The National tribune., 1899-10-05

Avis that they searched Uncle sJinmy's
house and for miles around his house"
The next nave WAS made hy the Provost
Guard in the daytime riding directly to tie
door and inquiring for Uncle Jimmy.
Mrs. Todd knew that he and fiE; sons were
taking party through to Mill Creek, and
also exactly when he would return. She
politely asked the guard to dismount
They refused, when she said: Gentle
men, if you are not friends of Mr. Todd.
let me advise you to keep far away from
White Oak Lick; yet you can search the
house for him, if you choose They de-
clined, and werc evidently very uneasy,
fearing an ambuscade. @-a Jos i'
The guard again reported that they,
after the most diligent search, had failed
to find Uncle Jimmy. Soon after these
events, so Mrs. Todd informed me-, faces
We're frequently seen at the windows about
midnight, peering in and noting if Mr..
Todd was at home. 1t was now surmised
by the family that the ConfeGerates Law
concealed near by in the mountains, thus
being able to appear at his windows any
time of the night they desired. So he and
his two sons came home every evening
just after twilight and secreted themselves
in side room, closing the windows so they
could not be observed.
After keeping watch two or three nights
these mysterious visitors We're again OBJ
served peering through the windows, whel
Mrs. Todd slightly raised window and
spoke, but received no answer at first:
then voice replied that they had Just
called when passing to see if Uncle Jimmy
was at home. well, men," she replied.
If you are our friends, and have 10 arms,
come in; but if you are enemies, earnestly
advise you not to come" .srt.s--.
whispered conversation could be heard
on the outside, and soon they were seen
or heard no more. Lucky for them that
they retired, for in side room in the house
stood, with their rifles resting in the hollow
of their arms. three of the most famous
hunters and dead-shots who ever traversed
the North Mountain, Uncle Jimmy and his
two sons, Wash and Sam Todd Had
they entered they would have met three of
the fercest fighting men in America
Uncle Jimmy was now convinced that
an attempt was being made TO assassinate
him, and determined to hunt his enemies.
but no one could be discovered on any ridge
OF in the forest or on the roads, as everybody
carefully Stunned White Oak Lick.
although the country road known as the
Pendleton County road passed through the
Lick. The Provost Marshal of Staunton had
determined TO throw his guard against Uncle
Jimmy, and either capture or kill him
as the papers We're rather poking fun at the
Confederate Government for its inability
to either capture or destroy him. Here
was man in the State of Virginia, and
within IS miles of the Provost Marshal's
office, who publicly defied and treated with
the utmost contempt the entire Confed-
crate Government and army.
At this time, the Fall of 1869, a de-
tachmentof the Provost Guard oil Staunton
was sent by order of Capt John Avis TO |
White Oak Lick for the purpose of can't |
uring Uncle Jimmy, and they We're sig |
nally defeated by Uncle Jimmy and one |
OF his sons; but as the fight has been fully
detailed III another part of these 'recollec- |
tons, 1t is not necessary to repeat it.
Uncle Jimmy was a man of medium |
size, rather thick-set, grizZled- gray beard
and hair, and had the peculiarly of show
he was most dangerous. White Oak Lick
is famous locality 20-odd miles west of |
StauntOn, Va, and derives its name from
salt spring or lick" in the settlement
which stands beside a whte-oakr tree.
Bald Mountain is bald on the summit
only, and will serve forever as an eternall
monument To the memory of Uncle ,JimmyI
Todd and to his loyalty and devotion to the
Stars and Stripes and his simple honesty.
Trusting that | have contributed some /
What to the entertainment and amusement
OF the public, bid my readers all adieu,
=. CThe end.) t