The National tribune., 1893-02-23

tured BY the North Carolina Home Guards. his
hat, boots, and coat taken from him. and he
was then made to walk barefooted through the
snow to the town of Ashvile, in North Caro-
lima, where he was detained for four months,
when he was released by the Yankees and re-
turned home.
man by the name of Harris was wounded
in one of his thighs and in the knee of his
other leg. He crawled to a log and burrowed
under the leaves, pulling some brush and a
large poke bush over him. Here he remained
until the neighbors collected in the evening to
look upon the scene of the dreadful slaughter
and house burning, when he called to them.
They Immediately went to him. assisted him
in leaving his dreary abode, and kindly took
care of him.
After the horrible massacre, the rebels re.
turned to the smoking ruins of Bells house
and exhibited the butts of their guns to the
women, which were covered with the blood
and brains of their slaughtered victims up to
the gunlocks They also displayed their bloody
bayonets, saying. We are the fellows to kill
l.iucolnites aud Yankees" They bOasted amaz-
ingly, and seemed to be in the finest sort of
spirits at the idea of having murdered parcel
of innocent and helpless men. After they had
completed their work of murder and house,
burning, they held council with the rebel
citizens who told them that they were in a
strong Union country, and for 10 miles to the
Watauga River, where the rebels were then
going, they would pass through a section of
country altogether inhsbited by Union people.
The rebels determined TO take no prisoners
but 10 kill all they captured and this deter
mination they strenuouSly adhered TO; for
when they arrived at the house of man by
the name of Commodore Stone, who was SO
years of age, they shot him down in his own
yard They shot him twice, and then ran
their bayonets through his body. Some Of
these fiends then struck him on the head with
the butts of their guns until they mashed his
head in horrible manner
They went on TO the house of William
Mckinney. where they found man by the
name of William Bird. They took him out
of the house into the yard, and
SHOT HIM TWICE
in the breast When Bird fell they Eeat out bis
brains, and then went on in their bloody march,
killing every man, old and young, that had
the misfortune of falling into thei- hands, just
because they had been represented as Lincoln
ites by parcel Of vile rebel citizens. Many
men were badly wounded. but succeeded in
making their escape by getting into the woods.
When Witcher arrived at Elizahethton,
like the accoD plished and brutal murderer that
he was lie boosted of the infamous exploits
that lie aud his ruffian followers bad killed 81
Union men in the course of one day and night.
Witchcr and his gang of thieves and murderers
left Carter County soon after they perpetrated
the outrages alluded 10. aud l suppose they re-
turned 10 their rebel associates in Virginia to
charm them with their eloquepce about the
massacre of Union men in Carter County. The
rebels in the State of Virginia, throughout the
whole period of the rebellion. entertained the
most malignant feelings of animosity toward
the people Of East Tennessee, and these feelings
practically cxemplifed by the infamous
scouudrels who from time 10 time came into
East Tennessee from the famous hot-bed of
rebellion for the purpose of numbering Union
people burning their houses, and rubbirg their
families.
When Witcher left Carter County he was
soon succeeded by base, despicabIe villain by
the name of L. C. Bozen, who proved to he an
exact counterpart to his blackhearted predeees-
sor in every species of iniquity.