The Portland daily press., 1892-06-09

from a doggone lot Of ours that took ad-
vantage of nv bein kinder HELPLESS. fo'
that's lest what riligin does fo' a man in
these mountains; but don't think eff
was to go to hell TO hit, that could
bring myself to inviten Teller to smote
me on the left cheek after he'd knocked
me on the right. draw the line at one
cheek. Eff any Teller tried it on two. I'd
forgit nv riligin and he'd have coz fo' to
grieve.
.sThen there's that pint bout lovin
One's enemies. I've allus thought ez how
that must have slipped into the GOOD
book by mistake, for hit amt nat'ral.
I'll allow Father Peters mout do hit. fo
he's so chuck full of religin he amt got
no room fo' nothin else; but pore sinners
like me must go on a-gettin heap of
solid comfort from not lovin thar enc
mics, but a-hatin 'em like blazes."
But after that night in the blacksnith's
shop Strong Dick Bradley's views as to
the nonresistance inculcated by religion
underwent radical change. He saw
that when the hour for brave resistance
came Father Peters did not 'sfall back
on prayer TO- his Defense" but was will
ing to fight and ready to lead. That one
act on the part Of the old missionary did
more to endear him to these rude noun
taineers than the preaching and self de-
NAL of the ten years that preceded it.
The raiders who had come up from
the Tennessee line under the lead of Het
Magoone contented themselves with
burning all the vacanS cabins they could
find, taking it for granted that they
were the property of Union men. At
Bradley's Crossing the number of refu-
gees increased every day, principally
mountaineers who had come up from
Tennessee or from the lower border coun-
ties of Kentucky. These men were all
armed with old fashioned hunting rifles,
and they were not only willing to face
south and fight, but they were eager for
it, for each man had some personal
wrong which he was more eager to
avenge than he was to carry back the
old flag to the hills.
All these men brought famished ap-
pOb1uCS, puU liz PIOFAclOAos
A few days after Magooness raid it
became evident that in another week, if
nothing were done, they would be called
on to face more relentless foe than the
Confederates under Zollicoffer and Crit
tenden, and that was famine. While
every man at the Crossing understood
that if he had to fight it would be under
the lead of Strong Dick Bradley, all, in
Guiding the blacksmith, looked up to
Father Peters as the man on whom they
must depend for counsel, and as the
Moses who was to lead the inevitable
promised land where there were strong
hands and keen bayonets to defend the
old flag.
After carefully talking over the situa-
ton together, the preacher and the
blacksmith assembled their friends in
the smithy, and the former mounted the
anvil block and, after the customary
prayer, delivered himself after this man
ner:
''My friends, winter is on us. Our
enemy, the rebels, swarm in the hills,
and if the reports that come to us be
true, and I believe that they are, few
more days will see us at the mercy of
such minions of Zollicoffer as this Het
Magoone. There are no doubt many
honest and Christian, but mistaken, men
in the secession army, but do not think
it would be prudent to assume that these
are the kind of people who will be sent
to Bradley's Crossing.
''Many of you have brought your
wives and children here, and while this
is natural | must believe it imprudent.
IF these had remained at home, OF will
return home now; or, if their homes are
destroyed, will seek haven among their
friends in the mountains, the men will
be freer to act. Brother Bradley and !
have prayerfully talked over the situa-
ton, and we have come to the conclu-
sion that every day we spend here is a
day lost to the cause, while our little
stock of provisions is being reduced.
We have therefore decided to start for
Camp Dick Robinson tonight. Once
there, those whose are able to bear arms
can be regularly enrolled and mustered
into the service of the Union, while if
we fight here we are apt to be regarded
as guerrillas and for the present, at least,
the government will be powerless to pro-
tect us.
sWhile my mission among you has
been one of peace, and have passed the
age when might be of much use even
if were skilled in the ways Of war, yet
with Gods help, can and 1 will fight
if we are not permitted to reach the
Union lines in peace.
81 will say to my good sisters and tc
the children who must remain behind
as their coming with us would hamper
the march, that it will not be long before
the troops of the Union swarm in these
mountains as the Confederates do now
and that their coming will insure pro
lection to all. We must move with
secrecy and rapidity, for there are spies
all about us. And now ask those who
are willing to follow the lead Of Brother
Bradley to Camp Dick Robinson to take
their stand at the back part of the
smithy."
1t was as Father Peters expected
every man at the Crossing and every
boy who could shoulder rifle, and these