The National tribune., 1902-07-10

less than one-fourth of the State is not so
well known.
East Tennessee is composed of fertile
valleys, through which run number OF
water courses-the French Broad, the
Nolachuckey. the Holston, the Clinch, Pow
ellis River and a number of other streams,
nil of which form the Tennessee River.
Between these valleys high ridges and IN
many cases precipitous mountains sep
arate the waters of the one from the other.
The lofty range of the Cumberland Noun
tains separates Tennessee from kentucky,
and with its kindred ranges extends more
than 80 miles into Kentucky.
1t is not generally known that the
greater portion of these more than 3o,OOo
men who joined the Federal army were
compelled, in order. to reach the Federal
forces. to travel in the darkness of the
nights. avoiding the squads of Confederate
cavalry who were placed to guard the
WAYS, from 100 to 200 miles on foot to
reach the Federal army. 1t is said that IN
the Chilean revolution, men whose Sympa-
thies were with the Congressional party
actually walked by mountain paths for
1900 miles through the Andes Mountains
to reach the nucleus of an army that was
being formed to overthrow the uSurWuS
President Bamaceda, and that years later
the whtened bones of many who started
on this perilous trip were found III the
mountain paths. But having passed the
narrow boundry of Chile they had no
enemy to fear save hunger and cold. The
refugees from East Tennessee had also
the eyer-watchful scouts of the enemy TO
avoid, and were compelled to avoid all
public roads. and often taking only the
moon and stars for their guide, make their
way as best they could by way of unfre>
Quented paths.
/ was a resident of East Tennessee. and
had just taken a degree in local college
when the Civil War broke out. Thorough
ly affiliated with the Union party, l, like
others, hoped for a speedy termination OF
the war, or a least the occupation OF that
section by the Federal forces. 1t was IN
the early Spring of 1863 that the party of
which / was to be 4 member determined to
make the attempt to reach the Federal
lines in Kentucky. The streams were still
swollen by the early rains of Spring. The
distance to be Travelled was about 100
miles, and Holston, Clinch, POwelPs and
Cumberland Rivers were to be crossed.
The leader Of the expedition was to be
Capt. r. G. Carter, a veteran of the Mex
lean War, who was well acquainted with
the country and the paths to be Travelled.
1t was about 8 o'clock when the boys
began to assemble at point almost IN
sight of the camp-hreS of the Confederate
forces. The place of meeting was IN the
edge of a strip of woods near the town,
and having assembled, and everything
Del0S ready, luUSe WIN NtIe " lolui thS
company were placed in line, about 70 in
number. These were mostly farmers
sons, of parents not wealthy, but in COM
Portable circumstances. There the oath
was administered to them as recruits for
the Federal army. A few of the parents
We're present, and it was a singular sight, |
indeed, to be there taking the oath to
faithfully serve as soldiers in the Federal
army, when a distance of $50 miles, with
innumerable dangers and difficulties on the
way, separated them from the nearest Fed |
eral soldier in uniform. The pale rays of
the waning moon shone through the trees
and fee6ly lit up the field in front when
the command was given, "Forward-l
march," Each one had a small haversack |
slung to his side, with enough bread and
meat to last him for a few days, trusting |
to Providence and the leaders when that |
should be exhausted.
The march was Indian file, and all pub |
lie roads were avoided. The crowd was |
augmented ON the way, and we passed |
some homes of parties joining the COM |
pany, and could hear the weeping of par
ents and sisters at the parting with sons |
and brothers whom they had but |
faint hope Of seeing again. During the
night we were Joined by another party, |
with almost equal numbers, under Newton
Hacker, an honOred citizen, who later was |
Captain in the army and after the war |
served with distinction as one of the Cir |
cult Judges for the State of Tennessee.
On the march all orders came from the |
leader in front, and were passed back the |
line in low voice. These were given in |
particularly dangerous places, and We're |
'Make as little noise as possible;' Don't |
speak above a Whisper Keep within |
arms length of the man in front" Occa-
sionally we were notified that our locality |
was one Of great danger, and extra pre- |
cautions We're necessary. |
Our stopping places were arranged so |
that as the morning dawned after each |
nights march we would reach some Sc
cluded dell or gorge in the mountains, |
where in comparative safety the boys could |
rest and sleep during the day. On the |
third night out an event occurred of no |
small Importance, and which threatened |
great danger to the expedition. 1t should |
have been stated that the party was en- |
tirely unarmed, except a few pocket pis- |
tolls and few OF larger size Of antiGUated |
make, which perhaps had done service |
many years before. We had before US a |
hard nights march, and as we were in a |
very mountainous country, and remote |
from settlements, it was thought that we |
could safely start on our nights march a |
little earlier. We had Travelled a mile or
two, when 1t became necessary TO cross q |
public road which trayerses between the !
mountain ridges. Just as we approached |
the road Confederate scout, consisting of |
six or eight men, came riding along the |
road and commenced to fire on us. To the |
IRE Of the carbines the few who had pis- |
tolls replied as rapidly as possible. One |
tall, slim young fellow named Jerry had |
armed himself with an old-time pistol |
and squatting down behind a fence and |
taking deliberate aim, the pistol missed |
fire. A second trial was more successful, |
and the hills revcrberated as from a dis |
charge of artillery. At the same time he |
hallooed out, Take that, YOU |
Whether or not it was supposed by the |
Confederate scouts that we had artillery is
not certainly known, but at any rate they
Immediately fled, leaving us masters of the |
field, and with no one hurt on our side.
This little incident augured more trou-
bic for us. The next morning we were 10
meet with the regular pilot whom we re
lied on to pilot US across Powell's Valley
and to the top Of Cumberland Mountain |
We met him at the appointed place, and on
reciting the incident, he stated that we
could not then proceed farther. as the Incl
dent would be reported, and the road and
the crossings of the rivers would be guard
ed. According TO his advice, we found a
secret place in the mountains and there re-
manned for three or four days, sending out
and securing food from the loyal citizens.
At the end of that time he came to us
again and reported that, SO far as he could
learn, the way was clear.
Boys" he said, Il cannot give you any
assurance of crossing safely. / can only
say that / have piloted a number of mar