Or in his case, shot by the man you're hunting down.
Excerpt from
Four Years in the Saddle by Colonel Harry Gilmor, Chapter XX, page 87.
"I was returning by a shorter route when I came suddenly on a "Jessie Scout" in a narrow lane that led out to Griffith's factory. I had taken the precaution to put around my neck a white handkerchief, leaving a long end hanging down over the shoulder, the badge by which the "Jessies" distinguished each other. Those " Jessie Scouts" were a body of men dressed in Confederate uniforms, organized by General Fremont. The fellow rode up cautiously, his pistol drawn, but I pretended to be very unconcerned, showing no disposition to draw mine. He rode a noble dapple gray, and stopped when our horses' heads were nearly together. "Where are you going?" said he. "Going into town," replied I, quietly, but in a firm voice. He then inquired where I belonged, and I answered, "To the same crowd you do— to Captain Purdy's scouts." "
Why, I don't remember seeing you, though I hav'nt been detailed long myself."
"That is just my case," I replied.
He then asked what regiment I was detailed from. I told him from the 12th Pennsylvania, Captain Fenner's, company F. This satisfied him; he put up his pistol; and, as I rode up alongside, I noticed a pair of handcuffs looped over the small strap that holds the saddle-pocket to the flap. I asked what he was going to do with the "ruffles." He replied, "There is a Reb out at old Griffith's, and I am going after him." "Let me look at them," said I; and, as he stooped to take them off, I quickly drew my sabre.
There was a gate leading into a lane near where we stood. It was a little way open, and he made a desperate effort to get through; but his horse pushed it to with his neck, and at the same before he said, " You sold me pretty well, but I don't blame you." I gave him whisky and water out of my flask, and tried to save him, but my blade went too near the heart. He had a very good saddle, that suited me better than my own; the handcuffs I carried all the way to Gettysburg, and there gave them away.