Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-08-30

day lost 10 the cause, Whilo our iittls
stock % provisions is Icing reduced.
We have therefore decided to start fol
Camp Dick Robinson tonight Once
there. those whose are able 10 bear arms
can b. regularly enrolled and mustered
into the service % the Union. while II
we fight here we are apt 10 10 regarded
~ guerrillas aud for the present. at least.
the government will bc powerless 10 pro
tect us
"while my mission among you has
been one of peace. and have passed thu
age when might 10 of much use even
u were skilled In the ways Of war. yet,
with 8ods help. I can and ! will light
u W. are not permitted TO reach the
Union lines In peace.
II will say 10 my good sisters and 10
che children who must remain behind.
~ their coming with %. would hamper
the march. that u will not bs long before
the ,r,oTs % the Union swarm la these
mountains ~ tho Confcderaics do now.
and that their coming will insure pro-
tcctiou Co all. We must move with
secrecy and rapidiiy. Tor there are spies
all about US And now AK those who
are willing 10 follow the lead Of Brother
Bradley 90 Camp Dick Robinson 90 take
their stand at the back part Of the
smithy.'
Il was a. Father Peters expected.
every man AZ the Crossing aud every
boy who could shoulder rife. and the.
inountaineers learn 90 shoot when very
young. crowded TO the hack part Of the
building.
This meeting was held the day after
Christmas. 1901, and about the middle
% the afternoon. In orler 10 keep their
movements secret II was decided 10 start
north scon after dark that night. A.
Father Peters was even NOR. hated than
the blacksmith. and hi. wife and daush.
ter would have been homeless. aud help
les N left b-hind. an exception wa
made In their case. u bring the oil
clcrgynans intention 20 take them back
to the old hon,c In thu western reserve
% northern Ohio As son a. they reached
the Union lines.
There was little preparation 10 make.
Two ~ the blacksrnith's horses wcre -,
apart for Mrs. Peters aud her daughter
20 ride on The forty men In the party
were 'o carry their ra,ions AMI aminu.
milton. the former beins necessarily light,
tnt, bccanse the supplies q, the Crossing
were limited. AMI In the next place b.
cause 1, was believed tina, Camp Dick
Robinson. seventy five miles to the north
wet. could 10 rrschei in Eve days.
Ia order tokeep MP the IMPRESSION that
there were 6till men at the Crossing ready
20 rcsi., an attack. " was arranged that
ia. women should ligh, the bcaooas GA
tho hills a. SON ~ Dick bradley gave
the or,ler o. march. This was done ~
promptly that for hours the fugitiycs
could -ee the cor-ry glow ~ the hres
on tho clouds Ia the south. and this
strengthened the hoI- that there would
h. spusuit.
Although at the bcst the ros.ls In this
region were wr-tchel. and now almost
imIassablc. 1, Ma. Ia their advantage
that the Cumberland riy.r was AZ their
hack AMI no Formidable str-am In front.
"IIow we moved IN the night direction
that night mus, ever remain 20 me a
mystery" says Miss Peters. Before W.
hail been On the way an hour We were
all as We, a. II we hal h-cn sous~i In a
pond. ani mother and !. being compara-
lively inactive, w-rr chilled tO the tune.
did not fear. b.caus. I dil not care for
myself. Iwouh picture father walking
ahesi with that giant. Bradley. through
the darkness AMI mirc. ani ! could not
bu, picture the Que - powerful and
fierce and the other - weak and mild.
ye, with spirit As dauniless ~ the
bravcst.
Eve had no means of telling the time.
but though trici 10 rea-on with mysslf
,ha, minute. must seem drawn into
hOurs under such circumstances, yet !
came 30 feel that the sun would never
ris. again. !, was about two o'clock In
the morning that we came 10 halt,
whether in valley or On . hill, In .
forest or - clearing. I could not tell
My father came back to us |" 'he-fy a.
ever. though knew from my own con.
di'ion now he must nave 'sn' ns 'o.a
Us tha ,h.re was Nscah, oap'h ~
hand. AMI that Bradley thought II would
lie we'll 10 halt here till daylight.
Mother and were ~ cold and stih
when We w,f, lifted frum our hOrs.-
that we would have fallen hal hot the
men held ns up.
we were ied ih'o 'he 'ao'n' anu
'nppssd s'rty.hng Wa !" me' 'nM
"ou.a '" 'o.y !" ,i''', " ~. "u' .
possio.o 70 ',r,' ,,., one' ou' " '"'
'nis'aAen' wnis ',o.noi a"u s' y"
,s's 'aiaie' us' nai IN ~, 'su n,, ~ "
u'ni,u ,, ~ AZ. ~ 80, 80 -, -.
uu''' "'s n,"' a"" -.',. ."o.
tAih'.r oarr'e- 'ns-e p'''n''''osPp"s
ana. 'eai,hs on sonis u'y 'pl'n'es anu
park irolh Tue inner s'ae ~ ','e 'os', Ao
soon lad blaze, and. Following that.
ire. Except the four log walls and the
roof. which must have been the better
part. for II kept the clay moor dry. there
was absolutely nothing 10 ihis cabin.
The pile OF ashes ON the bis hearth
showed that the place haa once .'rh IN.
habif~i. but, miserable thougn ! WAS !
did not wonder that the builders had
abandoned such . wre'ehed place.
DICK bradley threw . circle OF p'eken
Around the cabin ana. although ne was
enureiy ignorant oi iniil'"y he'hoas'
he arranged 10 'isit 'hein every nour,
gave them a conn'er'ign ana detailed