The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-01-18

State probably the best move that
could have been made at that time.
But, as subsequent events proved, to
have attempted TO put down the re-
bellion with home guards and three
months men was about as wise as to
try 10 put out the flames Of a burning
building with squirt gun. The
writer had the honor 10 command
one Of these home guard companies
in Estill County. We met twice a
week, every man with rife or shot
gun ready for any emergency. but
principally 10 drill. The military
display and general awkwardness Of
both rank and file on these occasions
would have excited the profanity OF a
West Point general But we had the
best Of raw material Of which 10 make
soldiers. These undisciplined com
panies contained brave and fearless
men, accustome 10 handling firearms
from early boyhood. They were ex-
ccllent marksmen, and only needed
schooling and discipline to make
them what most Of them afterward
proved, the best Of soldiers.
Before the first Of August, 1861, so
many Of these home guards were or
ganized throughout the country, those
would be Confederate soldiers who
had begun 10 drill and buster in our
midst, began TO think it would be
more healthy little further south,
and in their attempt TO Join Zolli-
Golfers forces then invading the
State) many were gobbled up as
prisoners by these undisciplined home
guards, among them James B. Clay,
son Of the great statesman, who, with
a large number Of followers, were
sent under guard 10 Louisville. Most
Of them took the oath Of loyalty and
were released. This invading army
Of rebels caused many Of us to doubt
the efficiency Of our home organi-
cations, lacking combined co.opera
tion aud discipline.
I'm August, 1861, Sidney NJ. Barnes,
lawyer gifted with more than
ordinary talent az a speaker, and
proprietor OF the noted watering
place "Estill Springs" near Irvine,
KY, addressed the citizens Of Madi-
son, Estill and some Of the adjoining
counties, at a series OF meetings.
principally held at the times and
places where the home guards met to
drill. He ably pointed out the many
disadvantages under which we would
labor, and the danger of the State
being oyerrun by the rebel army, the
necessity Of being armed with guns
Of the same caliber. Of uniform cloth
ing, aud Of a more perfect organi-
zation, with some assurance of re-
Enumeration for our services. The
Colonel humorously remarked: mot
withstanding your bravery, which is
unddubted, should the rebel army
succeed in advancing this far, all you
married men in the home guards will
be sure to want TO 60 home and see
after Sally and the children
On the Filth Of September, 1861 a
battalion muster Of half score of
home guard companies met at Texas,
in Madison County. The loyal
citizens Of the surrounding country
came with well-flled baskets Of the
choicest provisions the country could
afford. A picnic Of mammoth pro
portions was the result to which
everybody was welcomed by the loyal,
kind hearted women, who formed a
large part of the great throng Of
people Captains Powell and Wilson,
who had partially formed two com
panies of three years volunteers,
were present with their new recruits
beating up for volunteers, and no less
than four other parts of companies
were represented by as many Gags,
followed by drums and fife, appeal
ing to the patriotism of the young
men to take arms in defense of the
best Government ever vouchsafed to
man on earth There are many sur
viyors of the Eighth that dated their
enrolment from that bright 18th of
September, 1861 and became mem.
bers Of Companies, b, c and IL. The
two former companies, under Powell
and Wilson, had obtained their full
quotas by the Odd, aud on that day
were given "A bountiful feast by the
good, old, loyal fathers and mothers
of Station Camp, in Estill County, as
a farewell token Of their love to the
"boys' and devotion TO the cause of.
union and liberty. That long table
extending half across Uncle Eb.
Wilson's pasture, loaded with rich
and savory food, surrounded by kind
mothers, sisters and sweethearts, in
sisting on us partaking of more when
we had eat to repletion, was a scene
aud pleasure we often recalled TO
mind when on quarter rations "Away