Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-08
Thrilling Adventure of a Young Lady with
the Tennessee Regulators.''

A Nashville exchange gives the particu-
lars of tragedy which occurred IN Putnam
county, ten miles from Cookville, the
county seat, and near Bloomington Acad-
emy. Since the termination of the war a
gang of desperadoes have organized them
selves into a band and instituted themselves
60 Regulators =" of the county, but were not
countenanced by the people of Putnam
The main object of these "Regulators -
was the persecution of all who fought on
the Southern side. The family of Mr.. Lar
kin Gunter especially attracted the enmity
of the L" Regulators" Mr.. G. and his son
having both served through the war in the
Southern army.
On the night of the Goth of April last
three Of these men went to the house Of
Mr.. Gunter, there being no one at home
but the old gentleman, his daughter Mari
anna, a young lady of nineteen, and a
younger brother. One Of the men was left
to hold the horses while the other two, 3.
T. Miller and Alvin Maxfeld proceeded to
the house and went in. They asked if Mr..
Gunter lived there and being answered in
the affirmative, tLey asked him to go out
with them, saying they wished to have q
chat. Mr., G. told them if they had any
thing to say to talk it oEt there" They
replied by saying that friend of Mr.. G's.,
Mr.. Fowler, had sent them there. Mil
ler represented Fowler, who was we'll
known to Mr.. Gunter, as beng his (NIil-
ler's) uncle. Miller also said that Max
field, his companion, was the son Of
an old friend ard acquaintance of
Mr.. Gunter's Mr. g. then said that it
would be best to have their conversation in
the presence of friends, and sent his son, a
boy of fourteen, for some Of his neighbors.
Meantime, from the actions and words
dropped 10y the two men, Mr. Gtinters sus-
picions became aroused. and he resolved to
get away from them If he could. In his at
tempt to escape, thetwo desperadoes sprang
toward him with their drawn pistols. They
caught him, and the children commenced
screaming, the young son returning about
this time without any of the neighbors. -
The ruffians let go their hold, but kept their
cooked pistols presented to Nh G.'s head.
Miller and MaXfield again laid violent hands
OF Mr.. Gunter and forced him to go with
them. AS they started off Miss Marianna
Gunter seized her fathers chopping axe,
determined to defend her parent to the last
extremity.
The two men carried her father up lame
skirted by some woods, to Il spot about
three hundred yards from the house, the
intrepid Mariana following with the axe
and watching every movement The ruf-
fans now halted and ordered Mr.. Gunter to
pull off his shirt This he refused to do,
and they commenced beating him soundly,
and kept it up until the old gentleman be-
came insensible The daughter Marianna
at this time came to the spot, axe in hand,
resolved to do or die. Picture, if you can,
a young girl of nineteen, by I" the moon
beams misty light" and in the public road,
unprotected save by her intrepid soul
and lofty courage, brandishing a rude
I nf c+o1xr
ruffians in defence of her father. She was
met by Miller, who ordered her to retire.
She replied by blow with the axe, that
cut the collar bone in two; blow followed
blow in quick succession, till the man wos
Frustrated to the ground, covered with
gashes. MaXfeld was at that instant In the
act of shooting her father. She sprang to-
wards him, snatched the pistol and threw it
aside With energy and desperation she
seized Maxfield by the hair, and with the
aid of her young brother, feiled him to the
earth. Again she applied the bloody axe,
and three frightful gashes left the blood
Oozing from where the skull had been split.
The third man with the horses came up,
but the father recovering, he escaped. MIR.
Gunter, his brave daughter, and little son
to the house.
The two men who had felt the edge of
Marianna's fatal axe lay in the road welter-
ing in their blood, till morning, when they
were carried to a house some distance from
the bloody rencontre. AT this house they
both died of their wounds. Miller linger-
ed in great agony for fourteen days, and
died Maxfeld died in four days af-
ter receiving his wounds. The old gen
tleman, his daughter and son Immediately
left for Kentucky, though they have since
been back to their home. The father and the
heroic daughter are now in Nashville, ex
cellent characters for integrity, honesty and
and the statement made in the
is corroborated by many persons
who are cognizant of the facts. History,
romance and poetry may be sought in vain
for loftier exhibition of courage, or for a
display of deeper parental devotion, than
was evinced by this young girl on that
terrible and trying April night.