The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-06-28
FROM WESTERN NORTH CARoLINA.-A COZ

FROM WESTERN NORTH CARoLINA.-A cor
respondent of @the Asheville News writing from
Madison county, N: c., says:
AS you are aware, the citizens Of this section
have suffered enormously, within the last twelve
months at the hands OF the "Iaurel Tories. .
Scarcely week has passed that has not witnessed
the robbery of some poor soldiers family, or the
murder Of good soldier citizen. Several fam
lilies have been so thoroughly robbed that actual
suffering and almost starvation, has been the
sequence. Others, to escape murder and starva
ton, and believing "discretion to be the better
part of vaor:" moved with their goods and chat
ties to more ,congenial climes.
BY the way, let me relate an instance Of great
suffering and patriotic endurance. cold Bill
Shelton,' Of Laurel notorety, in company with
part OF his tory band, went to the house OF
respectable citizen, who lived just over the line
in Washington county, Tenn, and after numbering
the landlord and his son, robbed the family of
every thing valuable on the place. They even
stripped the clothing from the backs Of the chill
dren! All this, too, when the landady con-
fined to bed with an infant only one week old
This family is now destitute of every thing
necessary to their health and comfort; and can
scarcely obtain food enough to keep soul and body
together. In conversation With this lady in re-
ference to her suerings and sacrifices, she quietly
remarked to the writer that we would not know
how to appreciate liberty unless made sacrifices
to obtain 1t; that sacrifice, however great would
be withheld by her, if necessary to the achieve
ment of our Independence; that, if necessary, she
would lay her own body beside those of her MUIR
dered husband and son, as a sacrifice in the great
cause Of freedom. Noble woman! Would to God
that every heart in the land beat in patriotic uni.
son with hers.
The Of this heroine OF East Tennessee
would be given but for reasons best known and IN:
derstood by those living where she lives.
The reader must not imagine that the above a
trocious deeds passed by unnoticed On the
other hand, many efforts were made to arrest and
punish the guilty parties. Hundreds Of troops
were sent time and again to 'nvade" Laurel; but all
was intellectual, owing, doubt, to the fact that
the troops generally unacquainted with the
country and the With whom they had to con-
tend. But, thanks to that excellent commander
and soldier, Col. Pamer,a better line Of policy has
been adopted The above class of troops have been
removed, and men thoroughly acquainted with the
country placed in their stead. The chivarous and
daring j. A. Keith, formerly Lieut.. Colonel Of the
9th N. G. Regiment, has been placed in COM
mand Of quite member Of the last named class
of soldiers and is now serving 'wthout money and
without price" Since his accession to command
things have different face. Citizens are no long
compelled to ollie out-are perfectly safe in ~
ing down upon their own beds-as 'Keith's De-
taiP' is generally in the right place, ready to fall
Unexpectedly upon some poor tory, as he travels
long~his mountain passes. Keith and his men a
lone know how many have been thus "sent up the
spout" No longer ago than last Thursday two Of
the worst living made to bite the dust, viz:
Russ Franklin and Wiley Gpsnell. They had both
participated in the murder of some of our soldiers.
cold Bill Shelton" too, was caught fesv days
SINCE while making his way to Yankcedom, and
swung up to limb, and sent thence to another To-
cality, to try his hand with the inhabitants of
warmer region. Comment on the life and charac-
ter of this old tory, thief and murderer is
sary, his and deeds are well known
throughout the country He doubt the
worst seoundrel that ever disgraced the image Of
God.
could name various other important duties per-
formed by ''keith's Detail, but this article is al
ready too long. Will close. MADISON.