The National tribune., 1886-10-21
IN CAVES AND MOUNTAINS.
The Supreme Test Of Loyalty in East Tennessee.

The supreme Test or Loyalty in ERSt Tennessee.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: East Tennes-
sec was proverbial for it, loyalty TO the Union
during the late war. Those sturdy mountain
GERS had many severe tests OF their loyalty, but
the supreme test came in the Summer and Fall
OF %. Previous TO this time many of them
had escaped 10 Kentucky and Joined the Union
armies. In the Summer of lS62 large num-
Der attempted to escape in body, aud marched
boldly in broad daylight 10 the foot Of Cumber-
land Mountain, where they encountered some
rebel cavalry, which, intercepting them, cap
tured the most of them. This greatly enraged
the rebel authorities, and at the same time sent
a thrill of terror through the hearts of the peo-
pie Of this whole mountain region. Following
close on this came a rigid enforcement of the
conscript act, and every loyalist was hunted
down. Every one of their rebel neighbors be-
came 4 spy TO watch the movements of these
men. All the information these spies could
obtain was speedily sent 10 rebel headquarters.
Every man over aud under a certain age was
ordered TO report at "conscript camps" in
Knoxville or they could report 10 companies
already i'm camp or others being organized,
which they were given the privilege o. doing
afterward.
At that time hundreds were dying in Knox
vile with measles, fevers, smallpox and other
diseases and il was next to death 10 enter the
camps. The mountain passes were all closely
The supreme moment had now come. They
were confronted with the choice-go into the
rebel army or into the mountains and caves.
Many buried themselves in the earth, while
others fed TO the mountains; others reported
at Knoxville and elsewhere, while hundreds
were arrested and carried away to Nicksburg,
Miss, and forced 10 fight against their wishes.
Armed forces were sent out in pursuit of these
fleeing men, and every hill and hollow, cave and
hole in the ground was thoroughly searched.
Bloodhounds were put upon their trail, and
many were found in their subterranean re-
treats. Many were murdered in their hiding
places or shot in their flight from these blood
thirsty men.
How 10 escape this reign Of terror engrossed
the attention of the wiser heads, and thousands
Of subterfuges were resorted to. Some started
out 10 make up companies ostensibly for the
rebel army, taking care TO enlist none but the
truly loyal" but really TO go at the first OPP
portunity over 10 the Union army. Hundreds
reported TO rebel Captains with the same pur-
pose. BY doing this they eluded the strict
discipline of camp life at Knoxville and its
pestilential influences, and at the same time
they could remain at home with their families
a little while longer and also keep vigilant
eye on the mountain passes and all means OF
escape.
Every able-bodied man between the ages OF
IS and 40 was now gone, and the old men were
forced 10 swear allegiance TO the Southern Con-
federacy. This was the seyerest test of the
whole war. To say that these men who were
carried away to conscript camps and forced into
the rebel army at Yicksburg and into rebel
companies were disloyal, or that there is even
a spot on their character, Is SANDER. Since
the war these men have proved the truest
friends Of the Government. Many Of her sons
have been honored with public trusts. This
County, though, has treated some of her boys
pretty roughly. Only six have been publicly
recognized since the war, and only this Summer
five were beaten by maiorities ranging from
200 TO 1000. They were all eminently quail.
fed for the positions they sought. They fought
at Nashville, franklin, Resaca, Atlanta and
other places and experienced the horrors Of
Andersonyille and other prisons. This County
is two-thirds Republican. 1t is said that Re
publics are sometimes ungrateful. - SIMON
NEIDHoFF, White Pine, Jefferson Co., Tenn.