The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-02

soon learned from reliable authority that W.
had inflicted severe Wounds upon several o
these brave rebels, and so completely frightened
the balance of the party that some of them re-
turned m med. to their camp With 4 their eyes oa'h''
They now reported that there was bush
whacker behind every Gree and bush in the
settlement where l lived, and they also re-
ported that they had been engaged with a.
least 40 or so of them. aud said while portion
of the bushwhackers we're fighting with theil
infantry, the others were engaged with theil
| cavalry. Owing to this terrible report about
bushwhackers whichowaSs4
| LOUDLY PRocLAIMED MI. THESE cowARDLI
THIEYEs
a company of 100 men belonging to John Nor
gan's command were Immediately sent int
Carter County to clear the country of bush
| whackers. But they never had the luck o
| finding any of the great host of bushwhackers
which had only been conceived in the imagr
nation of the scoundrel Teener and his base
| and recSl less myrmidons; for /, not having ye
recovered from my recent indisposi tion enough
to undertake trip. had gone to assist Ireada
way in conducting through the most dangerou;
parts of the mountains company OF men
whom he had undertaken to pilot through the
lines.
The rebel soldiers who were now sent into
Carter County had orders to burn my house
which orders they would doubtless have exc,
cuted had it not been for the interference o
the rebel citizens of the County. They told
these soldiers that they would prefer having
their own homes burned. For" said they, =" il
you burn Ellis's house. you will kindle flame
that cannot very soon be extinguished."
The rebel citizens, with but few exceptions,
were my personal friends, and they would
willingly have made up the losses that had
sustained by the rebel soldiers. if they could
have done it without being detected. But
concluded to make an attempt to recover my
property which the rebels had recently taken
from me- and which attempt was shortly made
and successfully accomplished in the following
manner:
The rebels were now engaged every day In
hauling forage, such as hay, oats, and green
corn, which they were unceremoniously taking
from the fields and the farms of citizens, and
| concluded to relieve them of one of their
teams at least. | made my intentions known
to Ebert and Bob Treadaway, and also to two
other friends, who at once agreed to assist me.
We therefore took a position on the side of the
road, and it was not long before we observed
a wagon approaching to which was attached
four very fine mules, and the forage master
who accompanied the wagon was riding very
fine horse just behind it. We stopped them in
the road and took out the mules, and also
captured the forage master, and told him to
get down from his horse. He and the wagon
driver were frightened dreadfully at being so
suddenly and unexpectedly surprised in the
public road, and began to
HAUL OUT THEIR CONFEDERATE MONEY
and their pocllet-knives to offer US as a ransom.
| told them that we had no use for their Con-
federate money, unless il were to klndle hres
with, or for them either. | said that they could
go on; that we only wanted the mules and
barsn fOrt no EaIpral Gnvernmpnt They left
in hurry, and so did we. We FASTENED with
the prize which we had thus captured to a
neghboring forest where we stopped to await
the pursuit Of the rebels. We did not have to
tarry very long until we saw large squad of
rebels coming on the track Of the mules, which
was very easy to be seen, as the ground was
wet. Each of US had taken position behind
tree, having we'll loaded navy pistol and an
eight.shooting Spencer rife apiece. We were
very anxious for the rebels to continue their
pursuit on this occasion for we wished to pay
them for the outrageous eillaines they had
been recently practicing upon the Union peo-
pie. But when they got TO the edge OF the
woods they very wisely stopped and took the
back track. doubtless feeling unwilling to risk
tho dangers they thought might suddenly
environ them beneath the outrageous foliage
of the forest trees.
They now went on TO Carter's Station aud
reported that the Yankees had come in above
them and captured portion Of their men and
horses Another report Was started that John
Morgan's wagon train had been captured by
the Yankees in the mountains of Carter County.
But the rebels made no more efforts to recover
their lost mules; and although company of
them were constantly searching the country
for me, yet ranged through my native hills
at pleasure, where my hoalth soon returned,
and | was again making preparations to start
with company of men through the lines,
when the news came to me that the Yankees
were again marching up the country, and l
determined to wait a short time for them
10 be confiaued)