The National tribune., 1892-11-10

10 the maHhcr IN WAfeH
THE REBELS wERE.. ..DEaEANrNa THEMsELvE
in the upper Countless Of East Tennessee w,
related all our troubles ito him. He said tba
, he was very sorry that we were in so bad con
dition and that he would use his best exertion
to relieve US. and treated us with the utmos
kindness But unfortunately / was unable t.
see any prospect Of immediate relief being ex
tended to my oppressed and downtrodden fe
w-citizens in upper East Tennessee; and. in
fact l was good deal more despondent thar
when | left my native mountains in Carter
County. Ihat the, Union men could not stay
there was well convinced and how they could
ever make their way ont through the dreadful
mountain barriers which interviewed 1 could
| not surmise.
As | had promised my friends that would
return in the course of three weeks when
left them, did not tarry long at Cumber-
land Gap; and as our pilot. William McLane,
was going to return Immediately, / thought it
advisable to return in company with him, and
thereby obtain all the information about the
mountains and surrounding country that
could, tor felt quite certain that would have to
travel through them again, probably alone Gen.
Carter gave me large package of letters for
his friends at Elzsbethton, and also supplied
me with provisions for my journey. Mr.. Nc
Lane and myself now set out to travel that
long and toisome path through the mountains.
We were two days in crossing Cumberland
| Mountains, and on the night of the second day
we crossed Powelrs Valley and also Powell's
! River, and reached the summit of Walling's
| Ridge. The rivers were now no very serious
Inconvenience, for the weather was quite warm,
and the waters very low, the smaller branches
| being dry, which was some disadvantage to
US in preventing us from obtaining water. We
now lay down under the thick branches of
| some bushes,
| AND SLEPT VERY COMFORTABLY
| until late in the evening whom arousing from
our slumbers we went on to the valley be-
tween Walling's Ridge and Powell's Mountain,
| which we crossed in the night and got onto the
| spur of PowelPs Mountain just as daylight
began TO make its appearance. We continued
to travel on until we came to water, and then
We laid down and slept until the day had
far advanced when we arose and started
on again, travelled but few miles until we
stopped for the night. Next morning we
started very early, and travelled all day very
industriousy, and at night we crossed the
valley between Powelps Mountain and Clinch
Mountain. We waded Clnch River and push
ing rapidly forward arrived at the base of
Clinch Mountain just as the bright sunbeams
began to sparkle on the silvery dewdrops of
the early morning. Our provisions had been ex-
hausted and we now had nothing to eat but green
corn. which we procured in the valley which
we had crossed the previous night. We kindled
IRE, and after roasting our corn we partook
of it most heartily.
My guide now left me, as his home was in
different direction from mine, and had now
to prosecute my journey alone having some
fears as l passed through Sullivan County,
which was one of the hotbeds of secession.
The few Union men in that County were made
the recipients of all the hellsh malice and
hatred which could be heaped upon them by
their heartess rebel oppressors
At length ] had the pleasure Of seeing the
tops of my native mountains. which presented
to me most cheering prospect for they at once
presented to my mind the joyful recollection of
happier days, when sorrow pressed lightly upon
the heart and when ceuld go to my home with
no fears of my path being intercepted or way
laid by the cruel murderer.
WHEN I REACHED MY NATIVE HILLS
l sorey felt the dreadful effects of my toiIsome
journey, for was almost starved and nearly
wornout. l cannot possibly describe my suf-
ferings during the three weeks which l had
been absent; indeed my feet and legs seemed
to be worn off to my knees. Just as soon as
partially recruited my exhausted system by
eating and sleeping at once proceeded to hunt
up my scouting friends 80 that / might give
them all the news which had obtained. They
were delighted to see me, but unfortunately /
had no good news to impart to them. They had
either to remain in the, mountains or suffer all
that had suffered, and perhaps more if they |
should undertake to go through the mountains
to the Federal lines.
At what time we should be relieved in upper |
East Tennessee none could tell, and it seemed |
impossible to stay there, owing to the severity |
of rebel oppression.
The news soon spread among the Union peo- |
pie of Carter County that had returned, and |
there was scarcely an honr passed that was
not applied to by some unfortunate Union man
to conduct him to the Union forces in Ken
lucky. 1t was to no purpose when told them
about the terrible hardships they would have
to undergo in making the trip. In fact did
not wish them to commence the journey with.
out knowing, as we'll as could tell them, about
the almost impossible passage through the
mountains. directed their attention to my
own stiffened limbs, and told them that I
knew that l could endure much more than
they could. Bat my expostuations had no
effect whatever in deterring them from at
tempting the journey, for they said that they
would rather try to crawl there than to stay
here aud endure the monstrous oppression and
insults of the rebel soldiers; and in this man.
ner they continued their opportunities, telling
me that
MUST GO THROUGH WITH THEM
az guide. was too completely exhausted
from the effects of my last trip to start out on
another one 80 soon, as / had not yet become
accustomed to such life of toll; and besides
all the men who wished to go were not now
them, thinking that might not probably re-
turn again.
By this time quite number Of refugees from
North Carolina had found their way into the
mountains Of Carter County, and as they were
strangers in this section of the country, they
desired to move on to the Union lines immedi-
ately They proposed to pay me we'll if /
would accompany them as far as Sullivan
County and there procure them pilot, if
could not 20 on myself. This thought could
DO, for by the time we could get into Sullivan
County had no doubt but that McLane would
be ready to return to Kentucky, and would
consent to act as pilot for them. The great
est danger Of annoyance by the rebel soldiery
was conceived, to be from the place of start
ing in Carter County to point in Sullivan
County, making a distance Of about 80 miles,
and when we got to that point that we could
find a number of Union friends. From what
told them they were willing to risk McLane,
but rather preferred that | should 60 through
with them; and if had felt like making the
journey so soon again without the most disas-
brous consequences to my already ex hausted
energies, / should certainly have agreed to
guide them through. But did not think that
could possibly undertake at this time to 20
with them farther than the point designated
In Sullivan County, and therefore told them to
supply themselves with provisions for their
Journey, and appointed the night we would
start
(ToTbs continucd.1