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

"aeeieu 1OI o0,no s1uue3 tsnu .uos suSy
| were thirsty. gd -
| srs
10 IN mHE MOUNTAINS.
| BIZ LIEUT.. h, OF TENNEssEE.
Thank heaven and the ludomitable
soldiers of the Union, dear Mercury,
your old contributor has once more a
chance to pen you few lines, and
place himself on record again in your
patriotic columns.
What have endured during the
dark past year, is more than ], have the
power or the will to describe. Physi-
cal disability kept me from resuming
my old place under the flag of my
country; and it .'also left me, when
Secession became rampant in my ma
tive State, in a position where my love
for the Union and its cause made me
an object of hate and precaution. But
it is over now. And I'll not think of
my own past--the joyous present wipes
it out. But I'll tell you and yours one
of the many ssromances of the rebel
lion'' which has come to my knowledge
hereaways.
Sumter had succumbed to the chival-
ry of the Nuiliiers Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia, Texas
| and Arkansas, had gone ssSecesh )"
| traitors in Tennessee and Kentucky hid
their black forms under the CLOAK Of
neutrality. But in some portions Of
the first named State, there wera
Union men who dared to tell these
traitors that "Secession" should re-
ceiye neither friendship nor neutrality
from them. as.sa
.Among these was Jasper Harding,
who owned one of the best plantations
on the upper waters of the Cumberland,
near the mountain region. Jasper was
young, and by the recent death of his
father had become wealthy. He had
been married only year, when, by the
action Of the great Eye-sham Harris,
Tennessee was regularly booked for
Secession. And unfortunately for him,
the section in which he lived was al
most completely controlled by four or
five politicians, who were rabidly Seces-
sional in principle--if such men could
be said to have any principle.
When Harding found that almost all
of tue men in his section were set in
one way, and that the wrong way, by
these men, he thought, by minding his
own business and keeping quiet, he
would be let alone. But he soon found
that such wouldn't be the case. He
received visit from State officer, in
forming him that he was assessed for
certain Military taxes to aid the Con-.
federacy.
He swore he would not pay one cent
for such purpose. He soon found
force employed to collect the assess
ment Resistance was useless. He
now only asked FOR passport for him
self and his young wife to leave the
country-his only desire being to reach
the Federal lines, for her sake.
This was sneeringly denied him and
it was intimated that, if more men
were needed, he would be forced to
enter the Confederate army.
This was more than he could bear.
His Young wife was in delicate health,
she had been used to life Of luxury.
Now, with the vilest foes around him,
expecting to see his house despoiled, he
trembled for her, though for himself he
knew no fear
He asked her if she thought she
could endure life in the mountains,
where he could find at least security
| from the maurauding bands who would
seek to destroy his property, if nothing
more.
"Where you can live, Jasper, | can
exist and be happy" was her reply.
For her heart was patriotic, tirm and
fond as his own.
Under cover Of night, attended by
two slaves-one male and one woman
their baggage carried on four or five
mules, Harding and his wife left their
splendid home, and went up into one
/ OF the widest portions of the Cumber-
land Mountains, miles away from any
settlement. There he and his faithful
slaves erected a tolerably comfortable
cabin, and in it for time found peace
and comfort. Harding was expert
with his gun and fishing-rod, and man,
aged to keep his party well supplied
with provisions. Once in while, at
night, he would extend his scouts far
enough to learn that rebellion was tenn
porarily successful in his State, and to
see with his own eyes that the Union
lists everywhere we're made to suffer IN
person or property, for their devotion