The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-12-01

Olive llill-when, on turning hill, We came
full upon Rebel Regiment of Cavalry
Seeing there was no possible way of es-
Gaping them, told my companion we must
feign gadness on meeting them, and perhaps
we would fare better. But they had no mercy
whatever, and marched us before thom-some-
times running against us with their horses,
sometimes when from weakness and cxhaus-
tion we fell upon the ground thoy would
strike at ns with their guns and sabres.--
Sometimes we were forcedto march in double
quick time, aud keep up with their horses
1t was almost too much for human nature to
stand, but we had iron constitutions and
were put to the last and awful test of our
powers of endurance, or yield and be shot
down and left to be devoured by the fowls
of the air, or the wild beasts of the forest,
In this connection, ! must mention q case
of marked kindness on the part of one of our
captors. His name was Baxter A rebel
came at full speed, and as he passed me, struck
me with his gun on the head, which came
near taking my life. l fell senseleSs to the
ground, and when recovered, found Baxter
standing by my side bleeding for me, while a
dozen or more ruiliansowcre urging upon the
Seargent Of the squad to "kill the id spy,
and have done with him. "
Baxter plead for me as if it were for
his brcther-telling them it was shame
and disgrace 10 treat n human being in such
a disgusting manner. He even shed tears,
and used every argument in his power to
gain the sympathy of his brutal ASSOCIATES
which he finally succeeded in accomplishing.
Although dressed in the miserable ragged
grey uniform of the rebel, he appeared to me
as an angel of light. l certainly would have
been killed upon the spot, had it not
been for the Kindness of this man-whose
name shall ever revere and hold sacred
while life is ycuchsafcd to me-
lie was an oasis in the great desert of re-
bellion--of rebels and rebel emmsaries of
which there were fcw-very few. Often had
l travelled over the burning sands of The reb-
el waste, but never did come across such a
being with such heart.
was treated somewhat better after Baxter
had succeeded in appeasing the wrath of the
rabble, and was permitted TO proceed as
prisoner of war. .
Whilst we were marching through piece
of woods, body of Home Guards, who had
been Lying in ambush, made most furious
attack upon our captors. The firing seemed
to come from every point Of the compass
Now, thought I, this is good opportunity
for us to make our escape but alas the re-
bells wers too fast for US and put US, to hold
ing their horses, The rebels soon became
scattered in the melee and as the battle be-
came too hard for them and waxed warm,
they would mount, one by one, and dash Off
at full speed. A great many of their horses
were shot down, and many rider followed
About an hour after the commencement Of
the engagement, we succeeded in escaping
and making our way up q narrow defle,
where we concealed ourselves.
Soon the rebels, unfortunately, routed the
Homo Guard, and were vctors Of the field
Then they commenced searching the woods
for us, and our place of conceNlment not be-
ing good one, they soon searched us out
and brought us forth, rs we thought, to be
slain-but as we told them we were hiding
from the bushwhackers, we wore not molest-
ed We had not marched more than FIVE
miles further however until we were attack
ed second time by a still larger force of
Home Guards, and this time the rebels were
competelycut to pieces and we were Recap
turcd, and then we made our way back to
the Tiger
BY this time our main force had crossed
the Ohio River, and we were left to scout our
way through To prevent being captured
again we procured complete rebel uniform
and dressed out as Confederate soldiers, in
tending to pass ourselves off as members Of
a rebel cavalry regiment which lad become
detached. This was most providential mr.
ior We had scarcely reached the
of Olive Hill, when we were
agaia oyerhauled by rebel cavalry force. It
that Kentucky was full of these
prowling bands, destroying and numbering
Mt will. We were taken to the town, and as
we passed ourselves of as members Of the
9th Georgia cavalry, we were treated kindly.
At Olive Hill we saw sight which was
tcrrifying--evcry house wasse' fra tro and
destroyed by thg rn.ho vuboal uorba.
rans and every 0ue they ron.nlad da'-
troyed with them Women md children wcro
moaning most pitrously housclc and home
less. One poor woman, whose infant was
only two days Old was brought out and laid
upon the ground, while her hossc was hc.ny
consumed by fire. ycnturcd to plead for her,
a nd only received curses and abuse for my
sympathy, | procured some bed-clothug
and tried to make her comfortable but she
was in the open air, and ut least mile from
amy house, This was cruelty equal TO that
enacted in tho dark ages--whcn the more bar
barous the treatment Of an enemy the great
or the rcnown of the perpetrators.
A rebel heard me talking TO this lady, and
struck me with his gun--anothcr rebel saw
the act and took IL up for me- and taking