The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-27
Rooms 10 and 20.

But after that night in the black
smiths shop strong Dick Bradley's
views as TO the nonresistance inculcated
by religion underwent radical change.
He saw that when the hour for brave
resistance came Father Peters did not
'fall back on prayer TO- his defense" "
but was willing to fight and ready to
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 it.
The raiders who had come up from
the Tennessee line under the lead of Het
Magoone contented themselves with
burning OIL the vacant cabins they could
find, taking it for granted that they
. were the property of Union men. Al
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 sorch and fight, but they were
eager for il, for each man had some per-
sonal wrong which be 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 il
became evident that in another week, If
nothing We're 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 tho
lead of strong Dick Bradley, all, includ-
ing the blacksmith, looked mp to Father
Peters as tho man on 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 tho
blacksmith assembled their friends in
the smithy, and the former mounted the
anvil block, and after the customary
prayer delivered himself after this man.
ner:
My friends, winter is on us. Our
enemy, the rebels, swarm in tho hills,
and if the reports that come to us be
true, and believe that they are, a 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 tho kind of people who
will be sent 10 Bradley's Crossing.
4 MANY of you have brought your
wives and children here, and while this
is natural i 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
be freer to act. Brother Bradley and 1
have prayerfully talked over the situa-
ton, and we have come TO the conclu-
sion that every day we spend here is n
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 10 bear arms can bo
regularly enrolled and mustered into
the service of the Union, while il we
fight here we arc apt 10 be regarded as
guerrillas, and for tho present the govern
ment will be powerless TO protect us.
while my mission among you has
been one Of peace and have passed the
ago when might he of much use, even
IL were skilled in the ways Of war,
yet, with Gods help l can and will
fight If we are not permitted to reach
the Union lines in peace
II will say to my good sisters and to
the children who must remain behind,
as their coming with us would hamper
the march, that it will not he long be-
fore the troops of tho Union swarm in
these mountains as tho Confoderates do
now, and that their coming will insure
protection to all We must move with ]