The National tribune., 1892-12-22

the inevitah'e cry. All &C them being stead
fast Union men ilEf Fshld not think of being
| forced into tie Sytfs Esru army. The leading
Union men were now all gone there being
| scarcely any left TO urge tho common
masses to hold on to their love for the Union
| Thought that they yfdeseryed the utmost praise
for adkering so staadfastly to their princi pies
amid all the dangers aud difficulties which sur
rounded them, and stherefore / resolved to as
sist all that possibly could in getting through
| the lines. 1 aiso,thopght that | would there
by be contributing Important service in fur
| nishlng soldiers for the Union army. and at the
same time aid ahdl assist in weakening the
man thai l cosld get
SAFELY THROUGH TO THE UNION ARMY
would be at once substracting that much of the
bone and sInew from athe South, and which, II
suffered to remain in the country, might be
employed IN some way or other in the support
OF the miserable so-called Southern COnfed
eracy.
was also we'll convinced that the mountain
men would make the very best of soldiers, and
would fight like demons when they remem-
bered how they had been driven away from
their families aud homes by the rebel mis-
creants.
These men knew that when they started they
were leaving their loved families in the hands
OF merciless foe who, when they knew they
mad gone to seek protection under the old flag
OF their country, would take pleasure in de-
strcying everything which they had left be-
hind Tor their helpless wives and children to
su bsist upon.
l have seen many manly faces bathed in
tears at the thought of the sad fate which
awaited their helpless families when they were
absent and powerless to afford them assistance,
and dark cloud would then oversh had0w their
brows as the desire for future revenge would
take possession Of their hearts; and with q
silent farewell they would turn their backs on
their now desolate mountain homes, while
their poor wives and children were sobbing as
If their hearts would break, as the husband
and father would shoulder his knapsack of pro-
visions for the journey, prepared by the hands
OF love, with the thought that even that was
not enough to keep him from starving if he
should meet with adverse circumstances to
delay his journey. And this was very often
the case for the Union men were watched
with as much vigilance by the rebel soldiers as
if they bad been wild beasts of the forest.
The company which was now ready to start
with me to Kentucky was very large and all
the men seemed to be inspired with the fond
hope Of soon being permitted to return again
If they should be able to endure the hardships
which they would have to encounter on their
journey. They had the most unbounded con.
fdence in the power of the United States Gov.
cIuuoHb W oVeTthTOW IDe T6OelIlOn AT al early
day, when they determined to pay the rsbels
up for all the insults and injuries which they
had to receive and endure in silence with the
most severe agony of mind.
There was such constant accession to the
company with which was now about to start,
that had some fears about being able to con-
duct them all through safely; but my heart
and soul were now in the work, and did not
feel willing that one of the men who desired
tn gh0ud hn left Tn rim tho rio1 of faIItOo
victim to rebel malice. therefore encouraged
everyone to go who came to me and signiied
desire to do so.
ITO be continued)