The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-21

party had passed. He guided us to the
house OF white woman, whose husband
was in the Union Army. She gave us about
all she had in her pantry to eat. As she
wished souvenirs to remember us by Colonel
Geer presented her at parting with silver
pencil, Wapoie and Correil with buttons
from their coats, ard with my toothbrush,
for which paid SIS in Charleston.
Proceeding on our way we arrived in
Chester County. 5. c., without further ad-
venture Of importance. In this county a
Mr.. Logan resided, who, we had been in
formed, was friend of the c0lored people.
Thinking lie might assist us, we called on
him one night about 10 80 o'clock at the
PoSt0f1ice, where he was living. Ny COM
panions remained in the stable yard. |
Knocked at the door of the house. A negro
answered the summons, and Informed me
MIR. Logan was in bed. walked in, entered
the mans chamber, introduced myself as
Captain Benson of the Union Army, and
told him that having escaped from impris-
onment in Columbia. | had heard he was
friend of the Yankees, and had come to
lin for food and directions. He replied
that
HE WASN'T A FRIEND OF THE YANKEES,
That he wouldn't give me fool or direct me,
but he would take and turn me over to the
authorities next morning.
That plan, he concluded in very few
moments, was not feasible
Il babe him goodnight, and he didn't even
have tie courtesy to return my Saluta1on.
Leaving the Post0i1ice | turned into the
road, aud found L0gan's cOlorcd man was
following me. Going a little distance, ] got
behind a large tree and waited fer the tel
low 10 come up. As he approached, seized
him, threw Tim down, and told him II he
mace any noise | would kill him, as | had
already killed three niggrrs that day. He
DIDN'T make any disturbance but said 10
me: 81 head you tel MaSSa Logan you was
a Yankee. Use friend OF the Yankees. IN
give you something to eat I'll 90 back to
the house, and Massa Logan Will tell me to
20 out and say out until | find you, and I'll
tell him | can't find yOu.' let lin go, and
everything turned out as expected. After
he haG come out OF the house again | jOin.d
my friends and went over into a field, where
The negro left MS, went to his cabin, and
brought us some chicken pies aud other del
ieacies. We scoOped the food out of the
dishes with our hands, and that chicken pie
tasted better than anything | ever ate at
ParkeTS. After cur rerast the negro guided
US to the road some ten miles, or as far as
he could, and returned that night in season
Tor his days duties. lie consigned us to
the care OF another cOlOIed man of his ac-
quaintance. From this time on. for the
most part, we were aided by the black peo-
pie, who were entirely loyal.
''All through the South at this period the
highways and 6ywayS were patToed by the
home guards, as they were called, whose
duty was 10 capture escaped prisoners and
runaway negroes and anybody else who
was outdoors after 9 o'clock at night with
out pass from the authorities. We were
constantly running into these guards, and
had many very narrow escapes from them.
Nevertheless We eluded them ali, having
only few adventures, and went on, cross
Ing rivers and passing through towns in the
nighttime. The weather was cod and rainy.
But for the food given Us by the negroes we
should have been unable 10 travel SO far. 1t
wac indeed 4 wonderful march. In OrdeT
not t. pass through ASheyille, y. c., or the
Cherokee country, which were peculiarly
hazardous. we went 80 miles out Of our way
and took in Cowrens, the old historical
ground, having Asheville and the Smoky
Mountains on the one hand and the Cher0-
kee country on the other. Finally we
reached Marion, our objective point, and
thence easily
MADE OUR WAY TO THE BLUE RIDGE.
The first white friend we met was Isaac
English, ScoJt, who was recruiting for
Kinks First Tennessee Cavalry. He told Us
of a society called the LOyai League, which
was organized and in working order up in
the mountains, and, being quite loyal him
self, he advised US to join this society. We
consented to be initiated. The following
evening We were conducted up to the camp
of the Loyal League, where we found about
800 Confederate deserters, with as many
more refugees from North Carolina and Ten
nessee. Fires were burning ana arms we're
stacked, and the camp looked decidedly
warlike. We were initiated into the order
of the Red and White String. The incl
dents of the initiation were quite thrilling.
kneeling upon The ground We were sur
rounded by eight or ten men with muSkets
aid DayOuets fixed, and tod by the master
OF ceremonies 10 place cur right hands on
his square and Bible and repeat tie oath
after him. AT the words, and may your
hearts be pierced By baycnets should you re-
veal any Of the secrets of This order the
musketS of the guard we're brought u the
charge, and tile steel points came very close
to our breasts, As | looked at these bayonets
flashing so near in the weird light of the
campfire l must say that felt bit anx-
ious. 1t was all right, however. We were in
vested with the emblem OF the order, a cord
COMPOSED of red and white strings TWISTED,
which was tied in the button-hoe Of the
shirt at the neck. After the ceremony we
spent pleasant night OF storytelling around
Mr.. English took us down to Crab Or
Chard in East Tennessee. There we learned
that Brecknridge had gone up the valley
and attacked Gillian, driving him from
Bulls gap and gaining control OF all passes
through the mountains. We were, there
fore, obliged to remaiI. ,hRSe or four DAYS i'll
Crab Orchard. At this time the whoe of
Garter County was loyal. Many persons re-
siding there had been driven from their
homes in surrounding counties, in all of
which, it is fair to say, those who were
lett were rebels. When we entered Carter
County party was being got up to raid
johnson County, about forty miles away
As we could not 20 farther toward Knox
vile, for the time being, We joined IN this
raid. Marching one night and part Of the
next dav, We came TO JOhns0nVlle, which
was a recruiting station, aud contained
large amount Of quartermaSter' supplies.
Our scouts reported 400 to 800 recruits there.
Numbering Only 100 ourselves, and possess
ing only little ammunition, We let john
sOnyille alone, but crossing Roan5 Mount
ain and following the course of RoaHs
Creek, we captured horses and mules and
cattle, until we could find
NOTHING MORE WORTH TAKING.
tOn our return, near Elk River, we were
attacked by small body of hOrsemen, whom
we repulsed without suffering loss. We
succeeded in getting back into Carter County
with nearly all our prizes.
Leaving Carter County in few DAYS, We
continued our journey without encountering
any adventures until We were only six miles
from Knoxville. That city was occupied by
our troops. Crossing The H0lsOn River and
ascending hill, we SAW our picket fires be-
tween lis and the city. Continuing our march
through a very irregular country, we were
frequently out Of sight Of the fires. Aftergo-
ing through a deep cut in the hills, aud
knowing we had arrived at a height of land
from which we ought to see the fires, we
failed to find any trace of them ahead Of u.
Lieutenant Cr0well, locking around, ex-
claimed: Here they are behind us. We
have crossed our lines Sure enough We
were inside our lines and safe. We had
passed the guards unbeknoNn to them aud
to ourselves. Colonel WapOle cried out,
Hello, there" and the men at the outpost
s3rang to their feet and answered, Halt.
Who goes there?' Colonel Walpole replied,
Friends, without the counters gn.' and then
came the command, Halt, friends; advance
one The Sergeant OF the guard, together
with soldier with bayrnet fixed, allowed
the Colonel to advance within a short dis
lance, when the Sergeant said, Where are
you going?' 10 Knoxville was the Col
onei's reply. 'Ycu are going into the enemy's
country said TIE Sergeant; Knoxville is
the other way To this Colonel Walpole
rejoned we have just come from the
enemy's country and are going to Knoxville,
having come through your lines The Ser
geant was much Alarmed and begged us not
to say anything about his delinquency to
General Garter cOmtnaudaut .,t Knoxville