The National tribune., 1899-12-21

started up the track, and had gone but
short distance, when we entered deep cut.
Just then we heard a train coming toward
us. Fortunately the bank was not so
steep but we could climb ii, wi ich we did on
double-quick time, and were just on the top
of the bank while the train sped by.
We Travelled on till, perhaps, 10 o'clock at
night, when we reached a wood. We were
tired and almost WORKOUT, and decided 10
lie down and sleep till morning. 1t was
quite cold, the ground was freezing, but we
lay as close together as We could and slept
till morning
When daylight came, and we were ready
again TO start, for the second time during
our trip we had lost the points Of the com
pass II was cloudy and foggy, and we
could not see any distance. After consider
able argument, for we did not agree, we
started and Travelled two or three miles,
when we all agreed that we were wrong;
we turned and retraced our steps, and some
time in the forenoon the sun broke through
the clouds and we found that we were right
We made but little progress that day.
The country was full of Confederate cav
airy. and we had to play hide and seek with
them all day around the hills and knobs.
AT one time we were close enough 10 a squad
OF them 10 have tossed a stone down among
them from our position on the hillside above
the road where we were concealed. We
Were scarcely out Of sight Of them during
the larger part Of the day, but ! am sure not
a single one Of them saw us. Late in the
evening, about sunset, we reached the base
Of the mountain, and We welcomed it as a
place Of safety.
We stopped at a cabin and found them to
be Union people. They gave us our sup
per, which we appreciated very much, for
we had had nothing to eat during the day.
We also rested and slept there till the after
part Of the night, when one Of the men who
lived there, and was also a conscript and
scouting, went with us some distance to
pilot us around danger that was just ahead
Of us.
We crossed the mountain in the morning
about daylight, and by 8 O'Clock we were in
Doe River Cove, in Garter County, Tenn,
a section OF country noted for all living
there being Union people. We then felt
safe, for We knew we We're then among
friends. We Travelled the main road and by
noon came to the neighborhood where had
been the August before with the old Baptist
preacher before referred to in this story.
At the earnest solicitation OF these good
people, with whom we stopped, we remained
till the following morning.
On Wednesday morning we again re-
sumed our journey, and by noon we had
reached Doe Mountain, starting northeast
at Watauga River, which runs IS or 20
miles, when it terminates abruptly at
Mountain City, il johnson County.
We at once aScended this mouuta In. fol-
lowed its summit, and as we had done before.
when night settled down upon us we made
beds Of leaves, and lay down and slept till
morning. We reached the terminus of the
mountain at Mountain City that evening
about dark. The rain was again falling
in torrents.
AT HOME AGAIN.
Our purpose was TO try TO reach my
fathers Home that night but about the
middle OF the night We had given out with
fatigue and hunger, and could 90 no fur
ther. We stopped ut a cabin with people
whom knew. and lay down on the floor and
slept till nearly daylight, and then started
for home. We arrived at my fathers nome
about o'clock IN the morning on Friday,
the 3d day OF March, having been on the
road just three weeks 10 n day
The boys who Were with me went on t0
Their homes in another part of the County;
and this ended my second desertion
j Will not attempt TO describe the condi-
tLon Of things that existed there at that
time. My vocabulary is too limited tc
attempta portrayal OF the horrors and the
suffering Of those poor Union people. Civil
law and courts of justice had been abol.
ished; anarchy and ruin reigned supreme
men and neighbors, who had ALWAYS
passed for good men, and who had turned
10 be rebels, were transformed into demons
murderers and savages. Conscripts were
hunted like wild animals, and often shot
and murdered. Their homes were Otter
destroyed by the torch, and if SHARED were
robbed Of everything they had, and theil
families left without crust of bread.
The fact that ] had deserted tn,
second time was known by tho authorities
at homo before arrived. My Captain had
instructed the Colonel of the Home Guard
as they called themselves, not to return mt
again TO his company; IN feet. not to aires