Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-06-05

She was his all-his wife had been dead fiy,
years. He turned toward her, and in
mild, but firm tone, said,
Matte, you mus. conduct Mr.. Peters :,
the rendezvous Immediately then return
and we will call at the parsonage to cheer hi
family. Quick no time is TO be lost. Tn,
bloodhounds are upon the track. They
have scented their prey and will not res
till they have secured him. They may re.
turn much sooner than we expect. 8,
haste, daughter, and God bless you I"
This was not the first time that Matte
had been called upon to perform such an
Office. She had safely conducted severa
Union men, who had been hunted from
their homes and sought shelter with he,
father, to the place designated, from whence
they made their escape across tho mountain,
in.o Kentucky. Turning to the fugitive
she said,
Come, Mr.. Peters, do not stand upor
ceremony, but follow me.
She left the shop and proceeded but q
short distance up the road, and then turned
of IN by-path through a strip Of woods
closely followed by the fugitive. A brisk
walk Of half an hour brought them to a
small house that stood alone in a secluded
spot Here Matte was received with a
warm welcome by several men, some Of
whom were engaged in running bullets,
while others were cleaning their rifles and
iowling pieces. The lady Of the house, n
hale woman of forty, was busy stufing the
wallets OF the men with biscuits. She greet
ed Matte very kindly. The fugitive, who
was known to two or three Of the party, was
received in bluff, frank spirit Of kindness
by all, saying that they would make him
chaplain OF the Tennessee Union regiment
when they got to Kentucky.
When Matte was about to return home,
two oil the party prepared to accompany her;
but she protested, warning them of the dam
ger, rs the enemy were doubtless in search
of the minister. But, notwithstanding,
they insisted, and accompanied her until
she reached the road short distance above
her fathers shop. Matte hurried on, but
was somewhat surprised upon reaching the
shop to find it vacant. She FASTENED into
the house, but her father was not there.
As she returned to go into the shop she
thought she could hear the sound of horses
hoots Gathering down the road. She listen
ed, but the sound very soon died away
Gong into the shop she blew the fire and
saw that the things were in great confusion,
and that spots of blood were unon tho ground
She was now convinced that her father had
been seized and carried off. but not without
a desperate struggle on his part
Al. Matte stood gazing at the pools of
blood, wagon contain;ns two nersnn, Jrovo
up, one of whom, an athletic Young man of
five-and- twenty years, got out and entered
the shop.
father?" he said. Then Observing the
strange demeapor of the eirl he contipnad
why, Matte, what ais YOU? What las
The young girls heart was too full for her
tongue to give utterance, and leaning upon
the shoulder of the Young man. she sob.
bingly exclaimed,
"Thy have carried him off! Don't YOU
see the blood?'
''Have they dared to lay hands on your
father2 The internal wretches l'
Matte recovered herself sufficiently to
narrate the events of the evening. When
she had finished, he exclaimed,
"Oh that should have lived to see the
day that old Tennessee was to be thus dis
graced Here, Joe %
At this the other person in the wagon
alighted and entered the shop. He was a
stalwart negro.
Joe" continued the Young man. "vou
would like your freedom? ?''
"Well, Massa John. I wouldn't ike mucb
man."
"Joe. the white race have maintained
their liberty by their yalor. Are Won will
ing to fight for yours? Ayl fight tn the
death ?''9
b 81 fight for you, any time, Massa John. F"
81 believe you, Joe. But have desper.
ate work on hand tonight, and I do not
want you to engage in it without prospect
of reward. If L succeed 1 will make YOU a
free man. tits a matter of life and death
will you go?'' 'f 'l'
81 will Massa."
''Then kneel down and swear before the
ever living God that if you falter or shrink
the danger, you may hereafter be consigned
to everlasting fire II"
''Iewear," said the negro, kneeling.-
"An' l hope Cor almighty may strike me
dead If l don't go wild you through fire and
water and ebery ting I"
II am satisfied, Joe," said his master
then turning to the young girl, who had
been mute spectator Of this singular scene.
he continued, Now, Matte, you get in the
wagon and III drive down To The narsonagc
and you can remain there with Mrs. Peters
until bring Won some inteIligence of vour