Adventures of Alf. Wilson, a thrilling episode of the dark days of the rebellion

Front matter

'4^'^/ -0

.f

A

Chapter I

First Meeting of the Raiders near Shelby ville — Tlieir Names — Putting on Citizens' Clothes — Andrews, the Federal Spy — Final Instructions and Farevv^eil by General Mitchell — Off to Dixie — Heavy Rains and Freshets in the Rivers — "Meeting Up " with a True Union Man — An Old Rebel Colonel — A Confederate Spy — Crossing the Cumberland Mountains — Safe Arrival at Chattanooga — One Day Behiiid Time — Off to Marietta by Rail 15

Chapter II

Safe Arrival at Marietta — On Board the Morning Express — Porter and Hawkins Get Left — Capturing the Train at Big Shanty — A Bewildered Multitude of Rebels — We Pull Out Lively — Cutting Telegraph Wires — Tearing up Railroad Ti'ack — The PowTler Train Story — Hindered by Dovvn Trains Fleeing from General Mitchell — Pursued by a Locomotive — A Railroad Race for Life or Death — Vain Efforts to Impede Pursuit — Trying to Burn a Bridge — Throwing Off Ties on the Track — A Reckless and Devil-may-care Race 26

Chapter III

Run Down at Last — We Jump the Train and Fly to the Woods under Musketry Fire — How the Chase was Made — The Obstacles We Had to Encounter — Sensational Rebel Account of the Whole Affair — The Confederacy Badly " Shook Up." 39

Chapter IV

"Nip and Tuck " — A Grand Old ♦* Yankee " Man-Hunt— Citizens, Soldiers and Dogs Join the Chase — Mark Wood and I Squat in a Little Brush Pile —" Ticklish " Situation for Thirty -Six Hours — Escape to the I\Iountains — Discovered by Women in a Fodder-Pile — We Teil a Plausible Stoiy — Another Lynx-

•VI CONTENTS.

Eyed Woman — "You Are Union Men; You Can't Fool Me." 53

Chapter V

Captured by Old Snow's Cavalry — A Deceptive Story that Wins — A Terrible Risk — A Red-Hot Rebel Lecture — Again in the Mountains — A Loyal Woman in the Case, and Her No Less Loyal Husband — "I Knew You Were Union Men all the Time " — Night March with a Guide — Stealing a Boat — Safe Arrival on the Tennessee River — Night of Terror on the Tennessee i 65

Chapter VI

Running t)y Chattanooga — A Dangerous Voyage — Taking On a Pilot — A Terrific Ride — Hailed by Rebel Cavalry — Reconnoitering a Rebel Camp at Bridgepoi-t — A Rebel Stampede — Arrival at Stevenson — Fatal Mistake — Captured within Seven Miles of Mitchell's Lines— Sent to Bridgeport under Guard. 83

Chapter VII

Strongly Guarded— General Leadbetter at Bridgeport— Red-Hot Interview with the Scoundrel— A Blustering Braggart and an Arrant Coward — Taken Back to Chattanooga — " The Hole " — Old Swims, the Jailer — A Horrible, Loathsome Pit 91

Chapter VIII

Horror upon Horrors — Loathsome Corn-bread and Rotten Meat — Odors Most Foul — Fetters, Vennin and Darkness — Parallel with the Black Hole of Calcutta — The Boom of Mitchell's Cannon — A Night of Anxiety — Sad Disappointment — Oif to Atlanta — A Bloodthirsty Mob Clamoring for our Lives — Landed in Better Quarters at Madison — Visited by a Union Spy — The Spy's Narrow Escai)e — Back to our Chattanooga Prison — The Heroic Lad, Jacob Parrott, Bnitally Whipped on the Naked Back 100

Chapter IX

Planning to Escape — Night Fixed upon for the Attempt — Twelve of the Train-Thieves Sent to Knoxville for Trial — Andrews' Death-Warrant — Preparations to Break Jail — Andrews, the Spy, and John Wollam Escape — The Guards Aroused — Andrews' Wanderings and Terrible Sufferings— Three Days Almost Naked

CONTENTS. Vll

— Hecaptured — Brought Back to Prisc«i More Dead than Alive 116

Chapter X

Our Brave and Noble Leader^ His Impending Doom — All Taken to Atlanta Again — Last Advice and Counsel from Andrews — Dying the Death of a Spy— The Terrible Tragedy Consummated — Wollam Recaptured — Account of his Adventures — Mark Wood's Sickness — Pinchings of Hunger —Arrival of our Comrades from KnoxviUe— The Old ViUain, Thor— Prepai-ing Seven of our Comrades for the Gallows 129

Chapter XI

Painful Reflections — Brave Bearing of the Doomed Seven — *' Tell Them I Died for My Country"— Poor John Scott — Wilson's Dying Speech— Bmtal Scene— Rope Breaks with Two —Seven Murdered Heroes— Southern Barbarity— An Afternoon Never to be Forgotten— Solemn Hours in Prison— A Night of Prayer— Captain David Fry— A Christian Hero— A Rebel Minister—Letter Sent to Jeff Davis and its Probable Result 142

Chapter XII

The Jail at Atlanta — Preparations to Break Jail — Expecting an Order for Our Execution — Busy Preparations for Escape — Prayer for Deliverance— The Last Desperate Chance— The Critical Moment— Fighting the Guards — Away We Go— The Pursuit.... 154

Chapter XIII

Eluding Pursuit — Crossing the Line of Rebel Guards — Discouraging Journey before Us — Paroxysm of Joy — Striking Out for the Gulf — We Reach the Chattahooche, and Hope Springs Up Anew — We Find a Boat and are Soon GUding Down the River

Gulfward 166

Chapter XIV

The Pangs of Hunger — Visions of Feasting — We Must Have Food — Visit a Rebel Planter's House — Get a Good Meal— Mark Gets to "the End of the River" — A Mysterious Noise- Reckless Run Over a Mill-Dam— Mark Falls in the River — A Toilsome Lund Joumey of Three Days and Nights — Passing viii CONTENTS.

Columbus — The Rebel Ram Cliattahooche —Capture Another Boat — Soon Exchange It for a Better One— Pursued by Its Owners — Feeding on Corn and Pumpkin Seeds — Mosquitoes, Snakes and Alligators 177

Chapter XV

Go After a Meal — Our Boat is Stolen — Feelings of Despair — Night of Gloom — Dangerous Method of Securing Another Boat — Complete Success— Feast on Raw Cat-fish— Nearing the Gulf — Appalachicola — A Royal Feast on Cooked Fish and Roasted Sweet Potatoes— Going Dow^n the Bay— Looking for the Blockading Fleet— The Federal Fleet in the Distance — Thrilling, Rapturous Sight— The Old Flag Once More 193

Chapter XVI

Hailed by the Commander of the Blockading Fleet — A Gruff Reception — Explanation of Our Appearance — Changed Demeanor of the Commander — Our Cadaverous Condition — Rage of the Old Sea Veteran, Commander J. F. Grossman — A Kind and Noble Man — The Substantial Welcome Given Us

We Start for Key West — Yellow Jack Catches Me — Key

"VVfest — The ' ' Conchs " — A Marked Contrast 203

Chapter XVII

Port Royal — Death of General O. M. Mitchell — Memories of the Past — Characteristics of Successful Generalship — General Mitchell's Confidence in the Success of the Enterprise — Steaming to New York with the Body of General Mitchell — Our Cordial Reception — Arrival at Washington — Caught without a Pass and Imprisoned — A Note to the President — Immediate Release — Introduced to President Lincoln — An Interesting Interview^ -- 213

CHAPTER XVIIL

EUituming to the Regiment — Back to the Army of the Cumberland — The Greeting of Old Comrades — Meeting with Captain Fry — History of Different Members of Our Party — Interesting Account from Wm. J. Knight — J. R. Porter's Account — Whereabouts of other Comrades of the Expedition — A Few Words Personal — Medal and Extra Pay — Concluding Words— A Hope that the Spirit of RebeUion is at an End.. 223

Introduction

^j^N the quiet little village of Haskins, Wood (Juiiiity, Ohioy ^ lives the subject of these adventures — a modest, quiets unpretentious gentleman, a good citizen, in w^hose outward appearance and actions there is nothing to indicate to the casual observer that he was one of a band of men of more than Spartan valor, who, in the midst of one of the darkest, periods of the nation's annals, participated in one of the most thrilling incidents of a gigantic war — a war whose history is one of Titanic death-struggles, wliere thousands of brave men^ with the most improved contrivances and implements of warfare of modern times, strove for the mastery — a war marked from beginning to end with startling dramatic acts of adventure and heroism, unsurpassed in the annals of the world. The ancient chroniclers of Greece and Rome tell us of prodigious feats of valor in arms, while the historian of modern times excites our admiration with the military genius of Napoleon and the braver}^ and devotion of his marshals and soldiers. The legends of Scotland teem with the stories of patriotism, devotion, and self-sacrifice of that brave people ; but it is no disparagement to say of all these that in acts of patriotism,, devotion, daring, endurance, and all the qualities which go to make the soldier, history gives no account of men superior tothose developed by the war of the American Rebellion. Lord Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar, and the idol of the British

(ix)

X INTRODUCTION.

nation, was not braver than Farragut, lashed to the mast of his ship in Mobile Bay, and Cambronne and the Imperial Guard at Waterloo wers not braver than Pickett, who led the dreadful charge at Gettysburg, and tlie men who followed him.

When the actors in the bloody drama of the Rebellion shall all have passed away, and jDersonal jealousies and sectional animosities liaA'e died out, then will history make an impartial award of merits to the actors in that great struggle. Much that was real and dreadful will th3n read like fiction and romance, as if it had occurred in the days of miracles and wonders. The timely arrival oi the little Monitor at Hampton Roads, and her combat a,nd miraculous victory over the monster iron-clad Merrimac, or th3 providential rain-fall which delayed one day Albert Sidney Johnston's attack on Grant at Shiloh, thereby saving the Union army, are events so familiar to this generation that they seem commonplace ; yet they are events, small as they may seem, on which, perhaps, hung the fate of the Republic. The Avliole war, from its beginning to its close, ending in the tragic death of the Chief Executive of the nation, was a succession of startling events, deeds of valor, great battles, hard marches, victories, defeats, and adventure by land and sea, wliicli put to the sorest test the powers of endurance and bravery of the combatants.

The mettle of the hero of the following pages, although not teste4 on the battle-field amid the rattle of musketry, the boom of cannon, the shriek of shot and shell, and the soul-inspiring strains of martial music, was tried in a crucible where coolness, courage, fortitude, endurance, valor, nerve that amounted almost to sublimity, were called into requisition, and where all the ennobling traits of man's highest nature were brought into play. This trying ordeal will be fully develoj)ed in the pages that follow.

John A. Wilson was born July 35, 1833, near the town of

INTRODUCTION. XI

Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio. When a boy about seventeen years of age, he removed with his father, Ezekiel Wilson, to Wood County, tlie family locating not far from Haskins, where the lad Wilson grew to manhood.

With the exception of a year's residence in Iowa, and his term of army service, Mr. Wilson, or "Alf.," as all his acquaintances call him, has since been a resident of Wood County. In stature he is medium, weighing, perhaps, one hundred and fifty pounds, of rather slender, but wiry, build, of nervous temperament, light hair, and bluish grey eyes. In his manner he is deliberate, though quick of decision and action, and there is that in his appearance that denotes to the close observer of human character a fearless determination and tenacity of purpose that can not be swerved withouf sufficient reason. He is a man somewhat after the old John Brown make-up" in tenacity of resolution, belief and purpose. Though broken in health, having endured and suffered enough to break the strongest constitution, he is yet active in mind and body, being one of those persons who will never cease to be active until overtaken by the last enemy of mankind. On the subject of his many startling adventures, his perilous hardships, and hairbreadth escapes, he is usually reticent. V/hen he is induced to speak of them, the dark hours of his imprisoimient seem to harrow up his feelings to their utmost tension. His eyes dance with an unnatural light, he grows excitedly nervous over the recollections of that terrible summer, and his every action indicates that of a tempest -tossed spirit over the bitter memories of the past. Under no other circumstances is this state of mental incandescence perceivable with Mr. Wilson. It is a matter of no surprise, then, that a man of his temperament should so seldom allude to the bitter agonies and harrowing circumstances of that memorable year.

At the beginning of tlie Rebellion, in 1861, Mr. Wilson

Xll INTRODUCTION.

enlisted in C Company, Twenty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the ever-shifting events of the war found the regiment, of which Colonel J. S. Norton, now of Toledo, was commander, stationed near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and in the army division commanded by that enterprising and far-seeing officer, General O. M. Mitchell, who was then directing his column to Chattanooga. This was in April, 1863, and it is at this point that the adventures of Mr. Wilson properly begin. In order, however, to get a better understanding of the importance of the perilous enterprise about to be related, and its direct bearing on the gigantic military operations then transpiring, it will be well to briefly recapitulate a little of the history of that period. General McClellan, at tliat time, was advancing on Richmond in the east. In the west, General Grant had just gained a great victory at Fort Donelson. This defeat of the Confederates caused them to virtually abandon Kentucky and Westem and Middle Tennessee. The Federal forces promptly followed up their advantage and advanced their army up the Tennessee River, by gunboats and transports, as far as Pittsburg Landing. To meet this powerful array of the Federal armies, the Confederate Generals, Johnson and Beauregard, were making superhuman efforts to concentrate a Confederate force at Corinth, powerful enough to meet and crush Grant's army before it advanced further southward. Troops and supplies were being hurried forward from all directions ; but from no place was the supply so strong and steady as from the State of Georgia, the granary of the South. This stream of constant supj)ly and fresh levies came from Georgia by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Corinth, where tlie Rebel army lay, is situated on this Railroad, and so is Chattanooga, though the two places are a long distance apart. From Chattanooga south to Atlanta, the heart of Georgia, the traffic was over the Georgia State Railroad. Over this Railroad, Georgia

INTRODUCTION. XllI

and other portions of the Gulf territory not only sent supplies to the Confederate forces preparing for battle at Corinth, but over the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, by way of Chattanooga, to Richmond and to Cumberland Gap, then threatened by General George W. Morgan, with a Federal division. From this it will be seen that the Georgia State Road, from Atlanta and the South, intersecting, as it did at Chattanooga, roads running to Virginia and to the west, distributing supplies and troops on shortest notice at points where most needed, was a most important and essential factor to the success of the Confederates, in resisting the great armies which menaced them in Virginia and the Gulf States.

The Federal Generals foresaw the importance of destroying, even temporarily, this great artery of supply to the Confederates. But to attempt it with a large force would be extremely hazardous, as it would necessarily place such force hundreds of miles from its base of supplies, and with its line of communication in the control of the Confederates.

Some time in March, a noted Union spy, or secret service agent, named J. J. Andrews, a Kentuckian by birth, and who had repeatedly visited all portions of the South and was thoroughly familiar with the railroad in question, discussed with General Mitchell the possibihty of accomplishing the work with a secret expedition. General Mitchell soon became interested in the bold proposition, and, after due consideration, fell in with tlie plan. Eight men voluntarily started out on the perilous enterprise, but after an absence of some days, they all xetumed without attempting the hazardous undertaking. But Andrews Wi\s loth to give up his daring project, and subsequently had a consultation with General Mitchell, in which he claimed tliat the project was still feasible. General Mitchell, with some misgivings, continued to favor it, because the scheme, if successful, would cripple the Confederates and send

XIV INTRODUCTION.

terror and dismay through the whole Confederacy ; and it was one of those problematical, far-reaching undertakings, in which this restless officer seemed to dehght. But he did not like the possible consequences which might fall on the heads of the men who would have to go with Andrews on the dangerous expedition, in case of failure. He knew if they were captured they would be executed. However, the General gave Andrews permission to make the attempt, provided he could find twenty men among the regioients of the division who would voluntarily go with him. Tliis, strange as it may seem, was not attended with any great trouble, hazardous as was to be the service. The army abounded in cool-headed, daring spirits, and in a short time the list of volunteers was made up, to the number of twenty-four, including Andrews, the leader.

Such was the origin of one of the most daring exploits conceived during the "War of the Rebellion — one which for boldness of design, intrepidity, daring and recklessness, has but few parallels in the liistory of ancient or modern warfare.

Hon. Judge Holt, in his official report as Secretary of "War, used these words; "The expedition, in the daring of its conception, had the wildness of a romance ; while in the gigantic and overwhelming results it sought and was likely to accomplish, it was absolutely sublime."

And with this introduction to the details of this thrilling expedition, necessary to a proper understanding of the events about to be related, Mr. "Wilson will take up the narrative, which has all the sensation of a thrilling romance, and yet in which there is not a line that is not true to the letter.

C, W. E.

ADVENTURES OF ALF. WILSON.

Chapter I

First Meeting of the Raiders near Shelby ville — Their Names — Putting on Citizens' Clothes — Andrews, the Federal Spy — Final Instructions and Farewell by General Mitchell — We Brealc into Squads and are Off to Dixie — Wayside Reflections — Heavy Rains and Freshets in the Rivers — "Meeting Up" with a True Union Man — Our Story of Deception — An Old Rebel Colonel — A Confederate Spy — Crossing the Cumberland Mountains — Safe Arrival at Chattanooga — One Day Behind Time — Off to Marietta by Rail.

*' With years, ye know, have not declined My strength, my courage, or my mind, Or at this hour I sliould not be Telling stories beneath a tree."

IT was a pleasant day in April in the year 1802, the [ ^^Q^y dciy on which the bloody battle of Shiloli was fought and won (the Tth), that a party of twenty-four men assembled near the old town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and placed themselv^es under the leadership of one of their number, J. J. Andrews, a daring and successful P'ederal spy and secret service agent.

These mea, with two exceptions, Avere enlisted soldiers, and belon2:ed to the division of General Ormsbv M. Mtichell, then encamped about Shelbyville.

16 KOSTEK OF THE 11A.IDER3.

Their enrollment was as follows :

J. J. Andrews and William Campbell, citizens of Kentucky ;

Marion A. Ross and E^erry G. Siiadrack, Conripany A, Second Reo:iment O. V. I.;

George D. Wilson, Company B, same regiment ;

William Pittenoer, Company G, same regiment ;

J. R. Porter, Mark: Wood and J. A. Wilson, Comj^any C, Twenty-First Regiment O. Y. I.;

William Knight, Company E, same regiment ;

AYiLsoN W. Brown, Company F, same regiment;

William Bensinger, Company G, same regiment ;

HoBERT BuFFUM, Company H, same regiment;

John Scott and E. II. Mason, Company K, same regiment ;

M. J. Hawkins, Company A, Thirty -Third Regiment O. y. L;

William Reddick, Company B, same regiment ;

John Wollam, Company C, same regiment ;

Sa^^iuel Robinson, Company G, same regiment ;

D. A. DoRSEv, Company II, same regiment;

Jacob Parrott, Company K, same regiment;

Samuel Slavens, same regiment.

Two others, whose names have escaped my memory, started Avith us from Shelbyville, but they reached the Tennessee River so far behind the remainder of the part}', as I afterwards learned, that they saw their services would be of no avail, and the next best thing was to return to the Federal lines, if possible. This they failed to do, were conscripted into the rebel army, and after some time one of them escaped back to the Federal camp, which caused suspicion to fall upon his

ANDREWS, THE SPY. 17

comrade, who was arrested and afterwards placed in prison in Chattanooga.

The object of our expedition as already foreshadowed, was to penetrate the rebel lines to the city of Marietta. Georgia, there to secure a train of cars, by fair means or by force, and then to run northward toward our own lines, burning all the bridges and destroying the road in such a manner as to utterly and effectually break al] rail communication by this most important railroad to the South. To do this successfully it was necessary tc disguise ourselves in citizens' clothes. Accordingly, late in the afternoon of April 7, we went into the town ol Shelbyville and procured suits of clothes, after w^hich we assembled at a point designated for our final start. "We passed through our line of pickets without difficulty, as they had been previously instructed to allow us to pass. Soon after passing our pickets we were joined by General Mitchell, and after proceeding a short distance to a secluded spot, ^ve were halted for final instructions. This business over, the good old General took us each by the hand and with tearful eyes bade us good-bye, saying, as he did so, that he feared he should never see us again.

Before proceeding further, I will briefly describe our leader, Andrews. He was a noble specimen of manhood, nearly six feet in height, of powerful build, long raven black hair, black silken beard, Roman features, a high, expansive forehead, yet with a voice soft and gentle as that of a woman. He was a man who comb'ned intelligence and refinement with cool, dauntless courage that quailed under no ditnculty or danger. He was a man deliberate in speech and calm in manner — 2

18 THE START.

a man well fitted for the clano-erons service he was engaged in, though I doubt his entire fitness to conimand men in sudden and unexpected emergencies. However, he shared his chances equally with us, and died the death of a brave man. No braver, truer man ever lived.

Having been supplied by Andrews with Confederate money to pay our expenses, we separated into squads of four or five and directed our course toward Chattanooga, distant one hundred and three miles. We Avere soon clear of all our picket and vidette posts and in the enemy's country. Not until fairly avray from sight of the old flag and our regiments and entirely within the enemy's line, could we begin to realize the great responsibility we had incurred. To begin vv'ith, we had cast aside our uniforms and put on citizens' clothes, and assumed all the penalties that in military usages the word SPY implies, which is death the world over. Again, our mission was such that concealment was impossible. We were sure to arouse the whole Confederacy and invoke all the brutal vengeance of its frenzied leaders in case we did not make good our escape after doing our work. The military spy, in the ordinary line of his duty, is not compelled to expose himself to detection. On the contrary, he conceals, in every possible way, his identity. This we could do until in tlie heai't of the enemy's country, the very place where we would be in most danger and where the blow would fall most heavily on our enemies and arouse against us all their hatred and most active energies.

All these things passed in review in our minds as we walked on, but did not cause us to slacken our pace or

A TRUE SOUTHERN UNION MAN. 19

abate our will and determination to destroy the Georgia State Railroad or die in the attempt. There was, I may say right here, one thought about the business that I did not just like — that if caught I would die the death of a spy — be hung. I had enlisted as a soldier and of course knew that 1 took in the bargain some chances of being shot, which is not a dishonorable way of closing up a soldier's earthly account. I speak of this, that the reader may in some measure appreciate the perplexing anxiety of our situation at times, and also as an explanation of some things which subsequently occurred, and which may appear to have been done in wanton bravado, or with a reckless disregard of life.

It commenced raining again the night of our departure, as it had done the week previous, and continued with but very little cessation during our entire trip. This of itself increased the obstacles that delayed us.

During our first day's march we met, for a wonder, a true Southern Union man — as loyal a man as ever I met. He \vas an old man, who had remained true, though surrounded by disloyal neighbors. Though we professed to be rebels on our way to enlist in the rebel army, he boldly spoke his sentiments and did his best to persuade us to return and cast our lot with the Union arm}'-. After much urging he piloted us to the river, which was so swollen by rain that we could not ford it as we expected. The wliole face of the country was a vast sheet of water, and we waded for miles throu2rh mud and water. The old man procured us a skiff, and we then, Avith a hearty shake of his loyal hand, bade him farewell.

By our instructions we were allowed just four days,

:20 DECEPTIVE STORIES.

, not only to reach Chattanooga, but to accomplish the work. The continued rains and bad roads made this accomplishment in the allotted time simply an impossibility. It delayed us one day longer than the time agreed upon, and had much to do with the outcome of our -under taking, as will be hereafter seen. That old adage vwhich says, " Delays are dangerous," Avas most faithifully verified in our case.

During our journey to Chattanooga, Andrews, who "^vas mounted, would ride ahead and make all necessary inquiries and then, passing out of sight, would allow us to go by, w^hen he would mount and overtake us in some safe place w^here he would give us instructions, ^nd then ride on, as though w^e were entire strangers to yhimjind he to us. He would frequently pass us, simply ^bidding us the time in a careless way, and perhaps in -an indifferent manner would ask us which Avay w^e were .traveling. Sometimes, when squads of rebels Avere .about, he would ask us where Ave were going. The .re])ly would invariably be —

-" To Chattanooga, sir."

•"Are you soldiers?"

"^^No, sir, Ave are not soldiers, but Ave expect to be as soon as Ave can get to one of the Kentucky regiments. Wq are from Kentucky and are on the Avay to join the army, sir. We have become so disgusted with >the ..cussed Yankees since they came into our State, that Ave can't stand it any longer, and Ave are determined to iight ,them as long as there is a man left. They have ruined our State, sir. Yes, sir, they steal everything they can lay their hands on ; they have burned nearly iivery .fence in the StatCj sir. Are you acquainted ia

AN OLD PwEBEL COLONEL. 21

Chattanooga, sir? Conld you give us any information about Colonel Williams' reg-iment V'

*' No, men, I'm sorry to say I can't, now ; but I'n^ glad to see you come out to fight for your country^ The Lincolnites are determined to take all our slaves from us, confiscate our homes, and cut our throats in-* the bargain. It is the duty of every Southern man ta rally to arms and drive them from our country."

Durins: these conversations the rebel citizens would look on and by their actions and words they seemed ta* think we were as good Confederates as ever lived. Im this manner we were able to travel through their country without exciting suspicion.

On Wednesday night, April 9, we arrived at the little village of Manchester. Xear this village some of the party stopped for the night at the house of an old rebel Avho bore the title of Colonel. It was our plan to avoid persons of his stamp, as we did not care to undergo too close scrutiny. But night overtook a part of the squad there and none who took shelter under the old Colonel's roof had cause to feel sony. He was a good entertainer, had plenty of the comforts of life about him and was an incessant talker, especially on the subject uppermost in his mind — the war. He was at first a little cautious and shy, but on being assured that his quests were Confederates of the best stripe, he relaxed himself and assured them that he felt honored by their presence and that it was a privilege indeed to be able to serv^e such brave men — men who were patriotic enough to leave their homes in Old Kentucky and go voluntarily to the front in the great hour of danger.. It did not seem as though he could do enough for the;