The National tribune., 1893-03-16


gaily.trimmed Jackets and shining blue pants;
and there were the Union citizens looking sad
and detected enough. at the thought OF leaving
their families and homes. There were also the
rebel soldiers who had deserted the Southern
arnlv some of whom were gentlemen ana were
highly respected by the Union men. But 1t
was not so with number of the mated Home
Guards who had become tired OF the rebel SER
vice and had ventured 10 risk themselves IN
the company. hoping thereby to make a safe
retreat from further oppression. They stood
like condemned criminals, with downcast eyes
and they listened in mute silence TO the
rihaldry aud abuse which was heared uron
them l.y the Union citizens and soldiers, who
would most assuredly have inflicted upon them
severe corporal punishment had 1t not heeh Tor
my interference i'm their behalf which relieved
them from their threatened destiny; and last of
ell i'm this mixed reiiHue of stampeders there
we've number of negroes, who were going
through the lines to join the Federal army.
As soon as il was dark we started forward,
and
DUvALL AND HIS GANG OF THIEVES
having heard that j had started with large
company followed us as far as James Doug giasss
house. which is situated on the turnpike lead
ing on through the Doe River Cove. The
rebels stopped a. this point and made particu-
lar inquiry in regard to the company, and after
being informed of its magnitude they very
wisely concluded to turn back and left us to
pursue our journey without interruption.
The night was dark, the sky being overcast
with black and dismal clouds, from which snow
frequently descended and was whirled along
upon the wings of cold and chilling wintry
wind but notwithstanding the dreary gloom OF
the night and the severity OF the cold. We
pressed on our journey, the footinen wading
through the creeks and branches and stum-
bling along over logs stuinps. and rccks. We
hastencd on and by daylight were near the
Greasy Cove in Washington County. We did
not stop at this place, but pushed on toward
Chucky River, where We had the good luck to
find a canoe. in which the footmen crossed,
while those who were riding had TO swim their
horses through the river. We went on i've
miles farther and stopped to eat and feed our
horses.
/ now considered that we were beyond the
reach Of our enemies, and therefore / felt en-
tirely easy. Some of my readers may wonder
why il was that ] preferred to scout secretly
through the mountains, when my company
was composed Of number of Federal officers
ard soldiers The principal reason that
we did not have the proper arms 10 fight with,
neither did we have ammunition sufficient to
authorize US TO engage IN a tight with the
rebels; besides, il was just about as much as
the men could do to carry enough provisions on
their backs to last them until they got through
the Lines, for the road was very rough and pro-
visions fer large company OF men could not
be obtained along the road.
While we were resting for short time we
observed several women who lived in the
mountains going in the direction of Chucky
River to hunt for provisions for their families,
and scme OF them told us that they had walked
u or - miles and would be compelled to
CARRY UPON THEIR BACKS
whatever they might be able to procure all
the way back to their homes. Some of them
said that their children had not had piece of
bread for three days. and ] thought from every
indication that they were telling the truth,
for they looked pale and haggard, their cloth
ing was thin and very indifferent, and their
wornout shoes were tied on their feet with
strings. IN fact, some Of them were entirely
destitute of shoes, and had rags wrapped
around their feet. Some of them said their
husbands were IN the Federal army. and that
they were then living IN camps, their houses
having been burned and ali their property de-
stroyed by the rebels. j divided what money
! had among them, which seemed TO dry up
their tears, and they went on their way re-
ioicing at the unexpected and timely assistance
they had received. j thought it was very in
adequate assistance considering their destitute
condition.
1t was now the 10th of February, and we
started on our journey at daylight and travelled
on steadily ali day, crossing knobs and wadlng
men found TO be serious mpediment, for
every little stream Of water was full to over
flowing. Late in the evening we reached
Shelton Laurel. and as we were going down
branch overlook poor woman who was carry
ing two bushels of cornmeal on her back and
wel-grown child on her hip. This / thought
tolerably good load. She was not far
from her house when we overlook her, but /
got one Of the men to take the child before him
on his horse and carry it TO the house. She
said she had carried her heavy burden about
two and a half miles.
We arrived at immense pine thicket,
where We stopped to spend the night. Alter
eating supper and feeding our horses, we lay
down TO sleep, but sleep seemed to be altogether
impossible, for
THE GROUND WAS WET
and the air was SO extremely cold that we
could not rest with any degree of satisfaction.
We all passed very uncomfortable night, and
when daylight came we were ready TO start on
our journey. We made our way toward the
road that leads from Marshall, n. c., TO Greene
willie, Tenn. We all had the watercourses to
wade, which Was very serious Inconvenience
for the weather very cold.
1T was nearly night when we got to Shells
Cove, al which place there was company of
rebels stationed. consequently We waited until
dark 10 cross the Cove, which we did with per-
feet safety. 1t was q beautiful starlight night
aDo We Travelled on unttl midnight, when We
stepped 10 rest until morning.
We started on early tire next morning. and
after travelling about five miles We came near
valley which we had TO cross, and stopped
untii night came on again. when we started on
at rapid pace, and Travelled until 3o'clock the
next morning, when we stopped The men
were suffering very much from cold and from
their wet clothing.
At daylight started on, and had it not
been for the horses We had with us, some of
the men would have been left on the read, for
they were completely tired down, and some of
their feet were ia bad condition and were
bleeding profusely. Their wornout shoes af-
forded very Indifferent protection from the ex-
tremely cold weather About O'Clock in the
evening we arrived at Leaper's Mill, on Chucky
River. where we had the good fortune 10 find
canoe. in which the men who were walking
crossed the river, aud those who were riding
had TO swim their horses. We then went OH 10
SDringvalo, where the Federal forces were
stationed. We stopped here long enough "a
horses, and then pushed on until we found a
good situation TO locate oGr encampmemt lOr
the night We built large fres and passed tho
night quite comfortably, for we had no fear;
now OF being surprised by the rebels. We
started on very early the next morning and
Travelled steadily forward all day. We now got
provisions from the people as we passed alonl
without any difficulty.
When might came on we camped out in thu