The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-16
STRANGE STORY OF THE WAR.
Hen Jordsn's Vendetta Decinated the
Able Bodied Men of FHasin County.

Ben Jordsn's Vendetta Decinated the
Able Bodied Men of F~..in County.
Connected with the killing OF Mrs.
Hughes husband Is one OF the
strangest stories OF the civil war, says
the Atlanta Constitution In Fan
min County there lived and flouiished
fellow famed far and wide as
Daredevil Ben" He was the
Brombones OF the community and
his exploits extended all over North
Georgia Sprung from prom nent
family, which boasted of its Bourbon
blood, ana rich in the possession Of
worldly goods, he was the leading
spirit in crowd OF iovlal hearted
fellows who lived only for fun and
trolic.
When the tocsin OF war first
sounded Ben Jordan responded
speedily. Organizing IA company at
once he fastened TO the scene OF the
conflict In the battles throughout
Virginia there were no braver spirits
than Ben Jordan's men. Several
times he fell wounded lighting in
the thick OF the fray. His many
deeds OF reckless daring won the ad-
miration OF all the officers and h 5
unshrinking valor endeared him to
the hearts OF the men. One day
shortly after the battle OF Gettys-
burgh he received a letter notifying
him OF his mothers death and telling
how his home had been burned.
Jordan Immediately made applica
tion for leave of absence This,
however, could not he obtained, ms
the order revoking all leaves OF ab-
sence and refusing thereafter all
furlouShs had Just before been issued.
Then, according TO the tale told by
the old Fannin County citizen. Jor-
dan, with his characteristic bold
ness, went before Gen. Longstreet.
lie explained to the General how
he had heard OF the death OF his
mother and the burning OF his home
and asked leave OF absence. Long
street replied that he sympathized
with him, but the dcrs must be
obeyed no matter what. the circum-
stances were, and he was forced TO
refuse the re luest. Jordan bowed
and left the tent The next morn.
ing he was missing. Some time af-
ter he turned up near his old home,
In Fannin County to lind things
even worse than reported. Nothing
remained except the land upon which
the ruins OF his ancestral mansion
were standing.
Driven TO desperation. he sworc
al sn ha ha
names OF the twenty-five men, who,
IL was said, sympathizing with the
Union side after seeing the incvita-
BILE result OF the war, began to COM
init deeds OF violence in their neigh
borhood. 1t was this gang which
burned J0rdan's house. He did not
return to Virginia When the sur.
render was made and peace declared
all OF his old companions came home.
To several OF them he related his
tale. They swore 10 stand Dy him,
and the vendetta was formed. Upon
Bible each took solemn on h TO
Kill all of the men whose names were
on the list
How well they succeeded any OF
the old people up in Fannin can tell
you. AS each man was killed Jor-
dan would check his name of the
list In some mysterious way ohe
vendetta was divulgcd Jordan dis
appeared, and since then has never
been heard from. Among the names
on the list OF those who were mur-
dcred was that OF Dallas Hughes. tho
husband OF Mrs. BETTY Hughes, whose
pension old man Hunter will suffer
for.