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

Detroit Free Press.
It has been asserted that Dan Vernon
was the boldest and most cruel BUSH
whacker in Virginia during the war.
When Gen. Sheridan entered the Shen-
andoah Valley some of our foragers ran
sacked6h house occupied by Mrs. Ver-
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
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
thieves in this instance, and had the OIL
cial attempt to discover their identity
been successful they would have received
lust punishment. Acts that should for
ever curse the perpetrators were often
committed by foragers unknown to oftl.
cials in authority, and this was one OF
them, - -.--5-..r- .----r.
The woman left themurdered 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 more. Dan Vernon was per-
mitted to, leave the ranks to become q
DESTROYING angel. The children we're
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
ther, 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.
I do not know what Dan Vernon was
when he left his home to become Con-
federate soldier, but I do know that
when he returned to it as an avenger he
had no more mercy 10 his heart than
tiger. We heard from him at once. a
scouting party riding up the Valley
lost its captain and two men by success
siye shots from Henry rife, and the
man who fired on them escaped through
the woods. That night q vidette was
struck from his horse and his throat cut.
Next day teamster was killed. In one
weeks time Dan Vernon had killed thir-
teen men. He left no wounded behind
him. When he fred it was with deadly
aim, and the victim went down with
scarcely a cry from his lips.
A refugee who came in. gave US such
details. of Dan as We did not 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 acre- of
ground in the-Valley, he not only eluded
pursuits, but many Of the men pursuing
him never came back to US. If their
bodies were found, a 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 forsging and scouting parties dread
ed that one man more than whole reg
iment of Early's army. he would muir
der picket at one point during the
night, and next day bushwhack q troop
ten miles away, and he moved with the
stealth of tiger. No man ever gave an
alarm after knowing of his presence.
Well, what I set out to tell was how
we captured Dan one fine day. and how
singularly 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 new territory
was a log-house, supposedIto be deserted,
but when we came to investigate we dis
covered "Butternut" curled up and
asleep on rude bed in corner. He
had gone toisleep within the Confederate
lines, and when he awoke the 'blueeoats
were about and beyond him.
Who the prisoner was no one seemed
to care, but it was the accepted opinion
that he was no more than private SOL
der, and I was detailed to guard him
until he could be sent back to headquar-
ters. The man betrayed no alarm when
reused from sleep. As far as we could
see he was unarmed, and when the boys
joked him on his capture he coolly re-
piled:
"Well, it amt nothing to weep over,
Twas Citing purity tired OF this thing,
anyhow"
I had fair look at the mans face,
and I found something there to puzzle
and startle me. One day I had picked
up in the camp the picture OF man
dressed in citizens clothes. 1t seemed
to be that of 9 farmer, but the face was
one to be remembered. As sat in the
open door of the old house, carbine
across my knees, and looked into the face
of our prisoner, it cane to me all at
once that it was his face I had seen in
the picture. There was great change
in some particular, but yet confidently
inquired:
you have your picture taken by
-, of Lynchburg?"
eyes," he replied.
"Was the case of red morocco?"
"It was"
Then the picture I had found in camp
must have been stolen from his house
by foragers and afterwards thrown away.
The man looked at me as if ready to an
swer further questions, but had none to
put Just then. I was wondering at the
curious coincidence, when he sat up on
his bed, looked me square in the eye, and
said:
sI am Dan Vernon, the bushwhacker,
and I killed one of your men last night
before turning in herep
"Dan Vernon p 1 repeated after him.
eyes. It is good joke on your com.
rades, who took me for scrub soldier"
was so taken by surprise that l could
not utter word. He was as cool rs ice,
however, and he continued:
"It would give Sheridan great Joy to
string me up or see me shot, but my
time isn't come yet. shall be going