The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-08-13
VANCE AND TAYLOR.
Aided Each Other in the
Civil War Days.
VANCE WAS SOUTHERNER.
Befriended Taylor, Who in
Time of Trouble Came
to His Assistance.
B. N. Price in Knoxville Sentinel.

X. N Price in Knoxville Sentinel
Gen. Vance was native of Bun
combe county, N. c., and Col. Taylor
of Carter county, Tenn. Gen. Vance
was always layman of the church, but
a great church worker--a man of great
spiritual usefulness. Col. Taylor was
a local Methodist preacher, but also an
active politician. Vance was a Confed-
crate colonel, and later a brigadier-
general. After the Civil war he repre-
sented the Eighth congressional dis
trict of North Carolina in congress for
number of years-being a man of
great popularity. He has also the dis
tinction of being an elder brother of
Senator Zebulon B. Vance-a man of
fame as statesman and orator. Col.
Taylor was preacher of Ciceronian
eloquenoe, who held campmeeting
crowds spell-bound for two hours at
time. He had some of the clements of
the orator in a higher degree than
either of his distinguished sons, Sena-
tor Robert L. Taylor and ex-Congress-
man A. A. Taylor. AS a political
stumper he had few equals in the ma
tion. He had fine command of Ian
guage, brilliant fancy, and delivery
gracefully impassioned and powerful.
Thoughts that breathe and words that
burned flowed from his great loving
heart in floods of light that convinced
and captivated his auditors. After the
war Col. Taylor represented his district
in congress for term, and had some
good executive opportunities.
Early in the war Col. Vance was or
dered with his regiment to Carter coun-
ty, Tenn, to hold down the union men
of that section, who were restless. The
regiment was camped near the home of
Col. Taylor. Vance's scouts, hearing
that Taylor was an influential union
man, attempted to arrest him, so that
he fed to the woods for safety. Indeed
he believed that his life was in danger,
although he was more than willing to
remain at his elegant home, conducting
himself as a peaceable citizen. But
becoming tired of his living-out expert
ences, he one day came to Col. Vance's
headquarters and surrendered, asking
for protection. After salutations had
passed, (for the men were old friends, }
Col. Taylor said: "Col. Vance, my
life is in danger, and I have come to
you to ask protection. Col. Vance
replied, "Colonel, if 1 send you to
Knoxville it may go hard with you, for
they do not know you there as I do. 1
will therefore call court-martial and
put you on your trial" The court
martial was organized, charges were
preferred against Col. Taylor, evidence
was adduced, and the trial resulted in
an acquittal; wherefore Col. Vance gave
Col. Taylor protection papers, and or
dered his men not to disturb him. This
gave him immunity from annoyance
for some time; but as the war went on
and excitement and bitterness increas-
ed, it became too hot for Col. Taylor in
East Tennessee and he found it CON
venient to take his family and pass
through the lines. He settled his fam
lily in New Jersey, l believe, without
money and without occupation, he soon
heard the growl of the wolf at the door,
After few days absence he returned
one day to find his wife in tears. She
said to him, "My dear, our last ration
is on the table, and 1 know not where
the next is to come fromw Taylor was
man who readily felt the contagion of
sorrow, and he made it convenient to
go down town and get away from the
tears of his wife, but not till after he
had said, "Don't weep, my dear, the
Lord will provide" While down town
he called at the postofice and found a
letter for Mrs. Taylor. When she open
ed it she found that it contained check
for her for one thousand dollars, from
certain persons in Boston, who had
learned that Col. Taylor and his family
we're refugees. She was asked to ac-
cept it as a small token of sympathy.
She wept again, but now for ioy, saw
ing, "If the Lord will forgive me for
distrusting Him, l will never distrust
Him again!"
After remaining in East Tennessee
for some time, COL Vance was ordered
to other sections Of the country and
was in the battle of Murfreesboro.
where he had Ills horse killed under
him, aud where he succeeded to the
command of Gen. Rmns's brigade on
the fall of that officer in that fight. He
later commanded the department Of
Western Mort Carolina.
He and a small raidiDg force were
captured by superior force near Sc.
vierville, Tenn, and sent to prison.
| Will iu the north. Col. TIA, lor call