The Scout's Story.
"Boys, the life of a scout is the most fascinating, as well as the most
dangerous one that I know of. It is a responsible one, too, for not
unfrequently the safety and well-being of the entire army depends upon
our reports. If, while we are roaming about the enemy's camp, we are
deceived in regard to their numbers and position, and our commanding
officer, judging by our reports, thinks himself able to surprise and
defeat them, and if, upon making the attack, he finds that he has been
misled, we are responsible; at least that is the way I have always
looked at the matter; and many a time I have misrepresented cases, and
have, no doubt, been the cause of allowing the rebels to escape, when
they might easily have been beaten, knowing that our hot-headed
commander would order an attack, no matter how small the chance for
success might be.
"Just before we started on the campaign that resulted in the capture of
Fort Donelson, I was detailed to scout for head-quarters; and one day,
while lying in my tent, heartily wishing that a move would be made which
would put an end to the lazy life I was compelled to lead, one of the
general's staff-officers entered, accompanied by a youth, whom he
introduced to me as Mr. Henderson, and informed me that he was to be my
'partner.'
"'He my partner!' I ejaculated. 'Is he a scout? What does he know about
soldiering?'
"The new-comer was rather below the medium height, very slimly built,
with soft, white hands, that looked as though they had never been
accustomed to hard work, and a smooth, beardless face. He seemed very
much out of place among our rough soldiers.
"'I don't know much about scouting, that's a fact,' said he, with a
laugh. 'But I know every inch of the country, and can use a rifle. I
have been knocked about considerably since the war commenced, and my
father was hanged in Tennessee for being a Union man, and I suffered all
sorts of hardships before I succeeded in making my escape.'
"The officer left us together, and, in spite of the chagrin I felt that
a mere stripling had been sent to me for an associate, I was soon deeply
interested in him, for with his almost childlike simplicity there was
mingled an air of confidence in his own powers which drew me
irresistibly toward him. He told me his history, and when he dwelt on
the cruelty with which the rebels had treated Union men in Tennessee,
and related, in a subdued voice, the particulars of his father's death,
his slight frame quivered with excitement, and his fingers twitched
convulsively, as if he felt the perpetrators of the deed in his grasp.
He seemed to have the real grit in him, and I finally came to the
conclusion that I had mistaken my man. I soon learned it was so, for,
the very first time we got on a scout together, I found that he was made
of the right stuff, and I began to have a great deal of confidence in my
youthful companion. I don't believe he knew what fear was. He was a
splendid shot and an excellent rider; in fact, he seemed to be out of
his element unless he was in the saddle.
"The first time that Sam (for that was my companion's name) had a chance
to show his qualities was after the battle of Pittsburg Landing. One
night, just after dark, we set out on horseback to watch the movements
of the enemy. We were dressed in our rebel uniform, and provided with
passes which would carry us through our lines. The night was dark and
cloudy, but Sam, who knew the road like a book, took the lead. We had
proceeded in this manner about four miles, scarcely saying a word to
each other, when suddenly, as we came around a bend in the road, we
found ourselves close upon a picket station. Several men were lying
around a fire, eating their supper; and the reason why we had not
discovered them sooner was on account of the thick trees and bushes,
which completely concealed the glare of the fire from any one coming
down the road. How we had succeeded in passing the sentries, which were
posted some distance from the station, is still a mystery to me. Either
our advance had been so still that they had not heard us, or else the
sentries were asleep; at any rate, we were in the enemy's lines before
we knew it, and in something of a scrape. If we undertook to retreat,
besides running the risk of being shot by the men at the fire, we should
be obliged to pass the sentries, and we might not succeed, for the
clatter of our horses' hoofs would certainly alarm them. The only way
was to ride up to the fire and put a bold face on the matter, which we
did, the rebels supposing that, as we had passed the sentries, we were
all right. They at once took us for some of their scouts, and one of
them inquired:
"'How are the Yanks?'
"'They're there,' I replied. 'And you'll have to haul in these picket
posts before long, or I am mistaken.'
"'How is that sentry out there?' asked the lieutenant in command.
"'O, he's all right,' I answered, and seating myself at the fire, began
to pitch into the eatables. Sam followed my example, and we enjoyed a
very good meal, after which we smoked a pipe, and talked with our
companions about the probability of soon thrashing the Yankees soundly,
and wishing that we were in the Eastern army, that we might have the
honor of carrying the secesh rag into Philadelphia and all the other
large cities at the North. We also received some very valuable
information in regard to the rebels and their intended movements; and
finally, concluding that the general must be looking for us, we bade the
pickets good-by, mounted our horses, and galloped down the road toward
the rebel camp. As soon as we thought we had gone far enough to deceive
the pickets, we turned off from the road and started through the woods,
intending to take a wide circuit, pass the pickets, and start back for
our own camp. We stumbled about through the woods for nearly an hour,
and finally struck a road that appeared to run at right angles with the
one we had just left. This we followed at a rapid gallop for about a
mile, when Sam pointed out a light that appeared to be shining in the
window of a house ahead of us. We at once determined to reconnoiter, and
rode slowly forward for that purpose, walking our horses on the grass at
the side of the road, so that our advance would be noiseless. We had
gone but a short distance when we were halted. To the challenge, 'Who
comes there?' Sam replied, 'Scouts,' and throwing me his rein, he swung
himself from his saddle, whispering:
"'Hold on a minute, Bill! Let me manage that fellow;' and before I could
say a word he had disappeared in the darkness.
"Several moments passed, when I again heard his voice, and riding
forward, wondering how he had 'managed' the sentinel, I was surprised to
see him with a musket in his hand, pacing back and forth across the
road. I instantly understood what had transpired, and leading the horses
cautiously into the bushes at the side of the road, I fastened them
there, and then returned to Sam.
"'I couldn't help it, Bill,' he whispered, as I came up. 'I meant to
capture him, and compel him to give us some information; but he fought
so desperately that I had to settle him to save myself.'
"'It can't be helped; such things are not uncommon in war times. Now you
play the part of sentry here until some one passes, and you can find out
what the countersign is. Then I'll go up to the house and reconnoiter.'
"I then lay down by the side of the road, and in a few moments Sam
whispered:
"'Bill, I wonder what's the number of this post?'
"'I'm sure I don't know,' I replied.
"'Well, how am I going to find out?' he inquired. 'If some one should
happen to come along without the countersign, and I should want to call
the corporal, I would be in a nice fix, wouldn't I?'
"Sam said this in such a perfectly cool and unconcerned manner, that I
could not help admiring him.
"Just then I heard a faint shout:
"'Twelve o'clock! Number one. All's well.'
"'There,' I whispered; 'the sentries are passing the call. Now look
sharp.'
"The call passed the round of the sentinels, until number eight was
called, but a short distance from us. Then came a pause.
"'Sam, you're number nine,' I hurriedly whispered.
"'Number nine; and all's well!' shouted Sam at the top of his lungs. 'So
far, so good,' he continued, in a low voice. 'Now I guess we're all
right. Halt!' he shouted, hearing the sound of horses' hoofs rapidly
advancing. The horseman at once drew rein, and at Sam's challenge,
answered:
"'Colonel Peckham.'
"'Dismount, Colonel Peckham, and give the countersign.'
"'Look here, my man, just let me pass, will you? Don't detain me, for I
am on important business, and am in a great hurry.'
"'Halt,' shouted Sam again; 'dismount.'
"'I tell you I am Colonel Peckham, commanding----'
"'I don't care what you command. Just climb down off that horse
instantly, or I'll fire on you. You shouldn't go by me if you were
President Davis himself.'
"The colonel, seeing that entreaty was in vain, reluctantly dismounted
and gave the countersign, 'Virginia.'
"'The countersign is correct. Pass, Colonel Peckham,' said Sam, bringing
his musket promptly to a shoulder arms.
"After the rebel had mounted and disappeared, I whispered:
"'Now, Sam, I'm going up to that house. Keep a sharp look-out.'
"After shaking his hand I started toward the place where I had seen the
light. Walking carelessly up toward a group of soldiers who were
lounging about on the ground, I glanced in at the window, and saw
several officers seated around a table, apparently engaged in earnest
debate. I listened for a few moments to the conversation of the men, and
found that I was two miles inside of the rebel lines. This knowledge was
something that would not have pleased me had I been alone, for I was
wholly unacquainted with the country, but, knowing that I had a friend
on whom I could rely, I looked upon it as merely a little difficulty,
from which I could extricate myself as soon and as easily as I pleased.
"I lounged about, picking up a good deal of information, until I heard
the relief called, and knowing that, unless we beat a hasty retreat, we
would be discovered, I hastened back to the place where I had left Sam,
and found him industriously pacing his beat. I was about to bring out
the horses, when we heard the clatter of hoofs coming up the road from
toward the house, and I at once concealed myself. The answer to the
challenge was Colonel Peckham, who was returning to his command. As he
was about to pass, I, thinking that it would not look well to go back to
the camp empty-handed, sprang out of my concealment and seized his
reins, while Sam, who instantly comprehended what was going on, placed
his bayonet against his breast.
"'What means this?' asked the colonel.
"'Don't talk so much,' replied Sam. 'A blind man could see that you are
a prisoner. So hand over your weapons, and don't make any fuss.'
"As Sam spoke, he proceeded to 'sound' the colonel, and the search
resulted in the transfer of two revolvers to his belt. Then, throwing
away his musket and cartridge-box, he sprang upon his horse, which I had
by this time brought out, and, seizing the colonel's reins, we started
down the road at a full gallop.
"We had proceeded scarcely a quarter of a mile when we heard several
musket-shots behind us, and we knew that the relief had found No. 9 post
vacant, and were alarming the camp. Sam, still holding fast to the
colonel's horse, at once turned off into the woods, through which we
with difficulty worked our way. At length, however, we reached an open
field, which we crossed at a gallop, and, leaping our horses over the
fence, found ourselves in the road again. We had struck it just outside
of the rebel pickets, who, hearing us gallop away, fired at us; but the
bullets all went wide of the mark, and in less than an hour we reached
our own camp, and the prisoner was delivered over to the general."
* * * * *
"I could relate many other adventures to you, but, as I have to go on
guard at midnight, I must bid you good-night."
So saying, he arose from the ground, where he had been lying, and walked
off toward his quarters. One by one the soldiers, who had gathered about
to listen to his story, followed his example, and finally Frank and the
ensign who had assisted him in managing the battery, were left alone.
Although they had been together but two days, they were on excellent
terms with each other; and as Frank had learned that his companion had
run by the batteries at Vicksburg, he was naturally anxious to hear the
details. The ensign, at his urgent solicitation, then told the story of
his thrilling adventures, which here follows.