The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-07-16

| they drove me from my home, my wife and
little ones, with no source of protection save
T, Providence, They pursued us to the. ,BlufF
Mountains Of Blount county, TENN, where for
the first time the traitor who was p,nrsu ding
the country, spreading dispay and devasts.
tion Ger our. once happy and prosperous land,
hanging the old deienceless, gray haired Union
men aud mill boys, driving women,and chill:
dren from their homes, burning their dwell
ings over their heads, leaving nothing to GOV.
er or protect them trofa the stormy blasts,
save the canopy Of Heaven, Wby2 Because
they would not tell where we we're. They
soon fOind QUITO their hearts content, We
met them upon the banks of Little River
There they felt the effects for the first time
IN that country. of the unerring rifle of the
patriots of The Switzerland mountains of E,
Tennessee, the effects of which sent several
Of their NJ r,ber to that awful gulf of fire and
birthstone, prepared for the father of seces-
| sion and his followers. sbouldered my ri
| fe and knApsack as private soldier. en-.
tered the Federal ranks served nine mouths
with no other motive In view, save the pres.
ervation of our Republican institutions spd
National Liberties. did not wait and seek
| ,or Office as some Of my opponents did, but
took up my gun with the full determination
| OF driving tyranny, oppression, treason, and
| OF bursting, the fetters OF slavery from our
land, and in restoring peace and harmony to
our country, that the Goddess Of Liberty
might one more time perch herself high up
on the dome Of the Capital and look down up
| on American Genius and free aud prosper
ous people, plodding the paths of knowledge
and virtue, warble forth those melodiops
notes, all s peace, all is peace, might once
more have The privilege of breathing the pure
mountain .'ir under Republican Govern
me IT. While napy traitors were biting the dust
| ofltheir mo her earth from the effects Of our
rifles, some of my oppouents had secluded
themselves in the mountains Of East Tennes-
see, Others were encouraging and aiding the
| rebellion n making iron and exh orting the
young men TO join the Confederate army and
assist in Dr. wing Lincoln's yandal hordes from
our soil, fought my way up from the ranks
6lling the different grades to the rank of
Colonel. Although Federal soldier of the
first Tennessee Regiment IN the feld and
after measuring arms with the traitor upon
many bloody battls-felds. Gaining many
victories over him, this did not quench my
ambition. When heard OF the suffering of
my patriotic friends, the loyal people of e.
Tennessee, felt it my duty to 20 to their re-
lief. Although well knew such an attempt
was dangerous, yet within my bosom ranked
that lroud fame of liberty which, burned
within the breasts of our forefathers which
enabled them in building up this great Re-
public. This buoyed me up to the arduous
task Of scaling the rugged and cloud capped
peaks of the old Cumberland and Tennessee
mountains which lifted their towering brows
between me and my oppressed friends, With
light and stsalthy foot-stcp made my way
through the enemys lines, over snowy noun
tans and ice-bound rivers to the rescue OF
my countrymen. ! succeeded IN plotting out
some 1000 fire tried loyalists, principally at
l1y own expense, who swelled the ranks of
ihe Federal army. We were often attacked
On our dangerous expeditions by the enemy
who had sscreted themselves along our track
less pathway, to kill or capture our number. |
Often the battle cry was heard and the clash
OF arms fe-echoed from mountain to noun |
tai1 amid the smoke and din of battle. But !
still that band of uncompromising Unionists,
led on by dauntless leader, with their squir-
rel rifles and home made bowie-knifes resist
ed n well drilled and disciplined foe, as often
defeating them, killing wounding and cap |
| turing many of their number. With blood
stained steps we triumphantly pressed for
ward to the Federal lines. After carefully |
calculating our number we were proud to find |
all were safe Then II was that my mind ran
back 10 the secluded spot in the mountain
gorge, the gloomy scene of oar departure.
Where the fathers, mothers and sisters bid !
MS a long, long farewell giving up heir sons,
and brothers MS a sacrifice upon the alter of
liberty in their countrys cause, Invoking the
blessings Of the God Of Battles npon US and
their country, with their hearts swelled with |
grief and the tenrs trickling down their aged
cheeks. My aged countrymen and fellow
comrades, appeal TO you 10 reflect for mo.
ment upon the dreary scenes Of the past,
when the National Ship was tossed upon the
iempe,tuous billows Of contendng armeS,--
when the thunder tones of the cannon re-
verberated In our hills and valties and our |
nation bled at every pore, her bosom was
nothing but q graveyard. Who was II | ask |
you that stood sentinels upep the watch tow
ers Of the nation In that dark and gloomy
hour? Was IL the Coppethead1 Was IL the
Office seekers Was II advocateo Of Univer-
sal Suffrage, weak kteed men who fninted in |
time OF battle and had to be feld on their
horses until they could be carried out2 No, |
II wns tGen who stood at their POSTS 10 time
of battle and steered our ehip cafe into the
! baroor. Men who spent MANY sleepess
nights went through many bloody Fcenos,
split their blosd that you and your children
might ebjoy that boon Of liberty which was
bequeatbcd to you BY your fathers--bonght
and senled with their blood, that you might |
enjoy these privileges around your hearth |
stUBes, US you once had done. Fellow clti- |
zens, dare any mun 10 point cut an instance
Of my hickvring 10 the hour of danger or
peril TO my country In my military or politi-
cal career. II Is useless for me to comment |
upon my phot record but It will suffice TO |
say hevs killed. and captured several thou
baud rebels. | have been u strong and zeal
Gus pdyScatc Of the Republican party ever
Bince the war. | stand upon the Republi-
can platform. endorse the course Of the
gallant Vim. b. Stokes, and the principles 10
set forth IN the Chicago Convention II 10
With you, my countrymen, to say who 's tho
most worthy OF your suffrage. know II 10
the desire of each and every citizen TO know
the political views Of every candidate subject
TO their suffrage.
My drst great principle ] would advocate
would be economical legislation without pre-
judice founded upon Justice. This Is the
only kind Of legislation that YOU, as q free
people, can enjoy your rights and privileges
In the prosperous light Of q Republican gov
ernfpent. Our State Anaira are somewhat |