Confederate Scout: Virginia’s Frank Stringfellow

By James Dudley Peavey

Here are gathered together some of the adventures and experiences of that already legendary Virginian, Frank Stringfellow; by himself and by others who knew him well. Born June 18, 1840, the days of his early twenties, from 1861 to 1865—almost 100 years ago—were not lacking in excitement.

In the Spring of 1861, young Frank Stringfellow returned home from Mississippi to offer his services to Virginia and the Confederacy. At this time he was not of strong physical constitution, and it was only after repeated attempts to enlist that he was accepted in the “Powhatan Troop” of the Virginia Cavalry, on May 28, 1861, at Culpeper, Virginia. It is remarkable that he was able to withstand the rigors of service as a scout and partisan; but it seems his physical condition gradually improved under the stimulation of his active life.

On detached service as a scout almost from the beginning with Capt. Lay of the Powhatan Troop at Manassas; he was soon to gain the attention and confidence of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, the Cavalry Commander. As his accomplishments and the value of his services increased, he was also held in high regard by Gen. Wade Hampton and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, of the Cavalry.

Before long, his ability and services attracted the attention of Gen. Robert E. Lee. For him, and the cause of the Confederacy, in spite of his youth, Frank Stringfellow performed invaluable service as a scout. He was proud to be called ‘Lee’s Scout.’

• Language: English
• Publisher: Papamoa Press
• Release date: Jan 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781789122985

James Dudley Peavey

James Dudley Peavey (September 10, 1902 - December 17, 1974) was an American writer. He attended the University of Virginia, where he received his M.S. following his submission in 1927 of his thesis/dissertation on the 20th century philosopher Henri Bergson, titled “The problem of matter in the philosophy of Bergson.” He then served with the United States Army during World War II with the rank of Private First Class. His biography on Frank Stringfellow (1840-1913), Confederate officer and “personal scout” to Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, was first published in 1956. Peavey died in 1974 at the age of 72 and lies buried at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Harrison, Mississippi.

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Text originally published in 1956 under the same title.

© Papamoa Press 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

CONFEDERATE SCOUT

VIRGINIA’S FRANK STRINGFELLOW

BY

JAMES DUDLEY PEAVEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

INTRODUCTION—FRANK STRINGFELLOW 5

THE CONFEDERATE SCOUT 6

GEN. J. E. B. STUART’S SCOUT 7

CAPTURING THE COLONEL’S HAT 8

CAPTURING A FEDERAL COLONEL 10

RIDING THE COLONEL THROUGH HIS OWN CAMP 12

HUNTING BLUEBIRDS 14

HEARING HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT 16

A DEAD MAN SAVES HIS LIFE 20

ENTERING ENEMY LINES 22

CAPTURING THE SUTLER 23

VISITING ENEMY-HELD ALEXANDRIA 24

THE TIGER-COLORED COAT 26

THE SUTLER AGAIN 28

RETURN THROUGH LINES—MEETING FARROW 29

THE PICKET POST FIGHT 31

FORCING THE FORD 33

CAPTURING GEN. GREGG’S HORSE 34

MOTHER WOUNDED 36

CAPTURING TWO MEN UNDER DIFFICULTIES 37

VISITING MOTHER WITHIN ENEMY LINES 40

THE FEDERAL DOCTOR REPORTS MY DEATH 42

SCOUTING GEN. SEDGWICK’S CAMP 43

ATTACKING GEN. BARTLETT’S CAMP 44

ATTACK ON GEN. POPE’S CATLETT’S STATION HEADQUARTERS 45

LOSING HORSE AND RACE FOR LIFE 47

CAPTURING HORSES IN UNDERWEAR 48

CHASE AFTER CHASE 49

A NOVEL HIDING PLACE 50

AT THE FEDERAL GENERAL’S DINNER PARTY 51

TO ALEXANDRIA TO SEE THE GUERILLA 52

TO WASHINGTON CITY ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS 53

THE LADY DETECTIVE AT THE BOARDING HOUSE 54

GRADUATION IN DENTISTRY; AND DIFFICULTIES 55

CAPTURED—EATING LETTERS—IMPRISONED—ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE 56

A MASON OR A CHRISTIAN? 59

FURTHER ATTEMPTS AND FINAL ESCAPE 60

THE STORY ABOUT SPARING GEN. GRANT’S LIFE 62

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 63

INTRODUCTION—FRANK STRINGFELLOW

Here are gathered together some of the adventures and experiences of that already legendary Virginian, Frank Stringfellow; by himself and by others who knew him well. Born June 18, 1840, the days of his early twenties, from 1861 to 1865—almost 100 years ago—were not lacking in excitement.

In the Spring of 1861, young Frank Stringfellow returned home from Mississippi to offer his services to Virginia and the Confederacy. At this time he was not of strong physical constitution, and it was only after repeated attempts to enlist that he was accepted in the Powhatan Troop of the Virginia Cavalry, on May 28, 1861, at Culpeper, Virginia. It is remarkable that he was able to withstand the rigors of service as a scout and partisan; but it seems his physical condition gradually improved under the stimulation of his active life.

On detached service as a scout almost from the beginning with Capt. Lay of the Powhatan Troop at Manassas; he was soon to gain the attention and confidence of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, the Cavalry Commander. As his accomplishments and the value of his services increased, he was also held in high regard by Gen. Wade Hampton and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, of the Cavalry.

Before long, his ability and services attracted the attention of Gen. Robert E. Lee. For him, and the cause of the Confederacy, in spite of his youth, Frank Stringfellow performed invaluable service as a scout. He was proud to be called Lee’s Scout.

But let him tell how he first became a Scout.—

BECOMING A SCOUT

I was only a private soldier for a great part of the war, and but a boy. It could not be expected that I should have done very much, or known very much. What I have to communicate is almost entirely from memory. My efforts to keep a diary failed, because it was often lost to the enemy. That I shall speak often of myself is because much of my experience was acquired when I was alone with God. I shall speak of things as I saw them.

I was what is called in military language a Scout, in the Army of Northern Virginia. I began by running the gauntlet at Manassas, and passed our own pickets before I attempted the Enemy’s. Then I ventured out of our lines, little by little, until I was at home in the Northern Army. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart ordered me to report on detail for special duty as a Scout; as also was John Mosby, who later became a Partisan.

My business was to get information; but my taste, and tempting opportunities, often led me to assume the character of a Partisan. I often indulged in capturing Picket Posts; engaged in raiding parties on wagon-trains; in delaying the march of an advancing column; or in seeking to surprise lightly-guarded Generals at headquarters, where they felt secure from attack.

THE CONFEDERATE SCOUT

From John Esten Cooke’s The Wearing of the Grey

The Scout in the Army of Northern Virginia occupied a position in many ways different from that of the regular Confederate soldiers. Often going alone on secret missions, he was entirely on his own, as there was no one near to give him orders.

He depended for success on the quickness of his eye, his hand, and his wits. He was silent in his movements, low-toned in his speech, moderate in his habits. Usually he knew every road and path in the country where he scouted. He slept rarely in houses, preferring the woods. He would flank enemy pickets, penetrate to their camps, learn their number and position; and was always on the lookout for stragglers from whom he could learn their plans. If he could not flank the enemy pickets, he would charge them. If he could not glide through the lines, he would fight through.

When he related his adventures, he did so with a laugh, seeing the humorous side of affairs. His life seemed chiefly attractive to him because of this side of it, and he jested about his perils with a gay spirit that was one of his greatest charms. He had escaped from deadly peril, fooled the foe; then entertained his friends around the camp fire with a humorous recital of the happenings.

He worked, watched, and fought; endured hardship, and risked liberty and life hourly. If he