Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-03

iarshly Of your"
II was sent into those counties
With my brigade to arrest deserters
Who had defed the military authori
lies, and as they were a bold and
determined set had to put on a bold
'front.' to make them understand that |
vas there to carry out my instructions
II was in the fall Of 1864, and Gen
srAl Echols, who commanded the de.
partment, ordered me to 20 into the
and arrest and bring back
to camp a band of deserters who had
taken up their habitation in the noun
tAins and taken charge Of the State
and county Offices, and absolutely
organized government OF their own.
Recruiting and conscript officers had
been sent after them, and had been
rendered such warm receptions that
they found it more agreeable 10 yacate
the country. The band was estimated
to be about 500 strong, and it was the
belief that they would resist the an
proach Of a body Of troops. and
begged General Echols to let my bri,
gade of, as such work-6ghting our
own peOple-Was demoralizing, and
would be disgusting to my men. But
he was immOvable, and said that every
means bad been tried to get thes G men
TO return to their regiments, and all
overtures had failed, and he had been
instructed to send a body Of troops
alter and capture them, and return
them in irons, If necessary.
We took up our line Of march to
ward the mountain businesses, and in
two OF three days struck the boundary
line Of the deserterters' dominions
We were proceeding along rough
mountain road, on the morning of the
third day out, wondering how we
would be received when we came upon
man standing picket in the road. As
we road up be commanded us to halt
and 60 back the way we came. He
said he was at the outpost of region
into which troops would not be per
mitted 10 penetrate. | made the men
disarm him and procure a halter and
begin to inaugurate a hanging. As
did not intend to do anything more
than scare him, had the men to
throw the rope over the limb of tree
and pull gently.
His tone had been very command,
ing when ordering US not to pass that
point, and | concluded that he was
one OF the leading spirits and would
require strong handling. The rope
manual had not proceeded far, how.
ever, before | saw that he was weak
ening, and | told the men TO let up
| then told him 10 20 to his friends
and tell them that | had been sent on
a special mission to persuade them. if
possible; TO return to their duty, and
ii they refused to obey | was pre-
pared to send them out Of the country;
that the military authorities would
put up with their menacing attitude
no longer. The command rested until
he had time to get three or four miles
away, aud then we followed. We were
met by no more authoritative com.
mands to halt, and soon reached a
town, in which we found only a few
old men and boys, besides the females
but our liberated carrier had given the
alarm and told the people that | was
going TO burn every house in that re.
glon or command obedience TO the
military authorities. The old men
came to me and begged me to desist:
but as l found that the plan of scar,
ing them ythreats was having a good
effect, determined to pursue that
policy. | told them that | had no
personal feelings in the matter at all;
| had tried to get excused from the
painful duty, but my superior officer
had commanded me and | could only
obey, and if they desired TO prevent
the adoption Of harsh measures they
had better get the deserters that held
sway TO give up and come 10 and be
returned to the army.
Il sent Col Dick Morgan out on a
scout through the mountains with in
structions to use his utmost endeavors
to convince the desertsrs that We in
tended to command obedience. His
force was fired upon and hot Skin.
mish followed 10 which Eve or six of
the attacking party were killed or
wounded. While engaged with them
he set FIRE to a deserted cabin on Inc
mountain side, and the beliperents
withdrew and spread the report that |
was burning houses. | established
my headquarters in the town and
awaited events. The old men went
cut and told the deserters that thew
had better obey aud save the property
o. the people from destruction, and
returned with the information that Il
l would not press them bar / all would
work we'll, and that while the men we
we're after were afraid to come in and
surrender 10 me they would 70 10 the
nearest post on the railroad and sub
init and return to their regiments
The next day 6ne looking fellow ems
tered my headquarters and called for
me. l asked him what could do for
him and he replied that he had come
IN to surrender and learn his fate (
expressed surprise at seeing him, as |
had been told that none Of the men
belonging to bis party would come 10
me as they were afraid | would hang
them. He said that he bad been told
that ! would take him out and shoot
him, but he concluded to give me 4
chance, and was there TO face the mu.
sic. There was about him an air ~
manly independence and a devon
please-expressiOn OF countenance that
attracted my attention, and | deter
mined to get better acquainted with
him. asked his name and ho s,id il
was Miles. said, Miles. You don't
look to me like a skulking deserter.
you have the bearing Of good soldier
and am surprised to see you engaged
IN this business Tell me what excuse
have you to offer for being found in
such company. As soon as he saw
that l was not bloodthirsty but mere,
y obeying orders and disposed to ACT
kindly, his demeanor changed and be
told me, with tears running down his
cheeks, why he was not with his regi
ment
Said he: Il served as faithfully as
any man in Lees army for three wears
and never asked for lurlougb Or
missed a battle until last spring. Nv
vile and mother wrote TO me when
spring opened and told me that while
they had managed to live through M
spring, they would absolutely starye A
! did not help them. They pleaded
with me to get furlough and COM
home and help them plant and raise a
crop and make some arrangements BY
which they could get food until The
crop matured. told NV Qantsin