The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-02-07

lead. That one act on the part of the
old missionary did more to endear him
to these rude mountaineers than the
preaching and self denial Of the ten
years that preceded 1t.
The raiders who had come up from
the Tennessee line under the lead Of Het |
burning all the vacant cabins they could
find, taking 1t for granted that they
were the property Of Union men. At
Bradley's Crossing the number Of refu-
gees increased every day, principally
mountaineers who had come up from
Tennessee or from the lower border
counties Of Kentucky. These men were
all armed with old fashioned hunting
rifles, and they were not only willing
to face south and fight, but they were
eager for it, for each man had some per-
sonal wrong which he was more eager
to avenge than he was to carry back the
old flag to the hills.
All these men brought famished appe-
tites, but no provisions.
A few days after Magoone's raid it
became evident that in another week, If
nothing were done, they would be called
on to face more relentless foe than the
Confederates under Zollicoffer and Crit.
tenden, and that was famine. While ev-
cry man at the Crossing understood that
If he had to fight it would be under the
lead Of strong Dick Bradley, all. includ-
ing the blacksmith, looked up to Father
Peters as the man Oh whom they must
depend for counsel and as the Moses
who was to lead the inevitable exodus
from the mountains to that promised
land where there were strong hands and
keen bayonets to defend the old flag.
After carefully talking over the situ-
alton together the preacher and the
blacksmith assembled their friends in
the smithy, and the former mounted the
anvil block, and after tho customary
prayer delivered himself after this man.
ner:
my friends, winter is on u.s. Our
enemy, the rebels, swarm in the hills,
and il the reports that come to rs be
true, and believe that they are, few
more days will see us at the mercy Of
such minions Of Zollicoffer as this Het
| Magoone. There are no doubt many
honest and Christian but mistaken
men in the secession army, but do not
think it would be prudent to assume
that these are the kind Of people who
will be sent to Bradley's Crossing.
MANY Of you have brought yo,tr
wives and children here, and while this
is natural must believe it imprudent.
If these had remained at home, or will
return home now, or If their homes are
destroyed will seek haven among their
friends in the mountains, the men will
he freer to act Brother Bradley and
have prayerfully talked over the situa.
ton, and we have come to the conclu.
sion that every day we spend here is a
day lost to the cause, while our little
stock of provisions is being reduced. We
have therefore decided to start for Camp
Dick Robinson tonight. Once there.
those who are able to bear arms can be
regularly enrolled and mustered into
the service Of the Union, while If we
fight here we are apt to be regarded az
guerrillas, and for the present the govern
ment will be powerless to protect us.
. "While my mission among You has
been one Of peace and I have passed the
age when might be Of much use, even
if were skilled in the ways Of war,
yet, with Gods help, can and I will
fight if we ara not permitted to reach
the Union lines in peace.
II will say to my good sisters and tc
the children who must remain behind,
as their coming with us would hampe,
the march, that it will not be long be-
fore the troops of the Union swarm in
these mountains as the Confederates dc
, now, and that their coming will insure
protection to all. We must move with
secrecy and rapidity, for there are spies
; all about us. And now ask those who
are willing to follow the lead of Broth
| or Bradley to Camp Dick Robinson tt
, take their stand at the back part Of til,
! smithy."
} It was as Father Peters expected. Ev
cry man at the Crossing and every boy
, who could shoulder rifle, and thes,
. mountaineers learn to shoot when YER.
, young, crowded to the back part Of th'
! building.
This meeting was held the day afte
! Christmas, 1861, and about the Iuiddl
5 of the afternoon. In order to keep the
5 movements secret, it was decided to star
north soon after dark that night. A
D Father Peters was even more hated thai
t the blacksmith, and his wife and daugh
s ter would have been homeless and help
5 less if left behind, an exception WA
r made in their case, it being the old cler
t gyman's intention to take them back t.
4 the old home in the western reserve O
a northern Ohio as soon as they reaches
the Union lines.
Q There was little preparation to make
Two of the blacksmith s horses were sc
, apart for Mrs Peters and her daughte
/, to ride ON. The 40 men in the part
k were to carry their rations and ammu
j. milton, the former being necessaril
# light, first, because the supplies at th
t Crossing were limited, and in the mex
j. place because it was believed that Cam
: Dick Robinson, 75 miles to the nortl
t west, could be reached in five days.
J, In order to keep up the impressio