The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-19
Camp Around Chattanooga-Daily Contact
With the Queer. Quaint Mountaineers.

Valley Run. a rollicking, merry little
river. flowed down a valley on its way to
the Tennessee few miles north of Chat
Pebble Rum Joined its waters from an
other valley or cove of the mountains, and
on the point between the two streams
where they Joined was the farm house OF
old John Bacon.
Old John was a Union man, and ms
two boys and one daughter were Confed-
crates Old John said all he could to keep
the boys out of the Confederate service
but go they would. leaving mother ana Sis
ter Margaret broken-hearted. Old johh
swore and cursed to his hearts content
while the mother and daughter prayed 10Y
the boys safety
When We were camped about Chatta-
nooga and the Confederate forces about
Dalton. 80 miles south hundreds OF the
latter took advantage of the time TO Visit
their families in the country under cOntfoI
of the Union forces. The highways OF
most of the valleys led to a main road at
Old John farm. and there through gap
Ill the mountains into the Valley OF the
Tennessee. 1t was an important point to
picket, and nearly every day some home
sick Johnny was intercepted and sent AS
prisoner to Chattanooga. Old John was
sick i'll bed nearly all Winter. Margaret
went 10 Chattanooga quite often AFTER
medicines and other necessities, such as
tobacco and coffee, always riding an old
gray horse that was the only means OF
transportation left on the farm. The horse
was so ugly and vicious that no soldier
had the courage to get within kicking dis
tancp of him: he was the ugliest, biting,
striking kicking brute l ever saw; but
Margaret could do all she pleased with
him in perfect safety, the two having
grown up companions on the farm. The
Captain said to her one day:
Are you not afraid to go to Chatta-
nOoga alone so often! Are you not afraid
of the soldiers?'
ooh no. indeed, the soldiers only stare
at me: some lift their hats; and do you
know Captain, one of your men said to
me this morning. 'Howdy, Sis. How will
you swap horses? And another one asked,
Don't you want an orderly to follow on
behind:'
"Oh. no. indeed; amt afraid; the sol
dierS are gentlemen: they will not harm
me: and if they did. l would give Old
Whitley the whip. He would carry me
safely home. He can outrun anything in
your regiment and not half try"
Well" said the Captain. ''let me know
if any of the fellows trouble you, and
will attend to their cases"
onp 'llt the captain 1edE0eu IIOul uedu-
quarters that there were spies passing
through the lines. The men were eau
toned to be on the alert. In some places
the pickets were doubled. and a new post
established on the Valley Run road, a
mile north of Old Johns house, three men
being stationed there. They built small
shelter a short distance away from the
road. i'm the woods: one man being on duty
all the time. the other two remaining in
the bivouac.
The first night on this post. Tom Jones,
an old vet" of many lonely picket
guard said he would take the first trick,
and come in at ~ o'clock. Bill Carter
could take the next turn, and Dan Hays
the third.
Tom left the bivouac. going down the
path to the place selected by the Captain.
He lighted his cob pipe. sat down with
his back to n tree. to watch the road. his
head well covered up with his great cape
coat. with no sound but the ripping of the
brook near by. How long he sat there he
did not know: he was aroused by some
strange noise. Springing to his feet, he
strained both eyes and ears for sight or
sound. The wind was signing through
the bare limbs of the trees. and the dead
leaves ruStled over the frozen ground and
sought resting place in the nook. midst
the rocks on the mountain side. But there
was no sound made by human being, save
the throbbing of his own heart. On every
side the darkness was the same; all GLOOM
weird. sad and savage: no sound of foot
within the forest came. Suddenly there
was the whirr Of an owl, as it flashed
through the shadows Of the woods. COM
ing up from Valley Run. Tom had but
glimpse of the birds broad wings AS it
fitted past in the rugged forests of the
mountain side. crying. who. who. who
are you and another sailing by. like
some internal imp or darkness. exclaimed
run away. run away. hoo: I'll cook
Won. cook you" He dropped his carbine
by his side. and wanted to be kicked for
n coward; who would be frightened by an
owl?
In all the air there hung cloud of fear,
with naught but voice Of owls. that dant-
ed the soldier with a sense of mystery. a
mystery that whispered in his ear: 1.-THE
woods are hanted." Tom moved down the
path few steps. but no sounds came to
his ears but the ripple of the water of Val
ley Run over it's graveIly bed. Yes. there
was Il sound, Swish. swish, it came family
to the ear. but from where? 1t seemed to
come from the Run. then the tree-tops
then from up the hillside: and again it
seemed almost at his feet. Swish, swish
swish. swish. Crouching at the foot of the
trees on his knees. his carbine ready, he
listened 10 the sound. unable TO locate it,
"Hoo-ho, Ha-ha.' screamed an owl. al
most over his head: causing him to jump
10 his feet. and back there came from the
opposite hill the hideous laugh Of its mate
The weird sound sent cold shivers up and
down his back.
Then through the stiffness again came
the sound. swish. swish. echoing first here
and then somewhere else. The moon was
coming mp over the opposite ridge casting
cold kisses at the sparkling waters of the
brook. Dancing shadows along the hillside
seemed 10 take on shapes that moved along
the road. lodging in and out of the woods.
Bits Of rotten wood about the forest gave
ont pho>phorescent fire. like phantom ewes
that winked and stared until ones face
was turned away. Turn which way he
would Tom could hear the swish. swish.
that sent the blood tingling through his
veins and the cold chills up and down his
back. Suddenly. dropping on one knee.
he raised his carbine to fire. Slowly il was
recovered and the hammer lowered 10
its place. The blood froze in his
veins: tho carbine fell from his
hands to the ground. and with eyes strain
ing ont of their sockets. he bounded away
up the hillside over the low ridge. into the
arms of his comrades: who, disturbed nv
the owls. and hearing the approach over
the rough ground. were ready to fight or
run. n circumstances might dictate
ooh boys, | have seen a ghost. the
most frightful thing. Death on a white
~