Year: 1867

until the return of her husband. lie
then took us across the mountains five
miles to the house Of staunch Union
man who entertained US five days and
then guided us over the mountains to u
place called Crab Orchard, in Tennessee


Here we had to stay fifteen days as
Hoods army was between us aud Knox
vile. While here we learned the par.
ticulars concerning the Southern Union
League, and also were made members of
it. There were many members Of this
league throughout the South, and were
even in the rebel army. Members of the
Union League let US out of prison there
were sixteen Of them that guarded Us at
Columbia so we learned at Crab Or
chard. We could then look back and
see where these men favored us ns often
as they could safely do 50. After this
We experienced but little trouble as we
could always tell a Union mans house by
certain sign, which ! withhold for pru.
Dental reasons One day | went down
irom Crab Orchard to the house Of Il
Union man at the foot Of the mountain.
They had fJrmcd an excavation under Il
smoke house for the purpose Of socreting
clothing, &C., as the rebels used to come
around occasionally and carry of what
ever things they could find Of much
value. y. | was standing out from the
house | looked up towards the mountain
and saw large party of Confederate
cavalry coming. hid myself in this
hole under tie smoke house. Here |
had TO lay IS hours without mouihlul
Of food, the rs rebel, onrampcd around the
house that length of time. Their camp
fires were within Zen feet Of the smoke
house. and they were constantly walking
back and forth over the place where
lay. rs they saw me when they were
coming they searched high and low to find
me Finding no traces, they took, an
old negro, who was at the house and
knew where was, and commanded him
to tell them what he knew, but he re
fused to do it. They then took rope
AMI placing it around his neck threatened
to hang him il lie would not disclose -
Still refusing they drew him up 50 that
lis toes could only touch the ground
They went through this operation some
five Or six times but the old man still
continued firm. Finally when they left
they took him with them anl never
learned his fate. Let those condemn the
negroes who will, and say that they lack
the principles which undcrie tie true
man, As for me | have never fonn,l
irmcr friends or truer, noblcr men men
who would sacrifice their lives more
readily for an idea, or who would 20
greater lengths to save our poor boy.
from being returncl TO rebel prisons.
When | returnedto Crab Orchard found
my comrades considerably exercised abont
me, supposlng that | had been either
been killed or captured.


After the defeat Of Hoods army. word
was sent through that all who wished
could 90 through to the In on lines
This we did under the supervision OF the
Southern Union League. When at last
we came in sight of the stars and stripes,
after iiity-six days of weary wandering -
having passed over four hundred miles Of
Confederate terri;ory-our hearts sang
for joy. We felt like pouring out our
deepest praise TO the sc liver of every good
and perfect gilf' for his great mercy to
US The story of suffering in those rebel
prisons cannot he overdrawn. In fact. il
was worse than one can even think,
unless they have been an eye witness to
these scenes OF shocking cruelty.