The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17

Deep Gap in the Blue Ridge. On the
18th Of March he entered Boone, N. =,
and on the day following the column was
divided, one division under General
Stoneman marching towards Wilkesboro,
while the other under General Gillian,
crossed the Blue Ridge at Blowing Rock
and went to Patterson in Caldwell
county, there joined General Stoneman at
Wilkesboro. On the 31st of March Ger
eral Stoneman moved over into Surry
county, going toward Mt. Airy. During
Stonemans march through this section
of the State, his men committed many
depredations After leaving Wilkesboro
a number of the lawless of his command
deserted Stoneman's army. and other
worthless characters led by two desper-
ate men, Wade and Simmons, completely
terrorized Wilkes and portions of other
counties by their frequent raids They
would ride into the yard dismount and
several OF them would enter the house,
and one or more would point loaded pis-
tolls or guns at any person or persons
who might be in the house, saying 'if
you open your mouth we will drop you in
your tracks," while others would go
through every trunk and drawer to be
found, taking with them everything that
suited them and every good horse on the
plantation. 1t must be remembered that
at that time almost every man fit for
military service was in the army and the
country was almost completely at the
mercy of the robbers. After Lees sur
render and the soldiers began to return
home this state Of affairs continued.
These marauders then divided into two
bands, one led by Simmons with head
quarters in the Rrushv Mountains, the
other led by Wade, who had headquarters
on the Yadkin River, in Wilkes county.
Several times these two bands operated
together But as the writer had to deal
with Wade's band, and with it had d
most lively experience, this article will
be devoted to him and his fiendish work.
He claimed the rank of major in Stone
mans army and said he was from Michi
gan. The house in which he was forth
fed was on the road leading from
Wilkesboro to Lenoir. and nearly a mile
from Holman Ford where the valley road
crosses the Yadkin River. The house
was situated on high hill commanding
a fine view of the Yadkin Valley and Of
the valley road for a distance of a mile
above and a mile below the ford The
house fronted the river on the south. On
the west Lewis Fork. a stream smaller
than the Yadkin River, emptied into 1t.
On the north and east lay a wide belt of
thick woods. In this section We're many
sympathizers If not aiders and abettors
OF the band. From this position the
Yadkin Valley and the surrounding
country for at least a half mile in every
direction could be swept and controlled
by Wades guns. There is a legend that
on this very hill Daniel Boone was for
titled against the Indians It would have
been difficult to have chosen a stronger
location, both offensive and defensive,
than this. The house was built of logs,
two stories high. The robbers had cut
port holes for their guns in the upper
story. They were army guns of the bes:
type and could command the approach TO
the house from all directions. There
would be nothing more hazardous than 10
attempt to reach it. This house belonged
to some disreputablc woman by the name
OF Handy and after Wade had fortified
and occupied it the name by which it
was known was Fort Handy. 1t is rot
known just how many men were engaged
in these depredations. Perhaps the num-
Der actually engaged was not more than
thirty, A list of eighteen names was
found when the fort was taken, but more
than that number was known to coop
crate with them. They showed spirit
of revenge and a desire for plumber In
all their raids. Indeed, they seemed to
think that they must treat with the ut
most cruelty all who were not in SYM
pathy with them. They were brave men
and well drilled. All the people of
Wilkes county lived in constant dread of
them-frightened by every bark of a dog
or the rafting Of the leaves. Life seem
ed worse than death All Wilkes county
was subdued by them They made sew
eral raids into Alexander and Caldwell
counties, robbing the citizens and sub
jecting men and women to the grossest
insults. On the 7th of May, 1865, they
made raid into Caldwell county. Major
Harvey bingham. with a few men, made
we'll planned move on the fort Sunday
night following. 1t seems that Wade and
his men were not aware Of Bingham's
approach until he and his men had en-
tered the house. Wade and his men
announced their helpless condition and
begged for their lives No guns being
seen Bingham believed them his prison.
ers They gave Wade and his men time
to dress, after which, at moment when
the captors were off their guard they
rushed to their guns, which were con-
cealed about their beds and opened fire
on them. The result was that Clark a
son OF General Clark, of Caldwell county
and Henly, OF the same county, were kill
ed. The others escaped. leaving the
bodies of Clark and Henly.
The Saturday night following they
crossed over into Alexander county, in
tending to capture and kill w c. Green,
son of Rev. ]. r. Green, who had been a
lieutenant In the Confederate army. Rev.
Mr.. Green had been informed of the ex-
pressed purpose to kill his son, and they
were on the lookout for them and were
ready to give them warm reception.
They surrounded the house, and Wade.
had on Confederate grey suit
which he always carried with him when
he wanted to enter house without fore
ing his way into 1t. He claimed to be
an officer in the Confederate army and
was returning home and desired nights
lodging. The moon was shining brightly.
Mr. Green could see him and his men
and said. 81 know you and you cannot
come in here unless you come in over
my dead body" Mr. Green had his posi-
ton at the front door with a pistol in