The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-15
WAS IT MAGNETISM.
Detroit Free Press.


When Gen. Sheridan entered the Shen.
andoah Valley some of our foragcrs ran
sacked the house occupied by Mrs. Yer
non, others stole all the poultry and live
stock, and when the third set came along
there was tragedy. Dan was in the
Confederate ranks up the Valley, and his
wife and four children were left in bad
situation. They had no food in the
house when hungry foragers demanded q
meal, and not live thing had been left
on the farm. The woman, despairing
and desperate, made fierce personal at.
tack on the men who had entered her
house, and in the struggle gun was dis
charged and the heavy ounce ball killed
two of her children as they clung to her
skirts. The foragers were no better than
thiovCs in this instance, and had tho Off
cial attempt to discover their identity
been successful they would have received
just punishment. Acts that should for
over curse the perpetrators were often
committed by foragers unknown to Off
cials in authority, and this was one Of
them.
The woman left the murdered children
on the floor and fled with the others up
tho valley, and her footsteps had scarcely
grown cold when the avenger Of her
wrongs appeared and demanded blood for
blood-and moro. Dan Vernon was per-
mitted TO leave the ranks to become O
destroying angel. The children were
buried under cherry tree in the yard
by our men, but no hand wiped up the
dark and terrible blood stains On the
farmhouse floor. The husband and ia
tker, painting for vengeance, crept into
the deserted house three nights after the
buried, and dipping his fingers into the
undried blood, he swore to rest not, but
TO kill and destroy as long as life was
left him.
do not know what Dan Vernon was
when he left his home to become a Con-
federate soldier, but do know that
when he returned to it as en- avenger he
had no more mercy in his heart than q
tiger. We heard from him at once. A
scouting party riding up the Valley
lost its captain and two men by success
sive shots from Henry rifle, and the
man who fred on them escaped through
the woods. That night vidette was
struck from his horse and his throat cut.
Next day teamster was killed. In one
weeks time Dan Vernon had killed th;r-
teen men. He left no wounded behind
him. When he fred it was with deadly
aim, and the victim went down with
scarcely cry from his lips.
a refugee who cams in. gave us such
details of Dan as we did cot know, and
when it was known that he was BUSH
whacking our advance scouts were de-
tailed TO hunt him down. They pursued
him in vain, Knowing every aero of
ground in the Valley, he not only eluded
pursuit, but many of the men pursuing
him never came back to ue. If their
bodies were found, bullet hole was
proof that Dan Vernon had added an.
other victim to his list. In four weeks
time he had scored thirty-four victims,
and foraging and scouting parties dread
ed that one man moro than whole reg
iment of Early's army. He would MUIR
der picket at one point during the
night, and next day bushwhack troop
stealth of tiger. No man ever gavo an
alarm after knowing of his presence.
Well, what set out to tell WIS how
we captured Dan one fine day, ald how
singulaTlys he escaped. Parties were
continually hunting him without SUCCESS,
while our party one day found him with
out searching. About fifty of us were
thrown forward one day from the picket
post to new position just deserted by the
enemy. Included in this naw territory
was Lighthouse, supposedItc be deserted,
but when We came to investigate we dis
covered "Butternut" curled up and
asleep on rude bed in a corner. He
bad gone TO sleep within the Confederate
linea, and when he aSyoke the bluecoats
were about and beyond him.
Who the prisoner was no one seemed
to care, bati. was tho accepted opinion
that hey was no more than private col
dier, and was detailed to guard him
until he could be sent back to headquar.
terS. The man betrayed no alarm when
sea he was nnarmed, and when the boys
joked him on his capture he coolly re-
piled: -
"Well, it ain't nothing to weep over,
Twas Citing purity tired of this thing,
anyhow"
/ had fair look at the mans face,
and ] found something there to puzzle
and startle me. One day had picked
mp In the camp the picture of man
dressed in citizens clothes. 1t seemed
to be that of $ farmer, but the face was
one 70 be remembered. AS I sat In the
open door of the old house, carbine
across my knees, and looked into the face
of our prisoner, 1t camc to me all ut
oncs that it was his face had seen in
the picture. There was O great change
in some particular, but yet confidently
inquired:
sYou have your picture taken by
-, of fLyachbnrg?"
eyes," he replied.
"Was the case Of red morocco ?''
1t was.''
Then the picture I had found in camp
must have been stolen from his house
by foTagers and afterwB ards thrown away.
The man looked at me as if ready to an
swer further questions, but I had mono to
put just then. i was wondering at the
curious coincidence, when he sat up on
his bed, locked me square in the eye, and
said:
81 am Dan Vernon, the bushwhackes,
and killed one of your men last night
before turning Ia herep'
Dan Vernon !" / repeated after him.
eyes. It Is q good joke on your COM
rades, who took me for scrub soldier.n
i was 80 taken BY surprise that / could
not utter q word. BE waA as cool rs ice,
however, and he continued:
"Is would give Sheyidan great Joy to
string me up or see me shot, but my
time isn't come set / shall be ffnipe
pretty soon T., ]
Nov, tnas was pretty cool talk, consid-
erin8 thass fsYas there to guard him and
had ny carbine ready for O shot, with fif-
) y comrades witliin hail, bat he won't
on: