The National tribune., 1889-02-07
NORTH CAROLINA.
Loyalty which should be Rewarded.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In times past
/ have honestly represented through the col
umns OF your paper that Northern men, and
especially old Union soldiers were cordially
welcomed and kindly treated here by the native
people This statement so far as it applies TO this
section Of the South, is true for up here in these
grand old mountains, about 1000 feet above
the sea, the atmosphere has always been too
pure for slavery, treason, or bourbonism to
flourish or even get foethold. Our Govern
ment should ever gratefully remember that the
mOuntaineers of western North Carolina stood
heroically by the old flag, when they knew
that by so doing they were imperiling their
lives, their homes and their little all" Many
of them were hunted down by infamous
" hounds of he'll" and either shot down or
hung up to the nearest limb because of their
loyalty TO their country. All around me have
neighbors prematurely old men, because of the
cruelties inflicted upon them by the traitor
Gus savagery that held the sway here during
the Shareholders rebellion.
While il did not require uncommon courage
or loyalty to be a Union man in the great,
free North, at the same time to stand by their
flag and country in the South it took men COM
posed Of just such stuff as the Spartans were
made OF, and I challenge all annals of history
to produce parallel to the heroic stand for the
eternal right, the fearful self-sacrifees that
were made, and the answering fidelity to the
flag and country that was SO firmly maintained
by the loyal people of these mountains of North
Carolina and Tennessee during all the terrible
years from 1860 to &C. MANY of these old
heroes now, in their almost helpless condition,
are struggling against the most adverse circum-
stances to " keep the wolf from the door," And
it is in their behalf that l appeal through the
columns Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE-the
old veterans best friend and ablest champion
to the Government for which these men suf-
fered and sacrificed so much 10 not be migrate
ful to them now IN their old age and hour of
dire need. The passage of The National
Tribune" Pension Bill would bring comfort
and joy to many mountain home And
then, somewhere in this mountain region, a
Union Soldiers Home should be established as
place of refuge for our poor old veterans. I
trust THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE win take their
case specially in hand, for / know that if Won
undertake it, you will succeed as we'll with
il as you did driving their enemies from power
Oh the 9th day Of November, 1858.
We live in the most lovely spot in all these
grand old mountains; have the most healthful
climate on the face of the globe; the purest
spring water; good and cheap land magnifi.
cent timber, and on every hand scenery Of
the most picturesque grandeur. We already
have quite an interesting little community OF
Northern veterans, who have been living here
! happily for number Of years
] came here with my family in the Fall nj
1 1883. and have never seen any country that
am so completely satisfied with. Our town
has population of about 300, mostly Northern
/ people besides, many Northern families live
/ in the vicinity. The old Union soldiers are
among our best and most influential citizens
and their families move in the most respectable
/ society.
We wish TO see our grand old woods full o.
the same kind. So write to me, dear comrades
and l viii cheerfully tell you all ] know about
this wonderful "old-new country"
The best citizens referred to are mighty
skase article" here. They have almost had
their day, and will only exist as rare curiosity
/ for the Barnum" of the next generation
/ Everything indicates that the New South
! has come to the front, and a new era is dawn
/ ing all along the line. Yet Comrade Jordan's
/ case reminds us that in some benighted corner!
\ the barbarism generated by the brutaizing in.
/ huences Of the peculiar institution" will
/ crop out, and cause US to blush in shame fol
/ our ciyilization.-W H. ANDERSON. NJ d.
/ Co. II, S0th Ohio, Highlands, Macon County
/ n C.