The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-10
"reminiscences of My Life on Plantation Home
Before and During Civil War Between the States
Chastaine, .Arimore Oklahoma)

The ever TO be remembered winter
of 1864 and 65 was slowly passing,
filled with privations, suffering and
near tragedies. Every one was pray
ing and wishing the war would close
that we might once more breathe easy
and feel relieved from the terrible sus-
pense which had become almost un-
boarable. The last of March, 1865, Cen
eral Vance was using strategy in try
ing to get his command through into
North Carolina before General Lee
would have to surrender. He was
more anxious because he and his com
mand were from Buncombe county and
the counties west. Ashville, North
Carolina, was the home Of General
Vance. He had been born and raised
there. The command had been travel
ing all night and were near Wolf Creek
in east Tennessee where they halted
to feed. The pickets were soon driven
in with the alarming information that
we were cut off and entirely surround
ed, which created regular stampede.
Each man grabbed the nearest horse
and was soon fleeing in every direc-
ton trying to escape. Many were sue
ceSsful but in many cases the escape
was miraculous. My brother, Captain
Harlan A. Boone was among those VINO
made good their escape. He said he
had almost lost hopes at one time for
he heard someone calling loudly, Shoot
Boone, the man on the claybank horse. >
He said he would have been killed had
it not been for a fine horse whose
rider had just been shot Captain
Boone dashed up and caught the horse
which was fine one and after making
the change was out Of danger. Those
men who made their escape by pick
ing their way through the Smoky
Mountain passes, reached home about
the time Zee surrendered. They knew
they had been defeated but not con-
quered.
Notwithstanding the gloomy outlook
and the perilous surroundings tho
heroes of many battles decided at once
10 accept the inevitable. The border
country had been menaced by Tories
who had TO be driven from the country
as they were dangerous spies. AS soon
as Lee surrendered these outlaws re-
turned and were at once pardoned by
President johnson and rendered inn
mune from punishment in the courts,
vet among them were murderers, and
perpetrators of all sorts of crimes.
Later all these pardoned men were left
free to 20 armed while the eX-solders
had given iron clad oaths to go un-
armed and were left to the mercies of
their enemies. This was very humliat-
ing consequently the war veterans be-
gan preparing to immigrate west with
out riskine further trouble. Many OF
them had been notified to leave or FISK
consequences.
These men had to leave their native
state. could tell you why but per-
haps had better leave some things un-
said, however, / can truthfully say II
was not for crime and there was not
one who left that state at the close oi
the war. who had any thing to cover
up or worry about except their loyal
ty to the South Land. They had fought
bravely for q cause they thought right
Preparations were made for the long
trim and it took much courage and q
brave spirit because many of the inn
migrants had to make the trips IN
covered wagons. Imagine for q moment
Il woman who had never been used To
hardships, loaded into a covered wagon
with many miles Of country to ira
verse. Some of these people came 10