stump. Underneath this bank
and behind these roots he forced his body
having lastly collected what driitwoot
was within reach still further to concea
his person; and there he lay, half GOV
cred by the water and the mud, anc
awaited the result.


~rom every direction men were hur
rying TO the spot with the perfect assur
ance that the daring enemy would 500


be within their power. For long, lon


hours did scores of searchers continu


to examine every foot Of the brush iha


lined the stream. Many tip9 n