The National tribune., 1897-10-14
Rv DR.. J. P. CANNON, Co. c., 9th Ala.

| H. W ltilsttliS, WHOm ilstU UOb SeeH SluCt lool
! Poor fellow, he was dead-killed instantly.
Although much my senior, had formed an
attachment for him. as he had been at my
fathers much of the time for several years
previous to the war When n boy of Is he
! had run away and served through the Next
can war. and so often had told me of his adj
ventures and battles in Mexico that ! had
come TO regard him as a hero. little thinking
! at that time that ] would ever lie called upon
to 90 through similar experiences.
! Some of his comrades took charge OF his
! body, and, the enemy being so obstinate
about giving up their position, we were or
dered forward, and they ''skedaddled -
/ again We followed on, driving them from
/ every position, till near night, when we gave
! up the chase aud rctraCed our steps, arriving
at Monlton ut 10 O'Clock. completely broken
down having been 16 hours on the march,
part Of the time at a double-quick. We
didn't even take time 10 stack arms, but,
throwing everything on the ground rolled
ND in our blankets and were soon fast asleep.
Tuesday, 22d.-At daybreak we WERE
reused by the beating of the drum, and, I'M
covering our heads preparatory to getting up,
we were very much surprised TO find our
selves covered 10 inches deep with snow.
We had slept so sonndly that we did not
know the snow had fallen, but, nevertheless,
it was so. and the deepest | have ever seen.
Shaking Off the SNOW, we began to look
about for our accoutermentS. but they
Were nowhere to be seen. However, after
raking and scraping for quite awhile we I'M
covered most of them lsome we never did
| find), and were then ready for orders. We
had gone to bed supperless. and having
nothing for breakfast, it required but little
! Il - f,Jl
in, y which we did and moved out down the
valley
The clouds passed over, and the sun COM
ing out warm soon melted the snow, and we
had tiresome march through mud and slop
to Mount Hope, where we met our commits
sary-wagon, drew rations and began prepar-
ing to break our fast OF "a hours.
March % to 2s--Nothing of special inn
portance for few days following our skirmish
with the cavalry. We moved from place to
place, and as there We're only a few of us, we
usually found good places to camp, sleeping
IL vacant stores, gin-houses, etc, getting
plenty TO eat, and having good time. The
Yankees remained at Decatur, and behaved
very well, allowing us to enjoy ourselves as
best we could.
March 2S.-After having been in suspense
nearly month over visit home, the Colonel
called US up this morning and said as he was
reliably informed that there were only few
| Federalism our side of the river. he had decided
/, to take the risk of allowing MS to go home,
cautioning us to he very careful not to get
captured, and eXacting a promise that each
of US would report back promptly on expira-
| ton Of our furlouglls. These remarks were
greeted with cheers, and of course we were
willing to make any kind of promise re-
quired.
1t took but short time TO pack knapsacks
and cook all the rations we had and we were
soon on the road towards home. Our two
! Landerdale County companies were made
up above and below Florence. extending a
! distance of 40 miles up and down the river,
consequently we soon separated, each fellow
! taking the most direct route home, some OF US
/ going in squads of five or six. By night my
/ squad hadall left me, rs lived further down
the river. they having filed off as they reached
points opposite their homes. About dusk /
/ stopped at a farm house and asked for night S
| lodging which was readily granted.
March 81 had a good nights rest last
/ night, and after a no, breakfast continued my
! journey down the river. Being now about IL
miles from home / soon began making in
! Quiry for some way of getting across. but the
! kinds scarce. so / feared that | would have
| trouble. However towards the middle OF
the day ] had the good luck to find an old
/ gentleman who agreed to ferry me across
! lie was a Union man. but treated me very
kindly, and refused TO take any pay for his
trouble: in fact, / had nothing to pay with
except Confederate, and / presume he had
1 no use for that Having landedon the north
side Of the river, and thanking him for his
/ kindness, / took a Decline for home, which
was but four miles, going through the woods
to avoid meeting any Federals who might be
| passing ] arrived safely at home in the
afternoon and found all well. / had not heard
flom them in long time, and as matter OF
course was very happy to see them all and be
nj home again, after more than two years
| absence.
We Immediately put out a sentinel tc
watch for the Yankees, for although they
! were not camped very near, there were squad:
| and companies passing almost every day. and
| II behooved me to keep a sharp lookout
besides the Tories" as we called them.
made frequent raids in our County, robbing
and plundering the citizens and picking ui
any lone rebel who might be so unfortunate
as 10 fall in their hands
These men We're mostly Tennesseeans who
wore the blue as cloak for their deviltrv.
and for the protection Of the Federal army.
| They did not have the manhood to 90 10
the front, nor were they ever seen near a
battlefield, but made war on women and old
men; and, in fact, Were nothing more than q
band of thieves and murderers, for they did
not hesitate TO kill citizens as well as soldiers
when it suited their purposes TODD so. They
tortured citizens, who were supposed to have
money, IN every conceivable way hanging
burning or whipping, as they thought mos,
likely to induce them TO give up their money
dreaded them more than did the Yankees
for If captured by soldiers | knew the worst
that would befall me would be a term in
prison, but if caught by these fellows / didn't
know what would become of me.
/ spent the evening and night very pleas
antly, indeed, having thousand questions
to ask about what had been going on since
left, and answering as many | could not
understand how they had managed to live
since the negroes had been freed. the stock
carried of, and provisions all taken time anG
again by the soldiers. the Tories and tn,
thieves. 1t had been hard, but all bore i
cheerfnlly, believing in the righteousness O
our cause, and that all would be well in tn,
end
March 30-The night passed off quietly
no Yanlzs nor Tories 10 disturb my pleasan
dreams, but as it was probable they Nigh
come upon me at any time, it was necessary
10 have some plan Of action marked out fo
the emergency Ny sister had canvassed tn,
whole matter, and selected place for me t,
hide when IL should become necessary.