The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22

the South BY this time He replied that he
knew nothing of what was going on in
Washington, as he had not been there.
They informed him that they knew he had
been in Washington, for they were posted
on what he was doing; they knew when he
went and when he returned, and what his
business was. They told him he should
not be injured il he would be plain with
them and give them the information thsy
desired. He then said: Boys, you might
as well give up, for Lincoln is determined
| to whip the South, il IL takes every man
in the North, and the North Is filed with
able bodied men who are not yet in the
army" Brother-in-law Mead and Bush
whack johnson then wanted to take Har-
rison out and hang him, but Capt. Gurlsy
| said No, he saved my life q short tims
ago, and he shall not now be injured"
Harrison soon after moved to Huntsville,
| where he lived an honorable and useful
life until his death several years after thu
war. Mrs. Harrison died an unrecosr
/ structed rebel and never fCrgaye the Yam
KEGS for making war en- the South.
In the Fan Of 1858 Wilder's Brigade
was sent into that part of the country to
break up those bands Of guerrilles and
| bushwhackers, and camped at Maysvills
| and Huntsville during the Fall and Win
ter: In October, 1853, detail was sent
| to Decherd with several hundred GONZALES
emit horses and other Government property.
The second day out, and when three miles
north Of New Market, one of the wagons
became stuck in the mud and was abaa-
| doned. Capt. kilborn. Of the I'D Ind,
with two men. while trying to get II out,
| became separated from his command ana
was captured by this band of guerrilias.
Instead OF shooting them down in cold
| blood, "a was usually the case, they con-
Guided to send them south OF the Tennes-
see River and to prison. They spent the
4 nrSt night ar Tho horna nf (fnI ;oL
who was LieutenantC Colonel Of the 4th
Ala. (rebeD Cav. and who was then at
home trying to induce these guerrillas to
return to their commands. The next morn
ing the prisoners were paroled and the
captain was placed In the charge Of two
young Kentucky soldiers and started
south. AT every house they could hsay
rumors Of the Yankees coming, and toward
| night the guards were pretty well fright
ened. They passed the place where onoe
stood the house Of Frank Gurley, but
burned the year before By McCook's men.
Late in the evening Capt. Kilborn succeed
ed In briblng his guards By changing
clothes with them. and giving I'D every
thing OF value he had about him which
nad been left him, and was released Kill
born Immediately started east on the II.
d y. X K. for Stevenson. He came near
losing his life at Point Rock Greek, and
| after an all-night tramp through the rain
1 5000
joined his command, and at once organised
a company of scouts to try and capture the
| band Of guerrillas. One morning Just az
daylight they saw horses tied near an cid
house In field some distance from tha
road, and surrounding the house they soon
captured two men, who proved to be Capt
Frank Gurley and his brother Tom. They
were sent North and confined in prison %
months and then released, but were never
further punished.
Capt. Gurley is still living at his old
home near the little town of Gurley, Ala.
and the bali-and-chain which was fastened
10 his leg while in prison now serves tbs
more noble purpose of pulling his gats
shut when visitors pass in or out
capt. kllborn is now living In Illinois.
de justly earned the 1000, for when he
went beyond our lines with his little band
OF scouts he took his life in his hands.
But the reward was never paid him. When
up his beloved occupation Of numbering
loyal people in cold blood, and returned to
his Bible and pulpit. During one OF his
visits to Huntsville he passed the night
with Mr.. Harrison's family, and in the
morning was asked to lead the devotional
exercises, and while on his knees praying
the good Lord to protect this family from
all harm, one Of the Harrison girls, light.
hearted, eare-for- nothing girl, who had noss
yet forgotten how this same man had
wanted to hang her father, took a hat pin.
and reaching over gave him such vigor.
Gus Ja6 IN the region Of his pistol pocket
tnat the prayer Immediately ended and
Bushwhack johnson never again darkened
the door Of the Harrison home.
Mead and Harrison married sisterk...
When the Federal army went into that
part of the country Mead went to his
father-in-law and told him the Yankees
were running away with his ''niggsrs',
from the jackson County plantation. The
old man, who was very bitter rebel had
always declared that he would hold 70 his
slaves regardless of the Yankee army,
started across the mountain to the planta-
ton, and had gone but a short distance
upon lonely mountain road when he wss
shot from his horse and killed. Mead very
soon after made an effort to get possession
OF the old mans property, and it was
found that he had the old mans watch,
pocket-knife, and other personal effects in
his possession. Shortly after this Meade's
wife died very suddenly and mysteriously,
and be was accused of a very serious
crime. The unsettled condition of the
country prevented an investigation, which
perhaps saved Mr.. Mead serious trouble .
Soon after the war closed there was quite
rivalry between several OF the citizens as
to who could buy the most cotton, and
when Mr.; Harrison had bought some cot
ton which Mead had expected to get,
Mead became so enraged that he lay in
wait for Harrison with a shotgun, and
when the evening train ran up to the depot
at the town of Gurley, Mead stepped out
and, as he thought, emptied both barrels
into the body of Harrison; but it proved to
be another man. The wounded man lin
gered between life and death for several
weeks and slowly recovered. During his
conyalesence he swore he would kill Mead
as soon as he was able to be on the street
and was only too anxious for the time
to come, but he recovered too slowly, for
Mead envied certain mule that belonged
to long, lean, Sand Mountain cracker,
and when he attempted to take the mule
without compensating the cracker, he
found the cracker wasn't built that way,
for he drew his gun and right then and
there the earthly career of Mr.. Mead
ended.-T. III. MCCORKLE. Co. D, I'D
Ind, Terre Haute, Ind.
SONS OF VETERANS.