The National tribune., 1893-03-23


the Shelton Laurel about daylight where We
STOPPED TO REST FOR THE DAY.
Tho news soon spread among the settlers
that was on my way to Knoxville and was at
my old stand. and about 10 o'clock the women,
and what few old men there were left began
20 come to our encampment They told Us the
rebels had been in that neighborhood the day
before, hunting for me. The rebels told these
people they had started when | did. and had
come along my old route. l have always be-
licved there was some traitor with them, who
| was showing them the way. But i had
changed my route by going farther up on the
mountain, thereby escaping the rebels who
were 80 certain of capturing me on this very
trip, for the Captain of the rebel band had
told these people that he intended to have me;
that had given them the dodge long enough
Also that there was q reward Of $500 for my
head, aud he wanted that money to buy him .
farm.
These people also told rs that the rebels were
then stationed in Aliens Gap, which was low
elevation where the public road crossed the
tain, waiting for u.s. They were guard
ing the road on each side of the mountain.
This news excited the men so much that / had
some trouble in getting them reconciled. Some
of the men said it would be impossible for
to get through the gap without being captured.
l told them as for myself was not afraid. 1t
was their safety that concerned me so much,
follow me / wOuld take them through safe
We then baked another bushel of cornmeal
into bread, as we had done the day before, and
when night came had my men ready to start.
My hemp sack was now much heavier, as had
received several packages of letters from the
people who had visited Us during the day.
Before starting on our march got mp on log
and made my men speech, for they were very
much excited, somo wanting to go back, while
some of them wanted to disband and let every
man take care of himself. Ny speech seemed
to quiet them, and we started on our nights
march. The wind was blowing very hard
and cold, but We went on until We could look
down in the gap whore we saw the campfres
of the rebels who were watching for us. / had
told my men we would catch the rebels nap
ping, for they would not expect Us to pass
through in the forcpart of the night. So we
pushed forward until we came near the wagon
road on the left side of the mountain, where /
halted the men and went forward
TO SEE WHERE THE REBELS WERE.
The timber grew thick on both sides of the
road. / went up and down the road about so
yards each way, and not hearing or seeing any
one, went back to where had left the men and
told them that the way was clear. / then put
them about 80 abreast. and told them to follow
me- We went in q run across the road, and
when we got about 100 yards from the road /
stopped the company to see If / could hear any.
thing of the rebels. We could hear several of
them going along the road where We had
crossed, on horses. / always thought we crossed
between two picket-posts. but this was only
surmise on my part, as had no way of verify
ing my belief in this case.
The rebels had their fire built at the place
where had heretofore crossed the road, think
ing would cross at that point. left the gap
to my right, crossing on the left Of my old
crossing place.
When the rebels had gone out of hearing we
started on up the mountain, feeling very much
relieved, for we were now safe and could travel
the remaining part of the night without fear Of
danger. The men forgot their sore feet and
lame lega while making this forced march, for
they sill kept up TO the front going up the
mountain, as though there was nothing the
matter with them.
The men now had the utmost confidence in
me, and said they would follow me; let what
ever come it would not disturb them. AS long
as had brought them safe thus far, they were
willing to trust me.
We travelled all night and by daylight were
within three miles of gap in the mountain
where the Warm Springs road crossed. was
well aware that this was another place of dam
ger, but we had given the rebels the go-by at
Aliens Gap, / was con ident that / could give
them the dodge at this gap.
We now stopped to rest for the day on Little
Brushy Mountain. and soon the people began to
come to US, bringing more letters for me to take
to their friends in the army, They also in
formed US that there was about 400 rebel SOL
diers
GUARDING THE WARM SPRINGS ROAD,
watching for u.s. The rebels would not al
low anyone to pass, and the people who came
to our camp had to go several miles around to
get to Us. The rebels were very sanguine, and
told the people that l had given them the
dodge often enough, but they would get me
tonight certain. / had heard this news so
often that it did not excite me any. and the
men were not so easily frightened as they were
on the day before and said they were willing
to risk it tonight, feeling confident that I
could conduct them safely through "a I had
done the night before.
Our provisions were now very scarce not
being more than half rations, and our load con-
sisted mostly Of letters and packages for the
Federal soldiers. When night came we started,
travelling along the highest parts of the mount
ain, which was very rough. The stars were
shining brightly, which enabled Us to see our
way much better than the previous nights.
When we got on the top of the mountain we
could see the campfres of the rebels where we
had to cross the road. When we got near the
gap left the men and went forward to find
some place, if possible, that was not guarded,
so that we could cross. felt certain that as
we had given them the go-by the night before
tEcy WoUlu NC uOuDly UllISeuI Oh tulS OcCaS1O0y
and as we lad been sufficiently warned of this
danger, deemed it prudent to act very eau
tiously, for capture meant horrible death for
me, and the men would probably be sent to
some loathsome prison, whore they would suffer
more than death.
While / felt confident Of getting through
safely, / must confess that my feelings on this
night while approaching this road were not
very pleasant to the mind, and my approach to
the road was one of caution. When did reach
it / stood listening for several minutes, but
could hear no sound. ] went into the road
and could not see or hear anything of the
rebels. This was at my old place of crossing
and the rebels were not guarding it as closely
as thoy had done the night before, thinking
would take the other side of the mountain, as
had done the night before / went back to
my men, and again placing them about 30
abreast checred them up as best / could and
told them to follow me- We went slowly until
we got within so yards of the road, when We
went in double-quick march across the road,
and did not stop until we were some distance
up the rough mountain. / then halted the
men to see if we could hear anything. but We
could not. / then told the men that we would
have to travel about 20 miles to reach
PLACE OF SAFETY,
for was determined to get so far ahead of the |
rebels this night that we would be out of
danger.
By daylight we had reached our place of
safety. The men were so badly crippled and |
wornout with fatigue that when we stopped |
thav Law down among the brush and lOps and !