The National tribune., 1899-10-05

Todd and his two sons, Washington and
Sar"- Nash, as he was familiarly called,
was about % years OF age -yUhile Sam WAS
only some 16 years old at that period.
There We're two daughters, Martha and.
Virginia; also, widowed daughter, the
eldest, and her two little boys, who lived
with Uncle Jimmy.
LIFE OF THE MoUNTAINEER.
Tho little patches of farmland, the forest,
the little North" contributed to their sup
port. When wanting ready cash, there
was the finest chestnut wood in America,
and the whole family would repair to the
immense chestnut forest near by, With
saw, AK, and other implements, and get
out shingles by the thousand and ten
thousand, and sell them to Sam Cline, the
rich miller and Union friend, on the Valley
pike, Cline sending for them with heavy
wagons.
In the Summer the family gath9Isd
tops7 of whortleberries (huckleberries) on
the mountain flats near by, and sold these
to the country store, II miles away, and
preserved for Winter use. Chestnuts
abounded all, about the base of the Bald
Mountain, and they were gathered by the
hundred bushels and sold at the country
store, or exchanged for goods of various
kinds, including powder and lead.
Uncle Jimmy nodded his own bullets,
and he was supplied here and there by
friends with powder and caps; and it MAY
be said here that the Confederates a thou
sand times wondered where Uncle Jimmy
procured his ammunition for his three
rifles, as his two sons each owned a rife,
and all three were hair-triggers with shaded
sights, and the very best make Of the hunt
ing rifle, good for about 250 yards range
AS the war progressed Uncle Jimmys
proclamation Of defiance 10 the Confederates
reached the Provost Marshal of Staunton,
Capt. John Avis, and later Richmond and
"Old Winder."
1t now became positively known after
the conscript acts that Uncle Jimmy was
guiding Union men and escaped Federal
soldiers through the lines 10 Cumberland,
Nd, and New Creek Station, some 2O-odd
miles west of Cumberland.
The Confederate Government having
passed laws prohibiting any and all per
sons from leaving the Confederacy without
a proper pass from the authorities, and
also prohibiting ali persons from aiding
ieluStto III cocdpllIS 10 tiIc NOTtU, Ifle Con-
federate authorities now seriously turned
theiT attention to the arrest Of Uncle Jimmy
and trying him for treason, OF blotting him
out of existence.
Now, Uncle Jimmy had some honest
friends in Staunton, both good and true.
and it may surprise our Virginia readers
TO know that one of the Provost Guard
was secret friend, on account of the friend
ship existing between the guards father
and Uncle Jimmy. Many readers living
about Staunton will remember a quiet
little Swedish gentleman, a baker. living
near the American House, although some
said he was German. His wife, how
ever, was German, and with them lived
very pretty, rosy-cheeked girl, a Swede.
The father Of the bakers wife had come
over from Germany, and resided with them
and assisted in the baking business. He
spoke only the German language, and
was not supposed to speak or comprehend
a dozen words of English. OF course,
Pap" did not understand English. Once
he was called as witness in some cases in
the Courthouse at Staunton, and after
saying "nein' and '.yaw" and mix" he WIS
excused and told by the lawyer to "staLd
aside" adding: You can't get anything
out of that crazy Dutchman." Dutch
man said Nix" everybody laughed, then
he meekly retired.
This family was perhaps the best and
most valued friends that Uncle Jimmy had