The National tribune., 1893-02-16

as far as Bulls Gap. when the brigade discon-
tinued the chase and returned to Morristown,
having captured the artillery and wagons be-
longing to the rebels, together with some 200
prisoners.
Gen. Vaughn and his men had been saying
for a long time that they would take Knox
vile, and their prediction was now accom-
plished, for Gillem sent their wagons and
teams together with their drivers, who were
made to continue at their posts, and the prison
ers all on to Knoxville together. The Union
soldiers would say to them: You are now
going to take Knoxville sure enough" The
rebels would answer that they believed it, but
they would take Knoxville on this occasion IN
quite different way to what they had ex-
pected.
The brigade returned to Morrstown and
went into camp. The loss on the Federal side
was very slight. The ambulance was sent ont
to bring in the dead who had fallen upon the
field of battle, and so rebels who had been
killed were brought in on that day. The next
day the search was continued, and 30 more
were brought in, besides many who were badly
wounded.
When the Federal troops fell back from Car
ter's Station / was with them, and although l
did not belong to the service.
IENGAGED IN THE MoRRIsTowN FIGHT
as though | had been regular soldier. After
the battle / again returned to the Counties Of
Carter and Johnson to enlist recruits for the
18th regiment. ] had enjoyed myself finely
while l was assisting to defeat and run the
rebels at Morristown, and now, unfortunately,
the next race was to be one in which l had to
work in the lead, and which / can assure the
reader did not enjoy half so WELL After my
arrival among my native hills having as usual
a large number of letters to circulate. pro-
ceeded at once on my mission to distribute the
1ast Il I.-f fn-f ft,n
regiment My first place of destination was
the Doe River Cove, i'll Carter County. As 1
had large package for the widow Campbell,
who had two sons in the 18th, felt very much
troubled in my mind as went along, for which
/ was altogether unable satisfactorily to ac-
count. But have since often thought that it
was an instructive melancholy forebodiDg of my
approaching trouble, when my life was to be
placed in imminent ueril. AT one time l
almost concluded TO turn back, but having
generally made it rule never to begin any
thing without accomplishing it, and nothing
urging me TO turn back except my melancholy
feelings, | went on and sooh overlook two of
my scouting friends, who were eli route for the
same place that / was. My depressed spirits
were now somewhat raised, and we soon ar
rived near the house where designed stopping.
/ told my companions that / would call Mrs.
Campbell UP on ridge which was close to her
house and give her the packages that had for
for her where could watch for any rebel SOL
diers that might be prowling about. To this
proposition my friends objected. saying that
they were going To the house and that must
go along with them, they did not think
there would be any danger in SO doing, for
there had been no rebels in the cove for three
weeks But / still protested against the propo-
sition of going to the house, and they started
on, leaving me alone. / sat on the hill for some
time looking up and down the road for rebels,
but could not see any person stirring about.
Having torn rent in my trousers. now con-
cluded to 20 down TO the house and have it
mended, and then hasten away, as had many
places yet TO go. After taking another observa-
tion up and down tho road for rebel soldiers
and seeing none / proceeded to the house.
There was clump of spruce, pine and laurel
bushes standing between the house and the
road, and not so yards from the house. which
completely obscured the part of the road run
ming Immediately behind it from view. This
thicket was full of rebel soldiers, who had
doubtless therein consealed themselves for the
purpose of watching my movements. But
having failed TO discover them / went into the
house, where / found my companions. / at
once called for needle and thread, and while
one of the family was getting it for me went
to the door to look out for danger, as was al
together out Of my true element whenever /
was in house, and now felt restless and un-
easy. When / looked out of the door-oh,
horror of horrorsi--I saw a number of rebel
soldiers not 30 yards from the house
COMING AS HARD AS THEIR HORSES COULD
CARRY THEN,
with their guns and pistols drawn. Some of
the family said: Get in the cellar; We can
hide YOU" But on this occasion | did not
approve of the suggestion. and jumped out at
the door in an instant. and started as rapidly as
my legs could carry me for the woods. The
rebels now commenced firing their guns and
pistols in good earnest. When l sprang over
the fence surrounding the house, the bullets
were singing an awful dirge sll around me.
One ball struck the top of the rail-fence and
scattered the splinters in my face BY this time
my two companions were with me running as
eagerly aud as desperately as il there was to be
a valuable prize at the end OF the race 10 the
successful competitor in tue terrible contest.
We had about 800 yards TO run before we could
get 10 the woods aud the worst Of it was there
was no underground in the woods that we could
hide in. even if we should succeed in getting
there. On came the rebels. haIlooIng, Halt!
Haiti Halt" and shooting at us all the time.
We had not run very far until both my CON-
pAnions were captured. One of them was
captured immediately before me- and the other
one just behind me. and how ] eve: did escape
will always be source of astonishment 10 me,
for their horses were all around me.
When / started from the house j had dropped
my pistols and belt, but | held on to my 16-
shooting rife. The odds against me were SO
great that it would have been perfectly simple
for me TO endeavor to defend myself by fight
ing and therefore / determined, il posi- BILE,
to save myself by flight. | knew that they
would murder me i'll a most shameful and igno-
minious manner if they should succeed in
capturing me. / therefore resolved that
would much rather be killed while endeayoring
to make my escape than to be taken alive by
these infamous scoundrels who, had no doubt,
would take the greatest delight III putting me
to the utmost torture. / therefore strained
every nerve to save myself, for / thought that
while ! had life ] had hope Of saving it. l
could not entertain the idea for a moment of
being caught and shot in that mountain by
these brutal soldiers. who had more mercy
for Union man than they had for q sheep
killing dog, and j well knew that they would
rather kill me than to kill rattlesnake.
Summonng all my strength L sprang out of
the crowd, which surrounded me on every
side, and ran up steep bank while they were
firing at me continually. One of them ex-
claimed " Knock him down with your gum"
and another one hallooed, Run your horse
over hin!" But i got away from that crowd
and ran on up the ridge, where / was met by
another squad of soldiers that had not before
seen. i was now almost exhausted. They
began to charge on me with their horses,
shooting at every jump. / still thought my
life too dear to be surrendered to these ruff
fans. and determined TO die rather than sur.
render Making another desperate effort l