The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-03-13

would soon start for Tennessee under
their guidance
The streams were so high, particular
" the Valley river, which we had to
cross, that it would be necessary to wait
a few days before starting. So Mack and
returned to Mrs. Kitchens
Mrs. Kitchens husband had been shot
in the first year of the war while saltlng
his cattle in the mountains. Her home
consisted of two log houses united by
deep porch, the back side of which was
occupied by the loom. One house was
the living and sleeping room and the
other was the kitchen. The family
owned two slaves, which were the only
negroes saw in the mountains bond or
free.
During the early part of that winter
| Ounce Edmonston and guide OF the
name of Birch had conducted party OF
officers safely to Nashville and had re
ceived therefor 81, 1000 in greenbacks.
The trip had been over the same trail
we intended to take. Reaching the
mountains on their return Birch deter
mined to go in by the road, having busl-
ness to attend to. Edmonston, after
demonstrating in vain, continued alone
over the trail. A few days thereafter
the body of Birch was found on the road
minus the ears This particular mutlla-
ton was the defiant mark of band
calling themselves Texan rangers,
who were in constant antagonism with
the company of home guards to which
our guides belonged and which was com
manded by son of the murdered Birch
Four of the rangers soon after fell into
the hands of the Union company, and
Edmonston and Mack Hooper were
among the party detailed to take the
prisoners to Jail, but with private in
structions of very different nature.
Having proceeded few miles into the
mountains, we'll away from any settle
ment, the prisoners were drawn up III
line and shot. Their remains were
buried under driftwooJ after appropri-
atine the better articEs of their cloth
ing, and the report was spread abroad
that the prisoners had escaped.
While we were still waiting for the
Valley river to subside, Mack Hooper ano
L va
a memorable Friday afternoon deplorlne
the continuance of the rain, which was
falling in torrents outside. Mack was
sitting by the door opening into the
connecting porch and I before the fire
with my back turned to him and read
ing in small Sunday school bool
which had found in basket. Startled
by rustling sound in Mack's direction
} I looked around just in time to see nj!
heels disappearing under the neares
bed. I got on to my feet, intending to dt
likewise, when I found myself confront
, ed by stalwart Confederate office
armed and uniformed and occupying tn
doorway, backed by his quartermaste
: sergeant. This proved to be govern
ment party collecting the tax IN kind
which at that time was tenth part
> all crops and other farm products.
Keeping their eyes riveted on my hos
! tile uniform, the two advanced to tn
+ opposite corner of the chimney. l wa
still standing, and seeing no way OF es
cape, in order to make my captors NOR
at home, l ventured remark on tn
: weather. They stared and asked for Mrs
Kitchen. A plan of escape FLASHED
/ through my mind like an inspiration
t one which required show of dellbera
: tion-so seated myself quietly for al
instant and affected to continue my read
7 ing. was SO much interested IN tina
book that when was se4A1 with sc
Q we're fit of coughing, with S.e hand upo
nv chest, I walked slowly past the me
q and laid it carefully, opened face down
on chest. With another step or two
d was in the porch, and bounding into tn
{ kitchen I sprang out into the garde
g through window opened by the wome
@ for my exit. Away l sped, bareheadeo
through the rain, crashing through tn
/, underbrush and plunging through tn
" streams like frightened deer and mai
" ing for the gap leading into the ne'
If valley. I brought up finally behind
1t group of haystacks overlooking the roat
q and presently saw Mack coming wit
IS nv cap and our haversacks, which wei
n already provisioned for the journey. L
had remained concealed under the be
s and had heard the women state that
er was Confederate scout. Convinced
< the contrary by my flight, he had gor
le away swearing that he would have TIL
So Yankee if he had to search the who
< settlement.
st Mack and l crossed range of moul
to tains into third valley and spent th'
L. night in the loft of horse barn. Fro
rs Shooting Creek to Tennessee by the rou
u we intended to take was distance
st rs miles. After crossing the Valley ri
le er we continued by an Indian trail wint
re ing over and along the divides. "
lg were a party of IS as we assembled c
ke the slope above the settlement Capital
We Holt and Lieutenant Wallace had al
II, peared from some mysterious hidir
~ place, and a number Of refugees ha
Vn fiocked to the standard of Edmonstc
and Hooper. We timed our start so
70 to arrive by evening at the settlemel
a of Peach Tree, where we were to GRO
nd the Valley river and get the latest new
IN of the movements of the rangers.
on fro mn cONrTUJED1