The National tribune., 1885-04-16

day, and the place appeared perfectly solitary,
resolved TO explore il. Nothing WAS found but
saw a house OH the east bank, which wc watched
until sundown, and seeing, only women about 1t.
resolved to- try for supper. We got good square
meal, but judge our dsnlay NJ finding good num-
Der OF ladies, aud, after, few men, also, at
the place. Il was anting" and they were to
daiu.e that evening. But we told new story. We
had been working at saw-n,iii in the mountains,
were now out of employment. and were going to
ChatG'uoogs to- look for job. They warned Us
that we would he arrested ut Chattanooga, and
would have to go TO jail or join the army. They
seemed to care nothing for the war. and to have
disposition to modest us. Measured them that we
would be all right in Chattanooga. were per-
S6HrtHy acquainted trith Gen. Lertibstier They
looked doubtful, and In parting they said. in a
rather insnuating manner, that they wished us
safe safe Journey TO Chattanooga. Probaby, they were
Uniouists. but dared not risk discovery. 1
tried, unsuccrssfuily, TO steal a guilt. which we
greatly needed. The night was overcast, the water
were in the way. We had to get out pull our boat
out of these distractions and into deeper water.
aud then, wet TO the skim 10 re-embark and pad
die on.
About midnight came TO what seemed TO he
Terry, where the river was deeper and wider than
IL had been before. Suddenly two shots were fired
at us. We laid down in the bottom of the boat,
ana, taking III our paddles, let heT float down
stream. while we did not move IL muscle. sup
pose 1t was picket Of the enemy who, after firing
once concluded that our boat was only IA floating
log. and took no further trouble. After getting,
we supposed out of danger. we agan seized the
paddles. aud sn hour of vigorous work brought us
To the rivers mouth. and cut on the broader Ten
nessee.
We were very reluctant to abandon the river
navigation, hut il nlaRifcstly dangerous to con-
,inuc il further, and useless well, unless were
prepared to take the risk of running by Chatta-
nooga. So we rowed TO the north side of the Ten
uessec, and turned trus;y craft adrift. while
started across the mountains. The first road we
crossed gave evidence Of the passage of large
body OF troops and thus warned us that We were
protsibiy III danger Of becoming eBtangied IN tho
scouts and detachments of Bragg's army, now
its retreat from, Kentucky Two boys we found by
n ar -!,nti fheU hQd q
" coon hunting-cOnfrmcd this report. Soon we
saw their camp-tires, and ascending a mountain.
where we supposed we would be safer than in the
valleys. waited for morning. When it came an
appalling sight met our view,-a large division of
Bragg's army. with its seemingly endless baggage
trains, well guarded by cavalry. was spread ont
beneath us. ALI day long watched their move
ments from our eyrie with breathless anxiety. We
resolved at night to the northeast instead Of
keeping due north had intended. Before
we had gone far. Hawkins whispered In my ear.
Dorsey, we mustn't crack any corn Tonight"
Rebel pickets and scouts were no doubt on every
side OF us The niountain-side was steep and COW
cred with loose stones. where travelling, even by
day. would have been difficult; at night. in the
presence of the enemy. II was teTriblel We came
TO Il picket. and were only saved from running
right into it Icy The sIlufling of horse We slipped
away a short distance from the road and lay down.
soon squad OF cavalry passed up the road aud we
crossed 1t right behind them anxious get out of
that dangerous neigbborhood while the sound of
their boots drowned any noise might make.
We moved very cautiously, again assembled the
mountain-sde. and near day break came to Il halt
and went Into canp-,hat is, hid in the brush
When the light came we could see the enemy no
more. but heard his wagons rumbliug of in the
distance. The immediate danger from that source
was over. Our stock OF provision, which was only
Il little parched corn. was almost exhausted; and
as the mountain seemed to be uninhabed, we
solved TO piure forward in the afternoon. We found
a negro. who. for "a wonder, could not would not
give any provisions or information. Late in the
night we rested. tying some bushes together to
make rude shelter. and both sleeping for nature
WAS almost overcome. Food and wafer were also
ing when our waning strength failed. and going
when strength, allowed.
Very impressive were some of the hours spen; In
watching the Cumberland Mountains. One of
us would sleep in perfect trust, while the other
watched and thought. The lofty peaks. the wide
landscape. and the rising and setting were
doubly solemn in the profound silence and amid
the mighty forests in that region can never for
get the beauty of nature associated with so much
of peril
But there were other hours of very prosaic toll
Once we had 10 force way on hands and knees
through n mass of briers quarter Of a mile wide.
Several times hunted perSimmons by moon
light-fiawkins shaking them off, while crawleG
on hands and knees }eeLing for them. Many adj
ventures similar to those already narrated were
encountered. Near ford of the Sequatcie River
we found quilted skirt hanging out. which
sppr, .I,riited tore in two and making a hole in
the middle of each piece for our heads found our
selves possessed of passable uudershiris. which
needed surely, az ii was now colder than The
ford was waded with Our clothes taken off and tied
our heads
Fur two days more we Travelled and rested alter
naieiy Ia the mouutaiiis hungry, wet with the rain
that now began To fall and us solitary if we were
the only inhabitants of the globe. Near shutdown
of the second day we heard some wood choppers
far below us We were so weak that we repeat
edly fell as we descended lie mountain side. Hun
r. was extreme that resolved TO try for food
from them, using the hest story we could frame
We told them we were Confederate soldiers who
had been left i'll u hospital from which we had run
away. aud were now trying to get to our regi-
uicnts; also. that without money aud
wanted food. They refused To- do anything for It's;
said that soldiers had already eaten them aeariy
out. This reception encouraged us. To test them
further talked of oar cause its Justice certainty
of SUCCESS etc they did not pretend TO agree with
and, finally, told us that we were iu what had
been called " Lincoln District" becau1e only two
votes east there for secession. THE
tIon led them To ii fla, avowal that they were Union
men, We then cautiously revealed the fac, that
we were soldiers on the same side. and the hospi
tality which had been denied before was now read
lily extended.
This proved TO be station on the "UDder-
ground Railroad which had heen organized
since the opening OF the war for the escape of
Union men and prisoners 10 the Union lines in
Kentucky. After the lugitives had completely
proved their character, they were put under
the conduct of a local celebrity, known us " Red
Fox from his skill in elnding the enemy. He
conducted them for some distance. and gave
tuein dir C ions to the next point. and from
this they were directed to another. Thus they
were forwarded swiftly and in comparative
safety. Dorsey dwells with great gustn upon
the good food aud generous treatment received
from these loyal mouutaineers, who had no
hope of reward. hut were glad to do anything
for their loved and mperiled country. His
expressions Of gratitude are also frequent aud
hearty. One man gave them the only dollar
he had. and would not hear of refusal.
Some very narrow escapes were run even after
they were thus among friends. hat they finally
reached Somerset. Ky. AT first they were re-
ceivcd with suspicion by the Union Off
cials. but. as as their true character was
established. they enjoyed the enthusiastic well
come accorded to carh one of the railroad
party who returned from 1.-The valley of the
shadow OF death"
To be confinaed1