The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-03-20

q maraudlng expeultlon' IL was uo
led TO remain here, in hiding, "a
mrs. giving the enemy, who were
,unted. time to complete their expe-
lon and be On the return by the time
arrived on the ground. We lay down
a semicircle on the floor in front OF
fire in our wet, steaming clothes and
old campaigners were soon sound
beep. had noticed bed in the room
itch seemed to have been hastily left
it's occupant, probably frightened by
approach. Before fell asleep the
was cautiously opened and two
piping mountain women, barefooted,
otherwise completely dressed, even
heir pasteboard sunbonnets, made
h for the bed and covered themselves
of sight without so much as remov-
their bonnets.
We spent the following day in log
horse barn, and when it was sufficiently
Tdark. the farmer mounted his horse and
he'd us across the fields to the river,
which was a narrow stream flowing
swiftly between high banks. One by
one the farmer put us across, seated be-
hind his saddle, the horse struggling
against the current. By this time it had
grown much colder, and as we struck
into the mountains and soon passed the
last house we should see before reach
ing the border, we were met by blind
ing snowstorm, against which we strug-
gled along until we had gone far enough
into the wilderness to camp with safety,
when we built rousing fire and made
our beds around it.
We were now ON the Wacheesa trail
and our march would be by day. In
view of what we knew was going on IN
front Of us, our guards oounseled delay.
The trail for the most part followed the
tops of the ridges, distinctly marked IN
the black mold, as it wound among the
pnarled chestnuts rooted in the rocks
and over the higher tops, where long,
COARSE grass dropped down into con-
venient hollow, where wood and water
abounded, and where we made our camp
On the morning of about the fourth
day we arrived ON the crest OF the last
ridge overlooking the open plain OF east
Tennessee. 1t was glad sight to us, the
boundless plain covered with farms. At
our feet the Tilco river flowed out of the
mountains, and away on the eastern
horizon suspicious column OF smoke
rose into the air.
Down in a gorge to the right was
cabin, and to this Mack Hooper was dis
matched to learn all he could of the
whereabouts of the Texan rangers. he
soon returned with the information that
ON the night before the bushwhackers
had burned Philadelphia depot, ON the
Knoxville and Chattanooga road, and
that they were probably i'll full retreat
back into the mountains. SO we made
our way down to the iron works and to
the house of the owner, Mr.. Johnson
who was graduate of West Point. and
who, although friendly to us, had re-
manned a neutral in that neutral land.
He came to the gate and gave us water,
and at the same time expressed his re-
pret that we had shown ourselves sc
soon, for, said he:
Last night the rear guard of the cut
throats camped by yonder Sugar Loaf
mountain" pointing to a hill on the
opposite side Of the river, land feal
some of them are hanging around there
yet"
He told us that it was 80 miles to ou
lines at Loudon and advised us to maxi
all haste to that point.
Leaving Mr. johnson leaning ON hi
gate, which commanded view directl.
up the road leading in the direction
London. we acted ON his advice withou
a moments delay. AS he looked afte
us moving away in single file like
band of Indians it was possible for hin
tn keep us in view for third of mil
along a straight road parallel with tn
narrow river, which flowed on the lei
hand. At that distance he saw SINAI
hill thickly covered with undergrowt
and trees, around which the road disaI
peared to the right. A line drawn to tn
left at a right angle to this road froI
the wooded hill aforesaid would pas
through ford in the river and termi
nate half mile distant in the Sugar Loa
maintain where the Texan rangers ha
Last been seen.
1t had been raining in the early morr
ing. The air was cool and bracing, an
every man had his blanket or bedqui
thrown over his shoulders, and eac
walked with stout staff. Ounce Et
monston was file leader, and close @
his heels, as with a swinging gait
came to the turn in the road. We wei
very much ON the alert for rangers, an
with the first view around the turn "
vino were in the advance spied bur
eoHntryman mounted on powerful grs
horse coming leisureiy toward u.s. L
wore a Yankee blue overcoat, red II
can and had a rife slung across b
back.
Here they are, " we thought.
"There they are ~ he cried, and brinI
ing his gun to bear and putting spurs
the gray he came laundering down upo
Edmonston and me, bawling tones
surrender and INDUCING in epithe
more picturesque than polite. Close b
hind him suddenly appeared two Co
federates in gray and gold lace and b
hind them a motley squad of irregul
.avalry brought up the rear OF Il
charge, shouting and brandishing the
weapons.
ua,,onston and were too far in a