The National tribune., 1900-01-04

comparatively safe. got little nervous
at one time. A stable stood on the corner
of the lot, and about 10 O'Clock crowd Of
them came and broke down the door and
got a horse that had been locked in. 1t
took them a long time 10 break the door. or
at least We thought so, and the blaze OF the
burning buildings made it as light as day.
Twas afraid they would have some occasion
to pass through the lot, and knew II they
did they would fall over some of us. They
thoroughly sacked and burned a part Of the
town, and about IL o'clock We heard the
bugle signal to fall in line, and IN a short
time they had started on their march back
over the same road they had come, and by
midnight the town was as still Us the grave,
and not sound broke th5 dead silence.
save now and then the rattling OF the horses
feet of some straggier who bad failed tc
Join his command, or the muftied footsteps
of citizens or soldiers as they slipped from
their hiding places TO view the fearful rtIin
that had been wrought
About this time we Slipped from our hid
ing place and started for the country. We
had enough OF ;hat kind of town life. When
we started we very naturally scattered
Myself and three others remained together.
The reader will ask why ] dill iiot go 10
the Union army. | vii! answer, for tGTc
reasons: First, on account OF my ignorance
of the usages Of war; fully believed If
should go TO them under those cjrcGm-
stances that they would take me a prisoner
send me North, incarcerate me in prison,
and exchange and send me back; and,
second, they We're perhaps $50 miles out,
side the Union lines. and with little hope OF
getting back themselves, and ] was. under
these circumstances, afraid 10 fall into thci,
hands, not knowing what kind OF treat
ment ] might receive. ] feared that my
word would not be taken as 10 my loyalty
10 the Union. when ] was caught bearing
arms for the South.
AFTER THE BATTLE.
To return 10 my story, we Travelled till
about o'clock in the morning. when we
came to a large farmhouse not more than
four or five miles from the town. The
people were all up; the women of the house.
for there were no men there, invited us in
and OF course were eager 10 hear the news.
] told them the Yankees had burned WYthe-
vile 10 the ground, torn up the railroad for
miles, and our whole regiment was either
captured or killed. So far as we knew we
Were the only ones that escaped, and the
whole country WAS fCil Of Yankees, burn
ing, numbering and destroying everything
in their course.
They were frightened almost to death,
and could hardly refrain from shedding
tears Of sympathy for us. They offered to
prepare us something TO eat, which We
gladly accepted, and after they had given
us an elegant breakfast they sent a boy 70
conduct MS into the hills, where their men
folks had their horses concealed, and were
hiding themselves. We told them the same
story we had told the women. They said
we We're welcome to remain with them until
the Yankees left that part Of the country.
We sat around and began to get drowsy,
having slept none the night before.
We suggested that we would 20 for some
fresh water and walk around q little: we
would then perhaps feel better. They gave
us their bucket and directed us the way 10 a
spring some distance around the side OF the
mountain. We told them we would return
soon, but after we left them we counselcJ
as to what we would do and we agreed moi
10 go back, but go on home. which was only
40 or 50 miles away, and then so on ia the
Union army at Knoxville, Tenn.
We threw their bucket over a precipice anC
Started on our tramp. The story we tolo
these people served us well for day and I;
half. We told them our regiment WAS a
Saltville, some distance on the road tn,
direction we were going; that our battery
had been sent 10 Wytheville; il was cap
tured. and all our company killed and cap
tured except us.
Every time we would tell this story, whicl
was 0tlmes day, they would express grea
sympathy foy us, and they gave MS the bes
10 eat the country afforded. Before we lef
the main road and turned in another di
rection, where had 10 invent II new story
j had told the old one so long and 50 ofte
that | began 10 believe it myself, and as
would tell of all our company being kille
and captured, ! could hardly keep back TIA
tears, and that of course helped me To VII
the sympathy Of every one with whom "
came in contact.
ION the morning of the third day after W
Started We arrived in the neighborhood @