The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-19

ance OF father and mother Andrews, ana
they sang annie Laurie pntil the mock
ing birds trilled back thel hStes from the
trees. Beside the campfire one night, Ser
geant johnson said: There's no denying
it. boys; that girl has ONrnhearts strung
along on the pickets of the fence in front
of the house. That's ms, near as we will
ever camp i'm her Affections.
The Sergeant said: \ soldier has no
right to love anyone but his comrade and
his horse. Thirteen dOll1rSa month and
one ration of hard tack and coffee is
mighty small sum to bring up n family on.
Now they say cottOn's so cents Il yard up
North: $13 will buy just enough sheets
to trim up one bed witR:.fsnWherc is the
other stuff to come fronl,nl let alone the
grub for two? l own up l love that
girl and she loves me. but ], am too patri-
otto to marry hcr-at least, until the war
is over. and L get n good job III saw
mill on MuskcSon River
Just then the Captain called the Ser
geant. and told him he must go that night
over TO the SeIuatchie, with some papers
he had discovered on captured Copfed-
crate. The boys came about to help saddle
up and say good-by. lie said: Ill go
ont of my way back and see Annie and
they envied him the trip. Three miles
out he suddenly ran into party of bush
whackers coming down crossroad. He
turned back to avoid them, but lot quick
enough; turning in his saddle. he sent
shot after shot from his revolvers towards
them, receiving their fire in return. The
shots were heard in camp, and all were
soon going to the rescue.
The Sergeant told his story, and the
company waited quietly under the trees
for the enemy, who came not. Inc cap
tain said there was but one reason for the
party in the valley-plrnder and murder
At the first rays of daylight we were
moving down the crossroads. There we
took the trail and soon found IN an Ola
Shuck pen n wounded man. shot by the
Sergeant. and left by his companions
to die. He said he belonged to Ogden
band. who were on their way to Andrews $
place to clean them out. There were IL
of them. now 10. and ~ of us, headed by
the Captain. were at full on the rough
mountain road.
An hours time and Andrewss was
reached. where we expected to see the
smoking ruins of once,hapny nome;
but it had not been burned. Inc story
was soon told. Inc fobbefs. arriving at
the place at midnight, aroused the people,
demanding supper.
Mrs. Andrews ana ANNE prepared the
meal. which they washed down win
plentiful supply of whlskey; then began
the pillage. Andrews was supposed TO
have lot of money about the house. as
well as silver spoons-rare piuider III
those days; but they could md bnt little l';
Then began the threats OF mnrder ana
fire. Annie protested ana begged them 10
deSist. meeting insults Tor her prayers,
until finally one of the gang proposed to
take her in place of the money they want
ed. In fact. there was no money about
the place. and in their drunken fury they
placed her upon one of their led horses.
and rode away towards Walden's Ridge.
their place of hiding. leaving the distract
ed father and mother helpless by the
roadside.
The robbers had six hours start. good
horses. well armed, knew the country:
how easy it would he fol, them to ambush
a party who might foll0% them. Ten
well-armed men could whip, 10 times that
number. We old vets kneW all this: yet
we recklessly followed the trail. until far
up the trail we found ..th8ir first camp.
the fire still smoking: they must have
halted here before daylight.
One of our men soon ,fonnd pieces of
Annie's dress. and signs or struggle;
and then, after more searching, the dead
body of a man. pounded and, shot to death.
and then cry of pain like death wall
brought us all to n tangled thicket. where.
in the midst of the broken rocks lay the
lifeless form of orr sweetheart. The Cap
tain wrapped his coat abont the body. and
with it clasped in his arms came out in
the sunlight. where he, tenderly laid it
upon the ground. m
The solution was plain to ms all: the
dead man might have tried 10 defend the
girl, and met his death. In their drunken
frenzy the girl was killed, her body thrown
into the jungle. then n hurried departure
The Captain was kneeing by the dead
body. Rank gave him the right to hold
her head and kiss her cold face, but we
all felt just as bad as he did. and down
deep in every mans heart was the ven
geance to come.
Annie's body. wrapped in an army
blanket, was placed on horse. and taken
by one of the men to the first house back.
Led by the Captain we again took the
trail: there were no orders. every man felt
that it was hunt to the death.
A few miles up the valley we found
Reconstructed Confederate, he had lost
his right arm mt Shiloh, and couldn't load
gun with one hand so he was at home
If he had lost a leg they would have fit
ted him up with neg and put him in
the "Home Guards He had seen the
party go by, knew where they made their
HEADQUARTERS Mt place on the Ridge.
where they had killed the owners and
taken possession. Here at this place they
had great stores of plumber lot of good
Horses and mules, and n pack of blood
hounds.
1t was 10 miles away. and the Captain
propOsed to push on and fight them. but
The Confederate was wiser He proposed