In 1866 the New York Evening Post published an account of the exploits of a person named Fate Arnold that makes him sound near legendary. According to the author, W. O. Stoddard, he was a native of Arkansas and well-known Union scout who had once gone after a gang of 40 marauders with only 5 men and singlehandedly killed half of the raiders. The article credits him with having killed over 100 men in close combat and of carrying out deadly attacks repeatedly on the enemy against overwhelming odds . The article was picked up by several newspapers, one of which in Tennessee berated the New York Evening Post for giving circulation to "such palpable absurdities." Other papers were more forgiving. While the article was certainly guilty of pushing the limits of what was believable, it probably does reflect a notoriety that Arnold had evidently established for toughness and resolve.