The National tribune., 1902-07-31
AMONG LOYAL
hoUlalINEERs. hoUlal
flonoring the Stars and Stripes in East
Tennessee Saved the Lives Of Cenfed-
crates.
BY WILL A. McTEER.
crates.

At the outbreak of the war of the re-
bellion the people of East Tennessee ad
hered almost solidly 10 the Union. The
valley, nested among the mountains,
through which one of the principal lines
of railway ran. connecting the ends of the
| Confederaey, and situated near the heart
If the proposed new Government, was an
important position. The loyalty of the
people to the old flag was menace to
the Confederates, and a cause of bitter
hess and anxiety. The authorities made
! the great mistake of endcavoring to force
the loyal men of the mountains to the
support of their cause. Hatred most in
tense was the result, and many men died
rather than yield to the pressure brought
| to lear upon them.
The Confederate authorities first at
| tempted to disarm the people, and for this
purpose sent troops through the country,
taking up the hunting rifles wherever they
could be found. These rifles were as dear
as the apple of the eye to the mountain
men. From the days that Daniel Boone
''cilled the bar' in 1760 on the Wau-
| tauga, to the beginning of the war, it
was regarded as Il matter of household
necessity that each male inhabitant from
Is years and upwards should own a rifle.
Shooting matches were held, where the
men of whole community met and prac-
| ticed craftsmanship, and the best marks
man was regarded as an honOred man,
while the poor marksman was regarded
with something akin to disgust From
these practice matches they got to loving
! their guns almost as the lover esteems his
sweetheart.
| So they regarded any interference with
the right to own and keep their hunting
rifles as an unwarranted Interference with
the divine rights inherited by American
citizens, which none dare to question.
| AS the clouds of war grew darker, and
! the thunders from the battlefields pealed
louder throughout the land, this loyal ele
ment within the boundaries claimed by
the Confederacy became more and more a
menace and object of hatred on the part
of the Confederates, which hatred was
/ fully reciprocated. The Union men first
met boldly and frequently for counsel and
muster" or drilling. These gatherings
were provoking to the Confederacy, and
steps were taken speedily as possible
to put stop to them. As armed,
equipped and trained soldiers We're sta
toned in the country, the meetings of
ioyalists were necessarily more secret.
There was something remarkable that
so many persons could keep secret so
well as did the loyaists in regard to
when and where they would gather.
One of these meetings was held just
above Little River Gap, in ChiIhowee
Mountain, in Blount County. 1t was very
near the present site of the town of Wal
| land. 4 more beautiful llplace could
scarcely be found. The mountain peaks
run high above the little plateau, east.
west, and south, while the limpid waters
of the river come rushing by like molten
crystals, the soft murmuings mingling
with the gentle mountain zephyrs, filling
4 the place with sweet melodies and inspir-
ing the spirit of patriotism and liberty.
At that time the locality was sparsey
settled, the inhabitants dwelling in little
log mountain houses, but with spirits of
loyalty and patriotism as uhcOnquerabIe
as death itself. 20
| On one occasion there were something
like 800 men met there from the coves
and adjacent country. 70 add to the in
terest of the occasion, as wei rs to keep
the fires of patriotism burning the bright
er, there was a flag raising. a tall and
beautiful pole was brought to the spot,
and Il large and well-made fiag-the old
Stars and Stripes-sewed together in
secret by some of the loyal women, was
attached to that pole, and it was reared
and planted there, where the men of the
locality could climb the hills about them
and with tender and loving emotions look
upon the old flag, and in their retirement
give vent to their feelings of love for the
banner that had led their fathers to vic
tory up the sides of Kings Mountains.
The writer was then only II years old,
but was present and took part in the flag
raising; while his father. being one Of the
militia Colonels, was drill master. and,
rather, master of ceremonies. That was
a big day, and will never be forgotten
while any of the parties who were there
are living. At that time a company
of Confederate cavalry was stationed at
Maryville, the County seat, and was
securing the county for rifles, taking them
wherever they could be found.
In 1873 the writer was a delegate and
in attendance at the International Sab
bath School Convention held at Atlanta
The delegates were seated by States, a
banner being placed to show where each
was to sit. At an interval delegate
from the Florida delegation came over
and inquired for East Tennessee dele
gates. He was informed that the writer
was from East Tennessee, and from
Blount County. Smiling. he said. "Why,
once knew every hog path in that coun-
lty. My name is White, and / am n
brother of Capt. White. who commanded
a company of cavalry, taking up the guns
in Blount County, in the early part of
the war. | was Lieutenant in the COM
pany"' He then related some of his ex-
III tUe SouHty, anu Sdlu tndl ne
had an experience that was striking and
beautiful, and as well as can be remem-
bered, the story will be given in his own
words:
Il was ordered one day to take a de-
tachment of men and go TO Tuckaleechee
Cove, and take up all the rifles of the
Union men in that locality. I was board
ing at the time with Judge Wallace. over
on the hill east Of the town, who resided
| in tricl. hpnSa I hs, dor oh
ment of men to prepare for the march
with rations, and mounting my horse rode
over to the Wallace residence to get
something that l wanted to take along.
Being in readiness and about to mount
my horse for starting, the Judge came mp,
having heard by some means of the order
that had been given me. He. told me that
he had a request to make He said, AS
you pass up Little River through the
Chilhowee Gap, just as you emerge from
, the narrow mountain pass between the
points of the mountain peaks, at the left
side of the road, You will find the Stars
and Stripes floating from, o. tall poll. Now,
} let me ask you not to disturb that flag.
! The mountain men placed it, there: it be-
, longs to them, and if you leave it undis-
J turbed you will be kindly treated on your
! trip; but as sure as you touch it or inter
, fere with it, yon will have trouble to get
out of those mountains. Now, don't dis
turb it, ~ 4,
, Il said nothing to the men about it. and
} as we went mp the narrow defile, suddenly
| W cama IN tho onapino anI tboro I'd