Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-06-01
AN EPISODE OF THE
RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE
tOriginal.1

when General Burnside was marching
on KnoXville-a move that eventually
freed east Tennessee from Confederate
tween Knoxville and the Cumberland
mountains went to her door with
broom in her hand and. looking up the
road, saw two men coming on quick
run AS soon as they reached point
opposite the house they turned in, and
the woman recognized in one of them
her son, Walter Grain, eighteen years
old
Mother" cried the boy, eve must
hide. The fighting parsons band are
after us They want me for shooting
one of their men last night. They'll
shoot me sure"
Mrs. Grain hurried the boys into the
house and thrust them into closet.
She had scarcely done so before man
with long beard came riding down the
road, followed by dozen others. None
of them wore q uniform, and most of
them were dressed in the ''butternut"
clothes common among the poor whites
VI tic GUILTY.. Ihcy huu VI SuLiNcu
ostensibly to assist the Confederate
cause, but really for terrorizing Union
lists, among whom the Grain family
were conspicuous. A rabid, fire eating
clergyman named Sayles, called the
fighting parson," was captain Of the
band. When they reached the house
they called:
'Is this Grains place"
EYES," replied Mrs. Grain.
Sayles dismounted and with several
Of his men proceeded, without asking
any questions, to search the house. He
argued that the boy would naturally go
to his home for hiding place and re-
solved to spare no pains to find him.
1t was not long before the two boys
were dragged from the closet and TAX
en- out into the yard in front of the
house.
(Which is Walter Crane?" asked the
captain.
Neither replied. They had been
schOolmates and bosom friends. Late
ly they had been out cunning for seces-
sionists. Grain had shot one of their
men and fed, the two boys separating
During the pursuit country woman
whom the fugitive passed told the out
laws that he was Walter Grain. The
two boys came together at point of
rendezvous and made for the Grain
plantation.
Sayles was one Of those extreme ma
lures who are half devil and half saint.
He was impatient to learn which of
the boys had killed one of his band
that he might have him shot at once
and be off, for he had got wind of the
advance of General Burnside's army
across the mountains and knew that
should he fall into the hands of the
Yankees there were plainly of Unionists
about to inform upon his misdeeds and
see that he was punished.
"Are you Mrs. Crain?" he asked Of
the woman.
Eyes, and you're John Sayles.
knew you in Kentucky when you We're
a boy, and worse boy l never knew.
They said when you got religion and
went to preachin' you had turned an
gel, but didn't believe it,
Something in this speech excited the
evil in the fighting parsons" nature.
(Which of these boys is your SOM"
he asked
Neither"
This was false, but what mother
would haveanswered differently? Sayles
turned away with an angry eXclama-
ton, and taking two guns from his
men placed one In the hands Of each of
the boys. Then he ordered his men to
place Mrs. Grain against the side Of
her house with her face to the wall.
Walter Grain OWNED that the out
law was preparing to make test as
to which of the boys was the son by
ordering them to fire on the mother.
He whispered something to his friend,
who nodded assent. Both boys were
pale as a night mist.
Now, raise your guns" said Sayles,
'and when l order you to fire shoot
this woman. The one who fails dies"
At the moment the notes of bugle
rang out clear and near, and horses
hoofs were heard beating the road.
Every eye was turned to see, and
horsemen were discovered coming at a
canter. At the same moment cheer
was heard in the opposite direction,
and a concourse Of citizens, who had
heard Of the approach Of the Union
army, were seen coming up the road,
waving innumerable stars and stripes.
Suddenly the boys turned together
and Walter Grains voice was heard
above the shouts:
Fire.
Both boys fired into the outlaws,
Walter aiming at Sayles, who fell
dead.
The outlaws looked about them for
means of escape. They saw at once,
however, that they were caught like
rat in trap. Fences prevented their
riding to the woods, while the road
was packed on the north by an army,
on the south by citizen Unionists.
The boys called wildly to the passing
cavalry, who were not long in taking
in the situation and, riding into the
place, they disarmed the band.