The National tribune., 1903-07-09

the muIIerlnS lnunueTS Ol WdT peSiiilihS
to shake the hills of our beloved country.
My home was in the Ellejoy ''Flatwoods,'
near the Chilhowee Mountains, in East
Tennessee l was IL years old, tall, slender
and of delicate frame. 1t was with deep
feeling that l saw the Stars and Stripes
hiding away in secret places rather than
floating proudly over the mountain homes
of my native hills.
A company of Confederate cavalry,
under the command of rude, ill-mannered
and profane Captain, bivOuacked one night
on our farm, and occupied our home. Next
morning, without making known an!
charges, my father was arrested and taken
from home The community was abused
in toughest language, and my mother
forced to stand and hear the foul and pro-
fame curses of that wicked Captain. These
things aroused my anger to Its highest
mitch, and stirred my soul to its depths IN
behalf of universal freedom. Quietly and
sullenly. | stood to one side, without say
ing one word. but inwardly and before God
uttering a solemn purpose and detel7nlna-
ton to be avenged, and to place my life
on the altar of my country at the very
first opportunity.
Soon after this occurrence l came in one
evening from the field where L had been
at work, and was Informed that party of
friends would start that night Tor the
Union lines IN hentuckE.
Having finished my supper, arose. and
without making my purpose known, pass
ins by where my younger brother sat, L
placed my hand on his head. feeling to
him good-by. He was then just beginning
to talk Being of such frail frame and
delicate in health, my parents We're OPP
posed to my going to the army, SO L had
told them nothing of my plans
l went cut to a hollow tree in the woods
Epnt concealed
from the Confederates, and there armed
myself with big knife and a brass-bar-
relied holster pistol that my grandfather
had carried in the War of 1872, then
started on the perilOus journey.
THE RENDEZVOUS.
At the rendezvous my friends and l
were separated, ard We had trouble in
getting together again. l was lost from
the others. but at length was conducted
to an old rail pen used for storing corn
husks. and there found some of our neigh
Dor boys. 1t was late in the night, and
being very tired, slept soundly until day
light the next morning. | was awakened
by the voice of one of my original COM
panions from whom l had become sepa-
rated and who had come in after l had
got there, and had also taken short nap.
A little depression will not be amiss here
to show the destructiveneSs OF war. There
We're seven young men in that shuck pen. |
Five were as strong and hardy as could
be found anywhere. Two were frail and
weak, and to all appearances unable to
bear the hardships of soldiers life. -Four
of the party went on at once, and the other |
three followed soon after. -Four of the |
number never returned, but in far distant |
places their ashes sleep in soldiers graves |
or rest under the turbid waters of the Mis-
sissippi River One returned only to be
hnriaI in a fayv months in tho hurylnu |
ground near where they slept in that husk |
pen. He fought to the end. participated |
in the victory, then died from the effects !
of his service. The two frail ones alone
were allowed to enjoy the fruits Of the |
final triumph.
with an excellent breakfast the next
morning. after which the four started |
northward.
THROUGH THE CONFEDERATE LINES.
A days journey brought us to the place |
where we We're to meet the guide to take !
US through the lines on our way. BY |
some misunderstanding he had gone with |
party the night before, and we had only |
to find places of concealment from Con-
federate eyes and await the return of the |
guide. After number of days of i'm |
patient waiting he returned, and the next |
night We started.
We could travel at night only. and that |
was hazardous, as there We're pickets and |
patrols all through the country, endeavOr-
ing to intercept all the Union refugees. |
This made progress quite SLOW Approach
ing road, some one was sent ahead who |
would make examinations for signs of the |
enemy, and if the way was clear, cross
one at time so as not to attract atten- !
ton, for little squad of men drew at
tention al all times in those days.
('omIOp IN tho rappu nf 1ayOa riipa |
which in fact was small mountain. we
Travelled a while in the day time. This |
ridge was destitute Of houses or other i'm |
prOyements, covered with timber alone, |
and the land SO poor that one became |
hungry as soon as his feet touched its |
graveily sides So there was little danger |
of the Confederates roaming round there |
The guide conducted the party along the !
ridge for some distance, then bidding alb
solute silence listened for what might be
heard. A company of soldiers had been |
stationed on the north side of the ridge |
as he returned from his former trip, and
he wanted to locate them exactly. When
all was quiet they could be heard shoeing
their horses, and We're much nearer than
We had thought
This led to a change in direction. going
along the top of the ridge considerable |
distance further and then ranging obliuue-
ly down the side until near the base, where
was corn neld. Climbing over the fence.
the guide and party were afforded very
little protection or concealment, because of |
the dwarfe1 growth of corn and weeds.
but the farther from that ridge the ranker
the corn and weeds grew, until they af-
forded place of complete concealment
The guide had not communicated TO us
what he expected to meet or any Of his
plans. These questions were not asked
him, for the party had implicit confidence
in him, and if they, or either of them,
should unluckily be captured, they wanted |
TO be In such condition that they could
not tel or give any information as to his
plans, purposes or immediate destination.
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
Going down into deep hollow, the corn
and weeds rose higher and higher until |
they shut out almost the rays from the
sun, when suddenly we came 10 an open-
ing about 20 feet square, near the center
of which was cold crystal spring, the
impid waters bubbling up and running
down through the cornfield. a large log |
was lying within this open space, and |
sitting on the log and standing around the
spring We're number of men Three of
these were of fine physique and wearing
the uniform of Federal soldiers, all armed |
IN the most approved manner with yam
kee' weapons. One of the number wore
the uniform of a Confederate Lieutenant. |
and was likewise heavily armed.
The Ellejoy boys did not understand this |
surprise, and had it not been for the con-
fdence they had in their guide they would |