Miami Union - Veteran - Chief of the Secret Service Department
February 22, 1879
BELL, CHARLES S.
-
SAD DEATH OF A WELL KNOWN UNION SCOUT - Some of His Exciting Adventures and
Hairbrenth Escapes
- Dayton, O., Feb. 23,--The death of Charles S. Bell, at the Soldiers' Home, the
early part of the week ends a career of intense and pathetic interest. By his
intrepid daring in the war he won a reputation as the first scout in the Union
army, and was entrusted by General Grant and other commanders with enterprises
of the most weighty importance. He was a young man, not twenty years old, when
he entered the Union army, hardy and full of romantic bravery, and no
undertaking was too hazardous for him to enter upon. His promptitude and energy
won the attention of the Commander-in-chief, and one or two enterprises
conducted successfully established him in the confidence of his superior officers. He would carry
his scouting expeditions into the very midst of the enemy's camp, escaping at
times in a manner that would seem little less than marvelous. Frequently
when absent for a considerable time he would be given up for dead, and would
then make his appearance at some moment when least expected. On several
occasions he enlisted in the rebel army, and was uniformed in gray. At one
time to effect an object in view, he took the character of a rebel scout, and
succeeded in drawing General Chalmers, of the Confederates, now in Congress from
Mississippi with his entire corps, within the Federal lines. In the fight
that ensued Chalmers was wounded in the face, and a large portion of his command
was scattered or made prisoners by General Hulburt in charge of the Union
forces. Bell's exploits finally rendered him so well known that it became
very dangerous for him to prosecute his operations. In 1863 he was
discovered, captured and placed on a train, handcuffed, and started for
Richmond. Notwithstanding these difficulties, Bell contrived to jump from
the train while it was under full speed, elude his pursuers and finally make
good his escape. He was quiet and intelligent, and possessed a fair
education. Shortly after the close of the war he wrote for the New York
Ledger a series of articles relating his adventures while acting as scout and
spy in the Union army. He was by profession a journalist before he entered
the army, and for a while, in New York, after the war, he edited a financial and
commercial paper, on Wall Street. This venture did not succeed, and he
abandoned it, obtaining a position in the Secret Service Department, under
General Grant's administration. The cloud of his life settled upon him
during this time. He was trusted by Grant in his most confidential
matters, and during the Babcock affair he was sent to St. Louis by the President
as a confidential agent. Here, among other matters, he was charged with
accepting a bribe of $500. The charge was widely commented on by the press
at the time, and it lost Bell his position and the confidence heretofore placed
in him by General Grant. It seems to have been keenly felt by Bell, and if
he was guilty, he was punished sorely for it. Having dropped out of public
life about six months ago, he was admitted to the Dayton Home. He had
little to say, was retired and reserved, and but very few of those who met him
knew the man except as one who had been a soldier, not as Colonel L. C. Bell,
Chief of the Secret Service Department, and the most noted scout of the war.
His constitution had been one of the best, but suddenly it began to fail him
from an attack of hasty consumption, the seeds of which were sown by his
exposure during the war. During the past few months he failed rapidly.
He went to Arkansas with the hope of finding relief, but returned to die at the
Home. He died last Tuesday and his body now lies with those of a thousand
brave soldiers in the beautiful little cemetery at the Home. It was not
until several days after his burial that the identity of the man became known.
He was without wife or family, and was entered on the books of the Home from
Illinois, without any relatives. He was without means, and never received
a pension from the Government. His career is ended, and the one fault of
his life will be obliterated by posterity when his services are recalled.