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BY
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L'lLc :-6ih .V. C
,/^^5^',
vf)^
TiiK Editor Pudltsuixg ^^ompany
CI>'CIXXATI
1901.
BYTlIi! Ai .
ny c^ orv <:>
..kJ /-.-.
f\ r- C^ f\ rt
Lull \j^ V. /- <v^^.4oOi »^l»
i.iv; norU;">voSL.;rn
...: ' -.1 xsortii Caro-
,.v . • ...riiains on rhe
o.- ; ea^t, nestled
:..> . . r .1 of the Civil "War.
\ /,:. i/^i- • '" -'}' i-"* " country
ti-.li'i. ny iii Iraly *.;• Swil.'^.'land.
■ii "i; I'iV cl.-iviii .--d ^ !... .c W'utchcu o:: the
.nit of i!i'- ^ • -^-a-M.! oU; .:..
kiuiitiiii. br*,.'
;d siiiT(K.::d -...•:
.d many !o^s^<:.
ovcd of iniu-a V
Although, vric.
iiiiriQ- an cduc . .
Ins. a.. v.. have
hi. ■ .:::g
ai:-. in I
. .rds a:^ they
hi: IV. ,.: :
ne
.oocl,
that
• ob-
2 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCKTl'T
tive schools tliat existed in that country, I had
. been more fortunate than man}^ otlicr 3'oung men
who had grown up with me. From early child-
hood I had been a close student and an earnest
seeker after knowledge. I believed it was por-
sible in tiiis great country of ours for a man of
ambition to reach a higher and nobler life tlian
those who were eontcrit to grow up and fall like
the leaves.
I hud completed the common grades and was
ready to enter upon higher branches when the
call to arms came. In politics J had been
trained in the old "Whig school, and although, on
account of my youth, I had taken but little in-
terest in alTairs of Government, living in the
midst of slavery, and daily observing the evils
of the whole system, I had become thoroughly
imbued with the anti-slavery doctrine, and ev-
ery day was more and more convinced in my
own mind thai it was wrong.
"When, in 1800, IMr. Lincoln was elected Prts-
ident, I then heard the mutterings of secession,
and the boast that one Southern man v.-as equal
to ten "Yankees." In a short tim^e one State
after another followed in rapid succession, sev-
ering the ties that held tliem together.
T>IK ADVKXTUr.ES OF A CONSCKirT 3
k.u;lti;k days of tiik war.
• ThroiigliOiit the wliole Soutli we heard niartlul
music, tlic fervent appCcils of the orator, the
tramp of th.c young soldier, the plaudits of the
multitude as they marched away to the struggle
under the new ilag. To see so many of ]ny as-
sociates proudly marching to the war in a blaze
of glory was a great temptation to me, and often
I implored Divine Providence that, if I was
wrong in my political conviction, to give me un-
derstanding, and place me riglit. I was ready
and willing to fight for my country under the
old Hag, but could never consent tliat my weapon
should be drawn in what I believed to be an un-
worthy cause.
The summer of ISCl dragged slowly on. I
had become intensely iriterested, and was watch-
ing every, movement of the two armies. Ivly
faith was unshakeii in the superiority and strat-
egy of Northern arms, when suddenly, on the
2Ist of July, the news flashed throughout the
country of the defeat of the Union army at Bull
Ivun. The whole South was electrified, and we
heard nothing but the triumphant shout of the
victors and the boast of Southern chivalry.
4 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRirT
By this time, beardless boy though I was, I
had been marked and spotted as a "Lincolnite,'*
**a Yankee sympathizer," and a "traitor.'*
The Fall and Winter of 'Gl to '62 passed slowly
on, and I began to realize that I must suppress
my convictions on the issues of the war, though
my faith grew stronger on the side of the North.
With the opening of Spring renewed energy
was put forth to strengthen the cause and in-
crease the army, and by June about all the
available volunteers had. been mustered into ser-
vice, and as I looked at the situation at this
time, in my soul there was rejoicing. Fort
Donelson hud fallen, and the Union army had
more than held its own at Shiloh. New ho])es
shone blaziiig befctre my vision. General I\Ic-
Clcllan was marching on to Richmond with that
grand army of 100,000 men. I fully believed
that R'ichniond woi'.ld fall; that no power tiiere
could impede the progress of that great army.
Again the friends of the Union were doomed to
disappointment, for iSIcClellan was defeated, and
forced to retire.
The climax was now reached. 'J'ho^o in sym-
pathy with the Southern cause grew slill more
arrogant, and no one's life and property were
THE ADVEXTUPwES OF A CONSCKIPT 5
safe if it was known he was in 'synipathy with
the Union.
co>;fi:dekate consckipt law.
About this time the Confederate Congress
passed the wholesale conscript law, including
every one between the ages of eighteen and for-
ty-five, and as I had just reached my tvrentieth
year, it was t.hen nny real trouble began. It was
then I began casilng about to find some way of
escape. About tne 1st cf August myself and
three other companions, under the leadership of
a good old Baptist preacher, started on horse-
back through Ea,^:t Tennessee \\lui tlie purpose
of reaching Kentucky and the- Union army.
After several weeks' scouting and nuineuvering
we found we could not make our escape by that
mode of travel, and in September returned to
our home. The Governor of my State had is-
sued a proclamation ordering all conscripted men
to report on a certain day at L..eir respective
Countyseats for duty, and failing lo do so they
were to be arrested as deserters. The militia
between the ages of thirty-five and lorty-five
were ordered into camp in their respective Coun-
ties to enforce the conscript k.vr. On the 5th
6 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCPvIPT
day of October they were in car.ip about a mile
from my father'b home.
The scenes of which I am now about to de-
scribe will never be forgotten v.'liilc life lasts.
The militia was regularly organized, and under
the command of Colonel Gentry. My father's
family consisted of father and mother and my-
self and one brother three years my senior. On
that day he and I and two other companions
mounted our horses and started for Tennessee,
the State line being but six miles west. The
people of that part of Tennessee being extremely
loyal to the Union, and there being no soldiers
in that country, we felt comparatively safe
among oar friends there. We crossed the State
line late in the evening just as the shadov/s of
the tall peaks around us were climbing the sides
■of the mountains over in the east. A short dis-
tance beyond the State line, in the edge of Ten-
nessee, lived a family whom I will call Carroll,
.consisting of father, mother, and three daugh-
ters. They were the only family for miles
around, save one or two, whose sympathies were
with the Southern cause. I will not attempt to
■describe the personnel of the Carroll girls, but
will only say they were noted for their beauty
ior miles around.
TUB ADVKNTUinCS OF A CON.SCJUJ/T 7
I had been a frequent visitor at tlieir home for
some luontlis previous to this, paying inj atten-
tions to Mi.ss Edith, the youngt^st of the three
sisters. She and I had often talked of the is-
sues of tlie war. vShc was extremely loyal to the
South, and believed, as did tiiousands of other
Southern people, the Yankees would not fight ;
that they were an inferior and cov.-ardly race,
and that one Southern man was more than equal
to five of them. She used all the persuasive
powers at her comn\and to influence me to volun-
teer in the Confederate army, but I always met
her argumei.ts v/ith niy side of the question, and
her in flue co proved of no avail."
AX UNFORTUNATE DECISIOX.
On tlic evening above referred to, as tiie road
passed near the door of her home, it occurred to
me to stop and remain over night. I so stated
my intentions to my compai;ion5. Each of them
vigorously entered his protest against it, and
■used all tlie arguments he could command to have
i^ie go on with them about four miles farther
down the country, among friends, where we
would be safe. It was of no use, however. I
designated the place I would meet them next
8 THE ADVENTURES OF A COXSCRIPT
morning at eight o'clock. I dismounted, entered
tliG house, and my coinpajiioiib went on. r»Iy
horse, as usual, was taken to the barn.
Miss Edith expressed some surprise at my
visit just at that time, but I carelessly turned it
off, saying I was going down in the country to
be gone a few days, and it was quite convenient
for mc to come this far on my journey this ev-
ening. She knew nothing of the real cause of
iny unexpected appearance, and it was a ques-
tion in my. mind as to whether 1 ought to tell her
or not. After sui)pcr she invited me to the par-
lor, and she at once began to talk of the war,
saying slic Imd understood that over in my Stale
all conscriplcd men were being arrested as de-
serters ; that tile militia was in camp and scour
ing the country for conscripts.
'*Your information is correct," said I.
*'Then, sir, perhaps I can surmise the cause
of your unexpected visit tliis evening," she re-
torted, "liut, oh, no; it can't be possible that
you are ileeing for refuge! You can not only be
turning your back upon your own country in the
darkest hoi.r of its peril, but by this act blast-
ing every hope for an honorable and useful life
in the future, to which you have always aspired!
THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRIPT 9
0, if I wore only a man, how I would Leach you
a lesson iri ;jati'iotisni by shouldering my musket
and marching to the front !^'
'.'Miss Edith," said I, "you talk very prettily,
and grow quite eloquent, but you represent a
wicked and unjust cause. Your surmise is cor-
rect. I am fleeing for refuge, and know not
where I will find safety. The Government to
which you refer so eloquently is not my country.
I owe my allegiance to that country only that is
reprcserited by tliat beautiful emblem o: tlie free,
the Stars and Stripes. It is true this is my na-
tive land, and I love its mountains, bui j. cannot
and will not fight for a Governnu^ni thar seeks
to enslave me, and whose cornorsione is .vinvcry."
"Yes," said she; "but whai will yuu do?
You cannot csciipe. liesides, you are risking
your life in the at:empt."
"1 kaow," said 1, "the last statemeni is true.
There are men in my country who would be
cowardly and mean enough to lake my life; but
my purpose is to try to escape, and got to th.e
Uniori army, and I have faith that, if tiiC God in
whom J trust notices even th.e fall of a ^^parrow.
He will deliver me from the hands of my ca-
emies. And, now, IMiss Kditii, I liave made a
10 THK ADV]sXTURKS OK A COX'SClUrT
clean breast of it to you as to my purpose for the
future. In the niorniug 1 will bid you good-by,
having perfect eonfidencc tliat you will not bc-
tra}' mc ur.til I am beyond the reach of all those
who would do me harm."
'*It grieves n\c," said she, "that you have de-
termined Oil this course, but I assure you' that,
come what may, no word or deed of mine shall
ever do you harm. I will shield and protect you
80 far as it is in my pov/er to do," und laying her
hand on m}^ arm, and the tears welling up in
her eyes, she said : "As you are determined on
this course, I pray that God will guide you, and
that you may safely reach your destination be-
yond the reach of your enemies."
A NIGHT SUllPrvISE.
.. -It was now between nine and ten o'clock, and
time to retire for the night. I went to my room,
find had just got comfvrtably settled in bed and
began to wonder what another day would bring,
when suddenly I heard the rattling of horses'
hoofs on the ston}'' higliway. My heart leaped
to my throat. My first impulse v.-an to spring
from my bed and try to make my escape from
the house, and then, not knowing whether or
Tiiio Ai)Vj':.\'j^UKJ':.s ov a coxscjtiPT n
not there vas real danger, I thought that would
be co\va;-djy. Nearer and nearer they up-
proached, when suddenly the}' halted in front of
the house. I knew then that it was tc)0 late,
and I nt once began to try to nerve myself for
whatever might happen. In less time than it
takes to toll it they had surrounded the house
and were making an alarm at the front door.
They were admitted b}' Mr. Carroll. I heard
the question asked if I was there, whici:i was
answered in the afiirmativc. J then arose and
began to dress myself, and wlien I was dressed
walked into the room.
IMajor Long (for that was his name) laid his
hand on my shoulder and said:
'*Sir, you are my prisoner.'"
"I acknowledge your authority, Major, and
realize that I am," I replied.
At this moment Miss Edith came dashing
down the stairway, her long, dark hair hanging
looselj'-over her slioulders, and in a fit of excite-
ment began to plead with Major Long to tell her
what lie was going- to do with me.
"Young lady, you seem to be ver}^ much in-
terested in tliis young man," he replied, "and I
say to you that he is unworthy of your recogni-
12 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCBTPT
tion, much less of your confidence and friend-
ship. He is a traitor to his country, and de-
serves no mercy at our hands."
At tiiis remark the hot blood mounted to my
forehead, and straightening myself to my full
height I said :
*'Sir, that is an insult. I stand here helpless,
your prisoner, and no one but a coward would
insult a prisoner. The future will tell which of
us is the traitor, you or I; and as to mercy, I
do not ask it. All I ask is that treatment due
me as your prisoner."
At this he seized me roughly by the shoulder.
*'Sir," said he, "I would advise you to be
careful how you talk. You are insane, or per-
haps worse, in love" (pointing his finger at IMiss
Edith), •'! know not which ; but I do know you
are not in love with your country. We will nov,*
changt^ your occupation, and put you at sorac-
tliing else besides riding over the country and
shouting for Lincoln."
"Yes, sir," said I, "I am in love with — Lib-
erty."
By this time my horse was ready. I bade
i\Hss Edith good-by, and we hurried from the
house, r^rountin;^: our iiorsos we started back
THE ADVEXTURKS OF A COXSCTtlJ'T
13
toward No7-th Carolina. After going perhaps a
laile ^ve came to where the road passed througli
a long gap in the mountain, and Major Long or-
dered' the men to stop, Sciying th>ey would remain
there and guard the road through, the niglit, and
capture any others who might try to escape by
this route. We dismounted, and 1 w.;s care-
fully guarded till daylight, rvlajor Long had
seven men -with him. Some one, tliough I never
knew who it was, had paijsed tl^iC CarroU home
and seen me stop there, and going over iiuo
Korth Carolina had met M;-jor Long and his
men, and reported nie, and tiicy at oncc started
for their game.
With the dawn of the morning we started for
camp, six or seven miles to the cast, ^\'e passed
near my home, but the ^Major refused to allow
me to stop. ^Vilen wc arrived i;C cjnip a guard
was detailed to lake charge ()!' ir.o. A oroMier
of Colonel Gentry, whom I h;.vo boA>rc nieu-
tioned, was Captain of Compan . L in th.e 5Sth
Xorth Carolina. He was at hoi^iC on recruiting
service, and was with the militia. Tiic-y had
proposed to all conscripts who v.\.uld voluntarily
surrender themselves tlie privilege oi v.-:ui;teer-
ing in Captain Geiitry's company. Ab^-ut fifty,
14 THE ADVKNTURES OF A CONSOlUrT
through intinn'datioii aiu"; :'o<'ir, had reported aiul
voluntcorod. I sent word to my father that I
had been captured, and to come for ir.y horse.
I fully expected to go to our couuty seat and be
incarcerated in jail until they were ready to send
me to the front at Kichmond.
The time passed slowly on. It was a sa<l day
for me. Many of my rebel friends came and
took me by the hr.nd, and expressed great sym-
pathy for mc, saying they were very sorry I had
taken such an unwise step. They saitl I had
missed the opportunity of niy life; that my as-
pirations ought to have led mc to hiive entered
the army; that I could have had a commission.
The-'e were the stories that were poured into
my ears by those who pretended to be my
frierids. During the day father aad mother had
come and had been permitted to i-ce iwe and say
good-b}^ and th.cn returned to their home heart-
broken with grief. Late in the afternoon Col-
onel Gentry, Captain Gentry, and another friend
of mine came to me and proposed tliat if I would
take the oath of allegiance to the Southern
cause, volunteer in Captain Gentry's compaify,
take charge of fifty recruits, and condtict thcni
to the regiment, they would allow me to do so,
THK ADVE^'TUJU':S OF A CONSCJU.rT 15
and would iiot send juc away as a con.script or
deserter.
After talking tiic matter over for bome time,
I agreed to do so, thinking as they already had
me, that was tiie best tiling I eould do. The
oath was administered by Colonel Gentry, and
my name was enrolled on the con-ipany's books.
All this occurred wliile I. Wiis a prisoner, but im-
mediately afterward I was released, with per-
mission to go to my home to remain over night,
and with orders to report next morning at eight
o'clock for duty, to start to the regiment.
There was sui'prise at my home that evening
when I arrived. I told them i!ie turn things had
taken, and we discussed the question as to
whether or not the oath I had taken under the
circumstances was binding. I ^vas of ihe opin-
ion that it v.'as not, but I finally decided there
was nothing left for me to do at tiiat time but to
go, and wait my opp(n-tunity to make my escape
at some future time. It was a night o: agony
for me, and I slept but little, and next morning
I again said good-by, and reported for duty.
There were just fifty recruits, including my-
self, and all were ready to stare. The people
from the country around were tiiere to say good-
16 ' THK ADVENTURES OE A COXSCRiPT
b}" to the boys. I was the hero of the occasion,
and tlic crowd became so enthusia<^lic that I was
carried on the shoulders of some of the younger
men to a platform and forced to make a short
talk. The people thought that 1 had repented,
and, "there was more rejoicing over one sinner
that repented than over ninety and nine that
went not astray." They could not read iny
thoughts. My purposes were the same, and I
believed that I would find refuge under the flag
of my country some day.
It was now time to start, and after the good-
byes luid all been said to the weeping mothers,
wives, sisters and children,! lined the men up in
double hie and gave the order to march. It was
forty miles to the railroad, but nothing unusual
happened during our journey, and in one week
from the day wu started we joined the regiment,
then at Tazewell, Tenn. We were immediate-
ly mustered into the service. Then, as we set-
tled down to the ordinary camp life, after the
exciting scenes of the last ten days, I had plenty
f time for reflection.
At timc.'j I grew mclanclioly and despondent.
There was a great burden on my soul. I had
' registered an oath in Heaven that I would never
THE ADVEXTUKES OE A CONSCUIi'T 17
fight for ihe Southern cau.sc, and boiu* arms
against my country, and in the bitterness of my
remorse] cried out: "'.''■'. iy did not cy longue
cleave to the roof of my mouth l>cfore t.-iking
the oath of allegiance to the JelT Davis Govern-
ment? ^Yhy did I not let then; take my life?"
1 talked to three of my companions whom I
could trust, and began to devise some means by
which ^ve might yet make our escape, ar^d after
several days' planning and consultir;g, \vc de-
cided to desert, go back to the mountains at our
home, and v/ait for the nearer approach of the
Union army, and then make a last desperate at-
tempt to get inside tiie Union lines.
DESEKTING Fn0>[ TUE AKMV.
So, after having been in camp about two
weeks, about th.c first of Xoven^bcr, on Thurs-
da}' afternoon, we flanked the guards and soon
found ourselves in the country amono; ihc Irills.
The names of the three men witl\ me wore Eob-
inson, Ivoark, and Keed}', all several years my
senior. That evening when nigh: came, we left
the woods and took the road. We traveled all
night, and wiicu morning came went into the
woods.
IS THE APVENTUKES OF A COXSCJlirT
We contiiuiod our journey during the day, but
made slow progress through tlic rough moun-
tains, and when niglitcauie we were so worn out
for want of rest and sleep that wc lay down on
the cold ground on the mountainside among the
pines, with no covering save the canopy of
Heaven, and slept soundly until morning. l>c-
fore leaving camp we had taken the precaution
to prepare food to last us a day or two, which
we smuggled out when we left, and on the morn-
ing referred to we had enough for a scanty
breakfast.
This was on Saturday, and we started on our
journey feeling much refreshed. We made good
progress that day, traveling along the mountain
paths and by-roads, and felt reasonably secure,
but as night began to come on we grew tired
and hungry, having had nothing to eat since
morning, and but little then. Still, we traveled
on until darkness had settled down upon us.
We then left the woods, and sought the road.
We were dragging our wf ar}'- limbs along, won-
dering how much further we could go that night,
when we saw a light in a farm bouse some dis-
tance from the road. ^Ve were so tired and
hungry we thought there could be no harm in
Tiii^ ADVK^"n;]lK.s.ol'^ a coNSCiurT lo
going to tiic lioiKSc, askiiig for supper, and re-
liiaining over night, jicsides, we knew there
were many Union people tlirough lliis jjurt of tlie
country, find we would simply take our ehanees.
It was a desperate c]ianee,as will be seen further
on.
Leaving the main road we walked over to the
house. It was a larg*^ frame residence with a
j)Orch running tlic entire length of the front,
having the appearance of a place vrhose ovrner
might be in good circumstances. "We v/ere cor-
dially received, and told that supper would be
prepared for us, and that we v/ere welcome to
remain over night. After a short time supper
was announced. Vie v.'erc- conducted to the
dining-room, and as we were all unusually hun-
gry we enjoyed the meal very mucli. The gen-
tleman told us his name v/as V.'ood, and that he
never turned any one from his l.oii^e hungry.
Ke asked us to what command we belonged. We
told him the oSth N. C. a^id that wc vra-c going
home on a thirty days' leave of absence. He,
observing that we were tired and sleepy, sug-
gested that we had better retire, to which we
readily agreed. We were conducted to a large
bed-roora adjoining the sitting-room, containing
20 THE ADVKNTUriKS OF A CONSC]lI]-»T
two beds, and when left alone were soon in bed
and asleep. Wo were so tired aiid exhausted
we slept soundly till morning, when we were
aroused by an alarm at our room door, saying it
was time to get up for breakfast.
AKKESTEO AS D F.SEJrrEPvS.
^Yc arose, dressed ourselves, and when we
were all ready to go out found llie door loeked.
When we were heard,! t was immediately opened^
however, and to our horror we looked into the
muzzels of half a dozen muskets in tlie hands of
as many Confederate soldiers. Our genial hoot
stepped toward us andjsaid: "Gentlemen, you
are my prisoners."
My heart almost stood still. It seemed that
my very breath was gone. I stood for some time
speeelil.ess, and my muscles refused to move,
Llr. Wood broke the silence.
•*I am the Enrolling Onicer, " said he, "of tliis
distriet. I believe you have deserted from the
army, and wheth.er you have or not, that makes
no diiTerence. You are either deserters or con-
scripts, and as such it becomes my duty, as
a patriot and one who is loyal to his country, to
arrest you and turn you over to the proper au-
THE ADVENTUillOS OF A CO^^S('Ji^•T
21
thoritic'S. You told inc last ;ii^;ht you liad a
leave of absence ; if so, produce it."
"Mr. Wood," said I, "we have riothing to
produce. You have simply taken advaniage of
fatigue and hunger and we have'fallen ir.to your
trap."
''When you came to my house last night," he
said, "I felt sure tliat you were deserters. You
were securely locked in, but you did Vini know it.
Then I immediately dispatched messengers for
these brave boys," pointing to the soldiers,
"whom I knew would get here in time to capture
you, and now, gentlemen, whiit havc you to
say?"
"Sir," said I, "we have nothing ii; suy."
"Come, then," said he. "out on the porcli,
\vash,arjd prepare for breakfast, I have ordered
a good bre^ikfast prepared for you, for you will
need it in view of the trip you l::.ve"bef.':e you."
We followed as he directed, the sokiie/.- iiold-
ing their gu^iS in readiness for any emergency
that might happen. Wlien wc liad re..ehed the
porch near the corner of the liouse Koark and
Keedy made a dash for liberty.
Quick as tiioughc tlicy • dashevl around the
corner of the house, leaped over a low fc:ice, and
22 THE ADVENTUJiES OF A CONSCUIPT
started across an open field toward a wood about
two hundred yards away. The gu aids were on
the alert, and four of thcni dashed around tlie
corner after them, getting in plain view of theia
just as they wore leaping the fence. I stepped
to the corner just in time to sec each guard place
his gun to his shoulder, take deliberate aim. and
lire. For a moment I held my breath, for I ful-
ly expected to see both boys fall, as they were
not more than twenty-five yards from them; but,
strange to say, neither one of them was touched,
and had they continued it is possible that thc}^
might have rciichcd the wood and escaped. Wli lie
the guards were re-loading they might have got-
ten beyond their reach; but they both stopped,
• turned around and came back. We tlien went
"into breakfast, while the guards stood in the'
room and at the door. We ate but little; in
fact, Roark and Reedy, after their excitement,
ate nothing, and when we were tliroughi, Wood
had brought and prepared a lot of ropes with
which to tie us. lie said it was fifteen miles to
Kogersville, and they would have to take us
down there, and perliaps it would be best to tie
us, and then wc vrould be sure not to get away.
A guard was ready to tie each of the other
TJjjo Ai)VJ-:x'iM;jn':.s O]-^ a c.o^'SOJa.i^T 23
tlirec men, aiul ^W^od came to liu; and slipped a
noose over one hand. I held my other liand from
him, and said: '"Sir, this is cruel. Why do you
tie us? You arc cowards, or you would not treat
helpless j)risoncrs in this \va3\" Looking me in
the eye, he hesitated, and said:
*'If you will pledge your word of honor not to
try to nu^ikc your escape, we will not tic you."
"As for myself," said I, ''I will make no
pledge. You would not believe me if I did. Do
as you please."
In the meantime he jiad slipped the rope
from my iiand, and after a private consultation
with the ofTicer of the Guard, they decided not
to tie us.
By this time '^Vood's liorse had been- brought
and saddled, and was standing with the horses
of the soldiers, ready to start. ^Ve were ordered
to go in front; the}'' mounted the horses and
rode close behind us, and our tramp of fifteen
miles began.
We did fairly well for the Hrst th:-ce or four
miles, but our feet were sore and blistered, and
they crowded us so closely tliat we soon began
to fag. They would not allow us to go to the
foot bridges that spanned the little streams, pre-
24 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRIPT
pared for pedestrians, but forced us to wade all
the streams in front of their horses, and we were
soon wet to our bodies; and to add still further
to our suffering, in the afternoon a wet, heavy
snow began to fall. We were almost given out,
and, had I been permitted to have done so, I
would have lain down in the snow by the road-
side and remained -there till death relieved inc.
Slowly and painfully we dragged ourselves,
along, with the horses of the soldiers almost
tramping us, till, just as darkness began to set-
tle down upon us, we reached Kogersville.
IX JAIL AT ICOCKKSVILLK.
We well c straight to the jail, and Wood in-
structed the jailer what disijosition to make of
us. He ordered him to put us in aeell and keep
us tiiore until the proju-r authorities from Knox-'
ville should send for and take us down thei'e for
court-martial. }le accompanied us upstairs, the
jailer unlocked the cell door, and wl* walked in
as directed, the door swung back in its place,
and the great iron bolt clicked behind us. They
then turned and left us in darkness, without a
ray of light penetrating the dismal gloom.
The ceil, as I remember ic, looking back
THE ADVEXTUKES OF A CONSCJai'T 2o
through the intervening yenrs, was about six by
eight feet, and contained nothing suve the cold
bare floor. We had eaten nothing since morn-
ing, and were wet all over, ha\^iTig, as before
stated, waded all the streams on our jourriey,and
hiid been exposed all afteriioon lo the wet snow,
which at this time was about four inclies deep.
We lay down on the floor or sat and leaned
with our backs against the cold, iron grating to
rest. There was no one of us who felt like talk-
ing. We were too tired and iumgry ; but after
a while tl^3 jailer cariie up,brij^.ging us some sup-
per. It consisted of warr.i c.)rn bread, fried ba-
cori and water, ^^'e W(.Te so liuagry wc had no
coui^-.hiii.t ,to make at tiic bill of far.', and ato all
he gave us.
After wc liad finished our nR'al.we passed back
to him tiirough the iron graiing the tinware
frcun wh.ie!^ wc had eaten our supper. He picked
up his ligiU and disaj^peared down the stairway,
Ici'.vir.g u>-- ;igaiu in total dark r.e.-s.
0, the horrors and sull'ering o'j^ tlK.t niglu !
We Were sc) cold it seemed I'lirit we v/ould cer-
tainly freeze. ^Ve could ]10l lie dow;., but kept
moving Htoundall night. One of th.e boys had
grown melancholy. He said we vvouhi never get
26 THE ADVENTURES OE A CONSCKirT
out of thii? trouble; they would court-martial us ;
>YC could make no defense ; would be found guil-
ty, .and that meant death.
*'That is true," said I, '*but I tell you we will
not be court-martialed, if the Confederate
Government should court-martial arid shoot all
its deserters, it would decimate the arniy. It
cannot afford to. They might possibly, for poli-
cy sake, make an example of some one, and vre
might be the ones, but I believe I v.'ill yet make
my escape to the Union army. Just how I am to
get out of this i don't know, but I believe there
is some wa}" out."
As the boys were feeling so despondent,! tried
to cheer them up. I did not express t-o them my
own feelings, for my mental anguish as well as
my phj'sical suffering was terrible. As I would
stand and gaze into the black darkness that en-
veloped me it seemed that my very brain was
whirling, and 1 would cling to the cold iron,
grating for support —
*'Decp into that darkness peering long I stood there
wondering-, fearing;
Doubtin;;-, dreaming dreams no in<-rt.al over dared
to dream before."
Finally, gathering all my strength, I shook o\Y
THTO ADVJ-'.NTUia'^S OF A CONSCJIII'T 27
the despondency into which I }irid fallen, and
thought:
"There \va? never a night without a day,
Or an evening witiiout a nit-jrning."
And there was another cheering ihougla that
those on whose souls my misfortunes were the
the greatest burdens did not know where I was,
and that I was sulTering almost the agonic^ of
death in that prison cell.
The long, dreary night dragged slowly on, and
at last the gray streaks of the luorning began to
penetrate the iron-grated window. Our ck)thes
had partly dried, and the cold was less severe.
About eight o'clock the jailer came up, bring-
ing our breakfast, consisting of the same as our
supper the night before. We enjoyed the meal,
and, as before, ate all he brougl.t.
AVhile we were eating he sat dovrn on a stool
close to the cell door, and began talking about
the war. After he had been talking a short
time I gathered from his conversation that lie
was not in sympathy with the South. I then
felt more free to talk to him. He said it was
shameful and brutal to treat men as we were be-
ing treated. ''But," said he, "Wood, who is
known as one of the meanest rebels in all the
28 THE ADVENTUiiKS OF A CONSCRIPT
cou
ntrj', liacl ordered you locked in tliis cell, and
1 have no jilternativo but to obey. ]>ut," suid
he, "I am your friend, and you liave my deepest
6ymp?uhy, and if you will proniise me that you
will not try to escape, I will take 3'ou out of
this cell, and letyou <i;() in another room across
the hall, where there is a stove, and I will keep
a fire for you, and Diake itas pleasant for you as
1 can; but, understand,! do this at my own risk,
and if you should escape I would have to suffer
for it."
''Kind friend," said I, ''I thank you for the
kind words you have spoken, and the sympatliy
you have expressed for us. You sec our pitiable
condition, and are familiar with tin; circum-
stances that have brought us here, and I assure
you on our word of honor that if you will remove
us from this cell that no act of ouis shall ever
brin^- trouble to you. Although v/c are liere in
a criminal's cell, \vc claim to be honorable gen-
tlemen."
He turned and went down stars, and in a few
minutes returned with u bunch of keys in his
hand. Thrusting one of them into the lock, the
heavy bolt Hew back, the great iron door swuiig
open, and wc walked out into the corridor of the
jail.
TilE ADVKXTUKKS OF A COXSXlKIPT 20
V^e followed him as he dirccled, u]\d fouiiu
ourselves in a warm, comfortable room, even
supplied wich seats. ''J'his was on Tvlonday
moriiing, and this good man spent a portion of
the day in the room with us, and when night
came provided sufhcient bed-clothes. Ke said:
"You ought to have a good night's rest, for to-
morrow they will be after you to tiike you to
Knoxville, ;ajid I do not know how you will fare
when you get there."
Night again settled down upon us, and as the
last rays of the fading twilight shone feebly
through the grated window, we prepared our
"bed on the fioor, with tlie bed-elothi::g that had
been furnish.ed us by the j;iilor, and slept
soundh' through the night. Tuesday iuorning
was clear and bright. When breakfast was
brought, hot coffee had been added to our bill
of fare instead of water. About ten o'clock a
Lieutenant with four men made th.eir appear-
ance at the jail, saying he had come up from
Knoxville with orders for four deserters tliat
were confined here in jail. He was conducted
to our roo'm, and ordered us to be ready for the
train in the afternoon. I said to him ; "We are
ready now; we have no preparations to make."
so THE ADVKNTUPvKS OF A CONSCTina^
Just before train time, accompanied by the jailer
and guard, he entered our room, and we at once
started for the depot. Our good friend, the
jailor, whose name I never knew, accompanied
us to tlic station, and as we went aboard \he
train cordially bade each one of usgood-by, and
we were on our way to Knoxville, wondering
what would be our doom.
TAKEN TO KNOXVILLE.
The train was frei;iucntly delayed, and made
slow time, and did not arrive at Knoxville till
i^bout eight o'clock at night.
We were immediately conducted to the Pro-
vost-Marshal's oflicc. He was sitting at his
desk when we walked in. The Lieutenant in
charge saluted him, and reported four prisoners.
The Captain (that was his rank, as I observed
from the insignia he wore^) arose from his seat
and walked toward us.
"What is the charge. Lieutenant," he asked.
"Desertion," was the reply.
"That is a serious charge," saia he. * 'Gen-
tlemen, what have you to say?" he clemanded
with an oath, adding tiiat it was strange that
stout, able-bodied young men would desert to
THE A^n'JONTUJMvS OV A CONSCJiIJ"J' 31
keep from figl'.tiJig for tlieir country, aiul he
proceeded to deliver us a lecture as to our duty.
"Captain," said J, "when you are fully in-
formed as to the facts in our case, you will per-
haps feel dilFcrently. Wc are not deserters ; we
did not desert to keep froiii f;;;hting for our
country. "\Vc have been in the service more
than a year, have seen perhaps more service
than you have. "When we left our regiment we
were but a short distance from our liomes. We
had never had nor asked for a leave of absence.
We simply started to our homes,. expecting to
remain a few days, and tlicn return to our regi-
ment. We were not arretted by our own com-
mand, but bv strangers, who did not know us,
and here we ore under guard charged witih de-
sertion; and now, sir, we mcisl humbly beg that
you will allow us the privilege of returning to
our regiment."
**What is your regiment?" he asked.
"The 58th N. C."
Said he : "You look like honest men, and I
. hope that your case is no worse tlian j^ou have
. stated, but for to-night the only disposition I
can make of you is to send you to jail," and
turning to the Lieutenant, said : "You will see
32 TPIE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCniPT
that these men are securely kept in jail till
morning; when I will further investigate their
case."
POLITICAL riUSOSVAiS.
That evening as we were coming down on the
train, at a station up the road a fish vender
boarded the train, and we bought from him a
fish weighing over nve or six pounds; and as
"W'e turned to leave the ^Marshal's oliicc he asked
us what we would take for that fish. I replied,
*'It is not for sale, but with the hope that you
will think of us in the morning and take us ouL
of juil, we will make you a present of it," and
with that I handed it to him. He took it, but
whether this had anything to do with his treat-
ment of us afterward of course I never knew.
We were then laken to the jail. It was more of
a barracks than a prison, guarded on the out-
Bide b}" soldiers.
This jail has been more fully described, than
it is possible for me to do, by Parson Brownlow,
in his book, written after he had been incarcer-
iited in it, and had been released and sent North.
There were perhaps one hundred to one hundred
and fifty prisoners confined there at this time,
THE ADVENTUKES OF A COXSCJcIJ'T :«
all political prisoners. As is well known, East
Tennessee was lojal to the Union, and old, gray-
headed men of all classes— all to old for iiiilitary
service under the law — -were arrested for their
political faith and confined in this prison. It
was reeking with dirt and verniin. Old men
sixtj-five and seventy years of age vrcre there
who had not changed their clothes for three
months. They were so crowded in tliC prison
they coulu hardly all lie down at once on the
floor. There were no beds or provisions of any
kind for sleeping, or I saw noiu;, and the only
rest I had during the night was lying on a bench
I foinul along, the side of a room in the after-
part of the night. Still I was getting used to
hardships and stood it fairly well. I longed for
the morning to come; and wondered what the
day would bring.
When it did come I could see to cxamiiie of
the condition of the prison and t\ie kiiKl of pris-
oners confined there. About eiglu o'clock the
prisoners were marched out and lined up in the
yard in front of the building for roll-call and
bre.'ikfast.
When we were in line with tlic balance I rec-
ognized among the ofiicers present tlie Provost-
I
I 3i Ta..-: Ar)VEXTU]U^.S 07^ A CONSCRTIT
i
j ^larshal %vho had sent us to jail the nig'nt before.
I After we had been given our breakfast there-
was a call for the men from the 59th IS. C. to-
step to tlie front. We obeyed.
The Captain approached us, greeted us cor-
'dially, and took our names. He said he would
•" inform our regiment that we were here, and our
Colonel would send. for us, and he would then
deal with us as he saw fit, '*In the meantime,"
said he, "I will send you out to camp near the
city and detain you under guard until your
Colonel sends for you."
He then took two dollars from his pocket and
hnnded it to me, saying he would pay us for
the fish he got from us the night before.
We were then taken out to camp, at the e;ist
edge of the city, put in a tent, and kept under
guard about two weeks, and then released, and
detailed co do guard duty. .The soldiers in the
camp were stragglers and those absent from their
commands for various reasons. There was no
regular cooimand there, and we did all kinds of
duty. The fear of punishment had now entirely
disappeared, and' as the weather was cold and
the Winter just setting in, we decided not to-
try to get away at that time, but to wait and go
THE AT)VKNTUn7::.S OF A CONSOJa.PT '60
"back to our regiment and stay till Sprijig, and
tlicn make aiiother cfTort. The reason ^ve felt
sure we would not be punislied \vas that we
knew our Colonel knew where we were, and had
he intended to punish us he would have imme-
diately sent for us, or at least that is the way
we reasoned.
We were detailed as teamsters, and gone on a
trip to Kingston, about forty miles west of
Knoxville, with a wagon-train. The teams
were there turned over to another command, and
"sve were ordered back to Knoxville. This was
December 22nd, 1802. "We took the train, ar-
riving at Knoxville in the afternoon. When we
stepped from the train a Sergeant and four men
from our company were waiting at tlic station
lor us, and ordered us under arrest. Our com-
pany had at last sent for us, and we were ready
to go. We started at once on foot across the
■country to join our regiment, which ..ad moved
from Tazewell to Big Creek Gap, about fiily
miles north of Knoxville. AVe traveled that
evening five or six miles, when nigiit overtook
us. We stopped at a farm-house and rem^aincd
■over night. ■
36. THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRirT
AGAIN WITH THE TiKGIMKNT.
^Ye continued our journey the next day whicli
was the twenty-tlrird, and on the evening of ti^e
twenty-fourth we joined our regiment. When
we were nearing the camp I asked permission
of the OiTicer who luul us in charge to allow me
to go at once to the Colonel's quarters, to wliich
he readily assented. When we reached his
quarters I walked in, saluted him, and said:
''Colonel, we have been absent without leave,
and we now report for duty, and beg that you
will pardon us for this oirensc."
lie proceeded to give us a lecture as to our
duty, said lie hoped this would be a lesson for
us, and that wc would never commit an error
like this again, and assured us that if wc ever
should that we would be punished to the full
extent 6f the law.
'*And now," said he, addressing the guard,
'*you are discharged:" and turning and address-
ing us, said: *'Novv, hoys^ go to your quarters,
and be better men in the future." We thought
that was getting oil" pretty eas}^, and I guess it
was.
The boys were all glad to see us, and anxious
THE ADVEXTUPvES OF A COXSCiUPT ST
to know where we had been and liow it all had
happened. We now settled down to the ordi-
nary routine of camp life, wl^en not on duty
trying to pass the time at some kind of amuse-
ment, but every day I grew more and more rest-
less and discontented.
It was now ISIidwinter, and looked like a des-
perate undertaking to start on a tramp through
the mountains at this season of the year. I
fully realized the fact that when I started again
the oSth N. C. regiment must not and should
never get me again. But I was not idle. I was
constantly sowing seeds of disconteni among
the boy.s, alwuys talking for the Uriion, and
agjiinst the Soulli, to those whom I could trust,
and at least half of the regiment or perhaps
more were just as loyal to the Union as those
who wore the blue; but they were forced to go
to the army, and afraid to try to get awa}'.
Poor fellows, how often have I iu-ard tlic-m be-
moan their unfortunate and unriap]>y lot, and
with tears in their eyes send up a prr.yer th.at
the Union army would crush the rebellion, and
again give them that freedom t'.cyonce enjoyed
under the old t1ag. I would then say to them :
*'Go with me, and we will find that freedom.'*
3S THE ADVEXTUBES OF A CONSCKIPT
Often the}' have said to nie : ''If I were like
you I would go but I have a famil}^ — a wife
and little children, who will ciy for bread.
How can I leave them to sulTer? It may be the
war will end before long, and 1 can then go home
to tiicm."
This was about the kind of conversation that
was kept up around the camp fires. I began to
grow very impatient, and commenced to plan
another eifort to escape. Among those who
vranted to go v.'ith me this time was one who
had been with me before, and seven others,
whom I had selected, making nine in all.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE. '
They selected me as the leader, and pledged
allegiance and loyalty to me under any and all
circumstances. So we began perfecting our
plans and arrangements. It was now the first
of February, the worst month in the year for
such an undertaking. We tried to content our-
selves and put it oil till Spring, but we grew
more impatient every day, and at last decided to
start. Our plans were all completed, and on
the night of February 10, 1S63, after taps, when
all was asleep save the sentinel on his beat, we
Till": ADVKNTUiiJOy OI-^ A CONSCJaJ'T :v.)
hastily gjitlicrccl up the provisions we had pre-
pared to take with us, slipped from our tents
■while our comrades slept, and under the cover
of darkness paspcd the guards.
We soon found ourselves in'the open country
xind now commenced one of tlje most memorable
and perilous tramps that I experienced during
the period covered by this story.
The night was unusually di»rk and misting
with rain, and the ground soft and muddy. AVe
traveled as rapidly as we could, in order to get
as far as possible from the camp before morn-
ing. In the after part of the night we traveled
the road that led through the country in the di-
rection we thought we wanted to go. At the
first gray streaks of the morning v.-e left the
road and went into the woods, and when day-
light came a heavy fog had settled down on the
ground. There was a difference of opinion
-among us as to the points of the compass. We
were from eight to ten miles perhaps from v.'here
we had started. We sat down to rest and ate
our breakfast and consulted as to tlie direction
we ought to go. After some time we agreed as
to the proper course and started, which proved
to be right, as we found about the middle of the
4o' THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCBirT
forenoon by the sun bre<aking tlu'oufjh the
clouds.
: Tiie ranges of tlie mountains in that country
run parallel, northeast and south vvest, with val-
leys thickly-settled between them. We had
reached the mountains east of the valley in
which we had been traveling, and we felt per-
fectly safe. We could follow the summit of
those mountains and see all the country up and
down the valleys on each side for miles. So in
daytime we would follow the summit and at
night cross the valley and reach the mountain
beyond, often wading creeks above our knees;
but we were used to hardsiiips, and really en-
joyed the excitement. If wc grow tirud and
wanted to rest, we would lie d(>wn on the dry
leaves that we would find under the trunks of
fallen trees or shelving rocks, and sleep as
soundly as though we had. been in a warm
bed. After we had been out about three days,
our provisions gave out. We tlicn had to de-
vise some means to get something to eat.
•V/e struck on a plan which proved entirely
satisfactory. We would keep a lookout for a
house that was pretty well isolated from the
neigiiborhood around it, in the coves or heads of
TJJE ADVENTUIIES OF A COXSCJarT 42
the little valleys along the foot of the r.iountnin.
We would approach the house as iicar as wo
could under cover of the woods. All the boys
would conceal themselves except myself and a
comrade by the name of Jones. He and I would
walk boldly' to the house, with the understand-
ing that if they were Union people we would
signal the boys to come, and if not we would
throw them off their guard by any kind of mis-
representation to suit the occasion, and join the
boys after we had passed out of sight of the
house. This plan worked all right, for nearly
all these poor mountain people in tr^at country
were loyal to the Union, and would divide the
last cnisl of bread, for the most of them had
sons, brothers or husbands who v;erc conscripts
and concealing themselves in rlic mountains at
that time. • ' '
Fortuiiately we were not beggars. V/e had
Confederate money suQiciciU to pay our way,
but these good people would never charge or
take an3^thing for their kindness. Ti^o}' would
not only furnish us with provisions, but would
often go with us and pilot us for miles, direct-
ing us around any danger that might be ahead
of us.
42 TIIK ADVP^NTUKKS OF A CONSCrvTl'T
The worst thing we hcxd to contend with was
the weather. Itraineel a great deal of the time,
.and frequently was quite cold. Our clothing
was scant, and was beginning to get badly worn,
especially our shoes.
After we had been out about ten days one of
the boys began to complain. He said he believed
he would give out. He was one of two broth-
ers that were in the crowd. He dragged him-
self along for a day or two after he got sick.
We all tried to encourage him; told him ho
must not think of giving up, but he continued
to grow worse. His pulse became more rapid
and his face was flushed with fever. It was
■sometime in the forenoon, the rain was falling
in torrents. In spite of all we could do, he lay
"down on the cold, wet ground; said he could go
no further, and begged that we go on, and let
him die alone. He said if we undertook to take
-care of him, vre would all be captured, and for
us to leave him and save ourselves. We were
.at a loss to know what to do. We could not
think of leaving him alone. We counseled as to
what was the best to do. Of course his brother
^'ould not go and leave him to die alone. We
gathered a lot of dry leaves and made a bed for
TIIJO ADVKXTUKES OF A CONSCPvIl'T 43
him under the trunk of a fallen tree, and gath-
ered bark from trees and covered him to protcQt
him from .the rain, and placed him there as gen-
tly as we could, and as the tears coursed down
their faces we bade the boys good-bye and
started on our journey. The young man sat on
the log, beside his sick brother's bed, and waved
his hand to us as we disappeared around the side-
of the mountain.
And I have never knovrn vrhat became of these-
brothers — whether they were captured or died..
I have often wished T did knov,-, for I will jievcr
forget that sad parting. We iuid eaten nothing
during the day, and after we had left these two
comrades we began to look out for somcth.ing to
eat, but it seemed that fate was against us.
We found no house that we thougiit would be
safe. 2sight came on ; we crossed the valley east
of us, ascended the mountain again, and in the
after part of the night, lay dov/n on the ground
when we again resumed our jouriioy.
"We were aware that Ashby's Confederate.
cavalry was in camp in the valley east of us.
From our position on the mountain we could see
their camp.
Our purpose was to get around them. Ofi
44 THE ADVENTUIIKS OF A COXSCKIPT
course, their presence made us more cautious.
Wc followed the summit of the mountain until
About noon, when we sav/ a liousc at tlie liead of
a little valley on the east side of the mountain,
and after taking in the situation, decided v/e
would approach the house for something to eat.
We followed a ridge that ran down nearly to
the house, when the boys hid in the underbrush,
and Jones and I, as usual, went to the house.
We had not been there five minutes when I dis
covered that we were not among friends. , The
old lady and daughters were busy cooking diri-
nor over an old-fashioned fireplace, and just as
wo were shaping our conversation for an excuse
to start, two Confederate cavalrymen rode up.
They dismounted, threw the reins of their bridles
over the gate-posts, and came walking in the
house. One of tlic soldiers was the son of the
man who lived there, and the other a comrade of
his. They belonged to Ashby's Cavalry, th.at was
■camped dowii ia the valley a fev.' miles below, as
I have before stated, and the young man had
brought- his comrade up to his home for dinner.
They v.'cre armed with the ordinary cavalry side-
arms, and while v/e did not intend chat they
•should arrest us, had they attempted to do so.
THE ADVKNTUJIES OF A COX.SCIlir'i^ Vj
our policy was not to get into tro\iljle, but l>y
sonic sliurp praclice of diploiiiucy or nn.si'Oj)rc-
scntation, throw thera oiU their guard so they
would not suspect us.
As I usually did the talking, I at once engaged
them in conversation. Said I: *'We are glad to
oonie up again with our command; have been to
our homes over in Kentucky, and just by acci-
dent learned our command was down here in the
valley."
*'Wiiat command do you mean?" asked one
of them.
**Gen. Marshall's," said I. ''We belong to
Marshall's Brigade."
"Well," said he, "3'ou are jnisLakcn. Our
■command — Ashby's Cavalry — itf do\v:i Iicre, but
I know Marshall's Brigade is not, and I do not
know wlicre it is." "
I expressed great surprise at the iriformatiou
he had given us. By this time dinner was
ready, and wc were cordially invited to cat din-
ner with them — and, by the w;iy, it vras a very
appetizing dinner, especiall}' for or.c who had
not eaten anything for thirty-six h.ours, — and
we very readily accepted tlie invitation. We
continued our conversation. They asked me a
4i> T}IK A1)V>:NTUKKS of a CONSCJUrT
great many questions which I answered by guess,
presuming tiicy were as ignorant of the mak,c-up
of Marshall's r>rigade as I was. I knew it had
some Ivcntucky regiments in it, and in answer
to their questions I said we belonged to the 12th
Kentucky. Our Colonel's name was Campbell;
that we were from M^hite County; had left our
command up in south-west Virginia ; had been
home on a furlough, and were now returning.
1 watched them carefully to see whether or
not I could detect anything from their counte-
nances, but the story seemed answering our pur-
pose, and tliey were apparently taking it all in.
In due time dinner was over. We arose from
the table, and walked out in the yard. One of
the young men beckoned to his comrade. They
walked some distance from us. and engaged in
a low conversation, after which one of them
mounted his horse and rode off down the road.
This aroused my suspicion, thinking perhaps he
had gone to report us, and would return with
more soldiers ui\d attempt to capture us. The
other young man said, if we desired, he would go
with us, and put us on the direct road leading to
Rogersville, some six or eight miles down the-
valley.
THE ADViOXTUKTCS OF A CONSCJin'T 47
I had been to Kogcrsvillc before, and that^vas
one of the last places I wanted to go just at this
time. I tliankcd hira for his secmiug kindness,
but said if our conimand was not doy.-n there it
would be a trip for notliing, and I could see no
need of our going. I suggested to Jones that
we turn north and follow the main road into
Virginia, where we left our brigade, and we
would certainly find it some place up there. I
stepped inside the door and asked the old lady
our bill, to which she replied:
"Not a. cent; not a cent, sir. It shall never
be said of me when I am dead and gone that I
charged a poor soldier that was fighting for his
country for a meal's victuals."
I thanked her for her kindness, and we bade
them good-by and started up the road. Soon
as we passed out of sight of the house we turned
into the woods and joined our companions. "A
guilt}" conscience needs no accuser," and we
were very doubtful as to whether or not our en-
tertainers had accepted our story. As the coun-
try was full of soldiers, we thought it best to at
once conceal ourselves.
We ascended the mountain as rapidly as pos-
sible. We came to a rugged clill on the side of
48 TlIF, ADVKNTUKES OF A CONSCIlirT
the mountain covered witli laurel and shrubber}'"
peculiar to that country, — so dense a person
could scarcely get thro.ugh it — and in that
thicket we sat down to wait for night, with the
intention of then making our escape from that
part of the country. But as evening approached,
however, the clouds began to gather, and just
as darkness began to'envelop the mountain, the
rain commenced to fall in torrents.
It grew darker and darker until not a ray of
light penetrated that dismal gloom.
"VYe started to make our way from this hiding-
place, but found it impossible to make any head-
way on account of the darkness; besides, we
knew we were surrc^undcd by yawning precipices
over whicii we were liable to plunge.
The only thing theii left 'for us to do was to
remain there till morning.
A XIGIIT OF SUFFERING.
• I will never forget the agonies and sulfering
of that night. We sat on the cold rocks, hud-
dled together, trying to keep warm. It rained
incessantly until the after part of the night
when the wind began to blow and turn cold.
We had no way of telling the time, and could
THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRIPT 40
only guess as to how the night was passing.
Wq eagerly watched for the first streaks of light
over the summit of the mount.air,s in the east.
Jones and I were more fortunate than the bal-
ance of the men. We had had dinner the day
before, while the others had had nothing to eat
for nearl}'' two days, and we were all sulferlng
terribly with cold and hunger.
At last the morning dawned, and just as soon
as it was light enough to see we started. After
a short time we got in the open woods. We
■counseled as to the best tiring to do, and we de-
termined to stop at the first house we came to;
that we would all go together, and, K-t them be
friend or foe, we would get something to eat,
and that every man would die before he would
be captured. "With this understanding we be-
gan to look for a house. Finally we eanie to a
place a short distance from the main road in a
grove of forest trees. We all went together.
We told them we were cold and hungry, and
asked them to allow us to warm and dry ourselves
and give us something to eat. They received
us kindly and invited us in the house.
We had been in the house but a fevr mo-
ments when we found they were good Union
bO THE ADViCNTUKES OF A CONSOllIPT
people. We told tliem our story — that \vc were
trying to make our escape from the rebel army.
The good woman ut once went to work and pre-
pared a splendid breakfast for us, while a good-
sized boy stood guard some distance fronj the
house, in order to give an alarm sliould any
soldiers approach, After we had eaten our
breakfast aiid warmed and dried ourselves, we
felt very much refreshed. We insisted on pay-
ing these good people for their kindness, but
they refused to take anything, and when we
were ready to start the old man taking each one
by the hand, asked God to bless and protect us.
The boy went with us five or six miles to pilot us
by the safest paths and out of the way of
the soldiers that were prowling through the
country.
This was on Friday, and we had been out just
two weeks. Our purpose was to get to the ITol-
ston River that day, and cross it at night. It was
a dark, foggy day, and about noon we thought
we v\'ere in the vicinity of the river. We went
down into a dark, deep wood between the hills,
built a nre and sat by it all afternoon, waiting
for night to come to crosr, the river.
When night came we started, but found we
THE ADVJONTUliJvS OF A CX)X.SCUiri'T 51
"N^'cre yet about four miles from the river, and
\vc found, furtlier, that it was impossible to
■cross it at night. So we had to wait again for
morning. The recent lu-avy rains }iad so swollen
+lic river that it was just inside its banks, — a
muddy, ugly, turbulent stream — and the only
way to cross was to find a canoe or flatboat of
which there were many, if we could be fortunate
•enough to find one anchored on our side. As
soon as it was light enough to see we crossed
the open bottoms that lay along the river, and
started up the stream with the hope of finding
•a canoe or something on which wc could cross.
We had traveled tv/o or three miles up the
west bank, when, some distance further up, we
saw two or three men in a canoe crossing over
to the east bank. ^Ye hallooed at them, and
■endeavored to attract their attention, but failed
to make them hear. ^Ye watched them land on
the oi^posite bank and enter a two-story frame
residence that stood near by. We walked on
as rapidly as we could, and about the time we
got to the landing the colored man who had
-gone over with the canoe returned.
62 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCiUPT
A VEKY XAKUONV KSCATE.
We asked him if he would take us over, to
which he replied that he would. All tlie boys
got in the canoe except Jones and I. It would
not carry us all and the old negro would have to
return for us.
While we vrere waiting for him to rctum three
Confederate cavalrymen rode up, dismounted,
and hitched their horses. They said they would
go over with us.
We all got aboard, the old -darky shoved us
from the shore, and we started over. The sol-
diers said they belonged to Gen. Marsliall's
Brigade, and that their Colonel and ]\Ir. Lyons^
who lived on tlie bank of the river, had just
gone over before them, and that Lyons was an
enrolling oflicer.
; We ha*d found Marshall's Brigade when we
were not looking for it, and the next thing for
"US to do was to get away fr(»m it. Had we
made ourselves heard or attracted attention of
that Colonel and Lyons, there is no doubt but
we would have been captured and killed. The
soldiers who crossed with Jones and me treated
us quite unsuspectingly, asked if we were going
THK ADVEXTCTKES OF A COXSCiU]»T r/j
home en furloufjh ; to which \vc answered in tlie
afhrmative. When wc landed we were not more
than fifty yards from the house which, tlie s(<l-
diers entered. Fortunately no one in the house,
apparently, saw us.
We startec^ east on the main road, run-
ninf^ perhaps a mile before it entered a
wood along the base of a mountain. We soon
reached these woods, when we at once left the
road and sought refuge in the mountains. After
traveling for some distance, until we fell per-
fectly safe, we sat down to rest and recount tiie
scenes and dangers of the morning. We fully
.realized ti):U we had run a ^reat risk, and had a
very narrow escape.
This was on Saturday, February 2o, and it
began to rain in the afternoon. We iiad noth-
ing to eat during the da}^, and wore very hungry,
as well as tired, but we traveled on till about
night, when we came to a log cabin beside the
• little road we were following.
We believed it would be safe to' remain
over niglU if the family w-lio lived there were
Union people, ai^d we felt sure they were. We
enter the house all together, told theni we were
^vet and hungry, wanted sonjethirig to eat, and
M TilK ADVENTUKKS OF A CONSCRIPT
to remain \vilh them over night. They very
kindly took us in, prepared supper for us, and
the old gentleman built a fire out of logs in an
old-fashioned fireplace. We found them, as wc
had expected, good Union people. After wc had
eaten our supper, the old man assured us \vc
were perfectly safe, and they spread a lot of
quilts and comforts on the floor in front of the
fire for us to lie on. I am sure I never slept
sounder or rested better in all my life than I did
that night.
We arose next morning quite early, in order
to have breakfast prepared by daylight. Our
clothes had dried, and we felt very much re-
freshed. After breakfast the old gentleman
instructed us as to the best and safest route?
and we again resumed our journey.
Turning east we left the regular range of
mountains, and had twenty or twenty-five miles
of open country to travel over. Taking advan-
tage of the by-paths, and keeping in the woods
as much as possible, wo traveled all day and
iuade good progress. About dark we had
reached Jonesboro, which we passed on the north,
keeping at a distance of a half a mile or more
from the town. After we reached the railroad,
TjnO ADVKNTUJJKS OJ'^ A CONSC;jlIi''l' 50
iiortli of ihc to\vii, ^vc st;iftcd up llic track, and
had gone but a short distance, wheii \vc entered
A deep cut. Just tlicn we lieard a train cojiiing
toward us. Fortunately the bank was not so
steep but we could climb it, wliicii we did on
double-quick time, and were just on the top of the
bank when the train sped by.
Wc traveled on till, perhaps, ten o'clock at
night, when we reached a wood. "We were tired
and almost worn out, and decided to lie down
iind sleep. It was quite cold, and the ground
was freezing, but wc lay as close together as
yvc could and slept till morning.
When daylight came, and we were ready
again to start, for the second time during our trip
we had lost the points of the compass. It wa.s
cloudy and foggy, and we could not see any dis-
tance. After considerable arcrumcnt, for we did
not agree, we started and traveled two or tiirec
miles, when wc all agreed thai wc were wrong;
we turned and retraced our steps, and some time
in the forenoon the sun broke through the clouds
and we found that we were right.
We made but little progress that day. The
country was full of Confederate cavalry, and we
had to play hide and seek with them all day
66 THE ADVKNTUFvES OF A CONSCKll'T
arouiul the hills and knobs. At ono time wo-
were close enough to a squad of them to 'huvc-
tossed a stone down among tliem from our posi-
tion on the hillside above the road where we
were concealed. We were scarcely out of sight
of them during the larger part of the day, but I
am sure not a single one of them saw us. Late^
in the evening, about sunset, we reached the
base of the mountain, and we welcomed it as a
place of safety.
We stopped at a cabin and found tliem to be
Union people. They gave us' our supper, wiiich
we appreciatf-d very much, for we had had
nothing to eat during the day. We also rested
and slept there till the after part of the night,
when one of the men who lived there, and was-
also a conscript and scouting, went with us some
distance to pilot us around danger that was just
ahead of us.
We crossed the mountain in the morning about
daylight, and by eight o'clock we were in Doe
River Cove, in Carter County, Tenn., a section
of country noted for all living there being Union
people. AVe thv^n felt safe, for we knew wc were
then among frierids. We traveled the main road
and by noon came to the neighborhood where 1
TH]-: ADVKNTUPvES OF A COXSCPvIl'T o7
luid been tlic Augustbcforc witli the olu Iiu])ti.st
prcaciier before referred to in this ntory.
At the earnest solicitation of these good peo-
ple, with whom we stopped, we reniiiined till the
following morning.
On ^Yednesday mOrning we again resumed our
journey, and by noon we had readied Doe moun-
tain, starting nortiieast atAVataug.'i River, which
runs eighteen 'or twenty miles, when it termi-
nates abruptly at Mountain City, in Johnson
County.
We at once ascended the mountain, followed
itssunimit, and as we had done before, when
night settled down upon us we made beds of
leaves, and lay down and slept till morning. We
reached the terminus of the mountain at Moun-
tain City that evening about dark. Tiie rain
was again falling in torrents.
• AT HOME AGAIN.
Our purpose was to try to reach my father's
home that night, but about the middle of the
night we had given out with fatigue and hunger,-
and could, go jio further. V^e stopped at a cabin
with people whom I knevr, and lay down on the
tloor and slept till nearly daylight, and then
^ THK ADVKNTUrvES OK A COXSCJUJT
started for home. "\Vc arrived at my father's
home about eight o'clock in the morning, on Fri-
da}^, the third day of IMarch, having been on the
road just three \vceks to a day.
The boys who were with me went to their
homes in another x^art of the County, and thus
ended my second desertion.
I will not attempt to describe the condition
of things that existed there at tliat time. ]My
vocabulary is too limited to attempt a portrayal
of the horrors and the sufferings of tho,se poor
Union people. Civil law and courts of justice
had been abolished; monarchy and ruin reigned
supreme; men and neighbors, who had always
passed for good men, and who had turned to be
rebels, were transformed into demons, murderers
and savages. Conscripts were hunted like wild
animals, and often shot and murdered. Their
homes were often destroyed by the torch, and if
•spared were robbed of everything they had, and
their families left without a crust of bread.
The fact that I had deserted the second time
was known by tlie authorities at home before I
Arrived. 'My Captain had instructed the Colonel
■of the Home Guard, as they called themselves,
not to return me again to his company; in fact,
TiiJ-] ADVJCNTUKJOS OF A CON.SCJMI'T 50
not to arresi; me, but shoot inc on sight, and they
were on the lookout for me before I arrived. I
was informed of these facts as soon as I got
home. I then doubled my vigilance, for I well
knew with mc then it was simply a matter of
life or death. I decided to find a hiding-place
and allow no one to see mc, and at night I would
slip in and get something to cat. Every two or
three nights five or six of them would come and
search the house from cellar to garret. But I
was very careful not to be there. This was a
hard life, and I soon began to grow tired, and at
night, as I would lie in my hiding-place in the
gloomy forest, I would wonder if there were not
some way out of this kind of existence, wlien
just at this time a circumstance occurred in the
neighborhood that changed the whole course of
things, and opened again new fields for adven-
ture.
There lived not far away an old man by the
name of Price. He had four or five sons who
were conscripts, but up to this time had never
been captured. The old man had also gained the
enmity of these bandits or Home Guards, and
they were seeking to capture him. They had
camped on his place during a part of the Winter^
60 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCIUPT
and robbed liiiii of everything ho had. His fam-
ily had left their home and sought refuge''else-
where. He had an old mill on a mountain stream
near his house, and he and his sons would slip
in from the mountains and grind corn for bread,
and take it back with th'^m to their hiding-place
UNION ilEN ilUKUKKED.
The Home Guards learning they were making
frequent visits to the mill, concealed themselves
near by, and waited for their coming. Price,
thinking the way was clear, with, two of his sons
and a nephew, caine to themill. They were sur-
rounded, taken by surprise, and all of them cap-
tured and taken at once to the County-seal and
locked up. The next morning a mob, led by
Major Long{tlic same Major Long wlio captured
me, befoi-e referred to) went to the jail, took
these prisoners to a wood near the town, and
banged every one of them. They would tie one
of the poor feliov.-s' hands behind him, put a rope
around his neck, place him on a horse behind
■one of the mob, who would ride under the limb
of the tree, throw the end of the rope to a man
•on the limb, wiio would tie it, and the man on
the horse would ride out from under him, leav-
ing him dangling in mid-air.
THE ADVENTUIIKS OF A CONSCRIPT CI
■ The three boys were hung first, one ut a time,
as I have described. In the crowd thai went
out to witness tlie< han^^in^ was Dr. ^'v'a<^(^, a
prominent physician, and also a Methodist
preacher, a man well and favoriibly known
throughout all that country, and, be it to his
•credit, was trying to quell the mob and save tiie
lives of these men. After the three young men
had been hanged, Dr. Wagg approached the old
man, whom he had known for many years, and
told him he could do nothing for him; that he
had no influence with these men, and they vrere
•going to hang him. "And now," he said "you
are unprepared, and in a few minutes more your
•soul will be ushered into eternity. I am iiere to
try to do you good. Shall I not stay tlie liand of
•death, while I pray with you?''
The old man replied:
"Doctor, I have done nothing to be hung for.
I am old — not even subject to military duty. I
have committed no crime. I have only been
loyal to my country, and if it is for tiiis you in-
tend to murder me, I will go ir.to eternity as I
am. I want no rebel, such as you are to pray
for me."
In a moment his hands were ^'pinioned, and
iie was swinging beside the three boys.
62 TliK AD VENTURES OF A CONSCRH'T
AVlicu they were taken down Dr. AVagg dis-
covered that one of the young men was not yet
dead, and after some time spcntin working with
him, lie was resuscitated. He was taken back
to jail, and as soon as he was fully recovered was
sent to the front at Kichmond.
He at once made his escape, got to the Union
army, and enlisted in the Federal service, and
fought throughout the war.
IN THE JtOUNTATXS OF TENNESSEK.
This happened about two weeks after my ar-
rival home, and convinced, me that it was ex-
ceedingly hazardous for me to remain in that
part of the country. After due consideration
we decided that 1 uhould go to Tennessee. I
had many friends and acquaintances over there
among the Union people, and would be much
'safer; besides, if I should be so unfortunate as
to be captured I perlians would not be assassinat-
ed, but have a chance for my life. With this
understanding I completed my arrangements to
go, and on a beautiful starlit night, when all na-
ture was hushed in silence, I cautiously crept
from my hiding-place, approached the old home,
following the little path that led down by the
Ti-iJO ADVJONTUJIKS OF A CONSCiaJ'T C'6
burn and through thu back yard up to tlie house,
Fatlier and mother iiad not yet retired, fortliey
knew I would be there to say good-by. They
said they had almost despaired of me ever es-
caping, and saw no way that 1 could prevent
being friurdored by these mid-night murderers.
Further, they had just learned that day that
there had been a reward ofiered for ine, dead or
alive. I tried to encourage them and comfort
them all I could.
Said I: *'You look upon the dark side only.
You must remember there is another side to this
question. I know it looks dark for me now,
but I believe 1 will some day get away from
these accurcied rebels, and again breathe the air
of freedom; and in order that I may reach my
destination as soon as possible to-morrow, and
get beyond the limit of my own State before
morning, I will pay good-by."
Turning, I hurried down the patli, and was
soon in the woods, lost in the shadow of tije hills.
I followed the path through the woods along the
summit of the hills that I had now become fa-
miliar with. I sped along quite rapidly, and
crossed the State line about dayliglu. When I
began to descend the west side of the Alleghany
64 THE ADVENTUKES OF A CONSCllIPT
Mountains I traveled more leisurely, occasion-
ally sitting clown to rest.
It was sometime in the afternoon when I
reached the home of my friends where I ex-
• pected to stop. There were many young men
who were conscripted and scouting, and I was
welcomed among them. None of them had ever
been captured, and they would sit for hours and
eagerly listen to the story of my experience, of
my capture, desertion, imprisonment and suffer-
ing in my final escape from my regiment.
I tried to content myself with these boys, for
I felt comparatively secure, but in a few days X
grew restless, and discontented. Life in tiie dis-
mal gloom of tlicse old mountains gruw more
and more monotonous. I so expressed myself to
my companions. They said: "We will try to
stand it this Summer, and by Fall the Union
army v»:ill be in reach of us, and we will then
make a break for freedom."
I said: "I cannot stand this till Fall. lam
actually forced to seek a different life. If I
should try to sta}^ here I would expose myself in
6ome way, so that I would be captured, and that
means more to me than to either of you. Be-
sides, I cannot live secluded from the world, as
!
! • THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCJtIPT 65
we are now doing. To continue this \vould
•drive inc instme.'"
• IN DIFFICULTY AGAIN.
Just at this time we learned that there had
arrived in the neignborhood a young Confeder-
ate officer from Virginia, who was recruiting for
the artillery service. The idea at once struck
me that I would see him, state my case, — sim-
ply tell him the whole story, — and if he could,
under those circumstances, accept me in his
company, take me from that country, and pro-
tect me from my old regiment, I would enlist
and go with him, and as soon as we would got
in rcacli of the Union army, ] would make my
escape into the lines. I expressed my purpose
to my companions. They vigorously protested
against it, did all they could to induce mo tore-
main; but my mind was made up to get cut of
those mountains, and away from the dangers
that surrounded mo there. I at once addressed
a DOte to this you]ig officer, whose name was
Oliver, and sent it by a friend, stating that on
the next day at a certain hour I would be glad
to meet him at a certain place, provided he
would come under a truce, unarmed and alone.
6G THE ADVEXTUKES OF A CO^'iSClUI*T
He answered by n messenger, saying he had
heard of ine; would meet me, and would comply
with all. the conditions nienlioncd, and would
expect me to do the same. As he^was a total
stranger, and stated he had heard of me, I felt
a little^ nervous, for fear he might take advan-
tage of his opportunity and capture me; and
then, again, I thought that if he v/as a Captain
of artillery, he would not violate his word under
a truce. So on the next day, when the hour
came, we met in the woods at the place agreed
upon, and I got myself into more trouble.
'We arrived almost at the same time. He
greeted me cordially and expressed himself as
pleased to meet me. He was a young man of
fine address, about four or five years my senior.
He wore an artillery unif(>rm with the rank of
Captain. We sat down on a log and began to
talk of the war and tiic condition of the country.
Said his battery was doing garrison duty, and
was not at the front ; that he had eight or ten
recruits, and in a day or tvro would start to his
command. "And, by the way," said he, "I
understand you arc a deserter; have deserted
twice, and the authorites over in your State
have offered a reward for your capture ; and,.
THE ADVENTUUJCS OF A CONSGRII'T 07
further that if they get you, they will not send
^^ou back to your regiment, hut will make an
example of you, as a warning to others "
**Captain," said I, "your information is cor-
rect. I have deserted twice from the CSth 2sorth
Carolina, and I have understood the local author-
ities over in my State intend to kill me if they
■can get sight of me. Do you know v/hether or
not this is actually their intention?"
'*Yes," said he, "I know of my ov/n knowl-
edge it is a fact, and there is but one way of
safety for you, and tliat is to get out of this
•country. Your regiment docs not want you, and
will never look for you, and I will make this
suggestion: that you enlist and go with me, I
will accept you as a conscript, muster you into
the service again, and I will guarantee that you
will never be disturbed."
"Captain," said I, "that is just what I am
thinking of doing, provided that you will guar-
•antec to protect me from punishment for any-
thing that has happened in the past."
Clasping my hand he said: "I pledge you my
honor that I will use every means in my power
to protect you, and I assure you, you shall never
he disturbed while in my company; and, fur-
68 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRIPT
ther, there is a vacancy in my company, and I
will appoint you Second Sergeant, and put you
in line for promotion. The reason I do tliis is
that a man who has sull'ered for his own errors,
as you have, I believe will yet make a good sol-
dier."
Well, to make a long story short, we fixed the
matter up, and we were to start the next day
with the recruits he had. I returned to my
companions, told them what 1 had done, but did.
not advise a single one to go with me. I re-
mained over night with them, and next morning
said good- by.
J found tlie Captain and recruits at the place
designated, ready to start, and in two d;iys we
were with the company at New River ]3ridgc,
Va., on the line of railroad which is now the
Norfolk & Western, where the town of Radford
has since been built. We were camped on a bluff
overlooking the railroad bridge that spanned the
river. We were in a fort, with six pieces of ar-
tillery, guarding the bridge.
This was the first of April, 1S03. We had but
little to do, and life again began to grow monot-
onous; but fortunately in a short time we were
ordered to Dublin, a short distance west, and
THE ADVENTURP:S of a conscript C9
our Captain was appointed Provost ^larshall,
and the company did provost guard duty. I
was detailed to duty on the railroad, making al-
ternately a 2-i-hour run. We were allowed two
men as guards with us on the train. We were
under martial law, and it was my duty to see
that every passenger had a proper pass. I
would go on duty at eight o'clock in the morn-
ing, and it was supposed that the train was
turned over to me properly worked by the Ser-
geant whom I relieved, and that I would turn it
back to him the. same way next morning.
I liked this work very well, for the reason that
it was a change from the ordinary arniy life;
and anoth.er reason, it was a good Lr:un for de-
serters when I had it, and many a poor fellow I
helped along. I vras expected to arrest every
deserter, or any one else wlio did not have the
right kind of a pass; but there was no danger
of me arresting any one, when I had been a de-
serter tvv^ice myself.
During all the time I did duty on the road I
never made a single arrest.
AIDING A DESEKTKII.
There was one circumstance that happened one
day that is worth reading. I had gone on duty
70 TilK ADVENTUKl'^t? OF A COXSCJUPT
in tlie moriu'ng at the usual time, liad luade the
run east, and met the train coming out from
Lyncliburg. As soon as I changed cars with the
guard and got aboard the west-bound train the
conductor said to me that a deserter was on the
train, and the officer I liad relieved had failed to
arrest him. Ke said he would show him to nic.
I started through the train with himj and when
we stepped into the car where he was, he pointed
him out to me. He wore the uniform of a cav-
alry IMajor, and I knew I would have to do
something to satisfy the conductor, or he might
report me and spoil my job. I said to the con-
ductor that I would examine his pass, and ascer-
tain whether or not he was all right; but the
conductor was onto him and said : "I know he is
a deserter, and it is your duty to order him un-
der arrest at once."
. Knowing that he had no auihority over me,
and that I ranked him even in the management
of the train, 1 said: "Sir, I understand my duty,
without any instructions from you, and \yill do
it as I see fit."
Leaving him I walked down the aisle of the
car, approached the oflicer, and pleasantly asked
him for his pass. He looked at me a moment
THE ADVKNTUJiKS OF A CONSGJMJ'T 71
and said: "^\'ha^ autliority, sir, have you to
ask a coiiiniissioiied oriicer for his pass?"
I replied, "I have tlie aulhoriLy of General
-Jones, comiiumdiiig tliis de])artiiient, " and at
the same time took from my pocket my commis-
sion and handed it to him. After examining it
he said: ''Your authority is good, and handed
me his pass."
"Plow is it," said I, "that you are traveling
on a citizen's pass?"
Said he : "I belong to the 10th Texas cavalry ;
am a prisoner on parol, and am a citizen until I
am exchanged."
"You wear the insignia of your rank," said I.
"If that star ofTends any o]ie," said he, "I
■will take it off," and taking oil' his hat pulled
off the star that held up one side of the brim.
All this time the conductor was standing in
tbe front of the car watching me. I knew the
a\Iajor was a deserter, but I did not intend to ar-
rest him, even at the risk of being reported by
the conductor.
I walked back to where the conductor was
standing, and said to him 1 was not sure he was
a deserter, and that I would remain in the car
and watch him ; which I did, and when the en-
72 THE ADVENTURES OF A COXSCPJPT
gineer signaled for the next station he began to
gather up his baggage, and soon as the train
stopped lie got oil. 1 watched him go down the
steps and on the phitform of the depot, and was
much afraid the conductor would e.ce him ; but
he did not. The train started. I let it get un-
der fairly good headway, when I signaled the
engineer to stop, and at the same time started
hurriedly through the train. I met the conduc-
tor hurrying back, and as soon as he saw mc^
asked: — "What is the trouble?" I answered him
by asking: "Vv'hat is the matter with the engi-
neer? He has failed to obey orders, and refused
to stop the train when signaled to do so, and
the INIajor jumped from the train just as we left
the station, and is gone.'*
He was quite angry, or pretended to be; said
he would report me when v»*e got in from our
run. I defied him to do it, and told him when
it came to that I would have some tilings to re-
port mytelf. I was running a blulf on him, for
J was really afraid he would report me; but he
never did, and I never heard of this circum-
stance again.
By this time 1 had hecomc partially reconciled
and must say was enjoying my •■-■..' :.
THE ADVENTURES OF A CON'SCRIPT 73
I was clothed v/ith a great deal of autliority for
one so young, and had gained the perfect confi-
dence of my superiors ; and while I was not do-
ing the work assigned me, they did not know it.
I was the only one on the train witii authority
to m;ike an arrest, and if I found a poor fellov,'
whose papers were not right, I simply passed
him, just the same, and no one knev.* aPiything-
about it. ^iy Captain, who was a perfect gen-
tleman, always treated me with kindness and
consideration, and wheii I was not on duty much
of our time was spent together, and I had al-
most made up m}^ mind that if I was allowed to
remain in this work I would stay, for I knew I
was of service to some poor fellow ahiiOSt every
da}' by passing him and giving him a chance to
get away. But while 1 was thus eorigratulating
m^^self on my good fortune, a circumstance
again occurred tliat changed tlic whole course of
things.
ADYANCK OP UNION lOiiCKS.
On the morning of the ISth o: July I went on
duty as usual, made the run east, meeting the
train from Lynchburg, and returning. A\'he]i
we arrived at Dublin, where our. company was»
74 THE ADVENTURES OF A COXrfClUPT
at noon, I found everybody wild witli excitc-
ment. Our Captain had received a telegram to
the effect tliat tlie ' 'Yankees" "were advancing
on Wythville, about forty nules west of us, and
also orders to sidetrack the passenger train, at-
tach flat cars suflicient for our battery and com-
pany, and run out to Wythvillc as quickly as
possible. You can imagine the excitenieijit an
order of that kind would create, especially
among women, and nearly all our passen;^crs
were women, with a few children and old men.
We did as ordered — switched the passenger cars,
And told the passengers they would have to re-
main there until an engine could reach them
from the other end of the road.
We coupled on two fiat cars, loaded two six-
pound guns and two caissons, and hitched on a
paf senger car behind for the company, and when
we were all aboard ordered the engineer to pull
the throttle wide open, and we thought he did,
judging from the speed he attained, ^ye were
all in good spirits, and felt that we were just
going out on a pleasant trip. We believed it
was a false alarm. We were then perhaps one
hundred miles from the Federal lines, and I be-
lieved it impossible for an army of Union soldiers
THE ADVJi^'TUJlKS Oi*^ A CO^^SCia^T 75
to be in that part of the country. Our conduct
on the train that evening was more like that of
a crowd of young people going to a picnic than
to a battle. We were aU enjoying ourselves,
and fully expected to return to camp that night.
The train pulled up to the station at Wyth-
ville two hours before sunset, and wc were then
convinced that we v.'cre mistaken in our opinion.
The Union soldiers were reported within four
miles of town, and advancing. There v/ere
perhaps 2,000 Confederate soldiers there, but
no regular command. I saw and realized tliat I
was again in a trap; for, as I have said before,
I had registered a vow in heaven that I would
never fire a gLwi against my country's llag, and
here I v/as ready to go into a fight, and I saw
no way of escape.
There was a detail made from tlie company to
man the two pieces of artillery. ^Ve had to be
commanded by the Captain and Second Lieuten-
ant, and the balance of the company was given
muskets and assigned to the infantry, com-
manded by the First Lieutenant. I being the
ranking Sergeant with the irifantry, my place
was at the head of the company, and it can
readily be seen that placed me in a very respon-
76 THE ADVENTUllES OF A CONSCUfPT
sible position. I will not attempt here to de-
scribe the scenes that vrcrc now taking place.
Only those who have witnessed the excitement
on the eve of battle are able to fully appreciate
the awfulness of the situation. Couriers, whose
horses are white with foam, dashing in every
direction, the shrill and exciting command of
officers, the rattling of sabers, the blanched
-cheek of the soldier, make a scene that will
never be forgotten by those who have witnessed it.
Our orders were to march double-quick north
through the town, and attack the Federal cav-
alry as they advanced. As we passed through
tiie town women v/ere running in all directions,
some of them with children, trying to seek some
place of safety. All the business houses vrere
locked and deserted. Going north from the
town there was a slight elevation extending
perhaps a half mile or more to the summit, and
when our advance reached there the Federal
cavalry v/as in line but a short distance beyond
quietly waiting for the attack. Quickly the or-
der came dov/n the line to fall back to the town,
and at the same time a regular stampede com-
menced in front. Our company double-quicked
back to town, and at the same time the Federals
THE ADVEXTUKES OF A CONSCKIFT 77
ordered a cavulry charge. As soon as they reached
the summit they opened fire and poured a con-
tinuous volley into our men. The Confederates
were novr in utter rout and confusion. Lieuten-
ant Humes rallied our company, and vre formed
on a corner of a street, on the sidewalk, but not a
man nred a gun, though our Lieutenant marched
up and dow.n in front of the company with
drawn sword, ordering the men to load and fire.
CHAKGED BY CAVALRY.
The cavalry was coming as fast as tlicir liorscs
could run, and I knew we could stay tlicre but
a moment until they would be upon us. I was
getting extremely anxious for the boys to break
ranks and run, when our Lieutenant gave the
command to break ranks and save ourselves.
You can be assured this order v/as quickly
obeyed. The cavalry was less than two squares
from us. V/e started up the street and came to
a stairway leading up into a throe-story block,
Taut closed and locked by folding doors. A big-
fellow just in front of me struck the lock with
the breech of his gun and the door ilew open.
About fifteen of our company got up that stair-
way and more would have got in had not the
78 THE ADVKNTUKES OF A CONSCRIPT
cavalry been so close to them. Vie followed the
stairway until we reached the third floor, and
stopped in a picture gallery, but found no one
in, and I hardly think anyone wanted his pic-
ture taken, even if the photographer had been
there. The first thing we did^vas to stack arms
and get ready to surrender, thinking there was
no way of escape, and that they would be sure
to get us. From our elevated position wc could
see everything that was going on in and around
the town. The Confederates never rallied, and
were chased in every direction like rubbits. It
really looked like sport for the Federal soldiers.
They would gallop across the fields towaid a
clump of woods or tl\icket, and as they would
-approach them tlic Confederates would junii) out
and take to their heels. They would fire a few
shots after them and turn and ride b;ick. While
we were interested in these scenes we heard
footsteps ascending the stairway. We bunched
ourselves together, ready to surrender. We
could hear the footsteps approaching nearer
and nearer, when suddenly the door was thrown
open by an ofilccr with pistol in his hand, and
two or three of tiic boys exclaimed: "We sur-
render!'* — '
THE ADVEXTUBES OE A CO^'SC^vlI'T 70
They bad been too hasty, fgr the officer was
none oilier than our own Major. lie replied
*'You cowardly lascals, wljat are you doing up
here. Get your guns and come down ; we liave
them nearly whipped." The question occurred
to me what he was doing up there. No one
paid any attention to his order; but he left, and
I presume hid in some other part of the building.
I must not forget to speak of the part our
two pieces of artillery played in tliis fight.
They followed immediately in rear oi ihc infan-
try, and just as the Union cavalry reached the
main street of the town in tlieir vrild charge,
one piece commanded by the Second Lieutenant
had unlimbered and fired one shot, v.'licn it v/as'
captured, and just at tliis time Captain Oliver
and the Orderly-Sergeant came dashing up the
streets seated on their gun, the drivers having
jumped ^rom their horses and turned them loose.
They came dasliing around the corner at a fear-
ful speed, and plunged right through the first lino
of Union cavalry and had got a square or more
further on, when two of the horses v/ere shot
down, and as the soldiers gathered around, Cap-
tain Oliver, mounting to his feet on the gun and
swinging his sword above his head, said he
80 THE ADVENTUllKS OF A CONSCKIPT
would surrender to no man but his equal, mean-
ing- a coniiiiissioncd oHlcf^r. Finally an ofllcer,
seeing tlie confusion, spurred bis horse through
the crowd, and when in reach the Captain
handed him the hik of his sword. They then
started to the rear with him and the Sergeant,
and when they had walked about a square, Cap-
tain Oliver was struck near the heart by a minie
ball and fell to the ground dead, lie exclaimed,
*'I am killed," and addressing the Orderly-Ser-
geant said : "Take this ring from my finger and
send it to my sister and my watch send it to my
mother," and those were his last words. The
guard allowed the Sergeant to stop and take the
ring and watch, and then left him dead on the
sidewalk. His body was next day taken up
from the street, the Orderly-vSergeant was pa-
roled, and he look the body home to his friends,
near Richmond, for burial, and delivered the
ring and watch as his dying words directed. I
was shocked at the nev/s of his death, for tliough
differing with him on the issue of the war, I ad-
mired him for his manliness, integrit}^ courage
and loyalty, even though in a bad cause. 1 felt
that a you-ng man with bright and promising
life for future usefulness was gone, and that I
'had lost a gootl and faithful friend.
TH]C ADVENTUPvES OE A COXSCiaPT 81
I will now return to the story of liiysclf and
tliosc witli mc in the tliird floor of the brick
block on the main street of the town. We re-
mained up there until bct\s'een sunset and darlc,
when some women in the block, who knew we
were up there, came up a back stairwa}' and
said the town had been set on fire on the oppo-
site side of the street, and it was not safe for us
to remain as the block v,-e were in was
likely to be set on fire from tlie burning build- ^
ings. Every street in the town was a surging
mass of Union soldiers, and everything was sim-
ply at their mercy. So, following the directions
of these women, we hastily slipped our shoes
froni our feet, so. as to make no noise. We then
followed them, as tliey led the way down a back
stairway, landing us in the alley, and when we
had reached the ground th.ey direeied us some
distance further back to a lot that had been
planted with corn, and perhaps a hundred and
fifty feet square. The corri vras taller than
our heads, makiiig a good hiding place.
We lay flat down on th.c ground between the
rov.-s of corn, and althougli tlic Union soldiers
passed in great crowds along the street within
82 THE ADVENTUKES OF A CONSCIUTT
an hundred feet of us, I felt comparjitively safe.
I got a little nervous at one time. A stable
stood on the corner of .the lot, and abo\it ten
o'clock a crowd of them came and broke do^Yn
the door and <2;ot a horse that had been locked in.
It took them a long time to break the door, or at
least we thouglit eo, and the blaze'of the burii-
ing buildings made it as light as day. I was
afraid they would have some occasion to pass
through the .lot, and I 'knew if they did they
would fall over some of us. They thoroughly
sacked and burned a part of the town, and about
eleven o'clock we heard the bugle signal to fall
in line, and in a short time they had started on
their march back over the same road they had
come, and by midnight the town was as still as
the grave, not a sound broke the dead silence,
save now and then the rattling of the horses'
feet, of some straggler who had failed to join his
command, or the raufllcd footsteps of citizens or
soldiers as they slipped from their hiding places
to view the fearful ruin that had been wrought.
About this time we slipped from our hiding
place and started for the country. We had
enough of that kind of tov.'n life. "When we
started we very naturally scattered. Myself and
three others remained tOi]:cther.
TPIE ADVE^:TUrv]OS OF A COXSCPvIPT S3
The reader vrill ask why I did not go to. tlio
Union ariuy. I will ansvrer, for two reasons :
First, on account of my ignorance of tlic usages
of war; I fully believed if I should go to thern
v.nder those circumstances that they would take
me a prisoner, send nic North, incarcerate me in
prison, and exchange and send me back; and
second, they were perhaps one iumdred and fifty
miles outside the Union lines, and witli little
hope of getting back themselves, and I was, un-
der the circumstances, afraid to fall into their
hands, not knowing what, kind of treatment I
might receive. I feared that my v/ord would
not be taken as to my loyalty to the Union when
I was caught bearing arms for the South.
AFTER THE BATTLE.
To return to my story, we traveled till about
three o'clock in the morning, when we came to a
large farmhouse not more than four or five miles
from the town. The people were all up; the
women of the house, for there were no men there,
invited us in and of course were eager to hear
the news. I told them that the Yankees had
burned ^yytheville to the ground, torn up the
railroad for miles, and our whole regiment was
84 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCllIPT
either captured or killed. So far as we knew
%ve were the only ones that escaped, and the
whole country was full of Yankees, burning,
murdering and destroying everything in their
course.
They were frightened almost to deuth, and
could hardly refrain from shedding tears of
sympathy for us. They offered to prepare us
something to eat, which we gUidly accepted, and
after they had given us an elegant breakfast
they sent a boy to conduct us into the hills,
where their men folks had their horses concealed
anc] were liiding,themst Ives. We told them the
same story we }jad told tlic women. Tiicy said
we were welcome to remain wiih Ihcm until the
Yankees left that i)art of the country. We sal
around and began to get drowsy, having slept
none tl-e nig[ii before.
We sug.gested tliat we would go for some fresh'
water and walk around a little; we v/ould then
perhaps feel better. They gave us tlieir bucket
and directed us the way to a spring some dis-
tance around the side of tlic mountain. We told
them we would roLurn soon, but after we left
them we counseled as to what we would do, and
we agreed not to go back, but go on home, which
THE ADVE^'TUI^ES OF A C0N6CKIPT S5
was only forty or fifty miles i^wny, and then go
on to the Union array at Knoxville, Tennessee.
We threv.' their buckets over a precipice and
started on oiir tramp. The story we told these
people served us v.cU for a day and a half. "We
told them our regiment was at Saliville, some
distance on the road in the direction we were go-
ing; that our bottery had been sent to AVythe-
ville ; it was captured, and all the company
killed and captured except us.
Every time we would tell this story, which
was fifty times a day, they would express great
sympathy for us, and they gave us the best to
eat the country ailorded. Before wc loft the
main road and turiied in aiu>ther Jircciion,
where I had to invent a new story, I had told
the old one so long and so often lh;»t I began to
believe it myself, and as I would tell of all our
company being killed and captured, I could
hardly keep back the tears, and that of course
helped me to win the sympailiy of every one
with whom we came in contact.
On the morning of the third day after v\ o
started wc arrived in the neigiibc>rhc»od of our
homes, but we took the precaution to stop in
Tennessee. I stopped with the san»c friends
86 TIIK ADVEXTUKKS OF A COXSCRIPT
whom I had left tlic April before. Tliey were
glad to have me among them, and were again
much interested in the story of my adventurers.
I only ventured to go to my father's house at
night.
I was determined that the authorities there
should never get me. I was still about tv/o
hundered niilcs from the Union army; but just
at this time Gen. Burnsides was advancing up
the line of railroad from Knoxville toward the
Virginian line, and I felt sure in a month or tv.'o
I would have no trouble to get to the Union
army.
About this time I learned that my Captain
had been killed in the fight at Wytlieville, and
that thirty-sevf}! of the company hud deserted;
that our company had been transferred to the
cavalry service, and was then only about thirty-
five or forty miles from my home. So, after
taking in the situation, I at once decided to go
back to my company and wait there for the
nearer approach of the^Union arniy. I believed
this to be the safest course for me to pursue.
So, slipping to my father's home at night, as I
had done before, I again staled my purposes.
•Said I, "I will go back to my company, help
TnE ADVEXTUKES OF A CONSCilirT 87
the Lieutenant reorganize and nil it iip», if possi-
ble to do so, and v.'hen the Union inriny is close'
enough, so that I will not have so far to go, I
will again desert, conie by home, and go on to
the Union lines. In from three to six weeks you
may expect me back."
WITH THE COMPANY AGAIN.
So on the first of August, I left again for my
company, arriving on the next evening. 'My
Lieutenant was glad to see mc back. We talked
over the situation and of the probability of our
company organization being disbanded. He
begged me to assist him in every way I could to
recruit the company; said there were but thirty-
five or forty men left. I told him I had come
to help fill our rank?, so as to maintain our or-
ganization, and when that v.'as done of course I
expected to be rewarded with a commission, to
which he gladly assented. My purpose in mak-
ing this f«tatement to him was to win his com-
fidcnce. I had an object in view, and thought
he could be of service to me, and perhaps save
me trouble ; and I can say that I succeeded ad-
mirably in worming into his good graces, and in
a short time he would have done anything for
me that I would ask of him.
8S THE ADVENTURES OF A COXSCKIPT
Through ihe niontli of August \vo lay in camp
with nothing to do. Kow and then one of the
boys who had deserted would come straggling
in, and frequently bring a recruit with him. No
one was punished for deserting. They were too
glad to get them back to jthink of punishing
them. That was the reason I went back. I
knew I would not be punished, and that I was-
safe then, and scouting in the mountains was
not only extremely hazardous, but the most
miserable life any one could be subjected to. In
fact, I never could scout. I was not cautious
enough, buL was constantly exposing myself to
danger. 1'iiou^i;h, I knew men personally that
lay in those mounlaijis during the three years
of the war afLcr they were conscripted, and
were never captured; but thoy had to lie in the
mountains like wild animals, theii beard and
hair grew -down over their shoulders, and the}""
were really like wild men.
We were having quite an easj^ time in camp.
We had no duty Lo do, not even guard duty.
Every day I was v/atching the movements of the
Union army. It v/as steadily advancing, and
the Confederates injniediately in front of it fall-
ing back. About the first day of September it
THE ADVENTUKES OF A CO^'SCicU^T 80
was reported that in a day or two we would draw
horses ahd receive marching orders. I watched
every movement carefully, and at last I thought
it was time for mc to act. On the morning of
September 6, .18C3, a day that will ever be mem-
orable with me, I went into Lieutenant Hume's
tent and began to talk to him about the reorgan-
ization of the compan3' ; told him 1 thought we
ought to make an effort to get some more men
and recruit the company up to seventy-five at
least. He agreed with me, buD said: ''Where
can we get them?"
I said to him: "Eieutcnant, 1 have an idea
that 1 desire to submit to you for your considcr-
ution, and if it should meet your a])piovai we
can try it; and if not, there will be lio harm
done."
"I am willing," said he, "to. hear any sug-
gesti(ni you may wish to make."
"Then," s;iid I, "Lieutenant, you know the
mountains along the State line between North
Carolina and 'i'ennessee in tlie vicinity of n^y
home are full of conscripts who have iicvor bceii
in the army, and you know further tiiat yoti
could nevt-r find one of them in a year's; hunt;
but th.ese men are not afraid of ii:e, and ] could
90 THE ADVENTUKES OF A CONSCRIPT
go into a crowd of twcuty-iive of them in an
hour after I would get there. I was with tliesc
nieu, sleeping with them in the woods, a month
ago. They expressed themselves as being very
tired of that kind of life, ajid some of them said
to me that they were very much tempted to
ccTme with me and join our company, and had I
encouraged them I really believe several of them
would have come. Now what J want to suggest
is that you give me a leave of absence, say, for
a week or ten days, with authority to recruit,
and I v.'ill go over among those men and I will
guarantee to bring back not less than fifteen, or
more, who will enlist in our company."
After talking and thinking over the matter
for some time, he said: "I believe your sugges-
tion is a good one, and there is but one thing in
the way, and that is, will you come back?"
Said I: "Lieutenant, I know my record as a
soldier is bad, and I have suffered a great deal,
as you well know, on account of it; but my vol-
untary return a month ago should be sufhcient
evidence to you that I am trying to retrieve that
which by my own conduct I have lost. But if
my pledge of honor is not sufllcient, you need
not act on my suggestion. It is your commis-
I
THE ADVIONTUKKS OF A COXSCPJ.PT 91
sion that is in danger, and not mine, fori never
had one, but have the promise of one now, and
I believe this to be the proper thin^ for mo to do
to get it."
After further conversation, he said: **We
v.'Ill go to the Colonel, and talk to hira about
t."
We walked dov.'n to the Colonel's quarter^,
and the Lieutenant at once stated the proposi-
tion. The Colonel said: "Who is this man you
are sending on so important a mission as that?
Is he a man you can trust?" To which the
Lieutenant answered: "Colonel, if I can not
trust him, I can not trust any man in my com- '
pany."
The Colonel, without further remarks, picked
up his pen and wrote me a leave of absence for
eight days on recruiting service. I thanked
him, and stated that I felt sure I would do good
work, and be able to return with fifteen or
twenty men.
- I was feeling in good spirits, and felt that 1
had scored a great victory.
Bidding the Colonel good-bye, v/e walked back
to our company quarters. It was then about
nine o'clock in the forenoon, I wanted to start
S2 THE ADVEXTUHES OF A CONSCRIPT
as soon as possible, and I hastily began making
preparations to leave. It had got noised through
the camp that I was going av.'ay, and the boys
gathered around to say good-by, little thinking
they would never see me back again, but I knew
they would not. Many of them were as loyal
to the Union as I. I had not communicated my
plans to a single one of them; but we had been
together so long an attachment had grown up
between us, and it was with a feeling of sadness
that I took each one of them by the hand,
Lieutenant Humes included, and turned my back
upon them for the last time. I had made up my
mind as to my future course. I believed that
the time of my deliverance had come. The leave.
of absence I had was good any place except in
my own County, where I was known; but my
p-urpose was not to let the autlnn-ities in my
County^ know I was there, if it were possible to
keep it from ihem. TIjc next evening, after I
left camp, I was in the neighborhood of my
home. I at Oi.cc sought the men and friends
whom I had come to sec. 1 told them howl
came to he there, and asked tliem how Uiany
were ready to go witli me to the Union army. 1
fiaid to them : "Leave this kind of a life; get
THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCr.IPT '93
out of these mountains. The way of escape is
now possible, and if we fail to take advantage
-of this opportunity we deserve to still continue
tosuiTer."
PLANNING TO KEACH THE UNION LINES.
Some of them agreed with me and some did
"not, but as soon as one ^vould come on my side
he would help me in my work, aud it was but a
few days until there were tv.-enly-fiVO of them
just as enthusiastic as I was. We uiade our
headquarters in Johnson County, Tennessee.
There were but few southern sympathizers in the
County, and no soldiers, and we felt secure, al-
though we would make no shov-.' of ourselves in
daytime, but would do all our moving around at
night. A\nien we had got all the recruits we
thought it possible to get, we began to arrange
a place and time to meet and start on our trip.
We finally agreed to meet on top of Iroii INIoun-
tain, where the road passes through, a gap, on
Saturday night, at ten o'clock, September 28.
After these arrangements had been coiiipletcd,
and it was all understood, we sper.c the last
week visiting around among our friends at night
and having a good time generally.
■94 THE ADVENTURES OF A CONSCRIPT
jvly leave of absence had expired, and 1 knew
my Lieutenant was looking for nic, and expect-
ing me every day, but that did not disUirb mc
in tlie least.
There \vae a disposition on the part of some
of the boys to commit depredations of some kind
on wliat few rebels lived around in that part of
the country, in way of revenge for the many
mean things they had done to tiiem; but the
majority of us counseled against it, for the rea-
son that we were leaving friends behind, and
when we were gone they would be made to suf-
fer the more for anything wemic^ht do.
It was almost impossible to control fifteen or
t>venty young men burning for revenge, espec-
ially when they had suffered what these men
had. They expressed no desire to take any
one's life but thoy did want to do something
that would make their enemies reiiiember them,
and a great many tilings were suggested. I v/ill
here relate one suggestion that was carried into
etTect. 1 simply relate this incident to show
the-ir temper, and how determined tliey were to
do some mischief. In the neighborhood lived a
man by the iiame of Robinson. .He owned a nice
farm in the valley, just one mile from Mountain,
THE ADVENTURES OF A CON'SCIIIPT 05
City. lie \vas a cattle fancier,' and claimed to
have sorjo very fine stock, and among them a
blooded bull that he pri/,ed very highly. Ho
was the Oiily rebel save one in the iicighborhood.
One day there were tweiity or twenty-five of us
together and in order to appease our thirst for
tragedy, and to satisfy our longing to seek some
kind of mild revenge, we decided that on tliat
night we would hang Robins.Tii's bull. Wc pro-
cured a sheet or tv/o of legal cap, and prepared
a document purporting to be his v/ill, gathered
up some ropes and log chains from different
places, and about ten o'clock at night started
for Robinson's farm, and hanged the bull to an
old apple tree. We then tacked the document
containing his will in the middle of his forehead,
and left, feeling that our thirst for blood had
been satisfied.
Many times in later years I have thought of
this incident, and wondered why we did it.
That apple tree is standing to-day in that or-
chard, and is noted and known all over the
country as being the tree on which Robinson's
bull was hanged.
As the time for us to start was drawing near,
I decided to visit iny liome once more, and
96 TPIIO ADV}CNTUPvES OF A CONSCJUrT
while I knew it was hazardous, I believed with
tlie proper precaution that I could . make the
trip. Some of my comrades insisted that I
ought not undertake it, but I felt tiure I could
do it. So on AVedncsda}^ afternoon before the
time set to start on Saturday night, 1 started to
my father's house, following^ the summit of the
mountains. I shortened the distance many
miles from that of the road, which ran around
the base of the mountains. Night settled down
about the time 1 crossed the summit of the Alle-
ghany rvlountains, but being used to liardships,
and familiar with the path thii.t led through that
dense forest, I hurried on and niade rapid time.
About ten o'clock I readied my old home at the
back of the farm.
I hurried through tiie fields and down the
path leading to tlie barn — the little path I liad
€0 often traveled over in my childhood days. I
cautiously approached the barn, made an exam-
ination to Pee if any strange horses were there,
and finding everything all right, I softly slipped
through the back gate an'd up the path to the
house, made an alarra at the door, and ^vas ad-
mitted. Father and mother we.re much sur-
prised at my presence, as well as alarmed, and
THE ADVENTUPvES OF A CONSCKIPT 97
asked mc wluat in the world I was doing there,
when I knew I was in danger of being killed;
told uie the authorities there had just heard of my
desertion, and the}' would make a greater effort
than ever before to get me. I reassured them
and quieted their fears, telling them my plans.
Then I said good-by for tlie last time, turned,
and hurried through the back door, down by
the barn, out aloiig the little path along the hill-
side, and was soon in the woods. By noon I had
arrived' at my destination aniong my friends. I
was tired aiul worn out, and lay down and slept
till nighl, and was not yet rcsied from my long,
hard trip across the mountains. I did not go
out with the boys, but slept all niglu, and next^
morning was full}' rested, and folt cqua'l for any
•emergency that might happen.
My story would not be complete were I not
to relate the circumstance tluit occurred the
night before we set out. During the day I re-
■ceivcd a note from 2^Iiss Edith Carroll, wb.o, the
reader will remember, figured in the first' part of
this story in my first arrc<l. She hi\d sent the
note by an old man, a good friend of mine, and
who knew mc well. He lived less than a mile'
from her father's house, where I was first cap-
9S THE ADVENTUPvES OF A CONSOliirT
tared. He was also t\ good Union man. She re-
quested that I meet her at the house of the
bearer of the note at from 10 to 11 o'clock that
night. She had something important to tell
me, and 1 must not fail to be there.
Kno^Ying that iier sympathies were with the
South, I hesitated. 1 did not \vant to make any
mistake, and fall into a trap just when the, way
was clear for my escape. I asked the old man
if he thought it would be perfectly safe for me
to go. He said he was sure it was. Said he:
"The girl seems to be very much excited about
something, and said siie must sec you. Come
to-night at 11 o'clock, and I will stand guard, so
there will be no possibility of your falling into
a trap.
"Tell her I will be there at 1 1 o'clock to-night."
I procured a horse that was fairly fast of foot.
I had about six or seven miles to go. About
10 o'clock at night, after disguising myself to
the extent that anyc^nc meeting me in the dark
along the road would not recognize me, I
mounted my horse and was soon dashing across
the country at a rapid pace.
I arrived at the place at about the time desig-
nated.-' They were expecting me. The old gen-
THE ADViOXTUPvJCS OF A CO^'SC^vTI'T 9'J
tlcman and Miss Edilh met meat tlicgate. The
old man said lie would sit and hold my horse,
and give the alarm should any danger appear,
jind Miss Edith could tell n^e what she desired
to see me for.
We walked to the house, were sliown into the
sitting room, and left alone.
. Miss Edith said : **I am so delighted to see
you. I heard last night that you had again de-
sorted and was in this part of the country. I
heard it from Maj. Long, who captured you a
year ago at my father's house. He came to see
me and wanted me to assist in 3'our capture ;
said there was a reward ofl'ered for you, and if I
V'ould become a party to your capture he would
share it with me. And he suggested that I
scheme to meet you at my home or any place you
might designate, with the understanding that
he be concealed witli a squad of men and sur-
round and capture you. Further, h.e said when
they get you again you would never givo them
or any one else any more trouble. I knew what
he meant, and those words vrent like an arrow
to my heart. I remembered that at our parting
a year ago I registered a vow in Heaven to pro-
tect you in every way I could. I spurned his
100 THE ADVENTURES OF A COXSCllirT
offer, told him I was not doing that kind of
business, and even if I was I doubted very much
my ability- to accomplish your capture. He
swore with an oath that lie would never rest till
he got you. This threat at once became a great
burden to me, and I deterinined to see you, but
did not know how it was possible for me to do
60 until I at last conceived the idea that I have
just carried out; and I dare not let my family
know anything about this. I slipped from my
room an hour ago, and they do nc^t know I am
away."
I thanked the young lady heartily for her
interest, and assured her thnt I felt sure of es-
caping this lime to the Union lines.
After sonjc furtlicr conversation 1 arose to
start. Siic walked down to the gate witli me^
where the old man was holding my horse. 1
took him by^tlic Imnd and bade liini good-b3'e,
and he turned and walked to tlie house. "And
now," said 1, ''Miss Edith, again I thank you
lor your kindness," and taking her b}' t^ie hand
said good-bye. li(jlding my haiid slie said:
*OIay the[^God in whom we trust guide and
protect you." Then, mounting n\y horse, I was
soon Hying across the country on my way back.
THE ADVEXTUPwES OF A CO^^SCIU^T 101
It was now about luidniglU, and I soon arrived
among my friends.
The next day was Saturday, our last dv^y there.
Wo spent, the day visiting our friends and bid-
ding them good-bye, and as the evening sh.adows
began to gather along the valley, we moved in
crowds for our meeting place on ihe mountain,
two or three miles away. Myself and tliose
with me arrived there long before 10 o'clock,
but they soon began to gather in from all direc-
tions, and when 10 o'clock had come we lined
them up and counted them. V.'e found we had
just eighty-five ready to start.
• AVc traveled all nigiit as fast as Wc- could, and
when daylight came v.'c would inquire of the
Union people along the road as to the probabil-
ity of there being any dai^.ger ah.; '. The best
information we could gel iho way was clear.
The rebel army la}' some distance to our right.
We were keeping close to the buse of the moun-
tains, and the only danger we feared wus that
we might be reported to the Confederates, and
cavalry might dash across the country and
head us oil.
About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we came up
with two Union scouts who were perfectly famil-
102 THE ADVKXTUKES OF A CONSGIlirT
iar with the country. We placed ourselves in
their hands, for the reason that they could lead
us to the nearest route into the Union lines. "We
were all extremely tired, and some nearl}' given
out. We went down in a deep ravine some dis-
tance from tlie road and lay down, and rested
perhaps two hours. The scouts said it was yet
twent}^ to twenty-five miles to the Union army
by the nearest way we could go, and we would
have to double-quick a portion of the way.
They said the rebels were maneuvering on our
right, and extending their lines east in front of
us, but we would have no trouble to flank them
when dark cauie. So after we had rested we
again started on our h.ome stretch.
It was a long, hard pull. I am sure .1 v/as
never so tired in m}^ life as I was that evening
about dark. And to add to my sufTering my
feet were almost a solid blister on the soles. I
thought several times 1 could get no further,
and I was not alone; others were in the same
fix. I shall never forget the suffering of that
night, and had it not been that the goal of my
ambition was but a few miles ahead of us,
I would have lain dov/n by the roadside and
given it up.
THJO ADVENTUIiES OF A COXSCJUPT 103
Vic traveled on till about 2 o'clock in the
morning, when wo came up to the Union pickets.
The two scouts advanced and reported. The
ofilccr in charge lined liis men up by tiie road-
side, and we njarched past in double file, while
the guard stood at present arms.
We marched into the town of Jonesboro, or
the edge of the town rather, where we found a
large old barn, and we all found a place in it to
lie dovrn, and being so tired and exhausted were
soon asleep.
"We slept till daylight, when vre began to get
up and look around. We started up town alto-
gethiCr, and the first thing that attracted our
attention was the flag — the Old Stars and Stripes,
floating over the courthouse.
The boys began to cheer. We formed them
in line double file, and marched around the
courthouse square, cheering and hallooing like
wild men.
I shall never forget the sensation that came
over me when I looked down that line of men,
who had suffered so long and so much, some
cheering, some throwing their hats and others
weeping like children. Poor fellows, it seemed
that their joy had no bounds, and they cheered
104 THE ADVEXTURE3 OF A CONSOrwIPT
until they were so hoarse tlicy were forced to stop.
This was I^Ionday morning the 30th of Sep-
tember, and it marks an epoch in the history of
my life, ^ye reached the Union army none too
soon for our safety. About nine o'clock orders
were given to fall back to Greenville, about
twenty-five miles, and we at once started on the
march. We arrived there on Tuesday morning
and began to make arrangements to enlist and
organize our company for the Union service.
It has not been my purpose in writing this
story too revive any of the animosities of the
Civil War. I thank God that the wounds left by
that struggle are healed. The bloody chasm is
closed, and the tnnnp of the warrior and the
clangor of arms no longer echo on our mountains
or in our valleys. The garments dyed in blood
have passed away, and we live to enjoy the rich
boon of freedom and prosperity, purchased with
the blood of the thousands of patriots who
found their last resting place amid the thunder-
bolts of war, 'neath the whispering pines ni..!
palmettos of the South-land, and that v. c arc
again one Nation, one people, under one flag.
'But few men living to-day have greater v.'rongs
to forgive than myself; but I have tried to for-
. THE ADVENTUPvES OE A CONSCIUPT 10>
give tliem as I hope to be forgiven. All the
characters mentioned in this story are real and
true to name, except the Carroll family.
Edith Carroll is an assumed .name for a real
character. A short time after the close of the
war she was happily married and is now the
mother of a grown-up family, though 1 have
never seen her since tliat midnight parting be-
fore mentioned, on the niglit before my depart-
ure for the Union army. A few years ago I vis-
ited that country where the scenes and incidents
involved in this story took place, >^'carly all
the parties mentioned have passed from earth
into the great unknown. I know of but two or
three besides niyself thai are left. That fatlier
and mother on whose so.uls this great burden of
anguish and sorrow fell heaviest are pe:icefully
sleeping side by side in tlie old clmrchyard on
the hill- side, "in the wlndowless palace of the
dead." Storms may mutter around th.. i lone.
and silent resting-plac' .nd fields run red with
othfi \ ars ; they are i rest. But few of the
f^ ■ uds of my youth are there, and only the
iiands of strangers greet lii in my native land.
Those whon-. T loved in childhood arc scattered
here and mere, and many have passed over the
dark river of death and gone from earth forever.
