Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-02-24
We then took m our march thru

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the mountains, and after passing
Huntersville and crossing the Green
brier river we came into q perfect
wilderness, where for many months
We did not see the face of woman.
We became hungry for the sight OF
! one. remember that the brigade
was ordered to place called Mlnso
Flats, the 1st Tennessee in front and
, the 7th and 14th following. and IN
going down the hillside we saw a log
! cabin on the roadside in the valley
| below. AS we passed, wooden bllnd
twas thrown open, and a comely Eir-
ginia lass. with sleeves rolled up
above her elbows (she was evidently
: lust from the washtub), looked out
on the passing show. At the very
sight of her the 1st Tennessee started
yell that was taken up by the TIN
and 14th, and it echoed and re-echoed
through those mountains. The Rebel
! veil Oh the battle field was not cir
! custonce to the one we save that day.
| The girl was evidently highly graft
, :ied by the demonstration made III her
honor.
Aftei, this campaign was over we
we're transferred to the Valley under
Stonewall Jackson and made with
him that fearful winter campaign,
through the snow and ice of the
mountains, to Bath and Romney,
starting out on it January l, 1852.
Shortly after this the 1st Tennessee
was transferred from Virginia to the
army under Albert Sidney Johnston
and made it's record in all the battles
in the West. from Shiloh to Benton
Vile. With the surrender of General
Joseph E. Johnston's army at Green's
boro, n. c., Tom King and his two
brothers received their paroles, went
home. AID took up the thread of life
where it had been broken off four
years before. Tom King still lives at
ripscold ase, highly respected and
Eestessned. 1886 he ss elec.ed
Circuit Court Clerk of Rutherford
county and served for two terms.
He had ceased to think Of the gold
piece that he had left with the little
girl in Virginia; but Mrs. Lockridge
never considered that she or her lit
tie daughter owned it, and she deter
mined 10 return it to him if she could
ever find him. In July, 1896, the city
recorder of Murfreesboro received q
note from her making inquiry for
Tom King or his nearest relatives.
and upon receipt of his reply she
wrote the following letter:
Capt T. NJ. King: For over thirty
years l have endeavcred in many
ways to gain the information so cour-
teously given ME few days ago b.
your city clerk. Ny daughter once
wrote to your county clerk but re-
ceived 10 reply. The resolve to make
one more effort was strengthened
few weeks ago while my daughter and
l were looking over some mementoes
OF the past. among which was your
note, which I had preserved, giving
the name Of the regiment and COM
pany TO which you then belonged.
Thus was the idea suggested which
has met with gratifying success. The
almost historical coin is still in my
daughters possession. In the lapse
of years and connecting associations
it has become almost as much an
heirloom in our family as it must be
in yours. When. after YOU left OH
that morning il May. 1861. opened
your note containing thanks for over
estimated deeds. which I was ever
ready to offer to brave soldiers. these
words. Given me BY my mother when
left for the war. found a responsive
| ecnO IN my own nedTt. ana Eoulo
almost imagine heard her voice ask
ing me 10 guard this parting gift. the
last Offering CT mothers love. as
she in true Spartan spirit yielded her
loving treasurer TO her country,s call.
Then l determined 10 chreish the
relic and when the: horrors OF war
were over TO restore il. If possible.
o the original owner. Remember
ing that it was given il trust for my
daughter. | knew T had no right 10
appropriate it without her consent:
BIZ; When in childish innocence she
often wished 10 spend it. l gave Ter
its face value III greenbacks 10 spend