The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-02
trv. and whenever they would see it some

try, and whenever they would see it some
of them would be sure to exclaim'
THERE Is ELLIs's TRAIL AGAIN.
Can't he he stopped from stealing our men
and taking them through the lines every
month ?n And this question would be an
swered by some one of the party as follows
"Not while these everlasting hills and
mountains stand to protect him and his
bands"
Indeed, / never knew until after the re-
belion occurred the real use of such rough
mountains, which only appeared TO be
suitable abode for wild beasts. But now
how eagerly the Union men sought their
prottciion from merciless and hlood-thirsiy
enemy! When safely lodged within their
silent and dismal recesses, we could laugh
their threats TO scorn, and dream OF the re-
venge we would yet live to have for our
days of dreadful suffering,
We continued to travel hard all night,
and by daylight had reached the spurs OF
Unaka Mountains, near the Greasy Cove.
After we travelled up the side of 1T, until We
arrived at a position which we considered to
be safe. we stopped and spent the day, with
out any interruption from the rebels. As
soon as darkness came on we started on
along the side of the mountain toward
Chuckv River We now had II miles to
travel before we could get TO a safe place to
cross, and directed my course to a shoal in
Al. H., I ba MOI Tyhn had
no horses could easily wade, as there was no
time To be lost in waiting for them to cross
In a canoe.
When we got to the river we crossed 1t In
a hurry and went on into long range of
rugged mountains whose lofty elevations
stretched out before us TO great distance,
and. after hard nights travel, when day
light came we were In a secure place upon
the mountain, where we rested at ease with
out any fear of being molested. l knew
they wonld be certain TO discover our trail
where we had crossed the river, but / had
no ide they would presume to risk their
precious lives in journey upon the rough
mountain over which we were then travel
ing We rested until II o'clock, and then
started on across Rich Mountain, through
deep hollows and over steep spurs. where
we had to pack our horse-feed upon our
backs, and had great difficulty in getting
our horses along. Some of the men were
now greatly fatigued, and as soon as it got
dark we stopped for the night, as the whole
company expressed desire to rest until
morning. The men washed and rubbed
their stiffened limbs, and after good nights
rest ali appeared to be very much refreshed.
We set out quite early next morning on an
other hard days travel. Some of the men
were very stiff aud sore, which caused them
to 60 limping and stumbling alcng, but
notwithstanding we pushed Oh as rapidly as
we possibly could. and at length got across
the mountain and stopped TO spend the
night on the headwalers of Horse Greek.
Some of the men rested and slept very well,
while Others were groaning and complaining
all night long with pains in their limbs.
There were some of the poor fellows who
seemed TO be in great distress about their
homes and families they had left behind,
and ih:s was by far the greatest source of
trouble to them for perhaps they had not
single dollar in their pockets, and their des-
titute families were left without any visible
means OF procuring the common necessities
of life This I thought was indeed sufi-
cient cause for sorrow and trouble, for
a TERRIBLE DEVIL CREEPs INTO THAT
MANS SOUL
who sees poverty and starvation standing
at his door These men had been waiting
for long time for the Federal forces to take
possession of the upper portion of East Ten
nessee and at last were compelled to 20
through the lines or be captured and forced
to 60 into the rebel army.
When morning came we started on over
tbickeis, which were usually found in the
deep boilows, and also through large patches
of green briers which tore our clothes.
AT night we stopped near Shells Cove,
in the lower part Of Greene County. That
night / thought it best to push on across
ChuclSy River, and therefore, after eating
supper and feeding the horses, we started
on, and reached Aliens Bridge about 10
o'c ock, where we crossed the river without
trouble and travelled On all night. When
daylight appeared we were about 10 miles
south OF Bulls Gap, and safely enscoDced
in position high up on Bays Mountain.
The men were all very tired, and some of
them were so completely exhausted that
they would doubtless have fallen out by the
wayside had it not been for the horses iu
The company, the owners of which rendered
every assistance to the worn-out men who
were walking, in permitting them to ride
their horses and this sort of interchange
greatly facilitated our progress. We had
done some very hard marching; but, as may
well be supposed, men whose lives were in
constant jeopardy did not stop long at any
time to discuss thedreadfui fatigue to which
we were subjected by our tiresome journey.
j very well knew that If this company
should be captured by the rebels every single
man Of them would at once be murdered in
most shocking manner, for the raid which
we had so recently made into Jackson
County had instilled into the rebel soldiers
adesperate thirst for revenge, and therefore
Twas convinced that the innocent portion
Of the company would have been made to
suffer with the guilty, and consequently