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

Story of the Affair Ey One Who Guided the
Union Troops to Where He Was.

Union Troops to Where He Was.
EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | was re-
siding in Green County, Tenn. the home of
Andy" Johnson, when the faint mutter-
ngs of the gathering storm of war began to
arouse the hitherto quiet and secluded popu-
ation. Especially was this so in the vicin-
ity of Brannon's Crossroads. where the
writer of this narrative was humble disci-
pie of Vulcan. beating time to the music of
the anvil amid the flying sparks, smoke,
and SCOT of the humble smilhy," all uncon-
scious of the stirring scenes and sterner
music of war that awaited him. But as the
rumbling tempest moved on apace and in
creased in intensity, each citizen, in some
way or other, had to align himself on one
side or the other. Consequently, the resist
less force of circumstances found the relater
OF this narrative in the hands Of conscript
and recruiting agents and officers of the Con-
federacy marshaling their clans for the field.
Conscripted | was among their numbers,
but not into willing service; for, revolving
at the thought Of aiding in the dissolution
of my country and firing upon its flag, l
openly and frequently refused to serve their
cause, and told the officers plainly, greatly
to my hazard, that | would most certainly
shoot, when the time came for shooting, as
| pleased or not at ALL"
After forcibly OBTAINING and carrying me
about for several weeks from place TO place,
and finding me dead weight on their
hands, / succeeded in deserting and escaping
back TO Green County, but was recaptured,
conscrpted, and finally taken to Lexington,
Ky, where / again escaped and sought pro-
teciion and shelter under the old flag by en-
tering the Federal service and placing my
self in the Union cause, becoming a private
in the 4th Tenn.
The 18th Tenn. Cav, of which / later be-
came member, was stationed at Bulls Gap,
II miles west Of Greenville, where we learned
by messenger that the daring raider
Morgan had swooped down upon Greenville,
and with his staff and command were stop
ping in that place over night, being the
special guest of prominent and wealthy
widow-Mrs. Williams.
Being personally acquainted with our
informant from Greenyille, and knowing
him to be trusty, Col. Ingerton, command
ing the regiment, stirred the command i'm
mediately for movement and action upon
the line for which he was famous, that of
surprise.
Believing that forced march that very
night, through rain and mud and inky dark
ness, and by circuitous and obscure route,
afforded the only reasonable hope of success,
he ordered the men to prepare for it. Cast
ing about for pilot or guide to lead the
expedition, he selected me ON account OF
my thorough acquaintance and familiarity
with the roads and the country.
Soon the regiment was in line and on the
move, and through the inky darkness OF
that night of storm and darkness, made
douhly bewildering aud confusing through
winding roads and mountain defiles, we
wended our way and never missed a point.
When the gray dawn began to appear, we
were quietly halted on the fair grounds
about two miles from GreenviHe, and OBJ
serving negro quarters short distance away