The National tribune., 1899-12-14

with ieter Lewis and Daniel Barnes. The
LITTER was nephew of my father, and {
scout for Gen. Price. In little disput,
| with soldier of Roddy's command, Barne:
had drawn a pistol and shot his brains out
and was now trying to make his escap,
to Florida. He had first written a pass
and forged Gen. Prices name to it. Or
hearing the guns at Bramley's my father
and ran up a steep mountain in front o
our house, and Peter Lewis ran through
the fields home. Barnes stood his ground
Being a Confederate soldier himself, he
thought that they would not molest him
but they arrested him, put him on a horse
tied his feet and hands, and eventually
turned him over to Roddy's command
where the rebel soldier had four brothers
and they killed him.
Ny father and ran up the mountain
unobserved, but when they came down
and secured Barnes they put the blood
hounds On our track. In reality my father
was the man they wanted TO kin more than
the rest, just because he would not deny
his principles, and took bold stand for
| the Union on the very start.
When the hounds began to open on our
track my father wanted to stop and sur
render. He said we could not evade the
dogs. L told him to follow me. We ran
about a mile to a branch of running water.
ran down the stream, followed by my
father, TO where the branch emDtied into
the main creek We ran down the creek.
sometimes waist deep in water, for about
half-mile, and crawled out under a cliff
of rock.
When the dogs came to the branch they
could not track us any farther. 1t was then
about sunset and We knew the Johnnies
would get out OF there before dark. They
were afraid for dark TO come on them in the
mountains, infested as they were with
wolves and Union men, the latter most
dreaded. We knew their camp would be
at old man Northington's, rebel living
about five miles from where we lived. We
lay concealed under the rock
Night set in, and it was cold. / had
no coat. We were both wet to the skin.
We heard the horns blowing for the dogs
away in direction of Northington's. Being
our cover, and went back home We
learned that they had captured Peter
Lewis and furloughed him to meet them
at a designated place in one week. But
Lewis did not report; he took refuge in the
mountains.
We remained at home one hour or more,
procured some clothing and a bottle of
turpentine. We started for Skeeram Creek.
about eight miles east, section of country
the rebels had not vet invaded We tray-
eled through the darkness, occasionally
wetting the soles of our shoes with turpen-
tine to prevent being trailed by the dogs
on the morrow, should they undertake
pursuit.
GATHERING OF LOYAL MEN,
Some time between midnight and day
we came 10 an old dilapidated cabin in the
woods Inc country was strange to us,
and We did not know where we were and
we remained at the old house until morn
ing. Luckily, next morning about sunrise
woman came to us and informed us that
Bramley, Williams, and five or six others
of the Bull Mountain boys were at her
house, mile distant, and had sent her in
search Of us or TO see if she could learn
anything of our fate.
We followed TO her house, and found
eight of the boys there. After a hearty
breakfast We started again, 10 in number
10 an out-of-the-way place called Ball
Rock, on the head-waters of the Big Bear
Creek, about three miles from the good
wonlan's house. The nearest inhabtant
to our camp was old Abe Cole, "A Union
man, who owned a little grist-mill about
TWO miles from our camp. He furnished
us with provisions and all the information
ne could gather during our short stay at
the Ball Rock.
We remained there three or four davs
There were 10 refugees from Fayette Coun-
W passing through on their way to Yankee
dom, and Cole piloted them 10 our camp.
and increased our number TO 20. On a
day appointed the women from our neigh
borhood, wives and relatives. assembled
at Widow Clark's. a Union woman, living
about two miles from our hidinC-place.
with provisions and necessary supplies for
our proposed march.
About 10 O'Clock one bright day in Feb
r'iary the women prepared dinner and after
a hearty repast we bid them an affectionate
farewell, and started on our journey for
freedom and liberty. We Travelled that
evening, and when dark came directed
our course by the north star, and Travelled
all night and about daylight next morning
arrived at Mr.. Murphy's, a Union man.