The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-03

East Tennessee.
He Reported Death Falss,--Lis in a
Southern Prison Escape from Southern
Prison-Hanging of Ohio Soldiers at At-
lanta, Gl.--Iatsrssling Detai1s and Start
ling Facts.
NASHVILLE, Jan. 80, 1863
DAVID Fry, both celebrated and noto-
rious during the past sixteen months, as
having been ono of the principal agents
concerned in burning the bridges on the
East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad,
year ago last October, for the benefit Of
the Union cause and under the suppo-
sition and belief that the Federal army,
then al London Ky, after the signal vic
tory over Zollicoifer, at Wild Cat was to
march immediately into East Tennessee,
and take possession of that section Of
countryside garden spot Of loyalty and
the Switzerland of America-arrived
safely in Nashville on the evening Of the
2sth inst, from Louisville, which place he
reached two days before, after perilsus
journey of over three months from a
Southern prison and charnel house at At
lanta, Ga. That bridge burning in East
Tennessee was a most unfortunate and
ill-timed affair, and the curses Of father
less children, and the husbandless wives
will rest eternaIly upon the heads of tho
projectors and originators of that scheme,
And one day, before the Courts of justice,
we hope to see the guilty parties arraign-
ed, tied, and il convicted, have their full
punishment meted out to them, even to the
extremity that stern justice allows.
DAVID Fry, Of Greene county, East
Tennessee, was one of four men that left
Camp Dick Robinson, in Kentucky, in
October, one year ago, to penetrate the
heart of East Tennessee, passing through
the pickets of the enemy, and running
every risk Of capture and death, for the
express purpose of destroying several of
the important bridges on the East Ten
nesses and Virginia Railroad. And run
ming the risk of death by a rope, for if
taken alive, either one of the four men
would have been hung as spies. DAVID
Fay was, at the time of his embarking in
this perilous adventure, Captain OF Com
pany +, in the Second Regiment East
Tennessee Yoluatee-s, Inlantry. Three
of the four men who went into East Ten
nessee, got out safely within short time
after. But FAY, who was determined to
serve his country in two ways, resolved
to bring out a number of mon sufficient
to make him regiment, and remained
for several months scouting in the noun =
tains Of East Tennessee and North Car
olina, getting his men together. At one
time he had between five and six hundred
men, and resolved to make the trip
through to Kentucky, and started with
that aim; bat for some reason turned
back. Then afterwal ds he was hunted
and attacked by large forces. of the reb-
els, and his men pretty well scattered,
some being taken prisoners. some return
ing home, some remaining with FAY, and
some more resolute, made the trip through
on their own hook, and Joined some Of
the East Tennessee regiments then form
ed, and forming at Flat Lick and Cum
berlAnd Ford, Kentucky.
Capt. FAY undertook the trip TO the
! Federal forces in March 1862, and sue
ceeded in getting into Lee County, Va,
from whence he intended to make a left
turn and get to the forces under General
GEo. w. MoReAN, at Cumberland Ford
But he was attached by large force o.
j rebels at the foot of the Cumberland
Mountains, some ten miles from Jones'
. willie, his men scattered, and himself
, wounded and taken prisoner, This was
. Oil the 22d of March One Of his msI
was killed in the skirmish, and the rebels
told him that thirteen Of their men wer,
killed Fay was taken TO Cumberland
Gap, where he romainded two or three
: dAye, and was removed to Knoxville
; The rebels threatened to hang him, bu
Gen. MoRGAN, so soon as he heard O
e FRY's capture, and the threats Of III,
(, rebels, sent Gag OF truce to them anC
gave them distinctly to understand tha
? such action on their part, would be fol-
lowed by a bloody retributiOn on oul
part SO Fay was not hung, though
: afterward it was reported and currently
I believed that he was either hung, or hsC
deid.
! While in prison at Knoxville, though
! not bodily injured, Fry was subjec
TO abuse and much ill-treaiment from
. the rebels. The fare was seanty and o
!. the worst sort, being sinking meat an'
j, half cooked corn dodger lie remained
10 Knoxville until the 18Th Of June
when a change took place. He was re