USA > Tennessee > Johnson County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 31
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 31
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RECRUITING IN THE ENEMY'S LINES.
We will relate some narrow escapes of one or two Fed- eral recruiting officers, illustrating the danger they were constantly in, and yet there were hundreds of men who did not hesitate to engage in it and, in fact, volunteered to do this service.
Lieut. A. D. Frasier was first sent out to recruit enough men to complete his company, but proved so successful in recruiting men and eluding the enemy that he was kept in that service until nearly the close of the war and was highly commended by his superior officers.
On his first trip, in October, 1863, he had recruited only two men, James Nave and Michael Roberts. The nights being cool they lodged in a barn. One of the men, Nave. was discovered by a company of rebel soldiers under a Captain Boren, who was hunting conscripts and arresting Union men. Nave betrayed Frasier and Roberts and told the officer that Frasier was a Federal recruiting officer in full uniform and armed with two navy pistols. The officer
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surrounded the barn and demanded the surrender of the two men. Roberts climbed down and gave himself up and was struck over the head with a gun by one of the soldiers and badly hurt. Frasier determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, believing he would be shot any- way. Captain Boren finally set fire to the barn and Fra- sier seeing no chance of escape hid his pistols, coat and recruiting papers in the hay, thinking they would be burned and destroy the evidence against him, and came down and surrendered. He talked and acted independently and was treated very nicely by a Lieutenant of the company. Rob- erts was tied but Frasier was only guarded, while Nave was taken into the confidence of the enemy for betraying Frasier.
The rebels put out the fire and found Lieut. Frasier's uniform and pistols but did not find his recruiting papers. They found his pistols cocked and asked him what that meant. He told them it meant if they had attacked him instead of firing the barn he intended to kill as many of them as he could. Some of the soldiers cocked their guns to shoot him, but the Lieutenant interfered. They took what money he had and such of his clothes as they wanted. That morning the company went to the home of Reuben Brooks, a prominent rebel citizen, for breakfast. They had captured another Union man, Frank White. and tied him and Roberts together. The same day this company shot a Union man named Dillon Blevins and left him for (lead, but he recovered and joined the Federal army and chied in the service. Leaving Brooks' the company started down Stony Creek, hunting conscripts and bushwhackers. They went to the home of Christian Crow, the only seces- sion family in the neighborhood except the Brooks family. They had a dance there and Lieut. Frasier being a violin- ist furnished the music but was closely guarded all the time. That evening Lieut. Isaac L. Nave, of the Con- federate army, whose home was down on the Watauga river, and whom we have had occasion to mention, came there. Frasier, who had worked for Nave in his forge and had known him from his boyhood thought he would
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find in him an influential friend who would save him from imprisonment, if not death. He asked to have an inter- view with Nave, which was permitted, and told him the trouble he was in and implored his assistance on the grounds that their families had always been warm friends and had supported him for office; but Nave told him he could do nothing for him, that "he had joined the wrong cause," and turned coldly away.
On the following day Capt. Boren again started out in search of victims having in charge the prisoners we have named, Leiut. Frasier, Roberts and White, the two latter tied together with ropes and guarded by one cavalryman while Frasier was guarded by a single soldier and both men on foot. The larger part of the company were ome distance in advance of the prisoners. Passing White's home he asked permission to stop and get a change of clothing. When the guard started on with White two Union girls, Misses Lucinda and Dulcina Bartee, who happened there at the time, and also Mrs. Julia White started along the road with the prisoners and guard. They had not gone far when James White, Frank's brother, who had been following along in the bushes out of sight of the guard, rushed out into the road and knocked the guard off his horse with a rock, and Mrs. White, who had prepared for the emergency by concealing a butcher knife in her clothing, cut the rope that bound the two prisoners together and the prisoners and women fled to the Iron Mountain. But for this brave deed of the two girls and Julia White, his wife, Frank White would have been shot, as he was charged with being a "bushwhacker." Having heard of his arrest this plan for his release was adopted and bravely carried out.
The soldier received a bad scalp wound, and that, with his fall from his horse dazed him, but he recovered in a short time sufficiently to fire off his gun and pistols to alarm the soldiers in advance. Some of them returned and all were greatly excited and it was reported they had been fired on by the bushwhackers. Capt. Boren ordered White's home, with its contents, burned to the ground.
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In the meantime Lieut. Frasier and his guard being some distance in the rear (the guard wearing Frasier's fine coat, lieutenant's straps and all). The soldier stepped over a small stream of water that crossed the road and Frasier, remarking that he wanted a drink got down on his knee and placing his right hand on a good-sized stone, pretended to drink and as he raised up with the stone in his hand he threw it at the guard, placing him hors de combat, and taking advantage of the situation, fled, but the guard recovered in time to send a bullet through his clothing.
LIEUT. H. H. HOUSLEY
was another recruiting officer who did good service and ran many narrow risks. At one time while he and sev- eral others were hidden, the rebel soldiers came on to the two Bartee girls we have mentioned taking some baskets of provisions to Lieut. Housley and some men he had with him. They tried to make them tell where the men were but the brave girls refused to do so. Housley and his men heard them firing on some Union men nearby and vacated their camp. They lost their breakfast but saved themselves. Michael Roberts, who had made his escape a few days before, was with Housley at that time, also Landon Blevins and others.
Besides the many other brave deeds done by the loyal women of Stony Creek, they were heroines in the one thing of fighting "the wolf from the door" and support- ing their helpless children and those enfeebled by age in the absence of their fathers and husbands. They returned to the primitive methods and made clothing from the raw material-cotton, flax and wool-they felled trees in the forests ; they raised and garnered thegrain and stored it in the barns; they carded and spun and wove; they made and mended shoes, killed hogs and beeves, repaired their homes and barns, and besides the "women's work that is never done," they did the work of men "that lasts from sun to sun."
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IST CIVIL DISTRICT OF JOHNSON COUNTY,
TENN.
This District lies in the extreme northeastern point in Tennessee, where the State-line joins that of Virginia and North Carolina at the foot of the White Top Mountain.
It was the abode of many true and loyal men and women who suffered for their devotion to the Union, but who did not quail before the storm of persecution that broke over their heads, but stood firmly upon the deck while the ship of state was being tossed to and fro by the turbulent waves of Civil War as they ebbed and flowed for four long, dreary years. The following are some of their names : Major John Ward, who was an officer in the Mexican War, and his wife, Dalila; Peter D. and Sophia Wills, Russell B. and Elizabeth Wills, Adam and Amanda Wills, James H. and Eliza Wills, Robert W. and Susan Keys, David L. and Jane Keys, James J. and Susan J. Robinson, Elias and Lavenia Worley, John B. and Abi- gail McQueen, Joseph and Sarah Sutherland, Joseph A. and Sarah Sutherland, Abner and Lincinda Eggers, Joseph A. and Orpha Grace, John and Margaret Grace, R. W. and Elizabeth Hawkins, Win. and Mary Gentry, Andrew and Margaret E. Gentry, Richard U. and Sarah Gentry, Thomas and Frances Gentry, John J. and Dacia Gentry, William and Mary Cornut, Caleb Wills, David and Nancy Gilliland, John H. and Susan Micheals, Vincent and Delia Morefield, David and Mary Bridges, James and Polly Bridges, Ezekial and Ellen Dixon, Landon H. and Emaline Hawkins, Alfred and Jane Hawkins, Richard and Mary Hawkins. Joseph and Millie Gilbert, George H. and Mariah L. Robinson, S. E. P. and Mary Mc- Queen.
These people were loyal and true, and many of them sent sons into the Federal army. They demonstrated their loyalty by aiding conscripts and refugees and by feeding and caring for escaped prisoners.
Captain Slimp tells the following story in regard to Russell B. Wills of this District :
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"I have seen proper to mention the name of Russell B. Wills in my list of worthies who was an unswerving Union man. He had a little sack of gold, consisting of about four hundred dollars. Johnson county was infested with a gang of deserters from the Confederate army. Robbery being a favorite occupation of the gang they roamed about over the county for plunder, especially money. They had an eager inclination for gold and sil- ver. Mr. Wills saw them coming to his house in a gallop and had no time to hide his gold, but picked up a bucket and stepped to the well, knowing they would be in his pocket, he dropped his sack of gold in the well and in a few moments they searched his pockets and found no gold. In their disappointment the gang hurried away before Mr. Wills could tell them his gold was in the bot- tom of his well."
2D CIVIL DISTRICT, JOHNSON COUNTY.
This District embraces what was the town of Taylors- ville, during the Civil War, and is now Mountain City, Tennessee. It was a most beautiful and delightful vil- lage, nestled in the hills and inhabited by an intelligent, brave and loyal people. Many of them were well educated, and some of them were slave owners, by far the greater part of them were loyal to the Union. There were few towns, according to the number of its inhabitants that could boast of more intelligent. enterprising men than Taylorsville.
When the war came they bravely asserted their rights and maintained them as long as it was possible to do so, and when free speech was no longer permitted they sought shelter in the mountains and later in the Federal army and fought their way back to their homes.
R. R. Butler and A. D. Smith, both of whom became Lieut .- Colonels in the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, were residents of Taylorsville, Major James W. M. Grayson, of that place, was among the first to take a large company of men from Johnson county into the Federal army. Among the officers of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry
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besides those named who resided at Taylorsville or in that vicinity were: Major Joseph H. Wagner, Major R. H. M. Donnelly, Captain Richard H. Luttrell, Captain Jacob. H. Norris, Captain S. C. Northington, Captain A. T. Donnelly, Captain T. J. Barry, and Lieutenants H. C. Northington, C. M. Arnold, and Charles Lefler.
Taylorsville, and its vicinity, was the scene of many incidents and tragedies. We have had occasion to men- tion the vindictive spirit shown towards the Union people by the disloyal element of that county after the country was occupied by rebel soldiers, and especially those who belonged to and operated with the "home-guard." We have been creditably informed that all who entertained what was termed the "Southern sentiment" were not of this class. We have already had occasion to mention the saving of the life of a Union man by the intervention of a rebel lady, Mrs. Shoun. There are doubtless many other instances where neighbors on opposite sides inter- posed in each others behalf, and such acts form a silver lining to the dark clouds of civil war, and we are always glad to make record of them.
Besides the vindictive spirit which was aroused in John- son county between its own citizens, that county seems to- have been cursed by the presence of robbers and maraud- ers from other places who took refuge there and made the war an excuse for pillage and plunder.
Following are the names of some of the loyal men and women who were residents of Taylorsville, Tenn., during the Civil War, and who witnessed and took part in the al- most indescribable scenes of chaos and anarchy that ruled that period: Mathias M. and Mary Wagner, David H. and Rachel Wagner, Nathaniel T. and Amanda Wagner, Andrew W. and Susan Wagner, Andrew C. and Hilia Wagner, William K. and Alice Donnelly, Richard A. and Matilda Donnelly, Richard H. and Eliza Donnelly, Dr. Robert L. Donnelly, Dr. James D. and Frances Donnelly. Harrison C. and Margaret Donnelly, Oliver C. and Eliza Butler. Archibald and Louisa Bradfute, Thomas and Lucy Barry, Nicholas S. and Susan Cress, Samuel and
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Sarah Cress, John M. and Lavina Cress, William L. and Clara Cress, Samuel D. and Eliza Cress, and James A. Cress : William and Nancy Shupe, John and Elizabeth Shupe, John H. and Fanny Shupe, Reuben and Kezzie Fritts, Abram and Aura Grigston, Joel and Sarah Brook- shur, David and Elizabeth Turner, William E. and Orpha Johnson, Thomas and Mary Johnson, Hyder M. and Sarah Mitchell, Giles and Valeria Gregory, Thomas S. and Margaret Smythe, William T. and Margaret Shupe, Franklin M. and Sarah Chappel, Mrs. Mary Smith, Har- vey L. and Martha Johnson, Isaac and Atlantic Rambo, George W. and Polly Turner, David and Jane Phillips, R. E. and Rachel Berry, Jas. W. and Nancy Turner.
We introduce here a flag incident kindly furnished us 'by Lieut. H. C. Northington, now of Denver, Colorado. It shows the spirit of loyalty that pervaded the minds of the people. No greater insult could be offered them than to wave a Southern flag in their sight. Nor was their loyalty of a brief or spasmodic character: the same men who captured this rebel flag proved their loyalty after- wards on the battle-fields. The others, whose names we have mentioned, were equally loval to the Union, and all of them, both men and women, suffered every indignity imaginable at the hands of the Johnson county "home- guards," an organization, which if it has not been greatly maligned, guarded few homes, but with ruthless hands invaded a large majority of the homes of that county to terrify and oppress their inmates, and burned many of them over their heads because of their loyalty to the Union.
Some of the Union men were hunted down and impris- oned, some dying in prison and buried in unknown graves, while in some instances their wives were driven insane by the terrible ordeals through which they passed. The midnight vigils of the faithful, loving wife, the fond mother and the loving sister, watching and waiting for father, husband or brother, whom they knew might never return, the dread and anxiety was worse if possible than death itself, yet there are few. if any, of the
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women whose names we have given who were not
called upon to go through with the sad ex-
perience. Yet as a rule these brave women bore up nobly under the great mental and physical strain, and did cheerfully all that it was possible for them to do, feeding the hungry, administering to the sick and helpless, watching, almost with sleepless eyes, for the approach of the enemy, and warning the hunted refugees when danger approached. In moments of surprise and sudden danger it is said that women retain their wits and are more resourceful in finding ways of escape or devising means of frustrating the plans of the enemy than men are inder like circumstances. Their ingenuity in this respect was often put to severe tests during the Civil War when the life of a husband, brother or friend was at stake; and many a life has been saved through their instrumentality.
CAPTURE OF CONFEDERATE FLAG.
"The next day after Virginia seceded from the Union, or rather passed the ordinance of secession, the first Con- federate flag appeared in Taylorsville, Tenn., now Moun- tain City, under the following circumstances. The United States mail coach from Abington, Va., arrived in Moun- tain City every afternoon at five o'clock and departed next morning at eight o'clock for North Carolina. On this occasion there were two men, besides the stage driver, going over the line with some extra led horses. One of these men had a Confederate flag about 18x36 inches, carrying it in his hands, waving it over the heads of all whom he happened to meet, halloing for the Southern Confederacy and insulting Union men by flaunting it in their faces. After going to their hotel, or place of stopping, a committee of Union men called on them and advised them not to carry the flag through the streets, that Tennessee had not seceded from the Union and the Union people of the town were opposed to the Southern Confederacy, and the flag.
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This seemed to insult them and they began to abuse Union men and said that they would carry the flag the next morning through the streets, and that if the Union people "didn't like it they could lump it," and that they would kill the first man that attempted to take it down.
That night a few of the Union men got together and agreed to take the flag from them if they attempted to parade the streets with it the next morning. We knew that they would stop at the post office for the mail, so we agreed to meet there and capture it. But when the time came the more conservative heads said that we had better drop the matter and let them go as it would cause us trouble and perhaps some of us our lives. In the mean- time three of our party had made all arrangements to take the flag, and we proceeded to do it in the following man- ner : A double-barreled shot-gun was placed on the in- side and behind the post office door. When the men came up with the flag, waving it and halloing, there were pres- ent, S. E. Northington, J. H. Wagner and H. C. North- ington. All were well-armed and ready for business. S. E. Northington was to demand the surrender of the flag, and upon their refusal to do so, H. C. Northington was to hand him the double-barreled shot-gun and he would shoot it off the head of the man who carried it. The flag was sewed to the man's hat. When S. E. North- ington demanded the flag the man who had it was on horseback. He commenced to swear, saving. "We dare you to touch it." Just then H. C. Northington handed S. E. Northington the double-barreled shot-gun. where- upon the latter said, "Take that flag down or I will shoot it down," and without hesitation he shot the flag in rib- bons, keeping the man and the flag covered with the gun until he took off his hat and pulled out the flag from the hat and handed it to S. E. Northington, then hurriedly galloped away with his companions.
"The participants in this affair were afterwards offi- cers in the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry."
H. C. NORTHINGTON, 249 S. 13th Street. Denver, Colo.
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HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
3D CIVIL DISTRICT, JOHNSON COUNTY.
This District lies east of Shoun's Cross Roads and was but sparsely settled during the Civil War, but we are told that its inhabitants were among the bravest and truest loyal people in that loyal county, and that they suffered much hardships and privations and encountered many dangers and contended nobly for what they conceived to be right. They were imbued with the same spirit of loy- alty to the Union and love and veneration for the old flag that had been handed down from father to sons since the days of King's Mountain.
We place on record here such of their names as we have been able to obtain. Most of these men had sons in the Federal army, or were in the service themselves: James Powell, David Farmer. Zebulon Payne, Andrew Potter, Sr., Andrew Potter, Jr., Richmond Roberts, Timothy Roark.
4TH CIVIL DISTRICT OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
This District was among the most prosperous in the county, and its inhabitants were, as a rule, intelligent and progressive people, most of them being substantial farm- ers. There lived in that locality in the time of the Civil War : Major David Slimp and his wife, Evaline; Colonel Daniel Slimp and wife, Susan; Martin and Sarah Slimp, Jordan and Minty Jones, John S. and Rebecca Vaught, John H. Vaught and wife. John S. and Nancy Vaught, Alfred and Martha Widby, Daniel Ward, John W. Lunceford, John Bailey, Nathaniel and Nancy Lester, Peter and Malissa Snyder, William and Mary Arnold, John B. and Rachel Vaught, Daniel and Mary Snyder, John Hawkins, Jr., and Nancy. Jacob and Sarah Wag- ner, Jacob and Ann Wagner, Joseph J. and Mary Wag- ner, Daniel and Mary Snyder. John and Mary Arney, Larkin and Malinda Dunn, John and Catherine Slimp, ยท Rolin and Anna Jenkins, Thomas and Dalila Ward, John
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TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
and Nancy Ward, Eli and Nancy Davis, Rev. W. B. Gam- bill and wife, Elizabeth, Godfrey D. and Mary Stout; Rev. John W. and Mary Mink, William G. and Rebecca Nave, David V. and Ann Stout, Robert P. and Eliza Moore, Millard and Martha Lester. Hamilton B. and Martha Ward, Meridith B. and Rebecca Dunn, John Hawkins, Nathan Stout, N. T. Wagner, John B. Vaught, Larkin Dunn, Peter Rasor, Nicholas and Catherine Stout, Morefield and Rebecca Lester, Jackson and Edith Proffit, Richard and Rebecca Lester.
Two of these men, John Hawkins and John H. Vaught, were martyrs to the Union cause : others, men and women, suffered from dangers, privations and persecutions, and all saw and felt the blight of "war's unhallowed footsteps" about their homes. Some of them had sons in the Fed- eral army.
5THI CIVIL DISTRICT, JOHNSON COUNTY.
This District was in the western part of the county, and lies along the Watauga river. During the Civil War it was a well-to-do farming neighborhood, but since the war, in addition to this it embraces the very pretty and thriv- ing little town of Butler, named in honor of the late Hon. R. R. Butler.
This little town boasts of the Holly Springs College, a prosperous school founded a number of years ago by Prof. James H. Smith and still ( 1902) presided over by that well-known and popular educator.
During the war their ruling passion was loyalty to the Union, and from that idea no amount of persecution could induce them to swerve for a single moment. Flattery and appeals to prejudice, threats of death and imprisonment were alike unavailing in changing the steadfast loyalty of these people : Joshua and Nancy Perkins, Ezekiel Smitli Sr., and Nancy Smith, Joseph and Nancy Wagner, James" D. and Lucinda Rainbolt, Andrew and Elizabeth Wilson, Andrew J. and Julia Ann Wilson, Elisha and Elizabeth
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Rainbolt, Nicholas G. and Martha Grindstaff, Isaac and Mary Grindstaff, Jacob F. and Christina Grindstaff, Da - vid R. and Salina Stout. Isaac and Atlantic Rambo, John and Mary Slimp, Calvin F. and Catherine Slimp, Thos. J. and Susan Stout, David and Martha Shull, George P. and Nancy Stout, Burton and Mary Greenwell, Andrew T. and Susan Smith, William L. and Louisa Smith, Mathias and Sarah Wagner, Joseph and Louisa Wagner, Andrew B. and Martha Slimp, Andrew Cable, Isham McCloud.
Calvin F. Slimp was a young married man who died in the latter part of 1861, but just previous to his death hie attended a Union meeing at Taylorsville, some 18 miles distant from his home. He went on foot and carried a large National flag mounted on a heavy pole, and after at- tending the meeting returned to his home with the flag, having walked a distance of 36 miles. This patriotic act showing his loyalty and love of country was among the last deeds of his life. No other section, even of "loyal Johnson county" exceeded this district in the loyalty and patriotism of its citizens, and scarcely any other suffered more for its devotion to the flag.
Without making "invidious comparisons" it may be said that no other people faced the storm and "bore the brunt of battle" with greater courage or more unyielding obstinacy than were displayed by the people in these lo- calities. The men did their full share in resisting "the strange flag and the strange doctrine" till resistance be- came vain, and then they "hied themselves away" in the wake of Dan. Ellis across mountains and ravines, across rivers and streams to where the old flag greeted their delighted senses. Many never returned but they did what has been done since the ages began-paid the price of lib- erty for others. The brave women whose names we have mentioned also "bore the burden and heat of the day," with a fortitude never surpassed and equalled only by their "sisters in sorrow" throughout the domain of which we are writing.
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