The Washington herald., 1915-01-10

section who were serving as soldiers in
the Federal army, and who, at risk Of
their lives. had returned for a brief visit
on furlough to their mountain homes.
and were now bound back to duty.
The route OF the party lay in a general
direction for some distance along the
valley of the French Broad River. From
that they struck of northwestward to
cross the Big Butte Of Rich Mountain, a
high outlying ridge OF the Alleghanies
that formed a northward extension OF
the Great Smoky Range. The road lay
over the mountain at the point where
the counties Of Greene, Washington and
Unicoi, East Tennessee. come together.
The weather was extremely cold and
snow covered the ground. Nearly all tho
water courses were in full flood. Some
of the party we're mounted. others were
on foot. The latter were almost entirely
barefoot
The party climbed all day to traverse
the mountain and at nightfall reached
the site Of deserted house on its west
ern base. where they had expected to
find shelter.
They found the house blown down: but
from its roof and fragments Of its walls
they succeeded in making camps to keep
warm.
Girl Volunteers Aid.
In the night Ellis, who kept watch
while the weary refugees slept, received
a friendly warning from a mountaineer
that the road ahead was picketed by
Confederate soldiers.
Next morning he started out his mount
ed men, who found the enemy and drove
them a considerable distance.
That night the party arrived at pass
in the Nolichucky Mountains, known as
Kelleys Gap. Here, at the house OF
mountaineer named Stephens, Elm
learned that a party of seventy-fve Con-
federates held the road ahead OF him.
He determined now to divide his COM
pany, sending the mounted men by one
route and the men on foot by another.
to Carriers Bridge. over the Nolichucky
River This was seven miles distant II
the bridge were not held by the enemy,
he planned to reunite his company there
Once across the river, he felt that he
would be safe.
The success Of the plan turned upon
the passage of this bridge. While Ellis
was debating with his refugees the
merits OF the plan and their peril II
they should be prevented from crossing
the bridge. the young daughter OF the
man at whose house thev had halted
volunteered to ride to the bridge and
discover If it were held by the Con
federates.
She knew fully the danger of such an
enterprise. Her fathers Union proclivi-
ties were known to Southern sympathiz-
e-y thereabouts, and il she were inter
cepted and the character Of her errand
learned, his life. and perhaps her own
would be the penalty. Nor would the
outside world ever hear how they died.
Il was midnight when Melvina Steph-
ems mounted and started on her long.
cold ride to the bridge. The mounted
refugees accompanied her until near the
bridge, when they concealed themselves
and sent her forward on her errand.
The brave girl rode boldly across the
bridge and to some distance beyond II.
She saw no evidence of the enemy and,
returning, so reported TO Ellis.
The refugees, now united at the bridge,
said good-by to the girl and, as she turn
ed back alone to ride to her home, start
ed forward on their journey to the Union
lines and safety. They were out Of dan
ger long before She riding back through
the darkness and the cold IN the wild
mountains, had reached the shelter Of her
home.
No man in that band Of refugees ever
forgot the service performed for them
by the brave Malvina Stephens, and
when Ellis published his autobiography
I'm 1857 he gave in II portrait OF the girl
specially made for his book.