Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-24

instant and affected 10 continue my read
ing. was 30 much interested IN thai
book that when 1 was seized with a So
ve-c fit Of coughing. with one hand upon
my chest, walked slowly past the men
and laid il carefully, opened face down,
on chest. With another step or two
was in the porch, and bounding into the
kitchen sprapg out into the garden
| through window opened by the women
for my exit Away / sped, bareheaded,
through the rain, crashing through the
underbrush and plungiDg through the
streams like frightened deer and max
ing for the gap leading into the next
valley. l brought up finally behind a
group of haystacks overlooking the road,
and presently saw Mack coming with
my cap and our haversacks, which were
already provisioned for the journey. BE
had remained concealed under the bed
and had heard the women state that
was a Confederate scout. Convinced TO
the contrary by my fight, he had gone
away swearing that he would have that
Yankee if he had to search the whole
settlement.
Mack and | crossed a range Of noun
tains into third valley and spent that
night in the loft Of horse barn. From
Shooting Creek to Tennessee by the route
we intended 10 take was distance Of
20 miles After crossing the Valley riv-
er we continued by an Indian trail wind
ing over aud along the divides. We
were q party Of Is a. we assembled on
the slope above the settlement. Captain
Holt and Lieutenant Wallace had ap-
peared from some mysterious hiding
place, and number Of refugees had
hocked TO the standard Of Edmonston
and Hooper. We timed our start so as
to arrive by evening at the settlemen;
Of Peach Tree, where we were 10 eros
the Valley river and get the latest news
of the movements Of the rangers
Edmonston found the man he was
seeking and we learned that a company
Of rangers had just gone into Tennessee
on marauding expedition. IL was de
cided TO remain here, in hiding, 81
hours, giving the enemy, who were
mounted. time 10 complete their eXpe-
dition and be on the return by the time
we arrived ON the ground. We lay down
in "A semiclrcle on the floor III front Of
the fire in our wet, steaming clothes and
the old campaigners were soon sound
asleep. had noticed bed in the room
which seemed TO have been hastily left
by its occupant, probably frightened 10y
our approach. Before fell asleep the
door was cautiously opened and two
strapping mountain women, barefooted,
but otherwise completely dressed. even
10 their pas;eboard sunbonnets, made a
rush for the bed and covered themselves
out Of sight without so much as remov-
ing their bOnnets.
We spent the following day in Jog
horse barn. and when IL was sufficiently
dark, the farmer mounted his horse aud
led us across the fields 10 the river,
which was narrow stream flowing
swiftly between high banks. One by
enc the farmer put US across, seated be-
hird his saddle, the horse struggling
against tho current. b. this time 1t had
grown much colder, and rs we struck
into he mountains and soon passed the
last house we should see before reach
ing tho border. We were met by a blind
ing snowstulm, against which we strug
gled along until we had gone far enough
into the wilderness 10 camp with safety,
when we built rousing fire and made
our beds around IL.
We were now on the Wacheesa trail
aud our march would be by day In
view II what we knew was going on III
front of us, our guards counseled delay.
The trail for the most part followed the
tops II tho ridges, distinctly marked III
the black mold. as ii wound among the
gnarled chCs,nuts rooted in the rocks
aud over the higher tops, where iong,
coarse grass dropped down into "a con
vCnient 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. Ii was glad sight TO u, 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 III gorge to the right was
cabin, and 10 this Mack Hooper was dis
patched 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 in full retreat
back into the mountains. So we made
our way down Ia the iron works and TO
the house Of the owner. a Mr.. Johnson,
who was graduate of West Point, and
who, although friendly TO Us, had re-
mained n neutral i'll that neutral land.
He came 10 the gate and gave US water,
and at the same time expressed his re-
gret that We had shown ourselves 20
soon, for, said he:
Last night the rear guard of the cut
throats camped by yonder Sugar Loaf
mountain, pointing TO hill on the
opposite side Of the river, land | fear
some Of them are hanging around there
YET"
He told us that il was 80 miles TO our
lines at Loudon and advised Us TO make
all haste 10 that point.
Leaving Mr.. Johnson leaning on his
gate, which commanded view directly
mp the road leading i'll the direction Of
Loudon. we acted IN his advice without
q moments delay As he looked after
us moving away in single file like II
band Of Indians it was possible for him
to keep us in view for third Of mile
along straight road parallel with the
narrow river, which flowed on the left
hand. At that distance he saw a small
hill thickly covered with underground
and trees, around which the road disap-
peared to the right. A line drawn to the
left at a right angle to this road from
the wooded hill aforesaid would pass
through ford in the river and termi-
nate n half mile distant in the Sugar Loaf
mountain where the Texan rangers had
last been seen.
1t had been raining in the early morn
ing. The air was cool and bracing, and
every man had his blanket or bedquilt
thrown over his shoulders, and each
walked with stout staff. Ounce Ed