The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30
CHAPTER TX.

Col Rhea found his task an exceedingly
arduous one-far harder than that of his CO.
workers in stirring up the people TO rebellion.
The nlen Of the Tennessee mountains were
an entirely different race from the grossly
ignorant "po' white trash y with which he
and most OF his colleagues had been sur
rounded on their 'tiGewater plantations.
He had lived most of ms time in South Caro-
lima only spending a portion Of his Summers
on his land in the healthier upland country
The sauatters around his South Carolina plan
tation we've. like the Sang-diggeTs in the
mountains descendants Of the paupers and
criminals transported from England TO work
the land. and dis la cd 'wh,n il was found that
the negro was better worker ins.erTitnde.
For mare than century they h7d multiplied
like tllistics and lived absolutely without
social incentive, or religious or secular teach
ing. They were seris 10 the landowners,
without any oi The mutual obligations that
formerly existed between lords and serfs
Tire landowners commanded them when they
had need Of ether ser. aces than these of their
negroes. but III Other times desfised or dis
regarded them. They locked ug to Col. Rhea
and such rs he az superior beings, whom they
grovclkd lr-iore ard Dleyed, when he was In
sight an r,-cn of thrjn.
They never thought OF entering his house
When they had anything 10 ask of him they
we've met at the tioor by a negro servant,
who summoned his nilsfer to come outside and
see them. A giit ot Old clothing. a bottle of
whisky Jug of hola.ses, a hsIi or a shoulder
OF q small piece Of silver bought them body
and soul
When plotting the war, Col Rhea and his
kind EeSer gave a moments thought rs to
how these men wouG view il That WAS OF
as little importance as 10 how tie negroes or
the horses would view It. lie had AWAY done
their viewing ior them.
Tie yeonianry oi the mountains were men
% far nG.sler metal They lEid Us much
pride and courage rs he mad with even more
readiness TO light for their beliefs Willie
his courage WAS uLJoubtcd get a part at
leaSt oI his continual assumption Of beliiger-
cucy was the nlaDBeT5 of his class and as
sumed for a distinct PURPOSE. On the other
hand, an appetite for fighting was an essen-
tlal element Ia the intellectual makeup Of
the sturdy leomanry. Lie was a continual
battle tor them, aud had been for their
fathers since time Immemoriai Their an
cesioIs had mace their way across the mount
ain walls when tie country there was rela-
tiyeiy farther away from civilization than
Africa Is 10 day. They had redeemed it from
The ssayagte and wild beasts fer bones .tr
themselves. Their SONS and ggantisons of the
pioneers found conditions constantly chal-
lenging Their courage and fortitude
These men would not accept his dictum
nor bend 10 his shoa of force They were
better fighters lhan tie men be could put I'D
against ta,m. 1t was the old struggle Of
Cronwcil's RounGhcaJs against the nli-rali
led by tie cavaliers. Tie men who Joined
his Gag with more on less willingness we're
quite ready 10 ujure the men who always
treated tlem wijs contempt that WIS more
calling tilaa aGS lIng coming from Col. Rhea
could ". but they lsc6cd the stamina 20 meet
the DnionisIs man tsi man
NIin all the force 90 tAe Southern Confcd
eiacr 1t lis hack. and with an tie cruc!ties
lac was ever quick 10 employ, c I. Rhaa could
MOI lenc or 0yeraWe these men. What were
teIr0rs % ne - CIarlsers Of lis own State
and the sang-liggeTs Of The mountains only
jn.uralea thelG.
Col 'iiea had been waiting With an inn
patience ;hat be could not conceal tor the re
ium OF sam GTigss and his detachment.
Fine morc he had thought over it, the more
solicitude he had fest Tor the success Of the
expedition Ii was very necessary that q
young man OF Henry Clay Poilocks stamp
should be brought INTO camp and IA oxaisl pic
made % him. The Colonel had met with 81
many ia'uis since BIS assumption Of COM
mand tia, he ielt as imperative some aci
which "euld restore and extend his plesti &c
From time to anne lie would walk ont from
his tent and look down the road upon which
Griggs would return At length his sight
was graiiiied lly a view Of the detachment
ploddng slowly back III front was a man
on horseback supported in the saddle by two
other nIen walking alongside. His hopes
told him that this was Henry Clay Pollock
node down 10 meet the squad. lie was