Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-06-28

TO tire 0ll flag. He could learn but
littte of the, war news; what he did
learn vas any,hAg but satisfactory
"A win er came on, the discomforts of
his mountain home were many. His
poor wife began to feel them seriously.
Her health became worse and worse.
Medical aid was necessary. Where to
get it he knew not; for all the medical
rem in that section had been forced to-
go into the army, if they had not vol
unteered. At last, he found that medi.
cines must be had, if medical aid could
not be got.
Armed, and desperate from his anx-
iety for her, he went to the nearest
town for one or both. @
Recognized there as a Unionist, he
was arrested, and in spite of all his
prayers and entreaties, thrown into,
prison. He pleaded, in the name of
hunanity, of christianity, of common
decency, to be allowed to go to the aid
of her whom he left perishing. With
mockery and jeers his pleas were re-
fused. And by his own agonized state-
ments, the worse than bloodhounds
were put on the track to his mountain
retreat.
For one week, he raved almost a
maniac in his prison. Then, one night,
as his jailor was bringing him the coarse
food intended as his supper, in the
madness of his desperation, he knocked
him down, tore the keys from his belt,
snatched q revolver from his pocket.
and unlocking the door, dashed out
upon the armed guard in the hall, or
entrance Of the Jail. Two Of them he
shot dead in their tracks and then,
amid the wild alerna, fed away like a
hunted deer, through the darkness,
It was miles to his mountain retreat;
the night was pitchy in its blackness
and he was weak from misery, want Of
rest, and starvation. But on he rushed,
staggering and falling over rocks and
stones, roots and gullies. On-on fall
ing Low and then from very weakness,
but again picking himself up, and get
ting on as well as he could.
The day dawned just as he reached
the little opening in the mountain forest
which had been made by his own axe.
The little cabin was before him but no
smoke rose from the stone chimney.
He saw the form of his negro stretch
ed on the ground before the cabin
Was the boy sleeping?
s;Jim Jim How is your rnistress?"
he shouted.
No answer came from the negro's
lips. None could come, for he was
dead. A bullet had shattered his
brains.
''Elsie! Elsie!'' gasped Harding, as
he staggered over the corpse Of the
faithful slave, who had perished in at
tempting TO defend his mistress.
Alas no answer from Elsie's lips
could ever reach that husbands ears
He entered the cabin.
The slave-woman had fallen too, in
trying to save her mistress from-we
shudder to say it-from worse than
death!
Elsie Harding was dead. We will
not say more of her-she was dead
For hours after he saw her distorted
features, her torn and disordered dress,
Jasper Harding lay almost as dead
upon her bosom.
When he recovered, with his own
hands, he scooped out grave for her,
near the cabin. Then he buried her.
And he buried the faithful negroes.
All of this he did calmly-and then he
left the mountains.
He had heard, while in Jail, where
the sot Crittenden and the more brave
but misguided and we'll fated Zollicof-
fer were posted, and also where the
Federals were encamped.
He did not pause until he had reach
ed the rebel lines. He found them al
ready advancing to attack and surprise
General Thomas.
With the feetness and more than the
sagacity Of the sleuth-hound, be passed
the rebels on their march. At the risk
of his life, he hurried up to the Federal
pickets, and demanded instantly to be
led to their General.
His story was soon told. General
Thomas was put on his guard. His
men were under arms long before the
rebels were upon them and when they
came, Harding, who was well known
to many of the loyal Tennesseans, who
we're with Thomas, was provided with
a horse and arms.
In that battle he fought with a des-
peration which utterly astonlshed friend
and foe.
aElsie Elsie !'' was his battle shout.
aElsie! Elsie !" he cried, as he drove
his fiery horse in upon their serried
ranks, and Glove his way through their
lines.
His horse was killed under him but
on foot he still rushed ahead, shouting:
"Elsie! Elsie 70
His bloody sabre broke at the hilt; !;