The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-02

I would have saddled up right away, but
the old farmer insisted on feeding, while we
hunted around for a saddle and other equip
ments. s bag was filed with oats, haveT-
sack stated with one DAYS rations for me,
and ] was ready 10 charge on the Yankees
Indeed. the old nag was chUked of on her
feed. so eager WAS ] 10 get away. ] m0uDted
al the stable door found the saddle stiTrups
a mile too long for my short legs, and while
the old fellow adjusted them he laughingly
said:
Why, you 60 on just like a boy"
was boy and was going home.
! rode round to the front dismounted
gaily and reported to the Captain that ]
was ready. Then began another trouble. /
received more orders and directions
il the next half hour than my wild head
could contain, which resulted in my going
Of at last without Xplicit directions as to the
route ] was 70 tske.
The Captain gave me sozle letters for
Lieut. ElktOn. who was in command Of
our detachment at the Gap, which be said |
vas to deliver personally. o. course / as
senfed lcbeerluily 10 aIl the instructions, but
when ! bad gotten OF some time and had
cooled down a little and had time to reflect.
1 concluded that ] had better not be in any
AAAlt 70 AE-lhEE ALc lElLc8-- az Acttsts W 1l4l
commanding officer
As ] look back over this mountain path IS it
appeared - me then and remains IN my men,
ory to-day. ] wonder how ] ever got through
With the Journey alone 50 easily and safely.
To be strictly candid i do not know now how
I did get there. Ny memory is altogether
blurred; ! can see nothing bat great mountains
ca each side II
Az AWFULLE ROCKY ROAD,
that seemed 10 me 70 have been simply the
dried-0Bt beds Of streams that had refused 10
run 20 supply the rebels with water. ON every
side Of me as ] Travelled along these mountain
r0ads was tHe dense growth Of interminable
laurel thicsefs.
After ] had gotten some distance away, and
was driving abG3d ~ fast Is the old horse
would gate over tic rocky road, the houses
and fasfHz began 10 grow smaller and less fre-
CUept eacs mile. Livery BOW and then we
Woad llCuge into q clearing and find some
where ana haid Of stumps a HOuse-oue Of the
sEsaI larTa-aouses OF which the roofs extend
down mld cat over tile front far enough to
make a coVerug FOR q porch. On this porch
one could almost always see some pumpkins
rolled in corner, saddle would he astride oi
the rough porch railing q leg dried provisions
hung In ize I9-- Ia lers overhead. Oae could
always expect q za ile lady ~ tl-e house stand
ing in the front deer. aad she WAS generally
broad enough 10 1l the narrow space 50 that
only tHo heads would have room 10 peep out
beside her. ife young chickens under the old
hen wings. I hunted the well az almost every
house VIC cdEne 10, when 1 took great cooling
drinks Of water from Eourd dippers
These were the houses Of the East Tennes
see moutaiueers. TO describe one viii answer
t0r al. AZ tie time 81 ny travel among then
most Of the men felix's were away fFou
home, either hiding among the rocks and gorge
o. the mountains from their prosecutors. oi
49, u
they had Joined the Union army hoping Ee0i
70 return 10 their homes as soldiers Of the Gov
erDmcnt There were six Of these rclgge,
Tennessee regiments as early as I56l-'62 IN thi
part Of The State, composed entirely Of genuine
boDa-fde Jni0uisi refugees. ] would like {,
record comparison here with the refugee
from Maryland in tie Confederate army al thi
time. both IS % number and character.
/ bad left headquarters 50 late 10 the da-
that il was Too much for me 10 make the Ca
the same nfgAt with that horse over these roads
When ! started out, though I intended TO d
this; bat toward evening, after several hour
Of rough riding i began 20 find the road get
ting 50 bind aud the houses becoming s.
scarce thai I feared getting lost IN the mount
aims il night should oyeriake me beyond th
settlement.
Sosseariy 10 the evening when 7 reached tll
ford OF crossing Of a stream, the name Of whic
cannot now recall, ] pulled up IN front Of
large hOuse-f0r that c0untry-and asked for
nights shelter. lily impression is that this wa
sort Of st0pping-piace or the last relay hous
on the southern side OF the Gap. ] found a,
commodatlon FOR both man and beast, and en
joyed pleasant evening with the two old Dec
PIE which sgc spent on their front porch too
i FOR granted that they were Unionists. thong
they had little 10 say on that subject but the
both were 50 wei pleased with my way Of talB
ing, and of the encouraging news which a reb,
soldier had 70 bring that ! think the oI
woman e1erted herself 10 make the biscuil
extra hight FOR she put enough salaratus j
them TO color the whole batch Of them wit
yellow spots
was put TO sleep IN an attic roon and yer
early the next morning l was awake and dras