The National tribune., 1901-07-25

haversacks for future use This we did
as well as to Eli our canteens with coffee.
and pockets with tobacco and cigars.
We were greatly surprised to find such
enthusiastic loyalty to the Union and
such bitterness to secession in a Southern
city. We were inclined to be lenient in
our judgment of those who were led into
the error of disunion through a misunder.
standing Of the motives of the Northern
people, and We regretted the necessity
that compelled US to take up arms to pre-
serve the Government under which we
all live, the best that ever existed, and
better, far better, than any two or more
Governments we could expect to build on
the ruins of the Union. But here we found
Secessionists regarded rs outlaws by their
own neighbors, who insisted that it was
our duty to treat them with the utmost
severity. We were warned not to trust
any of them on our route, as women and
children would offer US food containing
poison. We hesitated to imbibe this
spirit Of irreconcilable hostility and sus-
pEcion towards so large a portion Of the
Southern people, and determined to await
the result of practical experience. We
learned that a small minority in Coving-
ton who favored Secession were forced
to emisrate South by their irate neighbors,
who adhered to the Union sentiment of
their sister city, Cincinnati.
Late IN the evening we bade farewell
TO our generous hosts and boarded a
special train for Lexington. We found
guards stationed at regular intervals along
the road, and at every bridge a squad Of
20 soldiers, to prevent the Secessionists
from tearing up the track and burning the
bridges. Our train ran without Interrupt
ton until midnight, when we were warned
OF danger ahead. The train was stopped,
We Were all aroused, and the news soon
spread Of an expected attack, which was
anything but pleasant, as we had no guns
and did not know Of any being on the
train. Some Of our boys had reyolyers,
but the most OF us had only our butcher
knives. We'll, said one, do they expect
US to put down the rebellion with butcher
knives"
There seemed to be no alternative so
we drew our blades, while the more fortu-
nate owners of reyolveTs began hastily to
load. We peered into the darkness of an
unknown locality, shrouded with heavy
timber, which might conceal, for all we
knew, a host of foes. Ny comrade asked,
as we stood. knives in hand: How are
we TO catch our enemies, SO that we can
carve themr My reply was: 1T may be
more convenient for them to stand out of
our reach, and pick us off with their guns {;
but we may hope they are armed only with
Jack-knlYes, in which case we will have
lne advantage IN weapons.
Our suspense was greatly relieved when
orders came to each company to send a
detail! of 20 men to the forward baggage
car, where each was supplied with q
musket and ammunition. This detail of
2u0 men hastily loaded their guns and
formed in line, ready to repel any attack,
while the revolver corps and the butcher
knife brigade were held in reserve for
close quarters. Thus we stood for two
hours awaiting an attack, supposed to be
imminent, and grumbling all the while at
the apparent reckless management that
launched us into a hostile country un-
armed. Fortunately for us no enemy an
peared, so we boarded the train, which
moved cautiously forward, while the
armed detachment kept a sharp lookout,
with guns ready.
We got along the balance of the night
without trouble and without sleep. AT
9 i. m, Oct. 3, we reached Cynthiana.
Ky, and stopped two hours, which allowed
us time to stroll about the town. We
found it garrisoned by an Ohio regiment
recently arrived. They had found Seces-
sion flags toating from many of the build
lngs, and the lives of Union men were
unsafe. The Stars and Stripes quickly re-
placed the Stars and Bars, and Secession
lists became quiet, or ran away, while the
Unionists came smiling to the front.
Here we saw negro slaves for the first
time, engaged in their ordinary duties in
the service of their masters, apparently
unconscious OF the fact that great civil
war was IN progress, caused by differ
ence OF opinion for and against their en-
slavement. Our advent did not Tighten
their bonds, as the military had no au-
thority over the civil laws Of the STATE
concerning slavery.