The National tribune., 1892-12-22
CHAPTER Xxx.

ney 10 henJucKys alter staying at nome only
| three days.
CHAPTER Xxx.
July "a, 1863, started again to Kentucky
with as many sconters as thought IL prudent
to take. Among this company were J. }. James
and John Hunt, of Fall Branch, Tenn. We had
| the usual hard time and narrow escapes, but
| finally reached tie Kentucky line in safety.
Mr.. James gave us considerable trouble, he
giving out and being unable to walk part of
the time without assistance. All the company
except James, who Was unable to travel farther.
went on to Louisville while started back to
Tennessee on the 1st of August.
While resting on top Of Ciinch Mountain, the
day being very hot suffered extremely with
thirst. / knew that | was endangering my
safety by going down the mountain TO look for
water, but the thirst was so aggrayating that
concluded to risk it.
therefore went along the side of the mount
ain for some distance, but could not see any
sign of water. l now discovered. some distance
below me. gap in the mountain, where con-
cluded there must be water. / went on until
| came to a road leading on through the gap.
/ did not like to travel on roads even after
night, much less in daylight. / continued
to follow this road until l came to a beautiful
spring of water, where / drank as much as
desired and then filled my canteeu.
my nose WAS saiuted with most horrible
smell 1 Immediately began to look around
for the cause Of the odor, when, horrible to re-
late. in civilized country / saw the
FLEsHLEss SKELETONS OF THREE HUMAN
BTINGs
hanging to a bending sapling. I went up
nearer and exami ned them there was no frag-
ment Of clothing to be seen and the flesh had
all decayed from their bones. The hair had
fallen of their heads and was lying beneath
them upon the ground. The bones of two of
them were all united together, forming two
whole skeletons, while the backbone Of the
other one hung separated Just below the ribs
the legs and hipbones having fallen to the
ground. / presume that he had been shot
through the back bone, which had caused his
frame to separate where il did. They bad been
hung with hickory bark, which had been
peeled off of some hickory sprouts growing
near. for the hickory sprouts off which the
bark had been peeled were still there to be seen.
! at once guessed that they were fugitives who
had bee1 captured while they were trying to get
through the lines. did not tsrry long at this
spring. for well knew that the fate which had
been allotted to these poor men would ungues-
tionably be meted out to me if should fall
into the hands of the rebels.
When got a short distance from the spring
/ met woman coming down the roud, and,
after the usual salutatiOn, short coiloquy en-
sued between US. as follows:
How came these men to be hung upon that
tree?"
She replied: "They were parcel of Lincoln
lies our boys captured at that spring while they
were getting water
"That il horrible sight, madam Is that
the way the Limeolntes are treated when they
are so unfortunate as to be captured 2"
Yes; they receive mercy whatever from
our boys Ii you will 20 down the road about
100 yards you will find parcel of them that
were captured here short time ago and were
shot Immediately. and were thrown behind an
old log and covered up with leaves and
chunks"
'How does 1t happen that so many men are
captured in this neighborhood 2"
why, there is company Of soldiers sta
toned on Cinch River, and they have
SELECTED THE BEST HUNTERS
in the country to watch the roads and mount
ain paths, to catch men who are making their
way through the lines"
We'll, that is the most diabolical sight !
have ever witnessed in all my life"
o. that is not strange sight to me, by any
means. / have seen tho hats and the shoes
taken off Of many LincoIntes; have seen
them kneel to pray before being shot"
And did 1T cause you no emotions of pity
to witness such a terrible spectacle?"
"No; none whatever. That is the way men
ought to be treated whenever they are caught
running away to old Abe. All of them ought
to be killed"
But do you think that the men whom YOU
have seen murdered were really guilty of any
crime for which they deserved to be killed 2"
Yes; / have no sympathy for them what.
ever. / believe it is perfectly right to kill
them whenever they are eaught ! have a
husband and two brothers i'm the Southern
army, and every man who is unwilling to fight
for the Southern Confederacy. who may be
caught in the act of running off to Kentucky
ought 10 be hung or shot"
This pugnacious virago was quite talkative
and do not think she was more than % years
of age She was young in years. but old in
wick edness.
j would have asked more questions about
the murders which she had witnessed, aud
which she had talked about with such perfect
GOODNESS, but / was afraid to remain any longer
IN this dismal valley, where tile
BONES AND SKELETONS OF DEAD MEN
seemed TO give terror whatever, even to
woman. | therefore bade this loauacions
female rebel good-day, and hastened on toward
the rough mountain, for | was altogether out
Of my range. ] must confess that | felt ex-
tremely melancholy after the terrible spectacle
/ had seen, and. forgetting my weariness con-
tinued To travel on all day aud night, and by
daylight l reached the Flats, whore my old
friend, Mrs. Grills, gave me a warm break fast.
| remained there all day, aud when night
came ! started my journey. and reached
the old hills of Carter County by daylight.
being greatly fafigued and with very sore feet
found very many who had been anxiously
awaiting my return. and WAS at once con.
vinced that there was no rest for me, for the
constant question was. when will you start
again 2" and :" Do not leave me this time" Was