Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23

ing hearth, and were locking 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 wei
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 10 sell his life as
dearly as possible.
| The door was broken down, and IN
Simultaneous with that the guns were pre-
sented at Clinton, who was standing
ready to defend himself against the first
who should enter.
| Surrender or die!" exclaimed the
| lieutenant, as the men held their fingers
upon the triggers Of their guns.
"Die!" said Clinton. "I1l never sur
render"
At this instant the daughters and
pursuers, and the mother was badly
wounded and the two girls killed instant
~.
As his dear ones fell upon the floor
Clinton seemed 20 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
han 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 meyer 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 a 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 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 be goes, till
mis- feet strikes the bottom of a light
batteau, and then seating himself at one
end he moves down the river till ne comes
70 the confluence of the big and Little
Tallapoosa rivers and there he stops,
draws his batteau up in the bushes and
makes his way few steps into the forest
where the bushwhackers are to hold their
meeting and formulate their plans.
Here is spot that nature has fitted for
hall of secrecy. Two large rivers form
ing a wall on one side and in front, with
a lim1tless forest back in the "fork, +" with
towering crags and lofty trees, that lend
their shadows to a dismal night that
makes darkness seem a thing of sub
stance.
Fifty men, made desperate by the
feuds of the times, swear allegiance to
each other and elect Lem Clinton as their
captain.
Snow give me a chaw of 'bacco," said
heavy set, middle aged mau, 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 I voted for our
captain, and now me and old Betsy Bark
err Gas he called his gun) are ready to
obey his orders and to follow him to
hi"
81 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 Joe
Presly.
Further conversation was cut short by
the tall form of Lem Clinton arising
from the log upon which he had been
sitting, and chunking the dim fire which
furnished little light for the occasion,
he cleared his throat and said:
"Boys, you all know ne. I've 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 diggipgs 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 yonder
highust peak, to the right of the ferry
landing, you must drop everything AID
|
can; and misd, be careful and look out
for spies. The meeting is dismissed"
| So spoke the man who had been chosen
by unanimous consent the leader of the
'layers out" of the Tallapoosa fork"
Let US again visit the camp OF the sol
diery at Wedowee. Three days rations
have been prepared and the men are
ready to march at a moments warming
Fig hty-fi men are ready and anxious to
qvenge the death of their fallen comrades
in the Clinton fight.
The night is dark, and as the soldiers
mount their horses ard file into the Bur
rows ferry road end head for the river
the tall form of Lem Clinton emerged
from neighboring thicket, and with his
gun at trail, he darts across the road
| and takes near cut that will land him al
the ferry at least an hour ahead of the
troops. Once at the ferry, he mounts up
up, the rugged side of the FERRY peak,
and it is but the work of a moment tC
have the whole top of the peak illuminat
ed by lightwood ire that had already
been epared of rich lightwood splinters
that would flash for but moment, and
dying out, leave all in darkness.
The hushwhackers are together, anC
led by Lem Clinton, they take their place:
on either side of the road that is termin
ated by the river. With impossible
mountains on either side, and the ~irn- il
front, there was no way for the {:
so retreat, except to right about, if ones
they were in the gorge.
"Quiet, men, lie! every man be quiet IN
till / shall Give the word ssfire.n and theI