The National tribune., 1883-05-10

II. W ACI1lNO ONs LIZ Os, II
he thought, to be interviewed by scores of
people. Their curiosity to see Union
soldier was intense, for I'VE were the first
that had ever condesceifded to pay their
valley visit. We took for our reception
room the old thrashing. floor in the barn,
built in the style of a hundred years ago, with
stalls, granaries and cribsnall around it. The
thrashing-fail hung sn the wall and the hom-
iny-mortar and pestae stood in corner
implements of ancient industry. We had
hardly returned from our breakfast before
the people began to flock in--young and old,
male and female-an anxious to see live
Yankee, and especially eFe who wore the blue
and had managed to outwit his enemies. Hay-
ing heard of our destitute condition, the people
brought with them such old garments as they
could spare and which they thought we would
need most. Twas beginning to consider myself
well stocked, except as respects shoes, but IN
that line could not find any one who was my
peer except old Uncle Josh, and he, poor fel-
low, had no boots to give me.
Could we have carried away all the food that
was brought us, we would have had enough for
a six months voyage! Every family came
laden with baskets well filled with eatables,
such as such hungry men knew well how to
dispose of-eorn- n-cake, pumpkin pies, In half
moons, and appie,jack. By noon our visitors
had become so numerous that they insisted On
spreading big dinner on the barn-Hoor and
all eating together What grand old picnic
that was! And what a company! Most OF
those present had never been twenty miles
away from the place of their birth in their
lives; had never seen a chignon, or Greclan
bend, worn hoops, or even heard OF pull
backs" Fifty souls or more sat around that
jovial board that day. There was the aged pa
triot, whose hairs were frosted with the SHOWS
of many winters, but within whose heart pa
triotism burned that time could not cool. There
was the venerable mother, whose last son had
been kidnapped, like negro from Africa, and
forced into the rebel ranks. And there were
the young, who were taking their first lessons
IN fidelity to their country. We ate and drank
and the festive bottle went round. Thompson,
indeed, imbibed so freely and got so jolly that
Stookey and myself had to take him aside and
give him square talking to.
THE UNION LEAGUE.
The generosity of this people seemed to know
no bounds. One man gave us Sl5 in Confed-
crate legal tender remarking that if good luck
ever failed us, the money would buy us meal
apiece. As we contemplated leaving that night,
our haversacks were filled up to oyerfiowing.
l also recruited my writing material. Here
tofore | had been trying to keep some notes
of our travel, with roads, towns, names and
distances; and had been using small PEN
Gil about an inch long, keeping my MEM
oranda on anything | could get hold
| of-brown paper generally. One man gave
me pencil and another three sheets of old
style letter paper. And so the day passed.
Every few minutes fresh visitors would come
in. ] am certain that we must have received
| fully 200 persons, some of whom lived at quite
distance. In fact we got alarmed, lest our
notoriety should lead to serious consequences
to ourselves. The Confederate authorities
might learn of our presence and swoop down
upon us unawares and we waited anxiously
| for the shades of night to descend again, SO
! that we might resume our journey. But l am
| going too fast. As the readers of THE TRIBUNE
| doubtless know, the loyal men in the rebel
| States shortly after the commencement of the
war, formed secret organization, in which
| was united every element that was opposed to
| the Confederate government 1t was called
- Union League, and was entirely different
and distinct from the Union Leagues organized
| in the North at ther same time. 1t was pro-
posed that day by some of the league members
present to initiate us. if we were willing, into
their order. They said it would be of great
service to us during our journey to the lines
| for we thereby could recognize friends wher.
! ever we met them, and every member of the
order whom we might cali upon TO aid US would
be bound to do all in his power for us. We
heartily assented, and there, under a wide
4
| about dozen true and tried men of their order
proceeded to obligate us with the VOWS of the
| society, the violation of which was punishable
| with death. We were then fully instructed il
signs, grips, signals and passwords until VT
felt ourselves masters of its workings complete
I Their work was all unwritten, and, as i pre-
| sumo their organization was simply a local ont
| for the time and the occasion, there can be nj
harm at this late day in stating that one of thei
signs of recognition was string, composed O
| three threads-one white, one blue and on,
red-twisted and tied, about three inches long
in the button-hole of any garment on the lef
breast. They duly supplied us with this nee
essary string of recognition, and we felt as j
we had gained new and ever-present friend
Indeed as they had foreseen, we found thi
organization of great service to us before we go
through to the Ohio River though it failed
after we had crossed that stream to have an,
talismanic charms. Three rebel doserters hat
concluded to start that evening with u
to the Union lines-the two Surfaces an,
another gentleman, whose name l hav
forgotten. As they were familiar wit
the country, we knew they would b
very good guides. Towards evening ver
active preparations were made for our depart
ure. Every one with whom we talked had
little piece of advice to give u.s. And doubtles
there was much wisdom in the counsels @
so many. The sun was sinking behind Graf
Mountain when we slung our well-flled haver
sacks gathered up our walking-sticks, babe th
noble and generous people of Craig Valle
good bye turned our faces westward and, wit
about half dozen escorts for short distance
resumed our weary march for the goal of free
dom.
To be continued