The Portland daily press., 1863-07-28

Tuesday Morning, July %, 1868.
Fearful Tragedies in East Tennessee.

The Memphis Bulletin publishes the follow
ing thrilling statement on the authority of
Colonel Robert A. Crawford, of Green county,
East Tennessee, who is refugee, and was one
of the Vice Presidents of the late Convention
at New York:
"In the month Of January, 1868, at Laurel,
n. c., near the Tennessee border all the salt
was seized for distribution by the Confederate
Commissioners. Salt was selling at seventy
five to one handred dollars a sack. The Com
missioners 10sMred that the Tories should
have none,' and positively refused to give
Union men their portion of the quantity to be
distributed In that vicinity. This palpabe in
justice reused the Union men they assembled
together and determined to seize their pro-
portion of the salt by force. They did so.
taking at Marshall N. c., what they deemed
to be their just share.
Immediately afterward the 65th North Car
DINA regiment, under command of Lieut.. Col.
james Keith, was ordered to Laurel to arrest
the offenders.
L. NJ. Allen was Colonel OF the regiment.
but had been suspended for six months for
crime and drunkenness. Many of the men
engaged in the salt seizure left their homes.
Those who did not participate in it became
the sufferers. Among those arrested were
Joseph Wood, about sixty years of age; Dav
Shelton, sixty; Jas. Shelton, fifty; Roddy
Shelton, forty-fiye: Ellison King, forty; Halen
Moore, forty Wade Moore, thirty-fiye Isaiah
Shelton, fifteen; Wm Shelton, twelve; james
Metcalf, ten Jasper Channel, fourteen Samuel
Shelton, nineteen, and his brother, aged sew
enteen, sons OF Lifis Shelton-in all, thirteen
men and boys. Nearly all OF them declared
they were innocent, and had taken no part in
appropriating the salt. They begged for a
trial, asserting that they could prove their
innocence.
Col. Allen, who was with his troops, but not
in command, told them they should have a
trial, but they would be taken to Tennessee
for that purpose. They bid farewell TO their
wives, daughters and sisters, directing them
to procure the witnesses and bring them to
the court in Tennessee, where they supposed
their trial would take place. Alas how little
they dreamed what fate awaited theml
PERFIDIoUs EXECUTION.
The poor fellows had proceeded but a few
miles when they were turned from the road
into gorge in the mountain and halted.
Without any warning OF what was to be done
with them, five OF them were ordered to
kneel down. Ten PAGES in front OF these FIVE,
a file of soldiers we're placed with loaded mus
kets. The terrible reality flashed upon the
minds of the doomed patriots. Old man
Wood tsixty years OF age) cried out: For
Gods sake, men, you are not going TO shoot
us? Ifyou are going to murder US, give us
at least time TO pray
Colonel Allen was reminded of his promise
to give them trial. They were Informed
that Allen had no authority; that Keith was
in commando and that there was no time for
praying. The order was given TO fire: the old
men and boys put their hands to their faces
and rent the air with their agonizing cries OF
despair; the soldiers wavered and hesitated
to obey the command. Keith said If they did
not fire instantly, he would make them change
places with the prisoners. The soldiers raised
their guns, the victims shuddered convulsivc-
ly, the word was given to fire, and the five
men fell pierced with rebel bullets. Old man
Wood and Shelton were shot in the head, their
brains scattered upon the ground and they
died without struggle. The other three
lived only few minutes.
MURDER OF A BOY OF TWELVE YEARS.
Five others were ordered to kneel. among
them little Billy Shelton, mere child only
twelve years old. He mplored the men not
to shoot him in the face. "You have killed
my father and brothers." said he; '.you have
shot my father in the face" He covered his
face with his hands. The soldiers received
! the order TO fire, and five more fell. Poor
y little Billy was wounded in both arms. lie
ran to an officer, clasped him around the legs,
and besought him TO spare his life .sYou
have killed my old father and my three broth
ers; you have shot me in both arms for
give you all this; can get well let me 20
nome TO my mother and sisters" What a
heart of adamant the man must have who could
disregard such an appeal! The little boy was
dragged back TO the place of execution; again
tne terrible word Fire" was given, and he
ieii dead, eight balls having entered his body.
Inc remaining three were murdered in the
same manner Those in whom Iile was not
entlrely extinct the heartless officers dis
patched with their pistols.
THE BURIAL.
A hole was then dug and the thirteen bod;as
were pitched into it. The grave was SCARCELY
large enough; some of the bodies Law abova
the ground. wretch named Sefgeant n r
-. Jay, Virginian, but attached to Ten
hessce company of the 65th North Carolina
regiment, jumped upon the bleeding bodies
ana said TO some of the men: "Pat Juba for
ihe "nlle dance the damned scoundrels down
70 ana through hell" The grave was covered
ngh.iy with earth, and the next day when the
wives anu Families OF the murdered men heard
ol .lielI Ia.e, searched for and found their
grave, tle hogs had rooted up one mans body
ToRTURING DEFENsELrss wo,,rx
Capt. Moorley, in charge of a cavalry f,r.a
and Col. Thomas, in command of a ~. ~.
Indians, accompanied Keith's mon Thsa ~
proceeded to Tennessee; Keith's me, rof,,r..oS
TO Laurel iand were instructed To sa, ~. ~
cavalry had taken the prisoners with tha., W, y,
be tried, in accordance with the nladaa ~ ns
Col. Allen. In their progress through Inc
country many Union men were known 10 have
been killed and scalped by the Indians In
on the return of Keith and his men to Laurel
tney began Systematically to torture the