The National tribune., 1889-11-14
hem and returned to camp. It being now

them and returned to camp 1t being now
quite dark the noise made by the party who
were going back to camp, mounted, created
the impression that we had all returned, thus
throwing the people completely off their guard.
We remained all night at the crossroads, as
Tom and his gang were expected to pass that
place, but they did not.
As soon as daylight appeared we hastily
withdrew to the residence of q good Union
man, whose name don't want to divulge even
at this late day, for fear of bringing down on
him the vengeance of his enemies The family
soon cooked for us good, substantial breakfast,
while we produced tho greatest luxury then in
the South-some Of Uncle Sans coifee-and
thus VIC all enjoyed feast.
After breakfast our host produced corncob
pipes and home-raised tobacco, and while en-
jeying a smoke q young lady of the family
went into the woods and presently returned
with two young men. One of them, her
brother, young man, who was in hiding from
the bushwhackers, volunteered to conduct us
TO the headquarters of the gang" We pro-
ceeded over the divide" SIS they called 1T, on
foot in single file, as the nature of the ground
would admit of no other way. As l have
already said, we sent our horses back to camp,
our field of operations being in the woods and
mountains, we bad no use for them. might
rs well say that was early convinced that by
riding along public highways in broad day
light, in plain view OF everyone, we could
never catch the bushwhackers so, when the
opportunity presented itself, / put my long
cherished views into operaton-that being to
turn bushwhackers F" ourselves, and If we
beat them at their own game they could not
complain. And now TO return to the main part
of my narrative. Our guide brought us to a
place on the hill where we could look down
over the tops of the trees at neat cottage in
the center of circular valley, surrounded on
all sides by hills heavily covered with trees,
just the place for such gang of cutthroats TO
fly to for security and be safe from pursuit.
Leaving ono-half of the squad where we
were proceeded around the valley and posted
the other half on the opposite side, and gave
them their instructions, which was that they
were TO remain there, keep q sharp lockout up
on the valley, and watch the house; that il was
headquarters of the bushwhackers, and when
they saw any horscmen approach to crawl
down and get as close as they could without
being seen; as Tom Williams, being one of the
most desperate men in Tennessee, an outlaw, and
one whose life was wanted TO pay the penalty of
his crimes, would not give up without n hard
struggle, and that now, We having turned
bushwhackers ourselves il was an even game,
and upon no conditions were they TO ask them
TO surrender, but to lie still until they heard
from the party on the other side of the valley,
as they were further from the house and
would take longer TO get down, and when
they shot to shoot 10 kill. / then returned TO
the other party, and had scarcely arrived and
instructed them when Toms gang came riding
up the creek singing as gaily rs larks in June.
We could see them plainly from where We
were, but they could not see us.
They rode up to the house, dismounted tied
their horses, fed them with corn, washed them-
selves at "a small stream that flowed from
spring close to the house. When they dsap-
peared into the house we crawled down from
our hiding-pace, and when they emerged
from the house after eating their break fast we
opened regular fuslade on them. Tom was
so well described that it seems that nearly all
hands pointed their carbnes at him, for he had
no less than l3 bullet-holes in his body; an
other of the gang was shot in the neck and
shoulder, one jumped over the fence and got
away, but he afterward died in the cornficld
into which he escaped from wounds received as
he jumped. Thus ended the career Of Tom
Williams and his gang of bushwhackers.
DR.. Gullick stuck TO ms all the time and his
shotgun did good service, as the track OF the
buckshot in Toms coat plainly testified. If
the rest of Toms victims had been as brave as
he, they need not have gone from home for
fear of bushwhackers.
Their headquarters was the best-suppled
store i saw during the war. 1t was stocked
with all kinds OF plumber. In one corner was
SAdCh Oh Dtu-Q quits reaching from tue MOOR 10
the ceiling. OF dried beef, hams and cornmeai
there was no limit. They were supplied with
arms Of all descriptions, from the Harper's
Ferry musket 10 the Spencer repeating rife
They would kill q straggler from either side
for his arms and uniform. After partaking Of
the good things in store prepared by Mrs.
Grimes. we found five horses bridled and sad
died. These, with some more we Borrowed In
the neghborhOOd. we mounted and returned to
ph her riufff faI fC
How the news got ahead of US / never
learned, but IL did, and those who had fed from
Toms wrath met as some way ont Of town. SO
eager were they 10 know IL the good news was
true, and learn IL they were really delivered
from his power. To say there was rejoicing
wonld but feebly express IL. Some actually
wept for JOY at the thought of their returning
TO their homes without fear of'molestation from
Toms bushwhackeFs
On reaching headquarters and reporting 0ur
success TO Col. Sipes. 20 whom ! made present
of Toms horse. stallion, said 10 worth SIS, 600,
and the best horse in the State, he was delight
ed with our success, and told me that that
would be a commission for me; but the COM
mission has not arrived yet. II he is still alive,
and this chances TO reach his eye, he may yet
make good his promise; bnt doubt it, As I
/ have forgotten the names Of some Of those who
were Of the party, refrain from publishing
the names Of any others. IL this meets the eye
Of any Of them / hope they will let me hear
from them.-PATRICR MOoSEY, Sergeant, Co.
l, 18th Pa. Cav. Box A., Peely. Pa.