The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-01

LOCKED LIKE WILD MAN.
should have met them and would certainly
have been killed Or captured. This was an
other very narrow escape, which served to
make me mere wafchful.
NV companion WIS now quite willing to
leave the road, and / now travelled in the
direction which j considered the safest. We
went on without any further adventure, and
soon reached the top of Walling's Ridge,
where we rested short time, and went on,
crossing Wild Cat Valley and ascending
Powells Mountain nearly to the top; then,
thinking that we had done very well for one
DAY and night, we stopped. 1t was now
nearly daylight, and being in thick, dense
bushes, where We could have fire, and
where there was good water to drink, we
were promising ourselves good days rest,
which we much needed; but upon looking
back in the direction we had come np the
mountain, 10 our great surprise we saw
squad of men with guns, but they seemed
to be hunters, and / do not believe they
knew anything about as. They passed near
to our hiding place, looking carefully into
the bushes and trash, but they did not see US.
We continued TO watch for some time,
without, however, seeing ANYTHING to alarm
us, and the sua shining out little, we lay
down without any FIRE. The ground being
so cold, We at lasi had TO rise up and move
about 10 keep ourselves warm. When night
came on We started on our journey, being
almost as tired as when we had stopped in
the morning. That night We came down
from Poweli's Mountain and waded a large
creek at the ioot OF it, and then went on,
crossing the intervening ridges between
Powellis Mountain and Clinch Mountain.
About IL o'clock we also waded Copper
Greek, ard about O'Clock we
REACHED LITTLE POOR VALLEY,
ut the foot Of Clinch Mountain. We pushed to
the opposite side of the mountain until we
came 10 water in a small hollow, where we
made fire and rested there during the day.
Late In the evening ae started again, and early
ia the night we reached the North Fork of
Holston River which we found to be very diff
cult to wade, the water came nearly up to
our shoulders: LGt NC succeeded ia crossing and
pushed on rapidly aud at daylight reached the
"White Oak Flats" where we met with kind
friends. who immediately furnished US with
provisions.
found that The Z" Flats" were again full of
men wishing to get through the lines, and
found it very hard 10 get away from them.
told them that nay friends at home already
Thought ] must he dead. owing to my long alb
seDce, and tilaf many OF them were anxiously
awaiting my return, 50 that they might avail
themselves OF my services In escaping from the
rebel tyranny under whose iron rod they had
long suffered. However, / promised them that
i would reiHrD soon, and when darkness came
On ! started ior my home distance OF 30
miles. When arrived at Holston River had
the good luck Of finding a canoe, in which
crossed and proceeded rapidly my journey
without meeting with any difficulties, and
reached my old scouting range in Carter County
by daylight. Ny clothes were toru into taiters
and having my old hayersack cap on yet, my
appearance was completely altered that my
friends coad hardly recognize me- Indeed.
did look more like wild man of the woods
than anything else, for the sufferings which
had endured in the mountains had changed nv
naturai appearance altogether; but when put
on better clothes aud received proper food
regularly sooa began TO look like myself
again.
had now become so perfectly accustomed to
hardships that did not much care for them, as
lhsd 70 spend all my time in the woods, whether
at home or abroad
] WAS AE oUTCAsT
from the ordinary haunts of men, for myself
and the rebels. like oil and water, could not be
induced 10 mix together
j found upon my return home that the rebel
soldiers were stili actively engaged in hunting
the Union men, and when they succeeded in
capturing any OF them, treated them with the
greatest crUeiy.
III was ROW the LIST of January, and the face
OF nature IN every direction was clothed in the
dresry hsbifnents of Winter. The mountains
were fuli o. men who were anxious TO 90
through the lines At times would spend
hours IN giving them history OF my adven-
lures, detailing the terrible hardships which
they would have 10 undergo; but il was all to no
purpose. They said that the greatest trials
which they could possibly have to encounter
In getting through to Kentucky would be far
preferable to remaining here to be hunted and
shot at like wild beasts Of prey.
The rebel citizens Of johnson County had now
sll Joined the Home Guards in that County. and
they knowing every man in the County. and
also being well acquainted with all the paths
through the mountains of johnson and Garter
Counties, which is the truth, there was but
little chance FOR the poor Union scouters "a
escape their vigilance.
Ii was about this time that the rebel Col
Ford, who proved TO be the most heartless and
desperate villain, was sent with his regiment
Of ragamuffins into the Counties of johnson
and Carter 10 catch coIscripts, and at ones
concluded 10 take a trip 10 Kentucky, in or iei
% relieve the Union men, who were so anxious
- 80 with me, from the impending danger o