Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-23

and see what is being done there.
81 want twenty volunteers to follow me
to- night" said fine cavalry lieutenant,
land don't want man with me but is
willing to be buried over there, if neoes
sary to break up that nest of what they
call 'mutuals.'"
1t was but moment to secure the vol
unteers and have everything ready for the
raid.
| The waters of the Tailapoosa were burst
| ing over every low place along the banks,
and the rain was falling in torrents.
"Ee'll have to swim at tho ford" said
tbs lieutenant.
And so they did, snd this was why
Clinton had ventured to visit his home on
that fatal night. He rested at the little
home, feeling perfect security, and even
the dogs that gathered around the blaz-
| ing hearth, and were looking gladly upon
their master, when the sharp click of the
guns of the soldiers came simultaneously
with the command of the cavalry lieuten-
ant.
Surrender and open your doors or Wen
break them down."
The command was refused by the elder
daughter, who threw herself against the
door, and at the same time Clinton had
made himself ready to sell his life as
dearly as possible.
The door was broken down, and IN
Simultaneous with that the guns were pre-
scented at Clinton, who was standing
ready to defend himself against the frat
who should enter.
Surrender or diel" exclaimed the
lieutenant, as the men held their fingers
upon the triggers of their guns.
Die" said Clinton. "Ill never sur
render"
At this instant the daughters and
mother rushed between Clinton and his
pursuers, and the mother was badly
wounded and the two girls killed instant
ly.
AS his dear ones fell upon the floor
Clinton seemed TO lose all reason, and
rushing upon his pursuers in the dark he
fought as demon brought TO bay, and
defeated single handed the entire crowd
killing the lieutenant and three of his
men and wounding six more of them by
clubbing his gun.
The VOWS that Clinton made, kneeling
that night by his loved ones, he devoted
his life TO fulfill, and if there are more
than one of that company of men who
have not subsequently died with their
boots on it is not known, and it will be
well, if there are any, for them to keep
very quiet and be on the watch for an
iron gray, six foot three man, and keep
out of his way, for Lem Clinton still lives
and has never made peace nor laid his
gun in its rack from that day to this.
Let us follow Clinton from the graves
of his loved ones for he has joined the
bushwhackers-if that is the proper
name-and has made an appointment
TO meet with them at their meeting place.
Here he goes, over rugged mountain
path, until at last the trail is lost and he
scrambles from peak to peak till he stands
upon towering crag, whose foot is wash
ed by the turbid waters OF the Big ITALIA
poosa. He has beeL here before, for he
lashes his gun upon mis- shoulder and at
once approached huge grape vine that
has been fastened to a mountain oak and
spliced till it reaches the waters below,
and grasping it with firm hold he eases
himself over the precipice and down,
hand over hand for 200 feet he goes, till
batteau, and then seating himself at one
end he moves down the river till he comes
10 the confluence of the big and Little
Tallapoosa rivers and there he stops,
draws his batteau up in the bushes and
makes his way a few steps into the forest
where the bushwhackers are to hold their
meeting and formulate their plans.
Here is a spot that nature has fitted for
a hall of secrecy. Two large rivers form
ing a wall on one side and in front, with
a limltless forest back in the fork, with
towering orags and lofty trees, that lend
their shadows to dismal night that
makes darkness seem a thing of sub
stance.
Fifty men, made desperate by the
tends of the times, swear allegiance to
each other and elect Lem Clinton as their
captain.
'Now give me a chaw of 'bacco,n said
q heavy set, middle aged man, who held q
gun in his hand that was fully as long as
himself, and whose right name was Hig
ginbother, but who was familarly known
as "old Hick" 81 haint had nothing TO
say at the meeting, but | voted for our
and now me and old Betsy Bark
err las he called his gum are ready to
obey his orders and to follow him to
hi"
Il wish he'd order you to kill that owl
that's been er ho-ho-ing over there for
the last two hours" spoke up ice
Presly.
Further conversation was cut short by
the tall form of Lem Clinton arising
from the log upon which he had been
sitting, aud chunking the dim fire which
furnished a little light for the occasion,
he cleared his throat and said:
Boys, you all know re. Two not got
much TO say. You all understand what
we have agreed upon about the signals,
but will repeat TO You the urgent charge
already given, that no man shall leave
these diggiDgs so far but what he can see
a light when it is flashed from the ferry
peak unless he gets permission to do SO.
When you see light burning on yondsr
highest peak, 10 the right of the ferry
landing, you must drop everything ard
report here at this place as soon as you
can; and misd, be careful aud look out
for spies. The meeting is dismissed"
SO spoke the man who had been chosen |
by unanimous consent the leader of the |
ala vars out1 of the Taltannosa stfork -