Oliver Otis Howard, Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general , United States army : volume 1

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[145] Fairfax Station, was a crossroad. The regiment had there a picket guard, the point being an important one and the environs much darkened by thick trees. A captain commanded this guard. One night the tramp of horses was heard. In an instant the whole guard was in readiness, and one may imagine how the hearts of new soldiers throbbed as they listened to the fastapproaching sounds. Three bold riders soon appeared, moving at a trot, one in advance. The outside sentinel called: “Who comes there” The soldierly answer gave confidence: “Union officer and two men.”

Dressed in our uniform, they correctly answered every question put to them. The captain spoke a pleasant word and was about to let them pass when it occurred to him to be a little extra cautious on account of a rumor of spies passing the lines. He said: “Very well, gentlemen; you may be all right, but I will take you to the senior officer of my guard.” Turning to the first man, he said: “Please, sir, give me your gun.” The stranger, taken by surprise, cried out: “My gun?” then, recovering, he whirled his horse and with a sharp exclamation gave him the spurs. The captain instantly ordered: “Firel” The stranger wavered in his saddle and then fell dead to the ground, while his two friends escaped through the thicket. They had not approached so near the guard as their leader. The leader, as his papers revealed, was a young man from Mississippi. Bold and energetic, he had been chosen to go back and forth from Fairfax to Alexandria. This was by no means his first trip. He tried the experiment once too often. It is a singular custom of war that the bravest become scouts and spies, and if unsuccessful are stigmatized with dishonor.