USA > Tennessee > Johnson County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 34
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 34
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They entered into conversation, Ellis telling him he lived in the neighborhood and was taking some things over to Mr. Blank, mentioning the name of a well-known rebel citizen he knew lived in the neighborhood. The soldier told him they were on the lookout for a notorious Lin - colnite, named Ellis, that piloted renegades through the lines and asked Ellis if he had ever seen him. Ellis told him he had never seen him but had heard a good deal of him and knew he was a bad man. The soldier then said : "Well, if we catch him he will not pilot any more Lin- colnites through the lines." Reaching the shore the sol . dier asked him to go to the still-house with him and get some liquor, but Ellis declined, thanked the soldier for taking him across the river and walked slowly away until out of sight when he walked as only Dan. Ellis could walk in those days.
At another time, having taken about 25 men to Kings- port on the way to Kentucky, he concealed them under the banks of the river while he went to the house of a Union man who was well-known to him to ask for the use of his canoe, and find out whether there were any rebels in the vicinity. The friend told him there was a com- pany of rebels there, and a squad of them had charge of the canoe and were at that moment watching for him. and the best thing he could do would be to get away front there as quickly as possible. Ascertaining the exact loca- tion of the squad of men who had charge of the canoe, Ellis concealed his men under the bank of the river some distance below them and then started cautiously towards them. The night was quite dark, and approaching quite near to them he found, as he had hoped, that they were all lying down and probably asleep, for it was late at night, or rather early in the morning, for it was long past midnight. Ellis now lying flat upon his belly moved himself, almost by inches, towards the canoe which was within 20 feet, or less, of the guard. At this moment hc made a slight noise, unintentionally, and quick as thought a soldier sprang to his feet with his gun in his hand. Ellis thought for a moment his fate was sealed but the soldier
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peered around in the darkness, and seeming to satisfy himself that the noise he had heard was but the splashing of the waves or a false alarm of some kind, lay down again. £ Ellis lay perfectly still, scarcely daring to breathe, until he thought the soldier had time to get back to sleep, and then crawled up to the canoe, which was but slightly drawn up on the bank, he gathered up the chain in a bunch and laid it gently in the bottom of the canoe. then gradually loosening it from its moorings floated with it silently out into the stream. He reached his men, and when they were all safely across, pushed the canoe ont into the river, so it could not be used to follow him. The party then made their way hurriedly to Bays Mountain, about three miles distant, where they concealed them - selves. The next morning, from their hiding place in the mountain, they could see the rebel soldiers galloping back and forth and hear them shoutng and cursing, for they were doubtless angry, even with themselves, because they had let the "old red fox" outwit them.
But it must not be assumed that Ellis' courage con- sisted in performing only such feats as we have described, though it must be admitted they required no small amount of nerve and daring; but, when the chances were any- thing like equal, he never hesitated to meet an enemy face to face in the open. His courage was tested on many occasions, both during and since the Civil War. No man when confronted with danger could more truthfully than he, make use of the language imputed to Fitz James when confronted by the hosts of Rhodcrick Dhu :
"Come one, come all, this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I."
Ellis made a mistake in writing an autobiography. He is too modest to make a display of his own heroism. His story should have been written by another who was familiar with his daring and his brave deeds. None but a Cæsar or a Paul Jones could gracefully make a hero of himself. We can mention here but a few more incidents of his life as a scout and pilot; for this history in full,
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we refer our readers to his book entitled "Adventures of Daniel Ellis, the Union Guide," published by Harper Bros., New York, in 1867, which we understand is still in print.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN YOUNG.
We have referred to the danger attending Ellis when he would return from Kentucky The fact of his return always became known, even to the Confederate officers and soldiers, and many ineffectual efforts were made to capture him. But he had many friends who gave hin warning of approaching danger. Sometimes, however, he made very narrow escapes. At one time some rebel soldiers got within a few feet of him while he was in a house at Hampton, Tenn., before he knew they were pear. The men who were with him were captured, but he knew that with him, capture meant death, so he made a break for the Jenkins mountain closely pursued by sev- eral soldiers who were firing on him at every step. He returned the fire but as the odds were greatly against lam, continued to retreat and finally escaped by having superior endurance. But his power of endurance was severely tested on this occasion, and after running up the steep mountain side he fell exhausted and it was sometime before he could recover his breath.
At another time he escaped from Capt. Young's men at his home. This time he got to his fleet-footed horse and saved himself by flight. These efforts to capture or kill him aroused all the vindictiveness of his nature and he determined upon revenge. After his flight from Young it was alleged that that officer allowed his men to rob Ellis' house and abuse his wife. Soon after this Capt. Young with his company were on the road from Doe River Cove to Elizabethton. Ellis was in waiting for them near a ford of Doe river known as the "Skin-Pine" ford. The company had passed where Ellis was concealed when Captain Young, who for some reason was some
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distance in the rear of the company, came along, Ellis stepped out into the road and halted him and immediately opened fire on him with his Spencer rifle, killing him al- most instantly. Captain Young's son visited the place where his father was killed a few years ago and marked the spot with a stone upon which was engraved his father's name and the date of his death, but the inscrip- tion has been defaced by some one.
DEATII OF CAPTAIN PARKER.
There was in Johnson county a company of men known as the "Johnson county home-guards," commanded by Captain Parker. They were active in hunting down Union men in that county and it was alleged were most cruel and inhuman in their treatment of old men and even women and children. These men made frequent incur- sions into Carter county and were charged with hanging and shooting five Union men at one time near what is now the Fish Spring. The act was committed just across the line in Johnson county, but some of the men were citizens of Carter. Other Carter county men were killed by Parker and his men. Ellis was called upon to try to put a stop to what the Union people regarded as inhuman and needless butchery of citizens who had committed no offence except that of loyalty to the Union. Ellis went up into Johnson county and in company with other Union citizens who knew Parker personally, took a position near the road along which Parker and his men were expected to pass. The company passed but Parker was not with them. Presently. however, he came riding along alone. As in the case of Young, Ellis stepped into the road and halted him and opened fire on him. Parker fell from his horse, and when his friends returned to look for him they found his coat and hat but could find no trace of him. Several weeks passed and his body was found at last in the woods near a farm-house. The surroundings gave cvidence of a horrible death hastened by starvation. After
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being wounded he had crawled a distance of perhaps two miles but had been unable to attract the attention of any person. Little sympathy was expressed for this man, whose name was William Parker, especially by the Union people, as he had gained the reputation of being a most cruel and heartless individual.
Other tragedies in which Ellis had a hand will be men- tioned in the chapter of tragedies.
Ellis had much to arouse his passions and when once aroused he was found to be a dangerous enemy. He usually had about him a few friends who were as brave and daring as himself. Among them were Elbert and Robert Treadway. Towards the last of the war these Ihen, as well as Ellis himself, were armed with repeating rifles, and each had two six-shooting army pistols. Being excellent marksmen these three men were foes not to be despised by a whole company of the enemy.
At one time a squad of twenty or thirty rebel soldiers who was encamped on the Watauga river, went out to the vicinity of Ellis' home. Robert Treadway was off some distance but Ellis and Elbert opened fire on the soldiers and after wounding several of them put them to flight. Hearing the firing Robert hurried to the scene and joining Ellis and his brother, the three men drove the squad of soldiers several miles back to their camp. People who still remember this fight say the firing was so rapid that it sounded as if there was at least a company engaged on each side.
Ellis gained such a reputation for his fighting qualities and for the accuracy of his aim that few men, even brave soldiers, cared to venture within range of his gun. There is little doubt that when it was seen by the reckless men on the other side that shooting was a game that two could play at, the shooting and hanging did not occur so frequently. If the truth were told in regard to one- half of the acts of inhumanity committed by Parker and his men, his horrible death was not only a just retribu . tion for his misdeeds but a salutary lesson to men of hi ; class to teach them " as ye sow, so shall ye reap."
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CAPTAIN DANIEL ELLIS.
ELLIS AS A SOLDIER-HIS LIFE SINCE THE WAR.
Daniel Ellis assisted in recruiting Company A of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and was tendered the Cap- taincy of that company in 1863, but the service he had been able to render the Government at that time as well as the Union men as a pilot in taking them out of danger and the advantage to the Regiment in bringing in recruits induced Col. Miller and others to advise him not to ac- cept a commission in the army. In fact, the restraints and discipline of military life were not suited to him. We are free to say that though possessed of the greatest cour . age and intelligence, we do not believe he would have brooked the restraints of a line officer in the service suffi- ciently to have made him a success in that capacity. He preferred a free hand and a loose rein. He could direct others but did not care to be commanded.
Give him 100 brave men, or even a smaller number, and turn him loose and his name was a terror to all enemy.
This was demonstrated when in March, 1865, having been appointed Captain of Company A, Thirteenth Ten- nessee Cavalry, he accepted the commission as his service as Pilot was not now greatly needed. He asked for a de- tachment of men from the Regiment to go to Carter and Johnson counties where a few rebel soldiers still lingered and he wanted to have the honor of driving them away. He was given a detail of 32 men, including Lieut. Andrew Campbell, who had been promoted for killing Gen. Morgan. He started from Knoxville with this de- tachment on the 14th of March, 1865. They were all well armed, but not mounted, as they expected to mount themselves by capturing horses from the enemy.
Before giving details of this expedition we desire to say we have gleaned a greater part of the facts from Ellis' history, written soon after the close of the war. when men's passions were still running high on both
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sides, and when all were laboring under the passions and prejudices that had been engendered by the war. The men who were with him were nearly all Carter and John- son county men who felt that they and their families had been wronged and mistreated by Confederate soldiers and citizens. They were no doubt filled with the spirit of hatred and revenge that prevailed at that time.
Looking back from this distance at some of the acts that were committed by some members of this detachment we are not prepared to approve them, but it may be said they were in retaliation for acts of like character that had been committed by others. The killing of Henry and Isaac Nave as well as young Godfrey Stover, if the facts have been told, were acts greatly to be regretted. It has been alleged that Stover was shot after he surrender- ed, and the Naves were not permitted to surrender. In extenuation of these charges, even if they are true, it may be said that the men who killed them claimed to have been the victims of the malice and hatred of these men, and that they had been the instigators of the death of their friends. It is not our province, however, either to approve or condemn, but to relate the facts. It should be the duty of the historian, however humble his sphere, to make known such palliating circumstances as can be truthfully told that would relieve the dark shadow that hung over many deeds that were committed in these coun- ties, on both sides, under the impulses that then ruled men's thoughts and actions.
This detachment. after several days hard travel on foot, reached Elizabethton, near which place was Cap- tain Ellis' home. He had heard before reaching that place there was a squad of rebel soldiers there, but when he approached the town it was learned they had de- camped. He then proceeded leisurely to the "Laurel." in Johnson county, going by way of Stony Creek and Shady. Up to this time he had met with no startling ad- ventures. The Union neople gave the little detachment royal welcome, for even up to this late day they were accustomed to seeing only the "Gray ' and looking upon
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then as enemies, and with the greatest dread, But now they saw the blue, under the old banner, and the old men who had seen it in Mexico, and others who had been taught to reverence it, wept with joy.
Capt. Ellis learned through an old Union man that there was a company of rebel soldiers a short distance from where he was camped. A number of his men had dropped out at their homes in Carter county, but he had been joined by several armed Umon citizens so that his detachment still numbered 25 or 30 men. The enemy was encamped about a log barn and that night Captain Ellis moved his men up to within striking distance of the barn and awaited daylight to make the attack. At day- Fight, dividing his men into two squads, he made a rush for the enemy who was preparing breakfast in the barn lot. The enemy was greatly surprised and some of the inen retreated in haste, others took refuge under the barn, but about 15 of them stood their ground and made a gallant resistance, but Ellis' men had superior arms and finally succeeded in capturing them Those who had concealed themselves under the barn were brought out and made prisoners. Ellis captured 36 good horses with bridles, saddles and blankets, besides a quantity of arms and provisions. Among the prisoners was a Ken- tucky captain and lieutenant. The Kentuckians were not all "colonels" in those days.
Being now well mounted, Captain Ellis went back in the direction of Elizabethton where he learned a detach- ment of rebel soldiers under Capt. Olford Smith had been looking for him, and were still in the town. He concealed his men about two miles from town and about daylight on the following morning, dividing his men into three squads, he charged into town on different streets com- pletely routing the squad of rebels, who fled in different directions. Capt. Ellis being mounted on a fast animal came up with three of the enemy who stopped and showed fight. He was by himself at this time, having left his men in his rapid pursuit of the enemy. He had also emptied his pistols and had no time to reload. He en-
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gaged in a hand to hand fight with the men, and his life was probably saved by the timely arrival of W. W. Wil- liams of Company A, who came up and shot one of the men who had loaded his gun and was in the act of shoot- ing Captain Ellis. Before this time one of the rebel soldiers had been killed in Doe river, near where the foot- bridge now stands. It has been stated that this man whose name was Camper, gave "the grand-hailing sign of distress" of the Masonic fraternity, but this did not save him as it was not recognized by any of Capt. Ellis' party. Three men were killed on the side of the rebels, viz : Camper, Clark and Godfrey Stover, and eleven cap- tured. Captain Smith and one other man who was wound- ed, made their escape. Captain Smith was a native of Carter county and in this fight the spectacle was presented of neighbors fighting and killing each other, though this was nothing uncommon in East Tennessee during the Civil War.
DEATH OF ISAAC L. AND HENRY C. NAVE.
In April, 1865, Captain Ellis made a raid into Sulli- van county, Tenn. That county is on the border of Vir- ginia, and a majority of the citizens were disunionists during the war. When Ellis came into Carter county a number of rebel citizens of that county took refuge in Sullivan; among others were Isaac L. and Henry C. Nave, two prominent citizens who lived on the Watauga river a few miles east of Elizabethton. Isaac L. Nave had been a prominent farmer and politician before the war, and Henry C. Nave was also a prominent farmer. Both men had always been regarded as good men and good citizens. They both espoused the Southern cause, and it was alleged, took an active part in persecuting Un- ion men and pointing them out to the Confederate authori- ties. Henry C. Nave had a son Jacob, who was a Lieu- tenant in the Confederate army, and it was said it was ex- ceedingly vindictive towards the Union people, even those who had been his near neighbors and school-mates. For these reasons there was a strong feeling against them among the Union people.
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When Captain Ellis' detachment went into Sullivan county they ran on to the two elder Naves, Isaac L. and Henry C. and shot them. Captain Filis' version of the the killing is as follows: "After pursuing our journey a little farther, we saw two men run out of a violent old rebel's house. Some of the men commenced shooting and calling on them to halt; but the more we called on them to halt the faster they ran. When I got up closer I heard one of my men say, 'That is Henry Nave.' I instantly turned my horse in another direction and rode off, for I did not wish to see him killed and I knew it would be perfect folly to endeavor to prevent the men from killing a man who had been such a desperate enemy to them and their families. As I rode up towards the other man that some of my men were pursuing I heard the gun fire that killed him. When I got closer to the other man, to my great surprise, I found it was Isaac L. Nave. He would not surrender, and being well armed, he continued to shoot as long as he could; but he was soon killed."
Other versions of the killing of these men have been given out to the effect that they were shot down in cold blood without an opportunity to surrender, but as Cap- tain Ellis' character for truth and veracity has never been impeached, to our knowledge, we can but accept his version of the story as being true as he saw it. Yet we can but regret that the lives of these men as well as those of many others, once happy and prosperous citizens of Carter and Johnson counties, were a sacrifice to the am- bition of men who stirred up the passions of the people to a state of frenzy that made civil war in our beloved coun- try possible.
MEETING OF THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
We will close this sketch of Capt. Ellis' war record by relating an incident that occurred at Elizabethton near the close of hostilities. During almost the entire war period the Union men who remained in Carter county were com-
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pelled to conceal their sentiments or hide in the moun- tains, but now the tables were turned and it became neces- sary for the rebels to conceal themselves.
While Captain Ellis' men were in the country a party of rebels who had been in the Confederate army, but realizing the cause was lost, though hostilities had not yet ceased, came to the vicinity of their homes and formed a camp on the Holston mountain a few miles north of Elizabethton. Among these men were Major H. M. Fol-, som, Captain G. W. Folsom, Col. N. M. Taylor, John S. Thomas and others. Captain Ellis and these men had known each other from boyhood, and he and Major Fol- som had always been special friends. One morning the Major hearing there were no Yankees in Elizabethto: came in town to visit his family. He had been at his home but a short time when Captain Ellis, Lieut. Camp- bell and Elbert Treadway rode up to his gate and hal- looed. Mrs. Folsom came to the door and Captain Ellis inquired if Major Folsom was at home. The latter, who had followed his wife to the door, and was standing near, told her to tell him he was. Ellis told her to tell him to step out to the gate. Folsom walked out to where they were and shook hands with Ellis. The latter told the two men, Campbell and Treadway, to ride on towards the public square as he wanted to talk to Major Folsom, but said for them to keep within sight of him. Major Folsom had on his Confederate uniform and Captain Ellis the Federal blue. The latter was armed, but Fol- som was not. He knew he was at Ellis' mercy if his in- tentions were hostile towards him, but Ellis had greeted him pleasantly and he could not believe he would harm him, yet for a few moments the situation was anything but pleasant. When the two men had gone Ellis said. "Major, I have known where you and your friends were for sometime and could have captured you at any time. I want to say to you, go and tell them to return to their homes, and you remain at your home, not one of you shall be molested." Ellis then told the Major that he and his friends were going to have a fox chase on the Lynn
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mountain the next day, and invited him to go with him. The Major declined the invitation, saying to Ellis, "Dan, I have no fear of you, but I do not believe it would be wise in me under the present state of feelings, to do this ; while I am sure you would do me no injury, others might, besides you know I have never been a hunter or sports- man and would not enjoy the chase." Ellis replied that he would not insist on his going, but told him to remain at his home and said : "I will shoot any man that dares to molest you." He then rode away.
The time had not come for men to readily trust each other; years of bitterness and hostility had destroyed all faith and confidence in men, and it would require other years to restore it. Major Folsom returned to his com- panions in the mountains and told them of his unexpected interview with Ellis, and what the latter had said, but they did not then return to their homes luit sought a more secure retreat.
CAPTAIN ELLIS, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.
Captain Ellis was mustered out of service with the Regiment at Knoxville, Tennessee, September 5, 1865, and returned to his home in Carter county and went to work, manfully, to try to restore his home and provide a living for his family.
We would state here that during the time he was en- gaged in piloting men through the lines, many who were able to do so, paid him handsomely for his services, and the soldiers were always willing to compensate him for carrying letters and packages back to their friends when he would accept pay. In this way he made a considerable amount of money, but there were hundreds of men who had nothing to pay, and for these he generously paid out his own money to supply them with food.
In one instance he was intrusted with a valuable pack- age of money and merchandise amounting to over $500 by one officer, besides a large number of other smaller packages. He brought them through safely and left them
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in the hands of a well known Union man, Richard C. White, to be distributed to the families for whom they were intended. Mr. White indiscreetly wrote a note to the lady to whom the most valuable package belonged, advising her that it was at his house, and sent the note to her by a boy. The boy was intercepted by rebel sol- diers and they went to the house of White and forced him to deliver all the packages to them. Though Ellis had tried to do his duty in the matter, he felt he was in honor bound to make the loss good, and he paid to the officer's wife, and others who had sustained losses, the large sum of $1800. For this reason and owing to his great expense in procuring food, and traveling so much, and his gener- ous use of money for the benefit of distressed Union people, he had very little means when he came out of the army. He wrote his book soon after the war, and there was great demand for it locally.
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