Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-10
THE REFUGEES.
Having lived in East Tennessee for several

years previous to the war, although residing
in Ohio when hostilities actually began,
knew the country from Knoxville to the
North Carolina line on the east, and from
Knoxville to the Kentucky line on the north,
very thoroughly. 1 had gone over almost
every mile of every highway, and I knew
many of the mountain trails and short cuts.
I had been surveying and mapping public
and private lands, and this was work cal
culated to familiarize with the country.
was in Rogersville only three months before
the opening gun, and knew that strong
Union sentiment prevailed among the noun
taineers.
While the people of other sections of the
south were enthusiastic for war, the noun
taineers of East Tennessee and western North
Carolina, with very few exceptions, were
against it. They argued SO well and so per-
sistently as to call forths the bitter enmity of
the Confederate government, and such of
them as entered the Confederate ranks were
forced to join under penalty of being shot
down in their tracks. When they realized
that war was inevitable, and that they must
take sides, there was a general movement to
escape to the north and joint he Union forces.
The hardships, perils and tribulations Of
these refugees have only been family out
lined. Where one got through the lines five
were killed by the soldiers on watch to inter-
cept them. Where one family reached the
Union lines entire, dozen were broken and
scattered, never to be reunited
In the summer of 1862, acting under mill
tary orders, I made my way from Richmond,
KY, into the Blue Ridge mountains to gather
and bring out as large band as possible.
After more or less personal peril, mostly
from guerrillas and bushwhackers reached
the locality I had in view, which was neigh
borhood in cove on one of the branches of
the Tennessee river. A few young men had
been recruited for the Confederate SERVICE
but as yet no force had been used to secure
recruits. Several men of local renown were
beating up the districts for recruits for
guerrilla cavalry companies, and every ave-
nue. of escape to the north was closed and
carefully guarded. I went into the mount
aims in the guise of purchasing agent
for the Confederate government and as I
had been literally supplied with both Con-
federate money and gold, was in a position
to carry out my role. Those who knew me
personally did not know what my sentiments
were until secretly informed, and as I APP
peared to be busy looking after horses and
mules, the Confederates seemed to have no
suspicious.
AO~AAAN~
that twenty-one men were DESTROYS of making
an attempt to reach the Union lines in Ken
lucky, The matter had been talked over
previous to my arrival, but no decided steps
taken, The leader in the movement was
man of about 30, named Joe Penfeld. He
had been married only about four months
before my appearance at the cove. While
uneducated, he was intelligent far beyond
his class, and he realized that the struggle
would be fierce and bloody and one to last
for years. He felt that every one capable of
bearing arms must take sides, and as his love
for the Union was strong he was impatient
tie get away. One of the greatest difficulties
encountered at the outset was the fact that
at least half the men wanted to take their
families along. We had journey of over
100 miles on an air line before us. AS we
should be obliged to travel the distance
would be fifty more, and every mile of it in
peril of our lives.
Our way would be over mountains, through
forests and thickets, across creeks and rivers,
and exposed to all sorts of weather and hard
ships, and opposed the drag on our move
ments which the women would be certain to
prove. OF the thirteen who wanted to go
nine had from two to five children. fatty
refused to lead any such party, knowing that
we SHOULD Nc CdpUul0u duu oAOu "1Uh11i q ooJ
or two. This caused division of numbers. A
mountaineer named Henderson, who had a
wife and four children of his own, agreed to
lead those having families, while I took the
others. When ready to start had ten men,
and three of them were to take their wives
along The women were Mrs. Penfield, Mrs.
Graham and Mrs Bross, and were all under
80 and in robust health. Each one dressed
in mems clothing and carried shotgun.
Our party was to have two days start Of
the other. It was ticklish business, holding
meetings and perfecting arrangements, for
there were plenty of Confederate citizens
mixed I'D with the Unionists, and Confeder-
ate soldiery were marching and riding over
the county. In most cases the men disposed
of their live stock, but everything else had to
to be abandoned. Some Of them had good
crops and coy homes, and had worked hard
for a score of wears to accumulate what they
had. did not, however, hear one single re-
gret expressed at having to leave property
and comfort behind, except that the Confed-
crate government might profit thereby. Our
party got away soon after dark on the even
ing Of August Is. We had appointed a rem
devious on the mountain, and at dusk every
body was there, fourteen OF us III ali. Each
person carried bundle containing clothing,
blankets and provisions, and each had rlhe
or shotgun. The women could not have been
told from the men by their dress, and each
had on a pair Of new stout boots, purchased
for the occasion. Every family would be
missed next day, and the conclusion in each
case would be such as to encourage every ef-
fort for recapture.
At about o'clock, having planned the OF
der of march and given instructions bearing
ton1y STRAIGHT
tiaa side of Smoky mountain, which is one OF
the spurs of the Alleghanies, beginning neal
Clinton and running into Kentucky and Vlr'
ginia. We had three of these spurs to cross
before reaching the Cumberland mountains
On the state line, and between each spur wa
| a valley and river. Our route for the trs'
twelve miles was oyer country thinly i'll
isab:ted, and we had no alarms. We had
made about sixteen miles and had descended
the spur almost to its northeastern base,
when we had our first encounter, and | saw
of what material the men were composed.
We were following the mountain trails,
walking by twos and every one on the alert
when we caught sight Of p fire at bend In
the trail ahead of rs. Penfeld crept forward
to Investigate, and after quarter OF an houI
returned and reported Confederate picket
He had only seen one men, and he was ASLEEP
on his post, but from the looks OF things he
| believed others to be in camp near by. The
picket bad been stationed here to intercept
refugees, and further progress by the trai
| was blocked.
| After consultation we turned to the LETT
but before we could flank the picket we me-
with such q sheer descent that we had tx
turn back. Penfield and two others were
sent to the right, and in a little time returned
and reported the way clear, and we soor