Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-04-19

safe from the rebels, but still had rough
mountain to cross, whose high peaks rose
up i'll magniticence and splendor into the
blue week.-mrs. vault. Before attempting to
climb this side of this great natural bar.
rer, we stopped to rest and take another
repast upon our corn. Some of the men
were almost dead from the great fatigue
which they had endured, and presented
truly a most pitiable aspect. Their shoes
were gone, the rocks and snags having torn
them from their feet, and as regarded our
clothing, one had no reason to laugh at
another, for we were all in tattered rags,
the briers and brambles having complete
ly divested us of pantaioonsfrom the knees
down. We succeeded in crossing. the
mountain that day, and when night come
on apace. we prepared beds out Of leaves,
on which we slept quite soundly until
morning. At this time we had nothing to
eat, and were very weak and hungry !; but
we We're compelled to travel all tat day
without eating. and in the evening we had
the profound and inexpressible joy ami
happiness of arriving at the federal camp
at Cumberland Gap.
THE EAST TENNEssEEANs DURING
LONGsTREET's CAMPAIGN.
The Yankees now fell back. and I was
aeain forced to 90 into the mountains to re-
sumo my old occupation of plotting compa-
nies of men through the lines. The Union
men were in great hope for some time that
the Yankees would soon return. but they
were doomed to be most sadly disappoint-
ed. The rebel General Longstreet was in
position east of Knoxville, with thirty
thousand troops, and wintered all of this
large force off of the upper counties. If
the Union people were i'll trouble before
this force made its appearance in East
| Tennessee, what can be imagined was
their wretched condition now ! Rebel
gangs of soldiers were now prowling
through the country in every direction, ran
sacking and plundering, and murdering
many cf the citizens. They took every
wagon that they could find, and hawled off
the small stock of provisions, which the
people had to live upon and where the
country was too mountainous for them to
30 with wagons, they would 30 on horse
back and pack off the scanty provisions
from the most humble cabin in the mount
aims. There was no other chance now
for the few remaining Union men hut to
90 through the lines and join the Union
army, or he suddenly killed by the rebel
thieves and murderers who now infested
all parts of the country. Many poor and
INDECENT families were now lett without
protector, for the husband and father was
compelled to leave his home in order to
save his own life. The distress which now
prevailed among the Union people in Up
per East Tennessee bcggars of all dcscrip-
tion. | will not attempt it any further.
Cold, bleak winter was ut hand, and it was
almost impossible for men to scout and lav
ont in the mountains for if by so doing
they could succeed in hiding from the rch-
els, there was nothing which could he pro-
cured for themselves or their families to
cat. Their only alternative was either to
go through the lines or remain at home,
and either starvc or be killed.
THE REBEL DOGS.
One of the greatest annoyances of our
scouts arose from the watchfulncss of the
dogs of the rebels. He says:
AT every house in this valley there was
gang of dogs, and the dogs and men
seemed to knew very well when stam-
peders were passing. The little dogs
would first give the alarm, and the larger
dogs would then raise most terrible yell,
when all at once the rebel soldiers would
rush out kissing and halloong, until the
whole valley would be in perfect uproar
with the men and dogs. There were GER
tainly more dogs in this valley than any
other place | eve: Travelled through in all
nv life and have often thought that
whenever tie " Yankees got into East
Tennessee. l would get a company of
them and 60 there and have general
dog killing trolic, for they occasioned me
SO much vexation of mind that had be-
come an enemy to the whole race of dogs. "
A ToLERABLY SEVERE SUFFER-.
On one of his trips Ellis was obliged to
procure supper from couple of girls of
remarkable attire. He thus describes the
process of preparing the meal
"Thcy commepced making preparations
for supper. and one of the girls. accom-
panied by an old and very poor hound-dog
started in pursuit of a chicken, which, af-
ter so long time, they succeeded i'll catch
ing, and the girl pulled its head off and
laid it on table, when large cat jumped
mp and dragged it off on to the floor, when
two other cats seized it by each wing,
and the three ran out of the house with it,
and attempted 10 get under the floor hut
all at once Il hound puppy stopped them in
their career, cought hold of the chicken by
the tail, and there they stood, each one
striving for the mastery with awful growls
and snarls. In order to end the dispute
one of the girls made Il sudden attack upon
this squad of carnvOr0us animals with the
fires shovel and recaptured the prize, and
at once proceeded 10 prepare for our sup
peri We purchased il small hog that was
standing in the yard, and had it cooked.
We had plenty et cora bread, but it WAS
baked out of meal which was badly spoil
ed, and was conscqu, ntlv not very palata-
BILE. And, to cap the climax of dainties,
they cooked up aqnantity OF green cab
bagc, which was full of worms, and not n
particle Of salt in the whole unsavory
mess. We sat down to the table, and en-
deavorcd to eat as we'll as we could, and
those of the men who partook of the cab
bage would now and then rake large
worm to the side OF their plate, But
their appetitcs were too keen to back cut
at the sight of worms, and after placing
them to one side, they continued to eat on.
No person knows what they could be in
duced to eat until they suffer for several
days and nights with the most excessive
hunger. In that sort ot an extremity the
most fastidous and delicate taste very
Willingly accommodates itself to articles
Of food which otherwise wUuld be most