Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-08-05
A Record of'Inhuman Cruelties.
REBEL BARBAR1rIEs IN E. TENNESSEE.
Innocent Men Hanged, Children Shot
and Women Tortured 90 Death.

The editor OF the Memphis Bulletin, who ha
been spon visit to Nashville, communicate
the following to his paper, in reference to tbs
rebel rule in East Tennessee. Col Crawford
4 the gentleman from whom the facts are OBJ
tanned, has personal knowledge of some o
the circumstances, having left the scene o.
their enactment quite recently and vouches
for the truth of all of them.
/. Last summer three young men, brothers
named Anderson, left their homes in Hawkins
comfy, and attempted to make their way in
/ to kentucky They were arrested by squad
/ OF rebel cavalry on Clinch river, about steven
ty five miles from Knoxville, shot and thrown
/ into the river. Their bodies were found float.
ing in the stream fifteen niles from their own
! forsakrn homes
In the month of January 1868, at Laurel.
n. c., near the Tennessee border, all the salt
was seized for distribution by confederate
commissioners Salt was selling at seventy
five to one hundred dollars per sack. The COM
| missioners, declared that the .stories sbonld
have none.' and positively refused to give
| union men their portion of the quantity to be
! distributed in that vicinity. This palpabIe
| Injustice reused the Union men they assem-
bled together and determined to seize their
proportion Of the salt by force. They did So
taking at Marshall, N. e., what they deemed
10 be their Just share. Immediately after
wards, The 65th North Carolina regiment, un
der command of Lieut.. Col James Keitb. was
ordered to Laurcl to arrest the offenders.
l.. NJ. Allen was Colonel of the regiment .but
had been suspended for six months for crimes
| aud Drunkenness Many of the men engaged
IN the salt seizure left their homes. Those
who did lot participate in it became the suf-
ferers. Among those arrested were Joseph
Wood, about sixty years OF age David Shell.
Ton, sixty James Shelton, fifty Roddy Sbe,
ton forty five; Ellison King, fifty Halen
Moore, forty Wade Moore thirty five Isaiah
Shelton, fifteen; VIM. Shelton twelve James
Metcalf, ten Jasper Channel, fourteen Sam.
uei Shelton. niDteen and his brother. agad
seventeen, sons of Lifus Shelton-in all. tbir-
teen men and boys. Nearly all of them de-
ciared they were innocent, and had taken no
part appropriating the salt They begged
for trial, asserting that they could prove their
innocence.
Colonel Allen, who Was with his troops, but
not in command, told them they should have
trial. bat they would be taken to Tennessee
for that purpose. They bid farewell to their
wives, daughters and sisters, directing them
10 procure the witnesses and bring them to
the court in Tennessee where they supnosed
their trial '"ud take place. Alas how bttIe
they dreamed what fate awaited them!
The poor fellows had proceeded but few
miles when they turned from the road
into a gorge in the mountain and halted.
ithout any warning of what was to be done
with them, five of them We're ordered to kneel
down Ten PAGES in front of these five file
OF soldiers were placed with loaded muskets.
The terrible reality flashed upon the minds of
the doomed patriots. Old man Wood fsixty
years OF age) cried out: ssF"r Gods sake.
men, you are not going to shoot US 4? If YOU
are going TO murder give US at least time to
pray Colonel Allen was reminded of his
promise to give them trial. They were in
formed that Allen had no authority that
Keith was in command, and that there was no |
time for praying. The order was given to fire. |
The old men and boys put their hands to their
oil
despair; the soldiers wavered and hesitated to |
obey the command. Keith said if they did not |
fire instantly he would make them change pla
ees with the prisoners. The soldiers raised |
their guns. the victims suddered convulsive-
ly, the word was given to fire and the five men |
tell, pierced with rebel bullets, Old man
Wood and Shelton were shot in the head. their
hrai fba |
died without struggle. The other three .liv-
ed only few minutes.
Five others We're ordered to kneel among
them little Billy Shelton, mere child, only
twelve years old. He implored the men not
to shoot him in the face. ssYou have killed.
my father and brothers," said be, ssyou have
shot my father in the face do not shoot me
in the face" He covered his face with his
hands. The soldiers received the order to fire,
and five more fell. Poor little Billy was woun.
ded in both arms. He ran to an officer, clasp
ed him around the legs, and besought him to
spare his life, ssYou have killed my old father
and my three brothers you have shot me in
both my arms-1 forgive you all this-I can
get we'll. Let me go home to my mother and
sisters" What heart of adamant the man
must have who could disregard such an ap-
peal. The little boy was dragged back to the
place of execution again the terrible word
isfre i'' was given, and he fell dead, eight
balls having entered his body. The remain
ing three were murdered in the same manner.
Those in whom lite was not entirely ex-