The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-06

| W W south of New Market.
| where the men made large fires aud passed on
| the night in telling long yarns" about the
| number of fights they had been engaged in.
| and how narrowly they had frequently escaped
being killed.
They were now on their way homo to fight
| for their families whom some of them had not
socn for ls months. They declared they
| wopld have vengeance for the insults and
! alnse which their families had been subjected
| To- and they said that no hardship or privation
which could camo upon them would be too
| GREAT for them to suffer If they could only be
| permitted to accomplish their design.
| As soon as daylight appeared we started on
our tourney; snme were singing merriiy, Wnfle
| others were talking with the utmost cheerful
| ness We Travelled 20 miles on that day, ana
| staid all night at the residence of Can't. Car
| ter The men were very tired and their feet
were badly bistered. They did not recount
| so many Of their
DEEDS OF vALOR
nor fight their battles DER again on that night,
| for tbey went to bed at an early hour ana
| slept soundly until morning. We breakiasted
| early and started again, and at night we ar
| rived at Leaper's Mill, on Chucky River. -Me
crossed the river in a canoe. and had to swim
onr horses. We had contemplated staying
| with the 4th Tenn. that night, but on the
| previous evening it had been removed to Nor
| ristowu. We now had to use some exertion 10
nrocure something to eat. The rain poured
down all night. and early the next morning
| we put on our gum blankets and started Inc
mud and water was shoe-mouth deep along inc
| road and in the fields. After disagrecable
| walk of about six miles, we got into the woods.
| In the evening the rain ceased falling ana the
air turned very cold.
| At length we arrived at house in the ridges,
where we stopped to obtain something TO eat.
When the occupants of the house saw US ap-
| preaching they Immediately commenced hid
ing their little household affairs. and when
we went into the house they seemed to tie very
much frightened and confused.
We told them we were Yankees and were on
our way home. and had stopped to see If we
could get something to eat. The lady Of the
house would not believe us for some time.
After we had remained for q while. she said ::
"Well. | really believe you are Yankees, for
if you were rebels you wonid have searched
the whole house by this time"
When she became Convinced that we were
not rebels. she was remarkably kind TO US.
She showed us where we could get corn to feed
our horses and soon had plentiful supper
ready for u.s. After while she went into
another room. where she lifted up plank. and
her son came creeping out from his hiding
place.
HE WAS A CONsCRIPT,
aad the re bells had been after him. The family
were in fine spirits, and some OF them told us
how we had frightened them when We were
approaching the house. Part OF the company
remained all night there and the balance scat
tered about to the nearest cabins
TWAS now the 18th of March. We assembled
early and started on our journey. The people
among whom we had stad did not charge us
anything for our nights lodging, but they were
very particular in charging US to whip the
rebels if we could and this the men whom bad
with me never doubted their ability to do
whenever they could have an opportunity to
break lance with their enemies.
We Travelled all day without anything of in
terest happening, and late in the evening
stopped to get supper and to feed our horses.
We then went on to Meadow Creek Mountain
; where we camped in a deep hollow and passed
the night there We'were now anS ious to
keen as much concealed in our movements IS
possible, until VIC arrived at Shells Cove, hop
ing to catch scout of rebels there who al
WAYS ran when they saw Yankees approaching,
bnt were constantly watching for the men
who were passing through the mountains, in
order to murder and rob them of whatever
they might have. Early the next morning We
set out along the side Of the mountain after
we had Travelled some distance stopped at
q house to get something to eat, but the lady
of the house said that she had nothing that
che could give us to eat, but sho furnished us
with corn to feed onr horses We now went
IN SEARCH OF THE REBELS,
but, as usual, they had just left. The people
in that neghborhood would have gladly as
sisted us i'm capturing them if they had been
there. We now changed our course and made
for Shelton Laurel. which was the best place
to procure provisions. 1t was now 10 o'clock,
and We yet had 13 miles to travel. We trav-
eled in hurry, and just at dark we reached
Il
children had been engaged in log-roiling on
that day, and had assembled to pariake OF an
abundant feast, and also 10 enjoy themselves
for while in the festive dance. We enjoyed
ourselves finely, for We had plenty to eat and
spent the night in dancing.
The women were all about rs stout and robust
as the one had seen carrying tho bag OF meal
on her shoulders and the child on her hip, to
which have alluded in the previous chaptera
really do believe that every woman who par
ticipated in the dauce on that night could have
shonldered two bushels of corn and carried il to
the mill They could chop with an ax, roll
logs and plow equal to men, but they were re-
markably kind to strangers. and would will
ngly have fed us for week If we had re-
guestcd it.
Early the next morning We set out for the
red banks OF Chucky River. The men did not
feel like travelling after their nights frolic
but we travelled ON at steady gait all day and
reached the river just as it was getting dark
and crossed il in a canoe. We had TO travel
| on FIVE miles farther before We could get any
| thing to eat, and when we got
NEAR TO THE GREASY COVE
| the men scattered out among the people and
| Jared toerably we'll. We were now inside of
| the rebel lines, and told the soldiers that we
should all have to be very careful, or IN spite
| of their boosted vaior and achievements We
| might all fall into the hands Of the enemy.
| Next morning we travelled eight miles
| farther, when we halted to wait for the night
| to throw her dark wings DER the earth, AZ
| thought it advisable to make our entrance as
| secretly az we possibly could, 80 that We might
recruit our exhausted energies for short time
| before the rebels could be apprised of our
| rival in the County. ! thought that had
| but small company to operate against the
| enemy with, and l therefore determined to
make good beginning.
When night came on We pushed forward.
and when We arrived at the residence OF
| Elijah Smerley, in Carter County, nine miles
south of Elizabethton, we stopped and rested
for day and night and Jared elegantly dug
| ing tho time.
| My main object now was to find party Of
| rebel soldiers somewhere 80 that ! might get
| their horses and mount my company, - We
could not get about fast enough on foot Also
concluded that we would 60 and make An
! ATTACK ON MY OLD ToRMENToRs.
whom thought were still at Elizabethton, or
| In its vicinity, but when We arrived near thas
| place we learned that tho rebels had all left
and had conc to Bristol This intelligence. /