The National tribune., 1899-01-19
!. s. CORPORAL
IS ed G& $5s;ss%1'7PIKE

vile and Columbia Aiken was anothe
desirable point to reach, where we nigh
do ilcalculable mischief to the enemy
| commur j "a tons; but Augusta was TIN
grand objective point, as here was Located
| the most extensive powder-mill in tn
entire COnfederacy, as well as one OF the
| largest, best. and most important bridges
To destroy either the powder mill or the
bridge was to inf let iuepafable iEiur,
upon the rebel cause, ard hence the I'M
| portance of success. ">''
We set out in the Winter, and sue
ceeded in getting as far as the little town
of Murphy, in Cherokee County, n. e..
where we found the snow was so deep in
the mountains that it was impossible to
prDceei farther: and we accordingly
turned our attention to affairs in the inn
m ediate vicinity of where we then were.
We were accompanied by party of citi-
zenS, who aided us to the extent of their
power and gave us all the Information we
needed.
We ascertained that one Col. W. c..
Walker, who formerly commanded bri-
gade at Cumberland Gap, but who was
now at home with plenary conscripting
powers, was creating much trouble in the
County, he being engaged in carrying into
effect his sweeping powers with all the
energy at his command and all the
cruelty of his nature.
He had already sent a large number of
unwilling conScriptS to his camp on
Notely River some of whom, however,
managed TO desert, and reached our lines,
reporting to Col. Long, then commanding
the forces at Charleston, on the HiawaS-
see, in Tennessee.
Nothing discouraged, however, Walker
continued to pick up men wherever he
could find them; and although he had
but 40 or so men in camp upon whom he
could rely, he had a full set of officers in
camp for a maximum regiment-that con-
dition of officers being the result of the
inorIinate ambition Of the Southern, or,
perhaps l should say, Secesh heart.
After mature deliberation we concluded
gether, and take the "dashing" Colonel
prisoner, and convey him back with
us to Chattanooga. Subsequent events,
however convinced us of the truth of the
old adage that it takes at least two to
make bargain, for the Colonel refused to
be taken.
eyes, BOYS, I'll SURRENDER"
As soon as it was dusk on New Years
night of 1864 we sailed out from a place
of concealment, and went to Walkers
house, and, after surrounding it, called
upon him to surrender. He Immediately
demanded to know who we were, and we
replied that we were Yankee soldiers, and
that If he gave himself up he should be
treated like a gentleman and as pris-
oner Of war. But he replied with an oath
that he would do no such thing. / then
informed him that resistance would be
useless, as his house was surrounded,
and that we would take him, dead CT
alive. He responded to this threat with:
Il viii surrender when please"
Knowing that he had constantly about
him a body-guard / concluded to storm
the house before they had time to rally
to his assistance. Selling the door step,
which was a short, heavy log, broke in
the door in front, while the men behind
the house proceeded TO demolish that in
the rear Walker retreated To an inner
room, and made stand TO sell his life as
dearly as possible, twice more refusing to
surrender.
We soon demolished the two doors to
his room as we had done the outer ones.
Still anxious TO save his life, / drew a
bead on him with a pistol, and ordered
him again to yield himself prisoner. He
was standing with a Sharp's carbine
almost ready to shoot, before ! succeeded
in drawing my pistol, but, fortunately, /
was too quick for him. Seeing | had the
advantage, | again called on him to sur