The Washington herald., 1913-10-29

1 through Cumberland Gap and the cross
| ing OF the Cumberland River.
All the chief roads and fords were
guarded by Confederate pickets, and
many deViations from the regular trails
were necessary for Ellis and the refugees
I he proposed to guide to a place OF poll
| teal liberty.
Guiding Union Refugees.
When Ellis reached Elizabethton on his
return trip he was besought on all sides
by troubled men to guide them to Ken
tucky, that they might escape Impress
ment into the Confederate army.
On August q, 1862, Ellis took a COM
pany of seventy-five men from a point
lie; Elizabethton to a locality known
as Boat Yard" in Sullivan County,
through thirty miles of country heavily
picketed with Confederate cavalrymen,
and turned them over safely to another
mountain pilot. who guided them to
Cumberland Gap.
Upon his return to Elizabethton. Ellis
found Maj. Drayton. with 100 recruits,
who were waiting to be guided to the
lines of the Union army in Kentucky.
By this time the Confederate forces
had frightened their grip on all Of the
disanected country. of East Tennessee
and every mountain pass and every
river ford was heavily guarded. The
Confederate pickets could be seen in
every valley by the refugees from their
places of concealment on the mountain
sides.
Yet. by the skiIIful management of
their guide. these men reached the
| Union lines in safety. The reputation
of Daniel Ellis as a brave and resource
full guide was thus established.
His services thenceforth were in con-
stant demand ..-....
In his expeditions the scout crossed
and Tecrossed the streams of East Ten
Eessee so often that he knew their every
ford and shallow, and he could cross
them safely on the darkest nights.
Au Escape from Danger.
Ellis always made his return trips un-
attended. Often he found the bodies of
unfortunate Unionists hanged on trees,
or half buried and half consumed by bug
yards, ip the mountain gorges. The long
and dangerous route across these peril
Gus mountains was strewn with these
grim reminders of war
On one occasion, when Ellis was re-
turning from Kentucky, he came upon
squad Of Confederate soldiers patroling
river ford He hid and watched them.
Those on the farther shore often visited
nearby distiIlery.
The river was swollen and the guide
could not cross it except in a boat. There
was boat on his side. but a soldier was
guarding it. Ellis remained in his hiding
place for many hours. until all the Com
federates had left the other shore. The
lone guardian OF the ford then prepared
the boat to cross to the other side.
Ellis stepped into the path and walked
unconcernedly toward the bank. He
hailed the soldier and asked for a fer
riage. The Confederate looked at Ellis
for a moment and told him to get into
the boat Ellis claimed a residence in
the neighborhood. and mentioned the
names of some Of the men of the locality
whom ne knew. The Confederate then
said thatN he and his comrades were
watching for notorious ''Lincolnite," I"
whose name was. Ellis, and who was
plotting refugees across the mountains
Ellis replied that he knew the man;
had often seen him in the neighborhood
and that the 'Lincolnite" was altogether
too had a man TO be at large.
We'll. said the soldier. ''if we catch
him, he will not pilot any more men
through the lines" Reaching the shore,
Ellis was invited to the stillhouse. The
Invitation was declined and Ellis bade his
comnanj~- ''9nod-bv" anS UaIksd - .s