St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-06-22
III. v. Redfeld, in Philadelphia Weekly Times. !
A Romance of the Rebellion.
AN OLD STORY RETOLD.

AN OLD STORY RETOLD.
On the morning of April 10, 1862, 1
the small town of Jasper, East Tennee-
see. | remember that it was a beauti-
full day, the fresh leaves on the NAPLES
about the court house stirred by the
soft April breezes, and the whole aspect
of nature at variance with the lively
scenes enacted around US. We were
encircled in the seat of war, the little
town having been taken and retaken by
the contending armies not less than
twenty-five times before the close of
hOstilities.
On the morning mentioned a small
collection of us, youths, old men, ne
groes, and cripples Everybody else had
gone to the wars), were surprised to
see a dozen well dressed men walk into
town from the Battle creek road. This
WAS unusual, for we were accustomed
to see enly armed men. They stopped
at Mr.. Grifith's store, bought some to-
bacco, talked ever the war news and
inquired the best road to Chattanooga.
They said they were Kentuckians fee
ing from the tyranny of Lincoln and
were to meet others making their way
through Pond Gap, the purpose being
to form an independent cavalry cOmpa-
ny, raid through Kentucky and kill all
the Yankees possible. They were per-
fectly furious in their denunciation of
the Yankees, who they alleged had
driven them from their homes and de-
stroyed their property. Nothing would
satisfy them now but to wade knee deep
in Yankee blood. We were then with
in the Confederate lines, else these men
would have got into lively argument
with the Union people of Jasper. But
as it was, the Union sentiment felt Sim
timidated," and the strangers were al
lowed to abuse the Yanks to their hearts
content, with none to reply. But l re-
member the old Union men standing
about scowled and bit their lips. 1t
was few days after the battle of Shi-
loh, the news of which was just reach
ing us. 1t was reported to be great
Southern victory. The strangers said
the news was too good nothing but the
annihilation of the whole Yankee army
would satisfy them. Twas then sixteen
years of age, but the whole scene is
photographed upon my mind as though
it happened yesterday. | did not be-
lieve their story, but suspiciOned that
they belonged to some sort of secret ex-
pedition, and would be heard of short
ly. | noticed that four of them wore
vests alike, and their clothes were all
new, as though they had recently had
an entire outfit. What confirmed my
belief was the fact that they called for
fine e-cut tobacco at Mr.. Griffith's store,
whereas Southern men almost invaria-
bly, use plug. quietly mentioned my
belief to UniOnist and we agreed that
these men would soon be heard from as
pioneers in some daring adventure.
We said nothing, but watched the pa
pers. They remained at Jasper half an
hour, resting, and then walked on tow
ard Chattanooga, about twenty -four
miles distant, at brisk pace. They
left with the parting word that if Yam
KEGS should ever penetrate as far as
Jasper, the men (what few were left),
women and children must rise and drive
them out. In just three weeks the
yankees" did come, and meanwhile
we heard more of these strangers and
learned the particulars of their daring
undertaking, project which for bold
ness and personal heroism stands out
with hardly parallel.
In the spring of 1862 the Confederates
had adopted an inner line of defence
and the railroad from Atlanta to Chat
tanooga, and Chattanooga to Hunts
vile was of immense Importance tC
them. 1t occurred to Mr.. j. j. Andrews
who as federal spy had travelled
through the South, that secret expe.
ditiOn might be formed and the bridge:
upon these roads destroyed. He first
proposed the undertaking to General
Buell., who did not approve it, regard
ing success under the circumstances {
physical impessibility. General o. M
Mitchell, however, thought it might bt
successful, and agreed to it, provided
Mr.. Andrews would get enough volun
teers to undertake the job. The mel
for this adventure were all selected
from the Ohio regiments in Sill's brig
ade. They procured "store clothes,
and agreed to meet in a thicket thre,
miles south of Shelbyville, Tennessee
dead hour of night, revealed the Who'll,
plan, which was in brief, first to sepa
rate into two parties and make their way
to Chattanooga on foot, one hundred
and three miles.
The main party with Andrews passed
through Jasper the morning of April 10
as above described. They crossed th,
mountain near University Place, ant
came down Battle creek, staying owe
night with James Clepper, nine mile
from Jasper. Mr.. Clepper was seces
sionist, and was so pleased with hi
visitors that he charged nothing fo
their entertainment and bade then
come again. Afterward, VIXEN TIA,
truth came out, Clepper could hardly
be made to believe that these men wer,
on bridge eburning expedition and en-
emies of his loved COnfederacy. They
penetrated through the mountains an(
all met in Chattanooga, twenty -thre,
in number. They took the night trail
for Atlanta, still telling the Pond Gal
story and breathing the most enthusi
astic devotion to the Confederacy. Th'
conductor noticed that none of then
had tickets, and his suspicious wer'
aroused. They paid fare in Confeder
ate money, and made sufficient excuse
for not having tickets. The road be
tween Chattanooga and Atlanta is ont
hundred and thirty eight miles long
and has about thirty bridges. The plal
was to steal train, dash up the road
cut the wires and burn the bridges, g