The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-05-27

the story Of North Carolina mountain
loyalty. proving to % that freedom
still had brave defenders among the
hardy forest-men Of the "Old North
State" When the sun made its
appearance We were some miles BE-
yond Dallas, our host-a member Of
the Legislature-having piloted -
around the town, and after having
directed us to other Unionists. he die.
appeared in the deep shadows Of the
woods.
From that time forward Ne exper-
fenced little trouble in finding Union
mes. They were everywhere. Soon
after crossing the Cattawba River.
near Lovelady Ford-a very difficult
and dangerous undertaking-we met
many deserters from the Confederate
armies; men who. impressed or
driven into she service. had escaped.
and now de6ed the whole power Of the
rebellion. These brave men welcomed
Us with open arms. for there was Q
sort of kinship between us which
made Us at once friends and brothers.
Ia Caldwell County particularly We
became associated with hundreds Of
this class of persons. and had from
scores of lips the story of their daily
life-a life full Of perils, aud sublime
beroism. These men were associted
With another class called "lyers-out. |"
who lived in caves and other retreats
ON the mountains, and who had resisted
the conscription through more than
two years Of vicis-itude and suffering.
In Ill my wauderings ] never saw .
more determined act If men. Ming
ling among them, | thought OF the
brave defenders Of the Tyrol. Of the
hardy Waldeness, fighting and dying
among the hills for dear liberty's
sake. Many Of these 'lyers-o
we're before the war in comfortable
circumstances. owning pleasant and
profitable farms, bat all were reduced
to want. many being penniless when
the war ended. Many of these men,
compelled to abandon everything
because of their devotion to the Gov.
eminent and Union. had not for years
crossed their own door stills, although
almost daily they had seen their
homes from their hiding places in the
forests and on the mountains. While
thew were thus exiled in enforced
idleness, their brave, true-hearted
wives performed every drudgery.
working their little farm. and often ii
night, ut the hazard of their lives,
carried food to the refugees. l could
I'll q volume were I to repeat the
tales of suffering and the narrative,
of guerrilla outrages Practiced on
defenseless women and children. Blu,
"the cruel war is over" and by-gone'
must he by-gones.
SEEKING THE UNION LINES.
We had hut q little difficulty in
persuading a hundred and more o.
these loyal North Carolinians to &C
company US to the Union lines, whers
we promised to use our influence in
procuring them arms, clothing, g.,
and with but little hesitation they
babe their wives and little ones fare
we'll and started. Their wives would
pray for them, they said, and If they
would only procure arms and ammuni
ton, then they would be able to pro
tect their homes and put an end
forever tn the atrocities on thu
mountains. How their weather
beaten faces glowed under the 10
spiration of that thought! How tht
little hands Of thin-faced childrer
chung around the necks of these brav.
mountaineers in the solemn parting
and how anxious were their brsv,
wives that We might be successful II
obtaining the coveted supplies! A
description of our journey across tn
Blue Ridge chain and the Grea
Smoky Mountains, on which VI
fought battle with Harris guerrilla
during terrible snow-storm, woult
gil volume. Without covering fol
nv head and feet, with the remnant
of a thread.bare red flannel shirt
which I had worn for six months
and al old tattered blouse. my condi
ton was wretched in the extreme
At times felt l must perish, 50 cut
ting vas the blast of winter and o
sharp the air at those great attitudes
On those dreary and inhospitabl
wastes our party suffered for day
more than tongue can tell or pei
describe. Occasionally Major E. A
Davis, Third North Carolina Mounte,
Infantry, whom We fell 10 with
succeeded in shooting q bear or vii,
hog. which would be divided in a
equitable manner, but as q genera
thing most of US were in q famishin,
condition.
i MANY of the mountains over which
We wearily pursued out difficult va,
rose to a height of between Eve an,
seven thousand feet, and, seen from
q distance, they seemed bathed in ,
mellow wave. Oftentimes We looked
down upon the tops of mighty forests
and despite our peculiar position
never tired Of their grandeur. Once, Of
the Smoky Mountain Range, l turned
and looking Carolinaward. l saw ou
old friends of the Blue Ridge ant
Allegheny Range scattered for mile
in friendly groups among the darl
and forbiddine-looking forests, befor'
US and behind US deep raviness. and
beyond. all uncovered. peaks which
the sky seemed tenderly to bend ovel
and kiss. From Crab Orchard. Eas
Tennessee. We moved toward Bull
Gap. expecting to find our forces IL
possession Of that important point
but when descending Big Butt Noun
tain. which overlooked the beautiful
Valley of the Cumberland. ve ver(