The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-10-27
MotherLiIx,s Witch Stone,

Il wonder said Twenty-thirG
| Ohio man, 'hOw many of the boys re
member Mother Lilly's witch stone?
| In April, 1862, our regiment was or
dered by General J. d. Cox, our divi
sion commander, to advance to Ra
leigh Court House, w. Va, where fa
vorable position was taken for rapid
march to the Virginia and East Ten.
nessee Railroad, SO the big bridge
across the New River could be burn.
| ed, and the rich corn lands Of south.
western Virginia could be held from
supplying the Confederate armies
around Richmond.
'It was hard to leave our cozy win
ter quarters near Fayetteville, w. Va,
but through the mud and over noun
tains we marched. Here among the
mountains were plenty Of 'bushwhack-
ers,' who. armed with long squirrel
rifles, would wound and kill Union men
and soldiers unawares. Union citi-
Zens reported to our regimental COM
mander, Lieutenant Colonel Ruther-
ford b. Hayes, that nest of bush
whackers' occupied log house several
miles from Raleigh Court House, in
an almost impenetrable valley, and
that their home was with an old witch
famous in the mountain country. The
Union citizens said that evil and may
be destruction would surely fall upon
any one who would molest this old
witch of the mountains, whose name
was Mother Lilly
This information was amusing to
Lieutenant Colonel r. B. Hayes, and
he ordered a detail of ten men from
company A to scout around there and
bring in all men found in arms. Order
ly Sergeant William p Chamberlain
NOW a prominent business man Of
Knoxville, Tenn had the command.
Two or three Union citizens were to
go along as guides on the perilOus
scout. The volunteers pushed on, up
and down the bypaths Of the noun
tains. crossing the rapid currents Of
mountain creeks, and silently follow
ing in Indian file the guides. About
midnight the Union mountaineers
pointed out the log house on a pla-
teau of the mountains. saying in whis-
pers: There is the old witch's house,
1T was a weird night, clouds fly
ing across the brilliant full moon, and
it seemed as though fairies were keep
ing back the clamorous owl that
nightly boots, for the woods were
full of them, but military command,
Take intervals and surround the
house. put us all on the alert. with
Enfield rifles ready to fire. AS we
entered the log house big fire was
blazing in the huge fireplace and
Mother Lilly was preparing supper for
people not there. We found bayonets
and old cavalry sabers, cartridge box
es, and other accouterments. all mark
ed United States arsenal. Harper's
Ferry
THE boys were begging Mother
Lilly to tell their fortunes, and while
looking at the queer things one Of the
boys took hold of mysterious bag
hanging from peg. Instantly Mother
Lilly dropped her 'pone' making and
pleaded for the bag, but the soldier
was ineXorable and gave her a new
pack Of cards, but she told him his
doom was sealed If he carried off her
witch stone In her witch bag was
an old, worn out pack of cards, herbs,
and large, greenish, smooth stone.
looking like serpentine, and all were
brought to camp.
"On our return, while ascending a
mountain, we met the bushwhackers
returning home, and fierce fire was
delivered by both parties. and the
young man having the witch bag just
escaped a bullet through him. but re-
ceived one in September at the battle
of Antietam. The Union citizens
warned all the soldiers not to touch
Mother Lilly's witch stone, for an evil
day or sudden death would come upon
them Among the first to examine it
was our plump checked, bOyish look
ing commissary sergeant. William Nc
Kinley, who weighed out our rations."
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Josh Billings Philosophy.