The National tribune., 1885-07-09
EASTERN KENTUCKY 1851.
The Conflict Between Loyal Men and Rebels.


To THE EDITOR: Seeing Comrade John j
Sewells communication in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE of June 19, and his reference to my
plotting him through so miles of rebeldom in
1861, reminds me afresh of some of our expert.
ences among the mountains of Eastern Ken.
lucky during the days of 1861. Kentucky
through her rebel leaders, tried to call q con-
vention for the purpose of passing the ordi-
nance of secession, but by vote of the people it
was defeated. Gov. MagOffin had previous to
this organized what was called the State Guards
and appointed s. 3. Buckner Inspector General
Their object was now to, in quiet way, ingraft
this State Guard into the Confederate army,
and a great many followed Buckner South. !
at that time held commission as First Lieu
tenant in company of the State Guards, and
all of our company. with few exceptions re-
fused to be led by Magoffin and Buckner.
War was now talked loudly, and squads of
rebels enlisted for the Confederate service were
passing through our section of country with
their banners flying. John C.. Breckenridge
had passed through our country to form camp
at PrestOnburg, on Big Sandy. He had sounded
the alarm of war as he passed, and the country
was at fever heat.
The Union men became equally excited and
we began to "beat up" for volunteers. /, in
company with Frank Little, started on re-
cruiting tour. We left our home on Blackwater,
crossing Red River and passing over the divide
between the Red and Kentucky Rivers In
passing down Holly Creek we met rather
dilapidated young man, and inquired of him
about the country, telling him we were OH the
hunt for volunteers for the Union army. He
told US he was going somewhere to enlist in
the Union army, and we told him to "fall -
as we were the men he was looking for. He
then told us it would not be safe to go further
toward Jackson, as the country was full of
rebels, and he was making his escape from
them.
We then turned in the direction of Hazel
Green, but had not gone far until we were told
that Hazel Green was full of rebels and it would
not be safe to go that way. Being well ac-
quainted with the country, we made a circuit
Gus route over the mountains round Hazel
Green, coming into the valley one mile west of
the town, but to our horror we found ourselves
in a squad of rebels camping on one of their
Southern friends farms. Fortunately for us we
passed quietly through them without attracting
any particular attention. as We thought. Night
was now coming on, and at a gap in the noun
tain told the boys we had better take a bride
path knew across the mountain and cross Red
River at old John Coxs mill, and thus save
time. We took this path and learned after
wards that this action saved our lives. for not
200 rods from this gap a squad of rebels lay in
ambush to kill u.s. This accounted for their
allowing us to pass through them unmolested.
What seemed SO strange about this whole
matter, soldier Il will not give his name) told
me at Nashville, Tenn, in 1862, that his brother
led the squad that evening that intended our
assassination. These young men were relatives
of my wife. One Of them was noble Union
boy, while the other was as mean rebel as
Kentucky produced, and she certainly pro-
duced some very mean ones. The young man
we enlisted was Comrade John j. Sewell, who
served faithfully as First Lieutenant of Co. G
Tn, 7 r1riu ta in M nf
Oath XIV. BRIsTow, Co. K, oath KY, Bald
win. Kan,