Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-08-04


Rebel Barbarities in East Tennessee innocent
| Men Hanged Children Shot and Women Tor
/ tured to Death.
| The editor Of the Memphis Bulletin has
been upon a visit to Nashville, attending a
/ State Convention. He communicates The
following to his paper and vorches for his
informant. It's sickening in detail--horri-
bic in conception and the wreehes who per-
! petrated the outrages named ars not fit for
| hanging. Some more exquisite torture
sho'd be invented for their especial beneft
Here is the article:
From Colonel Robert A. Crawford, of
Green county, Tenn, who is refugee, and
was one of the Viee-Presidents of the late
| Convention at Nashville, we learn the fol-
| lowing facts in reference to that beautiful
Switzerland of America" East Tennessee
Col. Crawford has personal knowledge
Of some Of the facts, having left the scene
Of their enactment quite recently land youch-
es for the truth Of all of them as his in
formation was obtained from some trust
worthy persons, and written down on the
spot.
Last summer three young men, brothers
named Anderson, left their homes in
/ Hawkins county, and attempted to make
their way into Kentucky. They were ar
rested by squad Of Confederate cavalry
on Clinch river about seventy-fp miles
from Knoxville shot, and thrown into the
river. Their bodies were found floating in
the stream, fifteen miles from their own
forsaken homes.
THE SCARCITY OF SALT.
In the month of January, 1868, at Lau-
rel, n. c., near theTenn., border, all the'salt
was seized for distribution by Confederate
Commissioners.
Salt was selling at SO to 500 sack.
The Commissioner declared that the
"Tories should have none," and positively
refused to give Union men their portion Of
the quantity to be distributed In that yicini-
ty. This palbable injustice reused the Un7
ion men; assembled together and determ-
ined to seize their proportion Of the salt by
force. They did 50, taking at Marshal, N.
Carolina what they deemed to be their just
share.
Immediately afterward the G5th n. G.
Regiment under command of 1t. Col. James
Keith, was ordered to Laurel to arrest the
offenders.
ARREsTING FOR SEEING SALT.
L. M, Allen was Colonel of the regiment
| but has been suspended for six months for
crime and drunkenness. Many Of the men en-
gagged in The salt seizure left their homes
Those who Gid not participate in ii became
the sufferers. Among those arrested were
Joseph Wood, about sixty years Of age;
David Shelton, sixty; Jam $ Shelton, fifty;
Roddy Shelton, forty-fifty Ellison King,
fort Halen Moore, forty; Wade Moore,
thi five; Isaiah Shelton, fifteen; Vim.
Shelton, twelve; Jas. Metcalf. ten; Jasper
Channel, fourteen; Samuel Shelton, nine
teen, and his brother, aged seventeen sons
of Lifus Sheton-in all thirteen men and
boys. Nearly all of them declared they
were innocent and had taken no part in APP
propnating the salt They begged for a
trial, asserting that they could prove their
innocence.
THE EXECUTION.
Col. Allen, who with the troops but not
in command, told them they should have
trial but they would be taken to Tennessee
for that purpose. They babe farewell to
their wives, daughters and sisters, directing
them to procure the witnesses and bring
them to Court inTennessee, where they sup
posed their trial would take place. Alas
how little they dreamed what fate await
ed them!
Horrible BARBARlTIEs.
The poor fellows had proceeded but
few miles, when they turned from the road
into gourge in the mountain, and halted.
Without any warning what was to be
done with them five of them was ordered
to kneel down Ten PAGES in front Of these
five, file Of soldiers were placed with load
ed muskets. The terrible reality flashed
upon the minds of the doomed patriots
Old man Woods, [sixty years Of age cried
out "For Gods sake men, you are not go
ing to shoot us? Ifyou are going to MUIR
der us, give us time to pray" Col. Allen
was reminded Of his promise to give them
trial. They were informed that Allen
had no authority that Keith was IN com
mand and that there was no time for pray
ing. The order was given to fire; the old
men and boys put their hands to their IA
ces AMI rent the air with agcnizing cries Of
despair; the soldiers wavered and hesitated
to obey the command. Keith said, if they
did not fire instantly, lie would make them
change places with the prisoners. The sol
diers raised their guns, the victims shud
dered conyulsiyely, the word was given to
fire, and the FIVE men fell pierced with
Rebel bullets. Old man Wood and Shell
ton was shot in the head, their brains scat
tered upon the ground, and died without a
struggle. The other three lived only few
minutes.
MURDER OF A BOY TWELVE YEARS
Five Others were orderedto kneel, among
them little Billy Shelton, mere child oa-
lly twelve years old. lie implored the
men. not to shoot him in the face. "You
r I a =