The National tribune., 1892-11-10

/
| would be calculated to cheer the dropping spir
its of our party in their forlorn and lionel,
| situation.
None of the party would accompany me, ant
| j determined to go alone; and. after remainin.
| in the woods few days near my home. gath
ering all the information which could be OBJ
tained, l returned to my friends. Afterward
regularly once week, would visit my home
| carrying with me numbers of letters from the
men in our camp. which l conveyed to theil
| families, receive from them letters in reply
and all the news which ] could hear. and then
hasten back to the camp again. This was EN-
| ployment for me- and also employment for the
| lonely and destitute party in the camp whose
spirits by this time were getting very low and
desponding.
During the first few weeks our hopes were
buoyed by the sincere belief that the YAM
KEGS would soon come to our relief; but as our
| hopes in this respect got small by degrees and
| beautifully less, we became convinced that we
| must resort to some means of dispellipg the
| gloomy cloud of dependency which was gath
| ering in darkness around us. Col. Slower con-
| cluded to venture back home and there try to
conceal himself from the industrious search of
| the rebel marauders, who were now proving
| through the country. He was the first man /
ever engaged to pilot, for / had passed back
ward and forward so often that was familiarly
acquainted with every path which led from our
camp TO our homes and he having been so long
confined, was not willing to undertake the
Journey alone. Therefore, after bidding his
friends an afectionate adieu, and placing HIM
self under my care we started, and / succeeded
in conducting him safely to his own home and
then returned to the camp The rebels were
ransacking the country in every direction, and
our little party at the camp was greatly trou-
bled, fearing that our hidng-pla would by
some means be discovered. and no mercy could
ta6 <ho h lace
they should succeed in capturing U.s. for we
almost daily heard the
TERRIBLE THREATS OF VENGEANCE
which were made against us if we should be
found. These threats We believed would be full
hlled to the letter. for il was just at this time that
young man by the name of Andrew j. Ward
was fouily aad cruelty murdered, because he re-
fused to take the oath 10 support the so-called
Southern Confederacy. He was harmless, in
offensive. and very pious young man, and was
endeavoring TO keep ont of the way in order
TO avoid being forced TO take this infamous
oath. He WAS murdered in Carter County by
a squad Of Col. Yanee's men from North Caro-
INA, who at this time were In charge of q
reckless scoundrel by the name of Landon
Ellis, who was a citizen of Carter County.
Young Ward did not try very hard TO effect an
escape when he saw the rebels, doubtless con-
soing himself with the reflection that ss he
was peaceful and quiet citizen, they would
not probably. molest him. But, alas little
did be think he was falling into the hands of
set OF obdurate devils, who were as destitute of
mercy rs the lion or the tiger when saking their
thirst in the life blood Of their trembling VIC
tim. he told them that he was Union man,
and did not wish 10 take the oath. neither did
he wish TO fight on either side. Ellis then or
dered him 10 be shot, and his confederates in
crime all agreed that il was best to kill some
i ms l.. IL.
ing that would urge them to come out of the
cause them to take the oath of
fealty ana join the Southern army rather than
TO encounter the hazards of sharing similar
fate. 1t was therefore determined by this sage
body of rebel murderers to make young Ward
the first victim in Carter County to their hell
lsh malice. He only requested them to grant
him short time to pray; but this request was
refused, and miscreant by the name
Of Joseph Murphy
SHOT HIM N THE LEFT BREAST
,he ball ranging through and coming out near
,he backbone. He ran about 10 steps before
ne fell, when his murderers pouneed- tpon him
Ike beasts of prey, stripping him Of his C 9TH
ng even before the spark of life had entirely |
'een extinguished. This foul deed of rebel |
Ilolence was perpetrateda on the 14th day of |
1861.
After Col Stover left our camp / became |
Iuite restless 80 there was now but very little |
nail Tor me to carry; and Is the number in |
'ur camp was constantly receiving accessious |
1y the arrival OF more bridge burners. there |
ore left my friends in the camp and went to |
scouting among the Union people of the coun-
ny. still continued to console myself with |
he reflection that, upon the return of Spring, |
he Yankees would surely come. But Spring |
i last came, but no Yankees appeared with it.
summer was now approaching, clothed in its
feh garniture of sunbeams and flowers, but /
could not hear of any ad vance being made in
ms direction by the Yankees My friends
till fingered in the mountains and would not,
Ike myself, venture out, and were constantly |
discussing the propriety of making an effort |
o get through the rebel lines. They unani- |
nously agreed that if would assist they could |
'robably succeed in reaching the desired haven
4 repose. AS for myself, / had no fears in |
journey to the Federal lines,
nd determined at once to engage in its prose-
ution. Having family who were dependent
n my exertions for support. ! knew that
ouid not remain here in idleness SO long as