The National tribune., 1899-12-14

bonds; then they would march around
and sing, and when the singing was
ended the poor fellow did not know whether
he was himself or somebody else. Thou
sands of foolish boys were pulled into the
rebel army in that way.
/ remember on one occasion the rebels
appointed day when they would call for
volunteers at Pikeville, the seat Of Marion
County. A Union man living in the town,
named Terrell, sent the Johnnies word that
il they called for volunteers in Pikeville
those volunteers would do their marchin G
under the Stars and Stripes. The John
MES threatened that if that flag was raised
they would shoot it full of holes. Terrell
procured Il large silk flag and planted a
pole, near the Courthouse, 100 feet high or
more. The day arrived, and about $50
Union nel assembled at Pikeville and
stacked tfeir guns in the Courthouse
The flag was hoisted amid cheers; the
Johnnies mlde their appearance, but made
no attem1 1t TO call for volunteers or shoot
the flag either. John Meadows climbed
the fag-polc II feet or more, and tol them
to shoot him. but not the flag. After all
their threats the rebels went quietly away,
and left Old Glory streaming in the air.
HANGING OF OLD MAN KENNEDY.
Ny uncle took an active part in the
rally. The rebels afterward arrested him
and gave .tim only five minutes to live;
but some Of his friends among them in
terfered. and would not let him be hanged.
They shortly afterward hung old Uncle
John Kennedy. 30 years old, until he was
dead, 10 the limb of large white-oak tree
at my grandfather's spring, for no offense
whatever but that of being Union man.
There were also some families on Williams s
Creek named Nichols, and also the Wig
gintons, who were outspoken men. The
Johnnies arrested Alf Nichols, their leader,
and four or five more and lodged them in
Jail at Columbus, Miss. These men after
wards broke Jail and made their escape to
the Union army.
The first man to reach the Union lines
from our neighborhood was Joseph Palmer
In little dispute with rebel soldier, Robert
Whitley, he stabbed Whitley with his
knife, and made his way to the lines at
Corinth, distance of 20 or 80 miles, closely
guarded by rebel cavalry under Gen.
Roddy. This affair so enraged the rebels
that Union men had TO flee to the mountains
for safety. My father moved from Barns
Vile TO the mountains in the western part
OIL Franklin County, about IL miles east
of Evansville, on Bull Mountain Creek
where the people were all loyal TO the Gov
ernment
Palmer made his way back to the mount
aims of Marion and Franklin Counties for
the purpose of raising regiment for the
limited States Caryiaa h
our midst man-Marshall McLoud or
McI.eod-living in the outer edge of our
village, good spy for the rebels. who
kept them around him and harbored them
for the purpose of hunting Union men.
himself got into ttouble. One evening
about sunset Palmer assembled nine men.
the writer being one of them, armed with
rifles, shotgnns. and two old muskets.
We started for Bir. McLeod's, a distance
OF six or eight miles, determined TO break
up one den Of marauderS. We arrived
on the ground. and found no soldiers there
Palmer, in manuvering around, routed a
gang OF sheep in front of McLeod's gate
Mcleod stepped out TO the gate TO see what
disturbed the sheep. Palmer was within
10 feet of him, with a good double-barrel
shotgun. He tried both barrels Of his gun
on Mcleod, and they failed TO fire, ONLY
bursting the caps. Mcleod ran for life
to the door, and shut it as he entered Nine
guns were fired at him, but he made his
escape. Next morning Stephen Scott,
one OF the nine men, went over to Nc
Leeds, pretending to be hunting his hogs,
but in reality to learn what was done.
Mcleod was loading wagons to leave,
and there We're bullet-holes through the
door, from the small rifle to the largest
musket- There was no more trouble from