The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20
SAM MeouEEN's CAPTURE.
How He Tried TO Escape and Met His Death
Mt the Hands of Dan Ellis's Men.

SAM MeQUEEN'S CAPTURE.
How He Tried TO Escape and Met His DeatI
| at the Hands of Dan Ellis's Men.
| TAVING been faithful reader of the
- TRIBUNE for the past 10 or II years
| and having seen many things of in.
terest thatwould never have come to MY kno vi
edge had it not been for the kindness of an old
comrade in persuading me to subscribe for this
paper, which have long since considered by
| far the best publication for the ex.soldier In
| our broad land | only wonder how any old
comrade can afford TO do without it, for it Is
| hard to find paper that contains greater di-
| versity of subjects, and subjects that must be
| of interest to some one of every household.
| Cannot name them all; but suffice it to say that
such letters Of travel and history as those
written by Frank G. Carpenter alone are
worth many times tho cost of this paper and
often one number will contain whole Camp
fire in itself-speaker music, refreshments of
all kinds las we old soldiers who served in East
Tennessee do not use appleJack now, aud a
hearty greeting with some old boy we have
not met since the Spring of 10. But to
the subject of McCtueens capture aud taking
off.
Sometime about March IL. 1866, troops that
had been having a soft time of it for man y
months within the defenscs Of Knoxville heard
something drop la their while on dress
parade IN the way OF order to prepare to
take the field in light order. March
15 the 1st Z. S. c. III. A.. over LOCO strong,
fled out Of cur old camp and through Knox
vile aud on to Strawberry Plains in polling
storm of rain and snow, and oh such mud
Some of the boys with No I2 or Ia brogau
their feet wonld settle in the mud so deep
as to require help to cxtricatc themselves But
several days later, alter marching aud wading
mountain streams of ice-cold water from ankl9
to waist deep, found four companies of in
camp two niles south of Taylorsvlle, at a place
! think was called Blaine's Crossroads.
We were under command OF Maj. Gray tho
Colonel and the balance of the regiment were
down on the Vafauga River, 20 80
miles below As we had no suppfytrain TO
reach US from the rear, and only very limited
supply OF ratioas in camp. 1t was necessary
to pick up someGhing sruund tire country from
our friends, aud rs the Johnnics had visited
them so often and made themselves so familiar,
we thought best TO return the compliment, and
it was one OF these foraging expeditions
that Mcqueen was taken in.
/ WIS notified one evening that my turn had
ceme to go cut with few teams and that
/ cerld bring in. aud that tho course were
to take WAS over the mountain, distance of
about 10 miles, TO place near Jefferson, N. C.,
where weuld find Il couple Of rich planta-
items aud mill sierrd with grain SALT etc |
also told that a strong guard would be
furnished ME, the chances wero that we
might have interview with q company of
rehs that made their headquarters at this
place.
Ny train consisted 10 army wagons--mule
teams; for guard, 40 colered soldiers of my
regiment, aud II of the fth Tenn. twhite).
Aside from this guard there were four or Eve
mosnted boys, who volunteered to go along for
the fun of the occasion. Among this number
WAS East Teuhesseean who was we'll
qasinted with the country and people. He
rode by my side most of the way over and
posted me as to hos wond End the places we
were To visit Cor our supplies.
The farm TO the right Was owned by reb
by the naRe of Hamilton. and a little further
Oh, and to the left, was the Worth place, noted
reb, where Mcqueen and daughter had been
stopping since cur advent into East Tennessee;
also a widow lady by the name of Wagner,
whose home was At ia lorsyille.
l found Miss Hamilton very spirited young
lady, nratI Y dressed In j sat of iiomespnn goods
aud apparently ready To fight for Southern
ghts. But in her helpless condition, being
alone With her mother aud little brother, she
felt tbgt she greatly overp0Sered, and
feared that they were to be robbed of all
th55 they possessed | assured her that no
soldier shoali enter tho house, but that We
shosld have to visit nice large corn crib lust
back Of ihe house, aud this we did when
found here chance TO swap his mule for a
good horse.
Enfs trade N 1855 Hamilton did not like, but
told her it Was done a military necessity,
as the mule needed rest and ws had to have
horses in our business, aud if there WAS any
difference in the warttf of them TO present her
bill to u nele Sam aioBg with the corn bill, and
if they were loyal people | thought the bill
would be paid in due time. / inquired of
Miss Hamilton If there were any rebs in that
vicinity, and was told that company had just
left there as we came mp. and were likely to re-
Turn at any time. This proved to be sruc, for
about two hours later. as we had nearly finished
loading up at the mill, company Of about 80
rebs made an attack upon the boys, bat were
soon driven back
We started on our return trip, and when
about four miles had been made one of the
wagons near the front went down with a
br pken wheel, which cansed delay OF some
time. And while here / looked back On the
road and saw ilis Tennessee soldier and
other of the mounted boys censing with two
old men citizens, marching in front OF them.
0ne Of these old men was McQueem, and this was
tho way that they were taken in: They had
been hid near the road, and saw, as they sup
posed. the last of US pass, when about an hour
later this Tennessee soldier and his comrade,
who were dressed near like rcbs anything
else, came riding along Mcqueen thought
tlIcm a couple Of rebs following US up, aud
he came out into the road to tell them what lie
knew of Us, but made fatal mistake. as the
Tennessee boys knew him, and told him aud
his chum to march in front of them, as he was
wanted in Tennessee. So we took them along
with US.
We did not reach camp until nearly noon the
next day, and when about mile from camp
met Capt. Dan Ellis and his men. The Captain
said that he had heard that we had man by
the name of McQueen. and he wanted him, as
he had been looking for him for some time.
Ellis aud his men about-faced aud rode into
our camp
The prisoners wore given a trial aud Nc
QuceH was given to Ellis to take to the Provost
Marshals Office at Taylorsville. But he never
got there. The old man was made TO march in
trout. and perhaps tried TO escape. as yoliey OF
shots were heard in camp, and about sunset
Capt. Collins and myself rode to the spot where
this firing was heard, and there ! saw the dead
form Of man that in life think would have
resembled Sam McQueen.-D. w. SMEAD. Ser
geant, Co. ID. Tooth Ohio, and First Lieutenant,
Co. E, 1st U. s. c. II. A, Essex Junction, Vt
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