Last Deeds of the Coleman Scouts.

Confederate Veteran
Volume 9, Number 2, Page 59
February, 1901

Thomas M. Joplin, one of the few survivors of Coleman's scouts, tells the following tragic story:

The remaining men of Coleman's scouts, after his capture, that of Sam Davis and others, were directed to Capt. Shannon, Gen. Wheeler's chief scout, and ordered to go behind Sherman's army, find out and report his movements. The party were two Alabamians, Al Hardy and Du Bose; two Tennesseans, J. Pillow Humphreys and Tom Joplin; and two Georgians, one we called Major, the other name I have forgotten. We crossed a deep, narrow stream three or four miles east of the Raleigh, rode about a mile to a hight hill, and were listening to the Yankee bands play "Yankee Doodle," "Star-Spangled Banner," etc., and could see the banners and hear the cheering of Sherman's army as it entered Raleigh, N. C., when our attention was suddenly called to a squad of nine men coming down the hill into a lane, which was our only chance of escape. Al Hardy, with "opera" glasses, looked and said: "Blue as h—, boys; we are in for it." We formed fours abreast, and with two in the rear, rode slowly until within one hundred yards, then raised a yell and went at them. They whirled to run, but they were poorly mounted, and we soon wounded and captured all but Sergt. Wolff, whose mare was plunging and his Winchester dangling. Young Du Bose dashed to his side, when he instantly raised his Winchester and shot the top of Du Bose's head off down to his eyes. I was next to him, and as my horse ran by him I fired, but missed him. In a few seconds he had thrown the shell out and was ready for me, when Hardy dashed up, and we made a "lead mine" of him. This revenge came through the exasperation for his throwing up his hand made us think that he was trying to stop his horse to surrender when he shot Du Bose. Du Bose thought so, for his pistol lay by his side uncocked. We left our comrade and our enemy both dead within six feet of each other. We got Du Bose's horse, Wolff's mare, pistols, and carbine, and rode back to our companions across the stream, and took the captured arms and stock to Capt. Shannon, who is still alive.