Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-02-24
TIE STORY Or \ lI.E DOi4i-ih
GOLD PIECE.
Mrs. Lockri(lge Returns IT Alter
Many Years.


Many Years.
Col Jas. N. King for many years
was a wealthy and highly respected
citizen OF Rutherford county. lenn.'
Whe1 young nan. during the war
Of 1912, he enlisted as a soldier Ill
;eneral Coffee's brigade on the fnak
cf the army in the battle Of New Or
leans. which received the first herce
onset CT the British troops. Nnen
;oung King started to the war. his
father gave him five-dollar goa
niece. which he brought home on the
Conclusion of peace between England
AID this country. On the eye OF MS
marriage to a young girl of Ruther-
cord county he gave her the coin, ana
sae kept it sacredly from 1915 to the
breaking out Of the war III 1851.
Colonel Kings first SONS, enlisted
il the Ccnis !eTate arm: aad were
viii, i, % the end. in 1868. T1reC
Il these BOYS. T. N. King, Charlie
King. and J. u. King. il. enlisted III
60. l. Isl Tennessee Regiment, and
Ye:e Familiarity known as the King
boys" and no Drawer Or better sol
iters eve: went INTO batle. in lla!.
1861. the 1st Tennessee went into q
camp c. instruction at Camp Cheat
ham. il Robertson county. ard there
Tom King was granted Through to
so home. When he was about to re-
turn to his regiment, his mother gave
him with her blessing the gold piece
that she had kept so sacredly for
forty-six years, knowing that there
would be dark days ahead Of him
when he might need it sorely.
About the middle Of July, 1861.
this regiment. with the It'll and 14th
Tennessee, was ordered to Virginia.
I belonged at hat time to the 18th
Tennessee. We ,yordered6 Man
assas: but owing r. eseie &iss,s on
he way, especiaIl knoxville and
at Haynes Station fnow Johnson
City,, we failed 10 get there in time
Tor the battle We passed through
Bristol on the Virginia and Tennes-
see line, tie day after that great
event: tnen on TO Lynchburg. where
We saw number OF wounded brought
trom tn. field: then On 10 Cnarlottes-
Vile, where We found the domitorieG
If the Virginia University flied with
wounded. most OF them young men
aid boys. the very flower Of young
Southern manhoOn: then on 10 Staun-
,ou, one CO the most beautiful ann
aristocratic little cities Of the State;
hen TO Miilboro Station. the terminal
- what IS now the Chesapeake &
ohio Railroad. There we disembarkGd
and entered on General Lees cam
paign in Northwest Virginia. a CAM
vaign that tested the mettle OF the
untried volunteers who we're engaged
II it: but. Oh account Of the noun
tainous character of the country. it
was untruitful Of any beneficial re-
suits TO the South.
From Millboro Station we crossed
the mountain and made Our first ell
campment at Warm Springs. beau
iiful and celebrated watering place.
now III West Virginia. During the
day Charles King became i'll. and his
brother Tom went to the home OF
Mrs. J. 7. Lockridge. in the village.
and asked ii his brother could spend
the night i'll her house. Yes" said
she. Bring him here. AMI I will
take care OF him and as many more
OF your comrades as I can accommo-
date
Mrs. Lockridge had two beautiful
little daughters about six and eight
years OF age: ard rs these were the
first Southern soldiers they had seen.
t:s gir;s enjoyed their coming and
become c:pecially fond OF Ton King,
who was 4 pleasant and genial young
soldier. As the brigade Was about TO
start the reNt morning Oh its march
Through the mountains. Tom King
went to Mrs. Lcckr:dsc 20 compensate
her fur entertaining himsel: and his
friends; but she refused 10 take any
Thing. saying: Ny husband is Z
member OF the Virginia Legislature,
IN ardent Southern man. an il iull
sympathy with him. a!.l | can never
think CT charging Southern soldier
Tor anything that l ca:. do for him. "
But Tom WAS not satisfied ana sent
ner 4 note, inclosing the sacred five