Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-05

pleasant information. l had heard Tia
Tinker Dawes band were a party of blOOu-
thirsty men, an independent company Of
bushWhackers, carrying the black tlsg and a
''tree commission as he thinker Dave)
said, ''tO do as he pleased" Every person
who was so unfortunate as 10 fall into their
possession was put to death. A distin-
guished General of the Federal army re-
marked to me once that thinker Dawes
party are a set Of thieves and bushwhack-
ers, disgrace to our army, sir, and all de-
serve hanging. There were about twelve
Of them, and in their midst, dragged along
on foot, was poor young Walker, and ali
Cursing and kicking him with gustO, he was
made TO kneel, and one of the Iuffians walk
ing up 10 him and presenting his pistol,
said:
Here's pass, Johnny Reb, to see your
great-grand-mOther.
and he fired the pistol, blew his brains out,
and the other scOuudrels followed suit. L
was so oterrifed at this atrOciOus murder that
for a moment 1 had forgotten to watch my
prisoner, who struck my horse Cor his) a
blow, which sent him flying from me. He
then ran out and gave the alarm. The
bushwhackers discovering me, fired at me.
, Having one pistol left, emptied six loads
' from my navy" but was surrounded and
taben prisoner. LOOking at my captOrs, 1
could plainly see that no mercy could be
expected from them. They were a hard
looking set. The leader, whom they called
Capt. Tinker Dave, was anything but pre-
possessing in his appearance, in a captains
blue coat, gray jeans pants, slOuched hat,
and rouoh shOd, with pistols ia his belt.
Addressing me in a rough voice and rough
language, evidently assumed, he said
'.Well, We'UuS has cot yOd'Uus ar last.
has we! and wen lose yer this time. Wher
nob0,Iy1 neYer ind yer, damn yer soul
but wait We bit boys, lge'H S,reGr him IN
first ind then send hiS name 20 Col. Stokes
os recruit in the mean time hand out
Yer valerbels, ani let's see the color OF your
money, before We send yCu in sarch Of YOUR
1ustrOus pr,tscizzOgs. come here you son
Of
Poor Walker was lying near by, and
had to step across his dead body in or,er
to obey the command Of Tinker Dave. /
was ready for anything desperate, for knew
it was death to me il thai company.
Just then the accidental discharge Of
one Of his mems guns caused a mOmenta-
ry excitement, and he turned, thinking
there was an attack from the enemy. TAX
ing advantage Of the momentary alarm,
made a spring, trippad the old Tinker to
the ground, jumped on a horse and made
my way towards the rayine 1 had entered,
when half d dozen more blue coats filed in,
bullets commenced flying about my ears, as
! quickly turned and made my way up the
mountain path. Finding that it was too
steep for my horse i abandoned him, and
having a good pair of legs, and four humid
red yards the start pushed swiftly up the
mountain. An old man whom | acciGently
met said .'folier the path and so straight
over the mountain, its five miles 70
tue river, git for your life, or
tbeyl head YOU off" And | did "git''
Some of Tinker Dawes men on fOot
followed about quarter of mile in Tea.,
but | distanced them. The others had
mounted their horses, and made their way
through the rayine towards the turnpike
for the purpose Of heading me off at the
river, sixteen miles distant. l had five
miles to 90, on foot; my life was at stake,
and that spurTed me on.
It was a hot day; the hottest in my ex-
perience. l had thrown off my citizens
and had on light gray suit. But, never
theless, made good time over hills and
dales In a straight line for the river. 1t
A
last | mounted the top of steep bill, and,
thank God, saw the river, about one hun
dred wards from me. 1t was beacon Of
hope TO my weary soul! But, bark. L
look 10 my right, and away down
the turnpike l see a cloud Of
dust and hear the tramping Of horses.
it is my pursuers. They fire. l run
still faster; nearer and nearer they come,
hear them hallOo, shots are fired but too far
off to do damage. AT last get to the river
bank: it is on a cliff at least thirty feet to
the water. The enemy in my rear only
hundred yards shrek and shout louder than
ever, firing at me. | did not stop 10 think;
over ] jumped with all my clothes on into
the cool waters Of the Cumberland. 1 am
not a good swimmer, but l swan that half
a mile across with ease. When got nearly
over | heard the shouts of men and tramp
ling of horses, then the firing
of guns and the whiZzing Of bul-
lets as they skipped on the water all
around all. At last l got to the south bank,
fell down amidst confusion Of rocks,
tainted and knew no more, until | awoke
in the hands Of my comrades, almost dead
from fright and exhaustion. It was a race
for life, and won it. Z delivered my news
to Gen. Morgan. | have never gotten over
that fright, and the terrible situation l was
in. When l heard Of Col. Stokes arrSsa,
those words Of Tinker Dave sprang, after
lorr larse Of years into my miJG AGAIN:
:. Wen Sseprr him IN fl and 'ten @H2 hiS
nrlue 10 God. Stokes rs q rerfvh -
Then. { was ignorant OF ,vhat be 7assDt;
n0iC know that if they had kept and killed
me. Hel ,r0uld hare dTdrR back pay GpG
botafy for me, and Stokes get the bigger
pile. May they rest in - prison
j. W,