The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-08

l. "A
, again, when, to my great joy, ! accidentally
discovered "A canoe whica had been washed uI
in pile of drift-wood. We quickly hauled il
out, but had no naddle to steer it with. One o.
the men went back to the drift and found &
piece of plank, which served for paddle
Providence I thought, had surely in this in
stance provided for us.
now felt sure that we would get through
safe. The current was rapid that it wat
some considerable time before all of the men
succeeded in getting across, and | thought that
would surely freeze before was done padding
the canoe backward and forward, but at length
the toisome task was accomplished, and we were
all safely landed upon the opposite shore just
as daylight was making its appearance. don
think old Charon himself ever labored more
sedulously in ferrying the ghosts who had
left their earthly tenement of clay over the
dark and turbid waters of the river Styx than
/ did upon this ever-memorabe night.
After crossing the North Fork of Holston
River we yet had mile to travel and public
road to cross before we conld reach a posi- ton
that was safe, and ! must confess that [ was
somewhat uneasy, as we could now hear
THE REBEL DRUM VERY DISTINCTLY.
There was nothing that stimulated stampeders
to active exerton like the idea of being in
proximity to the rebel soldiers and therefore
upon this occasion the men at once forgot their
sore feet and marched on rapidly until we
reached Cinch Mountain, where we found good
place of concealment and remained until even
| ing, at which time we started and crossed
| the mountain. When we got to the foot of the
mountain we stopped to rest until everything
was quiet and still, when we marched on and
crossed Little Poor Valley, and went on and
| crossed Copper Ridge
We now arrived at Copper Creek, which was
quite river in size owing to the recent hard
III \
plunged in and waded across it, and went on at
double quick speed and reached the foot of
PoweI's Mountain by daylight We continued
! to move rapidly on and reached Clinch River
early in the night.
We approached Clnch River very cautiously,
and found. as had already anticipated, that it
was too full for US to wade it. Something now
had to be done OF we would yet be compelled
| to turn back Every canoe and ferryboat
| where poor scouter could cross was vigilantly
| guarded. We had almost concluded that we
were now completely blocked in making any
further progress, when happened to think of
an old rebel who lived not far of. who always
kept a canoe, but kept it securely fastened.
| This was the only chance, and at once deter
mined to take him by surprise and so COM
| pletely circumvent him as to obtain his ready
consent to ferry us across the river in his canoe.
| We therefore went near the house and listened
| attentvely for some time, but could hear no
when large dog began to bark, which | was
afraid might rouse every person in the settle.
ment; but stepped up boldly to the house and
called.
THE OLD MAN CAME TO THE DOOR.
I asked him to set us over the river. He re-
piled that he could not, as the river was too
full to cross in the night, and that we must
wait until morning. told him that we could
not wait and that we must cross now without
Ill
such hurry. / told him at once that we were
going through the lines. also asked him if
there were any soldiers near. He said there
was company about a mile up the river who
were stationed there to intercept and capture
man by the name of Dan Ellis, who was en-
gagged in plotting men through to kentucky.
The old man continued: l have never seen
this man Ellis. hut have seen the trail that
he and his men have made in passing through
the Mountains
The old man went on to say: ELLIS is
very hard man to catch, as he travels altogether
after night. The soldiers were down here this
evening and said that they were diligently
watching for him aud his stampeders."
We now started him to the river and bade
him set us quietly over or that he IN ght meet
with fate that would not be very agreeable to
him. / thought that we would never get done
crossing that river. The old man did not
know whom he was talking to, but / believe
that he wished US to stay there until morning,
thinking we would all then be captured.
We pushed ahead rapidly, for we had been
delayed SO long at the river. 1t was nearly
midnight before all of us got across. The night
was very dark, but we hastened on through
fields and woods until daylight, when we be-
gan to climb the spnrs of Walling's Ridge upon
which we stopped and restedsand ate our break
fast keeping all the while sharp lookout for
the rebels. but none of them made their appear
ance. We proceeded farther on toward the top
of the ridge and stopped again, for the men
were so completely worn out with fatigue that
they could go no farther We were afraid to
make fire, fearing the rebels would see the
smoke and would thereby be enabled to find
US. Consequently we were com PEELED to shyer
all that day in the cold and bleak winds which
are always characteristic Of the dreary month
of March. The ground upon which we had to
lie down was cold aud wet, and
THE SKY WAS OVERCAST
by dark and gloomy clouds through which the
warm and cheering rays of the sun were totally
unable to penetrate. On the night of the 9th
of March we started OH our journey again.
The clouds looked heavy and threatened rain
or snow, and the wind howled its melancholy
drges in mournful cadences through the deep
gorges of the mountain. We went on, falling
over rocks and entanging ourselves in the
bushes, vending our way out of the mountain
toward Powell's Valley. There were many
ntue streams TO cross, WHICH we Waded
through without removing our shoes or socks.
As we approached the valley a universal fear
of the rebels seemed to pervade US all, for by
this time the clouds had passed away and the
moon was soaring along through the blue
vault of heaven in all her bright and lonely
majesty. light snow had fallen, which gave
considerable brilliancy to the gittering moon
beams.
Just at this time darkness would have been
much more preferable, not because our deeds
were evil, but because We thought that the
light of the moon would enable the rebels to
see us at greater distance than they could in
the gloom of darkness. But we could not COM
plain, for the hand of kind Providence had con-
Quoted us safe thus far aud l had no doubt
would conduct US to the end Of our journey if
we should observe proper care.
We were now in the cleared land, and the
bright light of the moon rendered everything
quite visible for considerable distance in
every direction, and the clothing of the men
being dark / fearful that we might be
seen. / must confess that l WAS at loss to
know what to do in the present emergency,
when ust at this time some dark flying clouds,
like wandering spirits in the heavens above,
rushed forward and completely obscured the
bright face of the moon. We now got by the
side of an old fence. row which was grown nm