The National tribune., 1898-02-10
CHAPTER XXVI.

The sanguine mountaineers were certain
that the baleful Southern Confederacy was
lettering to It's awful fail.
The Elder, who had left Henry Clay Pol
locks party as soon as it was well across the
mountains into Kentucky to carry back TO its
friends the cheering news of its victorious
passage. went everywhere, spreading and en-
couraging this belief
Babylon is falling" he said "All the
powers of hell cannot avail against the mighty
hosts which the Lord hath raised up Ahab's
Kingdom Of human slavery which has so
long cursed this land is sinking in the faith
omless depths Of its own iniquity.
Mcclellan, with a mighty army, is on
the James, advancing against the chief city of
the ungodly.
Burnside has defeated the rebels in North
Carolina. aud taken all their seaports. A
great feet is on its way TO take Charleston,
where the rebellion was Matched. Gen.
Curtis has driven them out of Missouri, and
defeated them with terrible slaughter at Pea
Ridge, in Arkansas.
The rebels have only been saved from
utter overthrow ere this by being in league
with the mud, and the rain, and the snow,
as they have been with the powers of dark
ness. Now the Spring approacheth. Now
the sun cometh back to his place in the
heavens where he sheds warmth and cheer
and lifts up the souls of men with glorious
promise. Every day that he shines brings
our friends nearer Every bud that opens on
the trees is sweet harbinger of hope Every
springing leaf is herald of the coming of
the Flag of the Union"
His words were made good by the steady
advance Of the Union army toward Cumber-
land Gap. In February it was ut Cumber-
land Ford, only u miles from Cumberland
Gap, and its advance was still pushing for
ward. In March it was at the very foot of
7he Gap, on the Kentucky side, and the
Tennesseeans in it were constantly making
their way across the mountains. by paths
only known to them, to visit their friends and
bring hopes Of speedy deliyerance
In April the Elder went among his flock
saying:
" Blood has flowed in torrents on the
banks Of the Tennessee River at Shiloh. The
rebels made a desperate battle, but Albert
Sidney Johnston was killed and Beaure-
gard driven back 10 COrinth The greatest
1eet that the world ever saw has swept tri-
umphantly past the rebel forts on the Missis-
sippi, destroyed every vessel that the rebels
had, and captured the greatest CITY in the
Southern Confectionery Orleans, the sink
of perdition the Babylon of wickedness. the
abode Of gamblers, robbers and murderers.
Gen. Butler, a Yankee General has been set
over it, to rule it with rod of iron. and
purge 1t of its iniquity. Verify, the Lord is
mighty, and His little finger more potent
than the loins Of the devil"
The last Of April tie UniOnists' hopes were
crowned by the capture Of the rebel strong
hold OF Cumberland Gap, and the advance of
the Union army into Tennessee.
Henry flav D,1Iool. ..,,o
IN command Of a company of Tennesseeans,
who were mounted. and did invaluable scrv.
ice as scouts. They went everywhere in
the country in front of the Gap. driving out
the rebel maFaudiDg parties, saving the young
men from CONSUMPTION, and furnishing those
who were committing depredations He even
pushed as far as Chinkapin Cove. for few
happy hours with Miriam. They were hours
oi bliss such as come rarely into any lives,
for both were filled with rosest homes for the
immediate future.
BUT Midsummer brought dismal change.
Profiting by the inexplicable supineDess of
the Union Generals, the rebels collected their
energies for great return blow. They
pressed into service every man they could
reach, and soon gathered armies strong
enough to run the widely-dispersed Union
armies back to the Ohio River. Even
Cumberland Gap had TO be given UP. and
Henry Clay Pollock's company had 10 help
the garrison fight its way back to the Ohio.
1t required all the Elders efforts to sus-
tam the spirits Of his flock under these crush
ing calamities. But he, with Robert Inrnle.
and similar unconqueTabie spirits, went CON
siantly among their people with words of
confidence and encouragement
The battle Of Perryville turned the tide.
the victory on the banks of Stone River set
1t flowing the other way, and hopes began to