The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-26
UNDER KIRK'S HALTER.
True Story OF Adventure With Mountain
Bushwhackers.
From the Grccnrille Mc,0s.

True 6Cory OF Adventure Win Mounthlu
Bushwhackers.
From the Grccnrille Ncps.
Nearly every old Confederate soldier
knows of the depredations and atrocities
of Kinks command of bushwhackers,
which operated in Tennessee and North
Carolina during the war. Kirk and his
men committed all kinds of crimes, and
murder was frequent with chem. Many
tired and weary Confederate, on his
way home with furlough, his mind full
of sweet memories and his heart full of
hope at meeting wife or siater or father
or brother, was captured by the band and
shot or hung. Every Confederate hated
Kirk and his men. Throughout Ten
nessee and North Carolina the name of
Kirk was terror. Women were beaten,
assaulted and robbed and men were tor
tured in every conceivable way. Chief
of Police Ligop, of this city, and two
comrades were captured by Kinks men
but he and one comrade escaped. The
other was shot. Chief Ligon has often
been asked to tell the story and consent
ed to give a history of his capture and
escape to NeaVs reporter. The story Is
given word for word as told by him. It
is not only thrilling story but gives
some important history never published
--of how and who supported Kirk and
his lawless gang and how the gang was
at last broken up. Kirk, the leader, is
said to be living in New York. Chief
Ligon said:
''In 1864 while Longstreet was en-
camped near Bulls Gap, SOME distance
east of Knoxville, in the mountains of
Tennessee, his army was being furlough-
ed 20 per cent. I sent in an application
which was soon returned approved. I
had not been home in two years, but
Lieut.. VIM. Jones, of our company, re-
ceived intelligence that his wife was
lying at the point of death. He had
already been home on furlough, conse-
quently could not get another. made
him present of mine. At this he was
overjoyed, and I felt repaid. General
Gary, on hearing of the circumstance,
ordered me another turlough without my
knowledge of it, aud l received it the
next day. We could have gone by rail-
road by the way Of Bristol, Richmond
and Columbia, which would have taken
too much of our thirty days, and we
thought we would walk through. We
knew it was dangerous undertaking.
We set out on foot, mysolfand one of my
comrades, Tyler Mouchett, lMooshat,)
who also had 81 furlough. We were
making good progress, but on the second
day We were ndvissd by citizens to turn
back as that section was full Of bush
whackers, We were told also that a
force of our men, under Colonel Wood
fin, had attacked the bushwhackers and
succeeded in driving them off the field,
but were still fighting ahead of us, and
continued until late in the evening, when
our force withdrew for the night. Ny
self and comrade kept on, however.
Toward night we passed through the
battle field. Dead horaes and blood
marked it, with many other battle signs,
such as blankets, hats, SCARED trees, etc.
Just at aunset We were at the old Alex.
ander stock station, on tho French
Broad. I suggested to Tyler las ! called
him) that we go little further aud sleep
in the cliffs. No. said he, it is getting
80 cold that it may rain or snow on u.s.
/ told him that I did not think it prudent
to stay in house, but to please him We
went to house and asked man who
was in one room if he would grant US
permission to stay in the house. He
consented. I believe he was the man
that reported US. We soon had 8 good
fire and the SNOW began to fall. We ate
our supper and spread out our blankets
for our beds. Then aome one Knocked at
the door. It was James N. Brock, who
had served over year 10 our company,
but had been transferred to Earle's COM
pany, in Tapscott's cavalry. he had a
furlough and was on his way home.
His meeting US there was pleasant sur
prise to all of US. When ne had passed
a happy hour asking after all the boys,
we lay down and were all soon sound
asleep. But our slumbers were rudely
broken. OF sudden the doors and
windows were burst open and heavily
armed rufiians rushed in demanding our
surrender in the most insolent terms.
Fifteen or twenty guns and pistols were
drawn on US. / told them that we would
submit, that their number and advan.
tage required it, but nothing else. As
soon as we surrendered they crowded
down on US and took possession of every
thing ne had, knapuacks, haversackO,
blankets, csnteens, money, everything.
1 had collection of trophies which I
priced very highly. I remember that I
had eleven books, which I had gotten eff
different battle fields. Among them was
Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress. My pocket
book, which was very long one, con
tained $3.50 and Iny mothers guild ring
(which she accidentally dropped into q
box of provisions which she hai sent me
some months before.) This tho captain
of the party Hack Nortou) put in his
trousers pocket.
GAS soon aa they took US out of the
house said to them: Nov, boys, you
have taken all We have. Let us CO.
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