Year: 1872




quiries by denying that they knew
or had ever seen him. The hut il
which the family lived was neal
the base of the mountain, anC
stood in the center of a cleared
slope, about three hundred yards
!. across. Burton, when coming to
the house, would stop at the edge
of the clearing and carefully in
spect the premises to satisfy him
self that no enemies were con
cealed there. Finding that al
was secure, he would then hail the
family and order the man and boy
to leave, which they never failed
TO do. With bis rifle on his arm
he would then advance to the
cabin aud direct the woman to
prepare his dinner or breakfast,
as the case might be. The NO.
man feared and loathed him, but
was afraid to refuse, knowing that
he would shoot her down at the
first word of remonstrance.


Two Federals soldiers, in a
camp seven miles from the spot,
concluded to attempt his capture,
and obtaining leave Of absence,
started for the house. Before
leaving camp, they dressed them
selves in dirty tattered linen
clothing, although in the month of
November, and the weather was
bitterly cold. Oue of them was
Zachariah Thomas, of Company
A, First Iowa Cavalry, and the
other was a member of the Tenth
Illinois Cavalry, whose name is
forgotten. On approaching the
house they concealed their pistols
in the woods, and without arms of
any kind entered the clearing and
b lied the woman. 1t Was then
about twilight, and both men were
shivering with cold and fear, and
Thomas aflerward said be would
have given anything he possessed
to have been out of the scrape.
The woman answered the call,
and they told her that they wan
ted to see Burton. She said he
was not was not there, but they
insisted that they must see him
aud would remain until be came.
The woman fuding that they
were obstinate, at last consented
TO let them remain over night, and
promised t. send her son for Bur
ton in the morning. They passed
a miserable and anxious night and
rose long before daylight.


About s o'clock the boy returned
aud reported that he bad found
Burton and informed him that two
men were waiting to see him
Burton had answered that he
would come over, and in a few
minutes he appeared at the edge
Of the clearing. Thomas and his
companion walked out to the gate,
and they surveyed each other tor
moment or two in silence. Bur-
ton did not seem pleased at their
appearance, and once or twice
drew up his gun as if to fire.
They shouted to him not to shoot,
aud throwing up their arms de-
clar, d that they had no weapons.
Burton took another survey of
them, and finally slowly ap.
preached, informing them that he
would fire on them on the least
appearance of treachery, and that
he only waived his custom of fir
ing on any one within pistol shot
of him out of curiosity to hear
what they had to say. The trio
at last entered the house, and
Burton, after ordering the men
in front of him, sat down to break
fast with his gun resting against
the bed and in easy reach. Thom-
as, who was thin and very pale,
acted as spokesman, and informed
him that they had a few days be-
fore escaped from Federal pris-
on at Springfield, and that they
were on their way South They
had heard Of him, and knowing
that he was we'll provided with
such things, came to him for
horses, clothing and arms. They
professed to be able and willing to
pay when they reached home, and
promised to send him the money.
Burton replied that he had no
more sympathy for a Southern
than a Northern man, and that he
had no friends. He murdered
and robbed both sides, and did not
propose to assist any one. The
men urged that they were perish
ing with the clothing they had on,
aud would either freeze or starve
to death if be did not assist them.
Burtoa said he could furnish them
with an easier death, and he
thought he had better kill them
aud put them out of their trouble.
Looking at Thomas emaciated
figure and white face, he added,