The National tribune., 1886-06-10
[ooPYRIGHr 1851
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CAPTURE.


CHAPTER XVI
THE CAPTURE.
At the bottom Of the hill ON which We stood
a little valley opened out, and in this was
struggling group Of rudely-built houses, charac-
teristic Of town " in the Kentucky noun
tains. There was an unpainted frame build
ing-the store,"-a which the mountaineers
traded ginseng, furs, skins. tobacco, and scanty
loads of grain for what they needed that
they could not make or raise. Opposite was
the log blacksmith shop, with the wagon
makers adjoining aud by the side Of the
brawling little creek was grist and sawmill,
only active during the wetter months of the
year. Farther away arose tall shed, which
covered tread mill. by which dumb patient
horses worked machinery that carded the wool
of the mountain sheep into rolls" suitable for
| spinning These, the Imprinted, lonely little
Westinghouse with the brier-grown grave
yard in the background, and the dwellings Of
those who "traded" in the store or lsbored in
the shops and mills, formed the town."
The inhabitants were of that sturdy, simple
hearted class whose ipfexible loyalty kept
Kentucky from seeding, who were bitterly
hated by the "aristocrats" Of the Blue Grass
country and by the "po' white trash" who
were the aristOcrats'" servile henchmen.
There is the internal nest of Lincolnites,"
said the Kunnel. as he looked down upon the
town from the hilltop.
Every cuss of 'em that's able e tote gun
3 in the Linkhorn army" said Corporal
\ Blukes, who was acting As the kunnels Or
derly. we orter { limb skin and jayhawk
/ the hull roost o. the traitors. I'd like L burn
up every stick o. the town."
No. Blukes. we mustn't do that" responded
the Kunnel; bat I'll tell you what we will
do Well stop heah TO rest our hoses aud
! ouahselves and get something 10 eat You ride
1 a .Ilt
| folks TO work getting us the best meal O. viet-
uals they can provide, and that we must have
| all that Ouah hoses can eat Go ahead as fast
/ 8 yo' hose III carry yo', TO I'm powerful hun
CRY y;-and BluEes, be sho' and find m0uthful
/ o good whisky sOmewheh. / never needed n
braceh so much in all my life s l do this heah
| blessed minute"
Brace up boys" shouted the Kunnel to
those who were struggling after him; heah
we are at Winding Blades. Well get break
fast heah, feed our beasts and rest awhile"
a series of jeTky yells rose along the dis
jointed line. and the men addressed acted as il
possibly life might have some further induce
ments for them. Even the stff-limbed horses
understood aud raised their dropping ears TO a
more animated angle.
Blukes pushed on ahead as fast as his worn
out horse could be spurred into going.
Noone was 10 be seen in the place but women,
children, and very old men. Ii was as Blukes
had stated-all the males able to bear arms
were in the Union camps. The inhabitants
stood in the doors and looked at the advancing
crowd with eyes full of contempt and hate.
Blukes rode up in front of the best-looking
house in the place.
"Howdy, am" he addressed to woman OF
about 80, who seemed 20 be the principal OF the
group that filed the doorway. As the spokes-
man Of a band Of fighting men he intended to
be authoritative but cordial.
The xVoman Looked af him ecornfnIIy Raap
a-gittin' licked over yonder at SOurInash, hev
ye?" she answered, while fierce Joy shone in
the faces OF her companions.
"Who tole We sich lie?" asked Blukes
90, hit haint no lie, nuther. Hits the Cos
pei truth. man what seed hit all, an seed
the stacks o dead and wounded went through
the town not half an hour ago. Ye thot I'D
ketch them blue coats asleep, but they wuz too
wide awake for We. an they Jest natchelly wal
lOped We stone blind. Y'd better stick TO rob-
bin hen -roosts an smoke houses, an let fight
in alone. Y're not kalkerlated for hit"
The women who stood around the store
keepers wife laughed shrilly at the home
thrusts of their spokeswoman.
"Stop yer slack, said Blukes savagely. 81
won't hev' nary nuther word of hit. Listen
TO the orders: The boys comm down the hill
thar are hongriern passel o wolves, an they
must hey something 70 eat right away r ther'll
be trouble, an lots OF it, The Kunnel orders
/
cooking Yittels, an the men-fOlks git lots o. feed
for our critters III ye don't mind him well
burn every house in this hyar Niger stealth
hole"
"Ye kin burn my house T. the ground afor,
I'll so much ez bake a,single -dodger 10
ye," said the storekeepers wife. defiantly. al
don't want no house eff I've got TO arm hit by
bein' Niger to hen-rooSt guerrilla"
Murmurs OF applause arose from her com
panions.
We'll, we done got yer orders. an We know
what it'll cost ye ef We don't mind EN-" shout
ed Blukes passing on to the other houses
! where his experiences were similar TO those a
the storekcepers.
Presently the Knpuel came riding up to tn,
storekeeper's house. pleasantly expecting a
every step to have his pOstrils salnted with tht
savory incense Of boiling coffee and frying meat
No such fragrance welcomed him.
: Directing the Sergeants 10 apportion the mel
10 the different houses, and informing then
that he had selected this for Headquarters, hi
dismounted slowly and clumsily for his we
, garments seemed made Of sheet-lead, and ever,
5 muscle in his legs was stiff and aching. Ill
: advanced to the door but the women made NJ
move To admit him. He bade them good-morn
! ing; they only stared at him in stony silence
The prospect was lot encouraging, but th
Kunnel said courteOusIy:
81 hope, ladies, that breakfasts neah ready
j assho' yo'. j neveh quite so hungry as
J am at this blessed minute
l AN l kin assho' We that yell be might,
1 sight hongrier afore ye git any breakfast hyar
/ ef We wait for me c git hit for ye," answere,
the storekeeper's wife. decisiyely. % ain
Q overly fond o brilin' over the lire cooking 70