A daring Feat.
On the evening of the 9th inst., and after the battle was over for that day, four members of the 27th Va. regiment, which had participated in the hottest of the fight, took it into their heads to have a little private reconnaissance into the Yankee lines, on their own account. Their names are Hospital Stewart Palton, of Co. D; Color-bearer Powell, of Co. G; Lieut. Edgar, of Co. E; and Sergeant Davis, of Co. F. The enemy had been driven three miles and the 27th regiment was resting for the night on the remote line of the battle-field next to their rear column. After traveling cautiously for several hundred yards without interruption, these four daring Confederate soldiers, having only two muskets in their possession, passed into the Federal lines. Shortly afterwards they heard low talking in some thick underbrush, and immediately demanded; ‘"Who's there?"’ ‘"Union pickets."’ was the quick rejoinder. ‘"Advance, Union pickets, throw down your arms, and surrender, or we will fire into you, for you are our prisoners,"’ at once exclaimed Patton. ‘"Who are you — and how many of you?"’ asked the ‘"Union pickets,"’ with evident alarm. ‘"You will soon find out,"’ said Powell. ‘"Wheel into line — cock your guns, and be prepared to fire at the word — steady, boys, steady! "’ ‘"Hold on!"’ fairly shrieked the ‘"Union pickets,"’ ‘"we are coming — don't fire, for God's sake?"’ ‘"Come on then, at once, for we have no time to waste here in idle talk,"’ broke in Edgar and Davis, simultaneously.Immediately afterwards, one by one, they came forward, throwing their muskets, side arms, &c., at the feet of Powell, who received them with dignity, but convulsive laughter concealed. One who seemed to be an officer stepped up to Patton, and presented a brace of fine pistols and a ten dollar United States note as a bribe to let him escape.
‘"No, no,"’ said Patton, ‘"you may keep your money, but we will take both you and your pistols into our custody."’
When the last of the ‘"Union pickets."’ had come forward, and found such a disparity in the numbers of captors and captives, for a moment he seemed to hesitate whether to yield or not. Instantly the click of two musket cocks was heard, and two muzzles pointing directly at the doubting and wavering captive. It is needless to add, that no one deposited his arms on the heap quicker than he. In a few moments thereafter these four intrepid Confederate ‘"rebels"’ marched into the camp of the 27th thirteen captured ‘"Union pickets,"’ and handed them over to be sent to the rear.
This incident is vouched for by a reliable officer, who was present when the captives were brought in.
