THE DEATH OF WILLIAM BROOKS.

Young Brooks was the son of Reuben Brooks, a wealthy rebel citizen, who lived on Stony Creek, in Carter county. The young man was also a secessionist, but was not an extremist. He was appointed enrolling officer, and felt it his duty to perform the duties of his office. He was said to be a brave, though not a vindictive man.

George and Godfrey Heatherly, sons of Thomas Heatherly, Sr., who had always been a respected and law-abiding citizen, were conscripts in hiding from the conscript officers. They lived about 6 miles from the home of the Brooks and had always been on friendly terms with them, but young Brooks, through his zeal and devotion to the Southern cause got together a posse of citizens and went in search of the Heatherlys. He came upon them in the hills about 2 1/2 miles southwest of the old Speedwell furnace on Stony Creek, and one of them opened fire on him with a musket or shotgun loaded with slugs, killing him instantly. He had been advised that morning by a friend who was a Union man not to go, but said he had started and it would look cowardly to turn back, but he would not go on that business again.

This event was greatly deplored by many Union people as well as Confederates as young Brooks was a well known and a very popular and promising young man.

DEATH OF LIEUT. ROBERT P. TIPTON.

The Heatherly's and their friends were now regarded as desperate outlaws by the Confederate authorities, and renewed efforts were made to capture them. Lieut. Tipton, who was known to be a brave and active Confederate officer, who had been raised in Carter county, had been assigned the duty of going with Captain Walters' company of Indians belonging to Thomas' Legion. It was alleged that he went to the home of the Heatherlys and threatened the old man, Thomas Heatherly, that if he did not tell where his sons, George and Godfrey, were, he would hang him. We do not vouch for the truth of this story. However, the Heatherly boys raised a company of their friends, known then as the Heatherly gang, and went to the home of Isaac P. Tipton, the father of Lieut. Tipton, who lived one and a half miles northwest of Elizabethton on the night of August 28, 1863, and called Lieut. Tipton up, and when he went to the window they told him they were a company of rebels that had. been attacked at Carter's Depot by the Yankees and badly whipped, and their officers all killed or captured; that they had come by to tell him to get out of the way. Lieut. Tipton, not suspecting the ruse, and his brother Elbridge, who happened to be at home on furlough from the army, hastily dressed themselves, and not suspecting anything, went down to where they were. It being dark they did not recognize any of the party. Heatherly told Lieut. Tipton as he was an officer he had best take command of the men and advised him to get off the road as soon as possible as the Yankees were in pursuit of them. Lieut. Tipton took charge of the men and directed them through his father's farm to a secluded place called the "Glades." When they halted there the men rushed upon the Tiptons and disarmed them and told Lieut. Tipton they were going to shoot him. There was a mulatto, named Yates, with the Heatherly gang who had come to Carter county from North Carolina, and who was said to be a desperate character. Lieut. Tipton was standing up facing the men, and this man Yates fired at him at short range with an old gun that snapped a time or two before it was discharged. It was said Lieut. Tipton met his fate bravely, facing his heartless murderers and remarking when the gun snapped: "You will need better arms than that should you meet an enemy." He was mortally wounded, and one of the men, George Heatherly, it was said, placed a pistol near his forehead and completed the tragedy. Elbridge Tipton, the brother, had stood by, a helpless spectator of this cold-blooded affair. The Heatherly crowd, leaving the body where it fell and taking Elbridge Tipton with them, retreated hastily to the mountains.

The Tiptons were one of the most prominent and highly respected families in the county, and this tragedy awakened the strongest sympathy for the family as well as the indignation of all classes and parties, and the greatest excitement prevailed.

Capt. Gregg was Provost Marshal at the time, and Capt. B. H. Duvall, a Kentuckian, had charge of the military force at Elizabethton. The crime was laid at the door of the Union people, and while the excitement lasted no Union man's life was safe.

Elbridge Tipton was in the hands of the Heatherly's and their whereabouts was at first unknown. Dr. Abram Jobe, Hon. A. J. Tipton, Hon. Hamilton C. Smith, L. W. Hampton and Elijah Simerly, five of the most prominent Union men of the county were arrested and informed that if Elbridge Tipton was not returned in safety by the following Saturday night their lives should pay the penalty. These men had no more to do with the killing of Tipton than this officer himself, nor not nearly so much —as it was partly through the vindictive spirit he had shown that had aroused the hostility of the Heatherlys; besides some of these hostages were relatives of Tipton, and all were warm personal friends of the family.

These men obtained permission to go to the mountains to endeavor to find where Tipton was concealed. This, in itself, was dangerous at that time as the Union men in hiding were on the lookout and ready to shoot any men who were suspected of being enrolling officers or engaged in hunting them. When they went to the mountains they, of course, commenced the hunt for Heatherly's camp, knowing their own lives depended on finding Tipton and inducing Heatherly to give him up, provided he should be still alive. Dr. Jobe learned afterwards that while going through the woods at that time a Union man who was in concealment was pointing his gun at him and was in the very act of firing when another Union man recognized Jobe, who had practiced medicine through that country, and no doubt, saved his life.

L. W. Hampton was acquainted with a family in the locality where the Heatherly gang were supposed to be in hiding by the name of Holly. He went to Holly's home and found that the young man was at the camp and prevailed on his sister to conduct the party there„ When they got there they found that the negro, Yates, had Tipton in charge and that the latter had not been harmed.

They commenced negotiations for his release but found the negro disposed to kill Tipton rather than deliver him up, but Hampton finally induced him to release him by rewarding him with a fine pistol. Tipton was returned to Elizabethton and the hostages were released. Had he not been released doubtless they would have paid the penalty of a crime of which they had no knowledge or complicity, and had they known of his danger they would have been among the first to give him warning. Such are the horrors of civil war.

Soon after this another tragedy occurred which was a sequel to this one, equally horrible and more to be condemned as it was done under the sanction of a Confederate officer, Duvall, and instigated by him.

This man Duvall had the character of brutality, not only by the Union people but by the rebel citizens and soldiers. He had captured Thomas Heatherly, Jr., a brother of George and Godfrey, and a lad only about 15 years old. He was placed in jail at first and then this officer ordered him to be taken to a place a short distance west of Elizabethton and shot. This was done and the body left without burial. It was the intention to shoot him on the spot where Lieut. Tipton had been shot, but for some reason, they did not reach the place. There was no reason assigned for this tragedy except that the youth was the brother of George and Godfrey Heatherly. This act of brutality undoubtedly cost the lives of many other good men at a later date. If the perpetrator of the deed had met the fate of Parker before he committed this act it .would not have been regretted, but it was the fate of better men to pay the penalty.

The Union people were afraid to go near the body of this boy to give it burial and it would have become prey for the buzzards or hogs had it not been for Major Folsom, a Confederate officer and humane gentleman, who was at home at the time and went with William Burrow and other Union people and attended to having it removed and decently interred, for which he incurred the displeasure of this inhuman officer. The body was wrapt in an old blanket and buried, "uncoffined," but a few weeks later was taken up and removed to his home and buried.

George Heatherly met a tragic death some years after the war.

Godfrey Heatherly joined the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and made a brave soldier and lived a respected citizen of Carter county until his death, which occurred a few years ago (in 1898.)

Elbridge Tipton returned to the army after his release, but it was said his mind was partially unbalanced by the terrible experience of witnessing his brother's tragic death and he survived only a few months.

A large number of the tragic deaths that occurred in Carter and Johnson counties were laid at the door of William Parker, of Johnson county, whose own violent death, at the hands of Daniel Ellis, we have noted in another chapter. His zeal for the Southern cause seems to have made him a fanatic and desperado, in whose hands Union men and women could hope for no mercy. If the truth has been told in regard to him, burning the houses of Union men and turning women and children out into the world homeless, was a pastime in which he delighted. He was the ruling spirit in what was known as the Johnson county "home guards," but his zeal and ambition led him into Carter and other counties. We would not do injustice to his memory, or heap obloquy upon his name wrongfully, but the stories of his crimes have come to us through so many sources and from the lips of so many witnesses, still living, that we can but believe that he must have been a monster in crime and a man devoid of all human sympathy.

We have been informed that Parker was a native of North Carolina and came to Johnson county some years before the war; that he lived in the 2d Civil District of that county near what is known as Shoun's Cross Roads, and that he was a man of no prominence before the war, but that he became the tool of Samuel McQueen, William Waugh, Jacob Wagner, William Shoun, Green Moore and other vindictive secessionists, who urged him on and aided him in his cruelty to the Union people. If this be true these men were fully as culpable as he, and one can feel little sympathy that three of these men, like Parker himself, met the same fate that they measured out to others. It is only a wonder that others still, did not fare likewise.

A very worthy secession citizen was killed near Taylorsville, Tenn., by some outlaws and bushwhackers who shielded their meanness under the garb of being Union men, as is well known by all, was done by unprincipled scoundrels in every part of the South, who committed crimes under whatever banner was most convenient for their purposes. A party of these kind of men, we have been told, murdered an old, inoffensive man named Robinson, and drove off his cattle and acted most shamefully. The true and respected Union men of the neighborhood were indignant at the barbarous act, and had no sympathy with these outlaws, who would have robbed them as readily as they did Robinson if they had happened to live in a community where the rebel element was dominant. Yet, through the instigation of this man Parker, fourteen of the most prominent and wealthy Union men in Carter and Johnson counties were blacklisted and the sentence of death passed upon them to expiate the crime of these outlaws. Among the men so blacklisted and condemned were M. M. Wagner, John H. Vaught, Col. David Slimp, L. W. Hampton, John Hawkins, R. L. Wilson, and others, whose names we could not learn.

Wagner was arrested and preparations were being made to carry out this brutal sentence on him, which was only prevented by the prayers, tears and entreaties of his daughter. He had been taken to the Court House, and the mockery of a trial gone through with, and he was condemned to death, but it so happened for once, we are glad to note it, that the officer was not deaf to the pleadings of the daughter.

DEATH OF JOHN H. VAUGHT AND WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Vaught was a man 65 years old, a citizen of Johnson county, noted for honesty, integrity and Christian character. Having been blacklisted he left home to visit some friends in Carter county, and try to keep out of Parker's way. He was at the home of Elijah Simerly, in Doe River Cove, who was a noted Union man, and there were a number of men there at the time. Parker, with the Johnson county company of home guards, had crossed through Elk over into the Crab Orchard and down Doe River to that place. His name was now a terror to Union men, and when they saw him approaching some of them ran towards the woods. One man, William Johnson, who lived near by, ran through Simerly's orchard and was followed by Parker's men and shot down near the orchard. Johnson was a good citizen and had committed no crime. He was killed because he was supposed to be a Union man, from running from these desperadoes, and so he was.

Vaught was captured and taken to the Fish Spring, some six miles distant„ He was accused of having been in company with the Union men in the mountains and carrying news to them. He asserted his innocence and pleaded for his life, but in vain. It was said the old man was driven along by horsemen and in his feebleness became so exhausted he could not go further, and Parker shot him down. It was alleged that owing to his age, and apparent innocence Parker's men refused to shoot him, and the heartless wretch dispatched him with his own hand. The avenging angel shut his eyes when this crime was committed, but it was not long until he drew his sword to avenge this and other crimes, and when the day of vengeance came it was terrible indeed.

The death of Vaught was universally regretted. Capt. Slimp, an old-time friend of his, heard the news when in Cincinnati, O., and was moved to tears by his tragic fate. His body was buried at Fish Spring. away from his home, dressed in the bloody garments in which he died, and lies there still.

L. W. Hampton, of Doe River Cove, was one of the proscribed Union men. His home was near where Johnson was shot. He had been hiding in the mountains some distance from his home, but that day it had rained and he had slipped into his house and was sitting by the fire dozing when the shot was fired that killed Johnson. This aroused him, and running out the back way he escaped just as the men were approaching his house. It was said Parker had made this raid on purpose to get Hampton and kill him. It was a singular circumstance that the shot that killed his neighbor and friend probably saved his life.

The death of John Hawkins, a venerable citizen and octogenarian of Johnson county, and Levi Guy, another aged citizen of that county, were charged up to Parker's insatiable desire for blood. It would look like their gray hairs and trembling limbs would have been a sufficient appeal for mercy, but it seems they were not. We are not advised as to what incentive led to these deaths or by what argument he appeased his conscience, if he needed any by this time.

David Oaks, it is said, was another victim of his wrath. We will pass hurriedly as possible over these scenes, over which this modern Robespierre seemed to gloat, but from the recital of which the ordinary man or woman will shrink with horror. But passing on we are told that Enoch Guy, the son of Levi Guy, met a sad fate at his hands. The touching story was related to us by Mrs. Clara ShuffleId, wife of W. E. Shuffleld, of Lineback, who was a young married lady at the time of the war, while her husband was bravely battling to rid the country of such men as Parker and his followers. The story was that Enoch Guy was afflicted with rheumatism and could not help himself. He was secreted on the mountain and was nursed and waited on by Miss Mary Ann Buntin, who was to be his wife, his sister, and a neighbor girl, Miss Loraine Perdue, who carried him provisions. Parker's gang came onto his hiding place one day when the girls were not there, and when they returned they found he had been murdered; and it is related by another that, "He was stripped of his clothing, and his lifeless body thrown over a cliff forty feet high." We do hope, for humanity's sake, this last may not be true. But our informant told us that the men were afraid to go near his body, and that these three young ladies, his sister, sweetheart and friend, prepared him for burial, and with their own hands dug his grave and carried his body to it and buried it. The reason assigned for the killing of this man was, that he was a Federal recruiting. officer.

The next victim was David, brother to Levi, and son of Enoch Guy, who was also a Federal soldier who had come home on leave to visit his family. The "home guards" made short work of him. His plea to be treated as a prisoner of war was in vain. He was shot down in the presence of his wife and children.

Another son of Levi Guy was hanged later in the war, making four—the father and three sons, who paid the penalty of death for being loyal to their country.

John Tilly was another of Parker's victims. He was a scouter and had come home to visit his sick child. What had once been his home—that name so sacred to us all;  that place about which John Howard Payne composed the immortal song of "Home, Sweet Home," proved to be his death-trap. One other victim we will mention whose life-blood will stain the garments of William Parker, when he presents himself for trial in the final account, was a young conscript whose name was William Church. It was said his entreaties to be spared were pitiful but they were addressed to a heart of stone. Captain Ellis, in his book, mentions three other men, strangers, two of whose names were never known, who, in passing through Johnson county, probably fleeing to the Federal army, fell into the hands of Parker and were shot on the Laurel, six miles from Taylorsville, Tenn. (Mountain City). A Bible was found in the pocket of one of these men in which was written the name "Lafter," and it was learned he was a minister whose home was in North Carolina.

JOSEPH CHEEKS, an uncle of David Cheeks, the latter a brave soldier in Company G, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, was killed on Elk Creek, in Carter county, Tennessee. He was also one of Parker's victims and was shot down while attempting to escape from Parker and his men, and left lying where he fell. Miss Rachel Whitehead, daughter of James Whitehead and afterwards wife of Joseph Green (soldier in Co. G), assisted by Joel Pardue (another Co. G. soldier) went with a sled drawn by an ox, and took the body to his home and buried it. Miss Whitehead assisted to dig the grave, and accompanied by Miss Rebecca Cable and two small boys went to the camp where two Union men, Norman and Cates, were killed by the same parties the next day after Cheeks was killed and were the first to discover them. They sent the two boys after Gideon Lewis, a Union man, who came and brought blankets and he and the girls dug a shallow grave, wrapped them in the blankets, and buried the bodies there on the mountain where they were murdered!

Near this same time, a young boy, brother, we think, of Joseph Green, seeing the Indians, ran and was fired on, the bullet striking him in the back while in a stooping posture, passed up through his body and out under his eye. He got well, to the astonishment of all.

DEATH OF JOHN SMITH.

A tragic death or the execution of a man for crime when it is done under the forms of law and civilization, and when the unfortunate man has an opportunity for defense and is tried and convicted by a jury of his countrymen whose hearts are not filled with malice towards him, is a scene from which the ordinary man turns away with a shudder. But when the victim is brought up for trial before men who are filled with hatred towards him and when no testimony is admitted but that of his enemies and accusers, and when the unfortunate man is thus convicted and marched off to some lonely spot and shot without the consolation of a minister or even a friend, without a parting word to his wife and children, it looks like "the very stones would rise up in mutiny. "Such, however, were the circumstances surrounding the death of John Smith (known as "fiddler John Smith"), who lived in Turkey Town in what was known as the Lyons settlement. In April, 1863, he was captured and lodged in jail among other Union prisoners. As far as we can learn he had always been regarded as a good citizen. He was a man about thirty-five years of age and had a wife and three small children. He would attract attention in almost any crowd by his fine personal appearance, having very black, curly hair, deep blue eyes, fair complexion and rosy cheeks.

An accusation was lodged against him that he was one of a party that had robbed the house of Isaac L. Nave, a secessionist, who lived on the Watauga river. Nave and his wife testified against him. We do not know that he offered any defense, it would have. been useless, as the testimony of Union people would not have been considered. Nor do we know that the sentence of death was even made known to him, but he was taken from jail and in company with other prisoners marched off towards Bristol, under a strong guard. When the party reached a place 4 1/2 miles north of Elizabethton, Smith, whose hands were tied, was separated from the other prisoners and taken off the road a short distance by two rebel soldiers, Motte and Duff, and soon the shots were heard that sent him into eternity. He was killed only about a mile from his home. This tragedy was enacted on a ridge near the "Narrows," on what was known as the Murphy land. Motte and Duff left the main road with the prisoner at what was known as "Zan. Wood's timothy patch." After these men shot Smith, Motte cut the dead man's finger off to get his gutta percha ring and placed it on his own finger. He then came down to a small stream of water and washed the blood off his hands, but there was a stain on his soul that no amount of ablution could cleanse!

About a month later the rebel soldiers killed a young man named Berry Pritcilard a mile east of Elizabethton, at a place called "Island Creek." He was accused of being a bridge burner. Pritchard's home was on Stony Creek. He is said to have been killed by Capt. R. C. Elozen's men. Motte and Duff were also said to be connected with this crime. This officer was said to be from Grayson county, Va., and like most other Confederate officers who were sent into these counties seemed to regard the murder of Union men as a praiseworthy employment, especially when they were unarmed and defenseless. Bozen was charged with the murder of William Thompson, whose home was in the Greasy Cove, Carter county, but who, fearing to be found at home, had come to the vicinity of Elizabethton. Wishing to do something to pay his board he went into a field to gather corn. He was captured by Bozen's men, placed on a mule and taken to his home several miles away. After torturing him in various ways they took him a short distance from home on the farm of a rebel citizen named Brown and shot him to death. We are not advised as to the crime charged against Thompson. If the Bible be true there will be an investigation at the day of judgment, and Bozen will say to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on me and hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."

DEATH OF HENRY ARCHER.

This occurred at the same place that John Smith was killed and was one of the saddest of all the lamentable tragedies of that period. It happened in June or July, 1863. Archer was said to have been afflicted so that he would not have been able for military duty had he gone through the lines. He hunted out what he considered a safe retreat in a dense thicket, but his hiding place was betrayed to Captain B. H. Duvall's men and he was captured and taken to the Elizabethton jail. Some charge was brought against him and he was speedily condemned to be shot. His wife with a babe in her arms pleaded in vain for mercy. He was taken to the "ridge of death" in the Narrows where several others had been murdered. It was said the company having him in charge, seeing his wife following, hurried him up (though he was walking and had his hands tied) to keep her from overtaking them. Her moans and cries were enough to move any one to pity who was not lost to every sentiment of humanity. She followed him towards the place of death and heard the shot that killed him. In company with a young lady, Miss Nannie Jobe, and a young boy, Andrew Perry, strangers, whom she met up with along the road, she went and found his dead body divested of every vestige of clothing. She wrapped her skirt about his nude body with her own hands. Archer was about 35 years old and his home was on Stony Creek. The body was taken in a wagon by sympathizing friends and conveyed to his home for burial.

DEATH OF MADISON LOVELACE.

Madison Lovelace was the son of Thomas Lovelace. He lived on Stony Creek and was a strong Union man. The particulars of his death as given to us were as follows: Lovelace had been to Elizabethton, some six or eight miles from his home, and was returning home and reached Isaac L. Nave's house on the Watauga river just after dark. Nave was a Confederate officer and had been from the beginning of the war an ultra secessionist. He was at that time at his home, and Lovelace, who it is said, had been drinking and was noisy, opened Nave's gate and started towards the house when the latter shot him dead from an upstairs window. Lovelace was unarmed, and we have heard no motive assigned for this killing other than that Nave's activity in having Union men arrested and some of them shot, and being conscious that he was an object of hatred by them, he supposed Lovelace had come to kill him. More than a year later Nave met the same fate, in Sullivan county, at the hands of Captain Ellis' men, which is briefly told in the sketch of Ellis.

It was about the time of the killing of Lovelace that the shooting down Union men and burning the houses from over the heads of women and children, whose husbands or brothers were in the Federal army had become so common in Carter and Johnson counties that Gen. Samuel P. Carter, who was Provost Marshal-General of East Tennessee, sent for an officer of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry who had spent much time in these counties on recruiting service, and told him that something must be done to stop the murder of Union people and the burning of their homes. He said he was authorized to say that $1000 in gold would be paid for the body of every man. soldier or citizen, dead or alive, who had been engaged in shooting Union men or burning their homes, whether they were robbers and scoundrels under the mask of soldiers, or whatever they were. The officer informed Gen. Carter that with a small force he could easily make reprisals and bring them to him and make a fortune in the operation, but that unless the Union people could get away, or an army should be sent in strong enough to hold the country, it would only result in their utter ruin.

We would observe here that just at the close of hostilities a force was sent into Johnson county under Major R. H. M. Donnelly and under the supervision of Hon. H. C. Smith, of Carter county, to break up a gang of marauders who infested the mountains and who were men without principle, scoundrels and deserters from both armies, who were preying upon the people and robbing and stealing what little property they had left, regardless of whether they were Unionists or Secessionists. A large number of them were captured, and should have been hanged, but they were taken to Greeneville, and as no courts were yet established they were turned loose, probably to resume their nefarious practices.

We have been told recently that Mate and Duff, two Confederate soldiers who figured prominently (and unenviably) in a number of Carter county tragedies were Johnson county men whose homes were in Shady. We are informed that one or both of them were Confederate officers, that Duff had a brother, and that there was one Cliff Blevins, Jacob Nave, Chris. Frasier and Landon Ellis all of whom were Sullivan, Carter or Johnson county men, and were associated with Parker in many of the atrocities committed in these two counties and all seemed to possess that unnatural and inhuman instinct that gave them pleasure in vieing with each other in committing acts of violence upon those who had at one time been 'their neighbors and friends.

DEATH OF JAMES L. GARRISON.

Motte and Duff had committed so many crimes upon these Union people that a number of Union men determined to put a stop to it. Learning that they were to be at the house of Melvina Hilton, in Elizabethton, on a certain night, Elbridge and Robert Treadway, James L. Garrison and some other Union men, including four or five colored men who had been in hiding and had a camp in the mountains near a place called Queen's Station, about four miles south, or southeast of Elizabethton, came into town and surrounded Mrs. Hilton's house, stationing men at the doors and windows. Motte and Duff, with one or two others (citizens), were sitting at a table playing cards, in a small room at the south side of the house, which had but one door and one small window. Treadway called on them to surrender. They arose from the table and barricaded the door with a bedstead so that it would open only far enough for Duff to reach his pistol through the opening and fire on the men outside. This he did, fatally shooting Garrison and seriously wounding one of the colored men, and was severely wounded in the wrist himself. The attacking party being unable to force the door or get into the small window without serious loss of life, withdrew and the two men escaped. The colored man was removed and soon afterwards made his way to the Federal lines. Garrison was taken back into the mountains and his wound was finally dressed by Dr. H. T. Berry, a rebel citizen, and he lingered some time in great agony.

Garrison was a good, kindhearted man, true to his principles and loyal to his country. He was about 35 years old, and left a widow and seven children, the oldest 12 years. His widow, Mrs. Hannah Garrison is still living and resides with her son at Valley Forge, Tennessee.

In looking over the entire field of tragedies in these two counties we have selected as the crowning horror

THE MASSACRE AT LIMESTONE COVE.

This occurred at an earlier date than other tragedies already mentioned, November, 1863, but we have written this chapter as the events were brought to our minds without regard to their sequence.

One Col. Witcher, of Virginia, had just arrived in Carter county to try his hand in subduing the "Lincolnites" and "Thugs," and he proved a fitting successor to the bloody handed tyrants who had come and gone, and predecessor of those that were to come. Between them all it was a question of ability to devise the most shocking methods of murder and rapine. In the case of Witcher it would appear that behind him must have been an unseen Beelzebub in spirit form directing and aiding him in his atrocious work, as well as men in the flesh so lost to justice and human sympathy as to go with him and point out their neighbors as his victims. We suppress their names for humanity's sake.

While in the army the murders and house burnings perpetrated by this man reached our ears and filled our men with unspeakable rage. In a charge near Mount Airy, Va., some rebel prisoners were captured, and being asked to what command they belonged they said they were Col. Witcher's men. A half dozen men grasped their carbines to shoot them, but officers interfered. We are informed that there were two Confederate officers named Witcher who held the rank of Colonel in the C. S. A., one, Vincent A. Witcher, Sr., of Pittsyvania county, Va., the other one's name was also V. A. Witcher, Jr., a nephew of the former. It is said to have been the latter who operated in these counties.

James and David Bell were well-to-do and well known citizens of Carter county. The latter was a reputable physician, and was a man of family, and his brother James was a bachelor past the conscript age. Their home, like that of every loyal man in Carter county, was a place of refuge for Union people and they fed and cared for them with unstinted hands.

The morning of the tragedy a company of refugees, about 50 in number, making their way from North Carolina to the Federal army had arrived at the Bell home and expected to secure the services of Dan. Ellis to pilot them through the lines. They had traveled all night and stopped in the yard waiting to get something to eat which the family was preparing for them, and to take a rest before proceeding on their journey. It was probably not known there that Witcher, with his regiment, had come into Carter county, and they did not expect to fall in with a large force of rebels. Witcher, piloted by rebel citizens, came on to them unexpectedly and as was always the case, being unprepared to fight, they tried to save themselves by flight. The soldiers pursued them on horseback and shot them down without mercy. Eight or ten men were killed, and one or two wounded. The following are the names of the killed and wounded as far as we have learned them: Calvin Cantrel, John Sparks, Wiley Royal, Elijah Gentry, Jacob Lyons and B. Blackburn. Preston Pruitt was seriously wounded, as was a man named Madison who was cared for by the family of a Union man named Thomas Green, who lived close by, until he recovered from his wound.

They shot and killed James Bell, and it is said that after wounding him his head was laid on a stone and his brains beaten out until they bespattered the ground all about his body. One other man, named William Sparks, was sick and had gone into the house and lain down and was in there while the shooting was going on. After killing James Bell, Witcher ordered the house, a large brick residence, to be set on fire which was done. Sparks made his escape through the smoke and was concealed and finally saved through the efforts of Miss Elizabeth Morrison, who lived in the neighborhood, and was at Bell's house through all that scene of horror; she did many brave and helpful deeds that morning.

The story of the inhumanity and cruelty practiced upon this family and these men should bring a blush of shame to a Comanche Indian if one-half is true that has been told.

On this same raid Witcher and his men killed two other Union men, namely, Commodore Sloan, fifty-six years of age, and William Bird, the latter at the house of William McKinney, and the former in his own yard and in the presence of his family. It is said he boasted that in the brief space of twenty-four hours he had rid the world of twenty-one Lincolnites. He was soon called to other fields of usefulness and it was perhaps well for him for Dan. Ellis and his lieutenants had his case under consideration, and had he remained it would have been a wonder if he had escaped the fate of Young and Parker.

We have omitted some details of cruelties in the foregoing account, it being bad enough in the mildest form we are able to relate it.

DEATHS OF REESE AND BENJAMIN BOWERS.

We have been unable to obtain the date, or many of the particulars of this tragedy.

They were the sons of Rev. Valentine Bowers, who was an old and highly respected Baptist minister. They had two brothers, William C. and Joseph P. Bowers. Reese Bowers was a Baptist minister at one time. The father and sons were all Union men. Reese and Benjamin were very active in the Union cause and assisted in piloting Union men and refugees to Ellis.

On the day previous to their death they received word from L. W. Hampton, a prominent Union man of the Doe River Cove, that there were some refugees near his home who were wanting a man to pilot them. . These men had some experience in that line and left their homes in what was called the Neck, crossed the mountain to a point on the Watauga river near the Fish Spring, intending to go from there to Mr. Hampton's. They requested a woman, Mrs. Smith, to set them across the river in a canoe. A company of rebel soldiers had made a raid down in the vicinity of Elizabethton and were returning just as the Bowers' got across the river. The latter seeing them started to run, when the soldiers opened fire on them as they ran towards the hills near by; the soldiers pursued them and overtook them. It was told to us that the elder Bowers, Reese, prayed and begged for his life, while Benjamin fought and cursed them with his dying breath; but the fate of each was the same. We have heard different stories as to who killed these men, one that they were killed by the Johnson county home guards under Parker, but their cousin, Isaac Bowers, now a resident of Elizabethton, and whose character for truth is unquestionable, informs us that they were killed by Bozen's men, and that he recognized a pistol taken from them by Motte, whom we have mentioned as having been connected with a number of other tragedies.

JOHNSON COUNTY, TENN.

OTHER TRAGEDIES THAT WERE ENACTED THERE.

This county occupies the extreme eastern territory of the State, and extends from the Virginia line on the north, running nearly east and west to the North Carolina line on the south and east, and bounded by Carter county on the west. Mountain City, known as Taylorsville during the war, is in the central part of the county, and was a small village during the war. This county is watered by the Watauga river, Roan's creek, Little Doe river, and numerous springs and small streams. There are beautiful and fertile valleys along the streams of water, fine timbered lands, and endless beds of fine iron and other ores in the mountains of that county.

Johnson county has always been noted for the intelligence and thrift of its people, for their public spirit in keeping up roads and highways, and for the hospitality of its people. The highway between Virginia and North and South Carolina passes through that county, and during the war, there being few railroads, there was a great deal of travel by stage coaches and private conveyances through the county.

Like Carter county her people were intensely loyal and true to the Union. Lying close to Virginia where the disloyal sentiment was strong, and the mountains affording shelter for a large number of loyal people from North Carolina and Virginia as well as her own loyal people, that county early became the scene of conflicts and tragedies that continued to the close of the war. It is highly probable that Johnson county was the scene of more, and sadder tragedies in proportion to its population than any county in East Tennessee. This was due partly to the causes named, but very largely to the vindictive spirit shown towards the loyal people by the citizens of that county who espoused the Southern cause.

The war, on the part of the South, was inaugurated with such a flourish of trumpets, and after its arms had been successful as they were in the beginning, and East Tennessee had been overrun with Southern soldiery, the Confederate citizens and soldiers alike, seem to have been imbued with the idea that the success of the South was assured, and they acted towards the Union people as if they did not dream that it was possible there might come a day of reckoning when the blood of the martyrs to the Union cause would cry aloud for vengeance. One would think that if in their madness they had stopped to think that the men whom they were persecuting had for their friends millions of loyal people who would come to their aid they would have listened to the voice of reason and the promptings of humanity and many heart-rending scenes might have been averted in this world, many a cry of agony would never  have been heard, many a heartache would never have been known, many widows' and orphans' tears would have been spared. Back of all this there must be an awful responsibility. We ask ourselves, upon whom did it rest? Has it been settled, or will it rise up in the great day when it is said "The secrets of all hearts will be made known," and when all "must answer for the deeds done in the body?" Are the accounts settled with the passing of the actors, or are the consequences to be commensurate with eternity?

We are indebted to Captain Frederick Slimp, of Butler Tennessee, a native of Johnson county, and a man who has always been regarded as a man of unimpeachable veracity, for the following statements. We let him tell the stories of these tragedies in his own language.

Captain Slimp tells of the spirit of the Union people of Carter and Johnson counties and relates some of the tragedies that occurred in the latter county:

"The Union people in Johnson and Carter counties acted in concert from the beginning to the end of the Rebellion. They settled down on one fixed idea—the Union —it must be defended and preserved. They were prompt in answering to the calls for aid when they came from Union people, strangers though they might be, and vied with each other as to who could do the most and venture farthest into danger,—women and men alike. Ambush and murder did not daunt or deter them from accomplishing their benevolent purposes, and they utterly disregarded what the consequences might be. Their lives seemed consecrated to the one single end and for this they suffered and encountered hardships, disease, dangers and even death itself. The young and the old faced the perils of the hour without flinching or faltering.

"The young men took refuge in the mountains and determined on no account to be conscripted into the Confederate army. They had abiding faith in the ultimate triumph of the Union cause, and in the chief ruler of the Nation, but as time dragged along they became restless and made their way to the Union army. The Union first, last. and all the time, was their watchword. For this cause, so dear to their hearts, they gave their noblest efforts, their worldly goods, and many of them their lives.

DEATH OF DAVID HOWARD.

"David Howard, of Little Doe, Johnson county, a well known citizen, in the prime of life, a married man, was shot down and instantly killed. He was a favorite son of Col. Sam. Howard, and was a harmless and inoffensive citizen. Having no political, nor war enemies in his way, except it was known that he was a quiet Union man. At the time of this sad occurrence some rebel soldiers were in the county, marauding over the country, more for plunder than Southern chivalry. David was at home, suspecting no danger. He was butchering a beef. It is an undisputed fact that men had been shot down at home at their daily avocations. David Howard knowing this, was suddenly alarmed at the approach of the dreaded enemy and fled in the direction of the woods, across the fields, and the ill-thoughted posse without knowing who or for what reason, fired many deadly shots at him, and he fell mortally wounded, and died in a few minutes.

"It takes much running about to collect facts connected with the war. I am now up on Doe. I learn since here, when David Howard was killed, as I have heretofore informed you, that his murderers rushed upon him in his death struggle. In rifling his pockets for plunder their hands became besmeared with the dying man's blood. They left his body lying where he was murdered and proceeded to the house of his mother, called on her for breakfast and forced her to pour water on their hands to wash the blood off, and then prepare their breakfast. This heartbroken old lady was Mrs. Kinsey Howard, wife of Col. Saml. Howard.

HIRAM MAIN.

"In the Fall and Winter of 1862 Hiram Main lived in the 3rd District, Johnson county, Tenn.; was about 22 years of age; was a Union man, and of good reputation. He was at a neighbor's house in the interest of his own private business. Willie Thomas, of Ashe county, N. C , and Newton McEwin, of Johnson county, styling themselves 'home guards' or 'conscript officers.' They went to the house where Main was and got into angry words about their business with him. A fight ensued in which Main was shot and shortly after expired. Such was the fate of Hiram Main, whose death produced a shocking grief in the county. No excuse was ever rendered by those holding Confederate jurisdiction for this outrageous and unprovoked murder. It is reasonable to suppose that a great many others would have been murdered in like manner if they had not left the Confederate lines and joined the Federal army. A citizen was safer in the Federal army than at home in his fields within the lines of the Rebellion. No one knew what minute he would be visited by a select mob to take his life. In the Fall of 1863 the delineator of this sketch was carefully and secretly notified that he would be visited on a certain hour at night with a view of committing murder. It proved true, the mob came, but the Providential warning removed the victim. The would-be victim is yet alive, not dead, not hanged, not shot. A lifetime thanks to the colored man. He received many favors.

WILLIAM FULKS.

"Bill Parker concluded that he would see what he could do with a gang of demons, whom he had under his control. It was a trashy gang. He selected one Wm. Fulks to try his experiment. Fulks was a native of Ashe county, but lived in Johnson county; was a Union man, but took no part on either side. Parker had Fulks arrested and brought before him. He told Fulks he had to go with him where his brother was as he knew where he was. They failed to find the other Fulks. Parker then took prisoner up a tributary of Roan's Creek, some three miles northeast of Mountain City, and stood him up against a white oak tree, his face fronting his foes; Parker lined up his men in front of Fulks, drew his pistol and told his gang if any one should fail to shoot he would blow out his brains. He gave his order and all fired. His body was literally riddled and he died instantly.

THE OLD MAN FULKS.

"The trouble did not stop at the murder of young Fulks, the father of the murdered man had to he hanged. He was dragged near the residence of Daniel Wagner, at Shoun's Cross Roads, Johnson county. In view of the residence mentioned he was hanged to the limb of a tree. Mrs. Nancy Wagner, wife of Daniel Wagner, and mother of Thomas Shoun, saw what was going on, true to her native instinct, rushed to the tragic scene and cut him down in time to save his life. Parker was interrogated why he was guilty of such a rash act and he said the old man was a Union man.

"'A desperate cause seeks for desperate deeds."

FRANK GREEVER.

"The first man Bill Parker killed in Johnson county was Frank Greever. Parker and Greever were neighbors, and were apparently friends. No hostilities had existed between them. Parker had been officious in arresting Union men, and Greever, in fun one day said to Parker that he should never arrest him. This was not intended for a banter, but a jest. Parker drew his pistol and said, 'I will arrest you now.' Greever to carry out his fun started to run around the house and Parker after him. Parker shot and Greever fell and expired.

DEATH OF GEORGE DOTSON.

"How sad it is to record the death of George Dotson. He was a promising young man, who had just arrived at the age of manhood. He was a son of good old Allan Dotson, and a brother of A. E. Dotson, late Sheriff of Johnson county. He unfortunately fell under what is known as the conscript law enacted by the Confederate Congress. He was put under a rigid guard and hurried off towards Bristol, the place to deposit conscripts. In Shady, night overtook the cavalcade having charge of the prisoners, and they went into camps. In the night, Dotson and Roberts made a break for liberty and took their chance for life, rather than go into the rebel army. As a practice, the rebel officers gave orders to shoot if a prisoner made an attempt to escape. Here Dotson was instantly killed and Roberts slightly wounded. This affair produced an intense shock to the people, especially the parents and kinfolks. The people gave many expressions of sorrow. It was told that some one said it was 'a grievous accident,' to which the officer in charge replied, 'It was not a serious accident to the one killed but for the one who escaped.' I do not vouch for the truth of this wicked and detestable expression, but one thing I do know it was much easier and safer to hunt and shoot down unarmed conscripts in Johnson county, if one had to be sacrificed for the 'holy cause' now and then than to face the enemy on the battlefield, at Gettysburg or other fields of carnage. But how about the pangs of conscience? I would rather a hundred fold take my chances on the battlefield than meet the sword of Justice in the day of accounts for having shot down, in cold blood, innocent and defenseless men."

WILLIAM CHURCH.

(Mention is made of the killing of Church but we give the particulars here as told by Capt. Slimp.)

"William Church, man of middle age, a refugee from North Carolina, was seeking an opportunity to reach the Federal lines. He stopped at the mouth of Roans' Creek with Mrs. Catharine Wagner and was employed by her to make rails. While in her employment as such, one Henry Kidd, a desperado, claiming to be an officer in the Confederate cause, heard of Church, but both were entire strangers to each other. Kidd, without any cause whatever, made it his business to hunt up Church. He took him a few paces below where Curtis & Farthing's store now is, put his gun against Church's breast and shot him down, and he instantly expired. He was buried in his gore of blood by the neighbors. Kidd, at the close of the war, made his exit from here and has never been heard of since.

JOHN TILLY.

"John Tilly, a citizen of Little Doe, Johnson county, was killed in the early days of 1863 by a gang of rebel marauders. It was rumored that he had been away from home somewhere. The rovers here in quest of booty and plunder did not know any thing about him, but they stole upon him in some way and captured him. The gang parlied with themselves who should shoot him. The identical circumstances are not precisely known, but substantially these are the facts. He was killed without charges or provocation. He was a married man, having married a daughter of the late John Speer. His widow, Mrs. Fannie Tilly, is still living.

LESLIE JONES.

"This young man was the son of Jordan Jones, the latter was a strong Union man and had been captured by the rebels, and though past the conscript age, was sent to Richmond where he died in prison of smallpox.

"Young Jones went to the home of William Shoun, a rebel sympathizer, in the night, and it was claimed, attempted to break into his house for the purpose of robbery. Shoun shot him, and he fell dead on the porch. We knew young Jones in his boyhood and can hardly believe he went there as a robber.

DEATH OF JAMES GILLILAND.

"James Gilliland, a citizen of Johnson county, lived in a back settlement, near the foot of the Iron mountain, and seemed to be an inoffensive man. The writer of this brief sketch was well acquainted with him from boyhood clays, and never hearing of any complaint against him thought it a safe place to stop and rest and take refreshments while hiding from the rebels. In order to induce me to remain with him a few days he told me that 'a rebel had never been on his place.' He also said 'he let them alone and they let him alone.' I thought this good enough. I changed my clothing there and took dinner with him, feeling myself perfectly safe according to his view. He got my consent to stay some days with him, assuring me there was no danger whatever. I remained with him till late in the evening, same day, when some neighbor happened along and influenced me to go with him to where old Col. Sam. Howard was lying out under the foot of Doe mountain. In this way I found Col Howard in his winter quarters in a dense laurel thicket near the public road. I took up lodging with him for the night, and the Colonel appeared much pleased to have me abide with him in his lonely domicile. This was only about four (4) miles from where I had left my friend Gilliland. During the night we heard horsemen passing the road and the next morning Mrs. Howard brought our breakfast to us and gave us the startling information that Gilliland had been killed the previous night ! It would not be unjust to state the particulars of this murder, for it was a murder in the first degree, without provocation or palliation, as I have been reliably informed. It would be unjust to give it a coloring the facts do not justify, and this I would not dare to do, in this or similar cases. I have no disposition to cast a stain, either upon the living or the memory  of the dead.

"Samuel McQueen, a prominent rebel sympathizer, and active rebel citizen, and others of his class, had a special hatred towards old Andrew Potter, an uncompromising Union man, and his associates. It was supposed that Potter might be in the neighborhood of James Gillilands, McQueen, and the so called Johnson county `Home Guards,' made a sudden descent on Gilliland's home about daylight on the morning in question. Potter was in the house and saw them coming close to the house. It seemed impossible for him to escape, as they were so nearly upon him, but believing it meant death in any case, he split the air like a cyclone under a shown of bullets as thick as hail stones, he jumped fences like a buck with a troop of hounds in pursuit and made good his escape into the Iron mountain. Potter gave account afterwards that as he went over fences one bullet clipped his little finger.

"But poor James Gilliland had to atone and make expiation for Potter's escape ! The soidisant 'Home Guards,' fraught with madness and disappointment, determined to have blood and shot poor Gilliland down without a moment's hesitation—without a word without explanation, and without mercy! They knew not for what purpose they killed Gilliland!

HENRY WIGGS HUNG.

"The same squad of men, led by Samuel McQueen, who was the chief actor in the killing of Gilliland, found a young man who it was claimed was a deserter from the rebel army, hid in a shuck pen, and dragged him out and hanged him to a dogwood tree. The rope was left there for more than two years and was seen by passers-by. Nothing was known regarding the antecedents of the young man. He was but one of the many thousands who left their homes, and of whom it could only be said: 'He never came back again.'

"We beg to relieve for a moment the somber shadow that must hang like a pall over the reader at the recital of these tragedies by inserting here this little story as told by Captain S.

REV. WILLIAM B. GAMBILL.

"Rev. William B. Gambill, long time a citizen of Johnson county, was, in the fall of 1864,in his corn field, sitting down, shucking corn. It became a custom when Union men saw rebels coming to break and run; one day Mr. Gambill saw the gang coming, but he sat still, and paid no attention to them. Being an old man and in open view, he knew it would not do to run, so they fired on him but he did not move for a moment. The bullets cut close to him in the shucks behind him. He fell over, pretending to be shot. They went on in great hilarity and left him for dead. Their object was to fire a few shots, get him started to run and then fire on him to see if they could hit him in his flight. The manner in which he deceived them created a great deal of mirth and fun. I enjoyed myself to joke him about it. He said that was the only plan he could think of to save his life. If he sat still they would keep shooting till they got him. If he attempted to run they would be sure to get him as he ran; so he said it was best to act the dissembler a little in case of a 'tight place.' He often cautioned me not to tell it on him as he did not want to be called a hypocrite.

MAJOR DAVID SLIMP.

"Major David Slimp, of Johnson county, was a well known and substantial Union man. In his humble way he wielded his share of influence in shaping a Union sentiment among the young men of his acquaintance. He was approaching his fiftieth year, and knew the Confederate conscript law would soon reach him, as the Confederate Congress was closing up on men of his age. He thought best to shift his situation and look out for safer quarters. In the spring of 1864, the 13th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment was stationed at Nashville, Tenn. Major Slimp scouted his way through the mountains and dangerous passes, and arrived safely in Nashville in June, 1864. He did not join the regiment, but remained with it until the fall of 1864. When the regiment was ordered to Upper East Tennessee and Virginia. he thought it would be a good time to visit his home in Johnson county. As he approached near his home he kept himself secluded as much as possible, but he found the usual gang of marauding ghouls were still in operation, plundering and committing criminal acts and spoliations in the county and surrounding community. They got word some way that Maj. Slimp had returned home, and supposing he might have a little greenback money, having come from a greenback country, the idea elated them with eager thirst for the money, and at a late hour in the night they ruthlessly entered his house with a savage yell. They did this to frighten the household in order that the money and plunder would be easily obtained, but the major's wife (Mrs. Evaline Slimp) knew their object, seized the pants containing the pocketbook and threw it behind the bed rail, but in the confusion the Major did not know that his wife had secured the pocketbook. The pilferers proceeded to thrust their hands in his pockets, when the Major, making some resistance, and they finding no booty, they were so angry over the disappointment that they made frightful threatenings to extort money and getting none they proceeded to take vengeance on the family: They knocked the Major down with pistols and beat him over the head, inflicting dangerous wounds from which he complained as long as he lived. Before he died he became insane, supposed to be the result of the severe blows received on the head and face. This may not be considered altogether in the line of tragedies, as no death ensued, but murder was in their hearts and it was not the fault of these barbarians that this respected citizen was not borne to his grave, instead of living, for his friends to see the light of reason depart from him, which was a sadder fate.

KILLING OF AARON WEBB BY HENRY KIDD.

"A volume of several hundred pages could be devoted to the war incidents and cruelties which occurred in Johnson county during the four years of the civil war. In mingling with the people and making inquiries, we find a great many tragedies, heretofore not heard of, that should be noted among the tragedies. To make a special record of every one would be a history too voluminous. A visit in the loth District, in consultation with an old citizen, who remained at home during the war, he told me about one Henry Kidd, the same dastardly coward mentioned in connection with other tragedies. He was a mean active young man, full of vigor and audacity, but void of principle—destitute of compunction, or remorse of conscience; dissolute and unrestrained. A man's life, even an innocent man, was not safe in his presence. He delighted in committing murder. For an example, this desperate man Kidd rode up to John Dugger's shop, on Dry Run, in the loth Civil District, called out of the shop Aaron Webb, who was partially an imbecile, and was not, nor had been concerned on either side of the war. !Kidd shot him and rode off unconcerned. No words had passed between them, leaving Webb praying for the forgiveness of the man who had murdered him.

"This same dastardly coward has been mentioned in connection with the murder of Church in the public road near the residence of Thos. Shoun. The murder of Church by Kidd was no less hideous in crime than the murder of Webb. It is not known how many men have been killed by Kidd.

"There were three North Carolinians captured on Flint Hill on the upper waters of Elk River. Their names are unknown. It appears one was a Methodist preacher, which was shown by his, Bible on his person. They were driven up Roans Creek by Mountain City, and taken near the Tennessee and Virginia State line; there halted to consider what to do with them. They were stript of their home-spun clothing in exchange for the murderer's inferior rags, and driven a few paces from the public road and every one of them murdered by a band of robbers, who pretended to be in the service of the Confederate Government. These murders and others were tolerated by those who claimed to be in the service of the new Confederacy. John Grace, Elias Worley and others piled up the dead men's bodies and covered them up with old logs. Their bones were in view for many years."

Joe Wagner, a young man, son of one David Wagner, who was usually known as "Hog Dave," who was always ready to inculcate seditious ideas and wreak his spleen on Union men and women. All this was taught to his son.

It was a common word with him that all Union men ought to be put in the Confederate army and in this way have them exterminated and killed out. Joe ready enough fell in with this idea and equipped himself and set out for that purpose, previously having made rash threatenings which alarmed those for whom it was intended. Joe believed all Union men ought to be in the rebel army or killed. We are not informed what his business was in the 10th District alone. The news had got ahead of him. In time of war news flew fast as the wind. Some parties, not definitely known, secretly hid in ambush, fired on Joe, one ball went through his head. He was found lying in the road dead. This way of killing an enemy is wrong. To lie in ambush and shoot out, even at an enemy, is monstrous.

HUGH S. ARNOLD.

Mr. Arnold was a well known citizen and native of Johnson county Tenn. He resided in the Third Civil District of that county and was 63 years old. His sentiments as a Union man became known to Thomas Price and Wiley Ray, two Ashe county marauders, who, with a band of men like unto themselves, had come over into Johnson county to wreak vengeance on Union men. They heard that Arnold "had been to see the Yankees;" this was sufficient excuse for them to chase him around the neighborhood until they came up with him, when the leaders ordered the men to fire a volley at him, which they did, resulting in his instant death.

THE HANGING OF THE PRICES.

"There was a touch of sadness connected with this tragedy, even greater than of the other lamentable scenes of like character we have related. While there is no doubt as to the correctness of the facts related, our informant was not sure whether the scene of the tragedy was Johnson county, Tenn., or Ashe county, N. C.

"Jesse Price was a man advanced in years and he and his three sons were Union men. The family had moved back and forth between the two counties named, which, though in different States, adjoin.

"One Joe Long, a rebel, with a posse of men, captured old man Price and his three sons and put them in jail. Some charge was brought against them and all four of them were hanged to a white oak limb. It was late in the evening and the party believing them all dead cut them down and rode away.

"The next morning a passer-by discovered them and found that the old man and two of the sons were dead, but the other son, Franklin, was alive, sitting upright in the midst of the dead bodies of his father and two brothers. But it was found that his reason was gone and he was insane. He was taken back to jail and sometime afterwards recovered his reason and was forced to join the Confederate army, but soon deserted and scouted his way through the enemy's lines and came to the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, either at Nashville or Gallatin, Tenn."

We are glad to have our dear old friend and comrade, Captain Slimp, tell some of these revolting tragedies for us. He was in close proximity to the scenes where many of them were enacted and they bear upon them the stamp of truth, without any disposition to exaggerate. They are much like those we have told, and are such as may be heard from living and truthful witnesses all over, not only these two counties, but the whole of Eastern Tennessee.

DEATH OF THOMAS J. JORDAN.

In this connection we may as well relate what we have obtained from another source but which has been verified by Capt. Slimp, concerning the death of Thomas Jordan, who was born and raised in Elizabethton, but who married a Johnson county lady and moved to that county not far from the place known as Pandora. He was a Union man and subject to conscription. One day he and his younger brother, Elbridge Jordan, were near the former's home; it was in the spring of 1865 and the war being virtually over, he ventured to his home, when a posse of soldiers (conscript hunters) came suddenly upon them. Thomas Jordan started to run up a hill and through some small growth in front of his house. The soldiers fired on him, killing him instantly. They went to where he fell and taking him by the legs dragged him down into his yard and rode off as if nothing unusual had happened. His wife and three small children were in sight, and probably witnesses to the horror. It is unnecessary to make any comments. These facts speak for themselves. The younger brother made no attempt to escape and was not molested. He was probably under the conscript age, or the elder Jordan may have had an enemy among the rebel citizens who took this method of revenge. A word was often sufficient spoken by an enemy to set the soldiery upon an innocent man, and cost him his life.

TWO MEN SHOT AND TWO OTHERS HANGED.

"Next to the massacre in Limestone Cove, Carter county, in shocking cruelty, comes the shooting of James Taylor, a Federal recruiting officer who had been captured and escaped from prison, and was trying to make his way to the Federal lines, and Samuel Tatem, and the hanging of two other Union men at the same time and place— Alfred C. Kite and Alexander Rugger. The circumstances were about as follows:

"These men had made preparations to go through the lines and collected together in the hills on the Watauga river, near Fish Spring, but across the river from that place, on the Johnson county side, the river being the line between Johnson and Carter counties at that point. They had been detained there for several days on account of the river being swollen. A company of rebel soldiers passing along the road on the opposite side of the river saw them, and crossing the river, surrounded the hill where they were, and closing in, commenced firing on them. Taylor was killed first, and Tatem soon afterwards, the other three ran some distance before they were captured. Two of them were hanged with ropes the soldiers had with them to get forage for their horses, the third, was released after the rope had been placed around his neck. It was said some worthless arms were found on some of them but it is not known that they made any attempt to use them.

"This occurred in January, 1863, and the men engaged in it were Colonel Folk's men, assisted by the Johnson county 'home guards.' Many stories were related in regard to this affair immediately after its occurrence, some of them undoubtedly true, while others were at least exaggerated. The facts are bad enough and we do not wish to give them any false coloring. We have heard, on what seemed to be good authority, that Samuel Tatem, when shot, fell and remained perfectly still, feigning death, and that he was left for dead but finally recovered from his wound and was known as the 'dead Yankee.'

"One incident related to us by Mrs. Allan C. Carriger, who with her husband, now resides near the scene of the tragedy, shows a degree of moral turpitude that would be almost incredible were it not vouched for by this lady who is of unquestioned integrity. Alexander Dugger, one of the men who was hanged, was related to and had been raised by Mrs. Margaret Dugger, a widow, who owned the farm on which the killing and hanging were done. She was a highly respected old lady, was a land holder and had been a slave-owner. She belonged to a prominent family and was noted for her kind and charitable disposition and was loved and respected by all who knew her. The writer was the recipient of her motherly care when but a small boy, and knows whereof he speaks. At the time of the tragedy she was far advanced in years, and was known as 'Aunt Peggy' Dugger. She was greatly attached to her foster son, Alex. When these soldiers got everything in readiness to hang him one of them rode down to her house only a short distance away and invited her 'to come and see her Lincolnite son hanged!' We forbear comment.

One other incident: We were told that Daniel Shuffield, (afterwards a member of Co. G, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry) was captured with the others, and that the rope was placed around his neck when he was recognized by a young rebel home-guard, Martin Moore, of Johnson county, who had known him at some time, and Moore demanded his release.

"One cannot help but think that if the crimes (?) for which these men gave up their lives was only such as might be set aside by a casual friend, or acquaintance, was it not a pity that the other four men had no rebel friend there!

Samuel McQueen, another prominent Johnson county rebel citizen, was killed by a squad of men in command of Captain Dan. Ellis, near the close of the war.

Since writing the foregoing notice of the death of Samuel McQueen the following particulars of that tragedy have been made known to us, and coming from a trustworthy source will be of interest to our readers:

"McQueen had been one of the most active of the Johnson county 'home guards' and his name was associated with the killing of a. number of Union men and when these two counties were finally occupied by the Federal forces in April, 1865, he left his home and crossed over into Ashe county, North Carolina. It chanced that a Johnson county man who knew McQueen, and who was then a Federal soldier, was passing through the country and saw the latter and arrested him and brought him back to Johnson county and turned him over to a Federal officer who was in command of colored troops. That officer told him if what he had learned of his cruelty to the Union people was true he deserved hanging, but as the war was now about ended he would only send him to the jailer the present. He placed McQueen in charge of a squad of colored soldiers and ordered them to take him to Taylorsville (Mountain City) and turn him over to the jailer. McQueen objected to being placed in charge of colored men and asked to be placed in charge of white soldiers. Capt. Dan. Ellis, who was at that time operating in Johnson county with a small detachment of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, volunteered to take charge of him and conduct him to Taylorsville. Ellis had captured McQueen at one time previous to this and told him he would release him then, but if he ever heard of him mistreating Union men again he would not fare so well the next time he fell into his hands. Ellis and his squad started with him to Taylorsville, on foot; they had not proceeded far when one of the guard named Hascue Worley, who was walking a few paces behind him, shot him in the back and it is said Sergt. W. M. Barry also shot him after he fell. He was killed instantly. Col. T. H. Reeves ordered the men who shot him placed under arrest, but we are not advised whether or not they were punished. McQueen, we are informed, was at one time sheriff of Johnson county, and a prominent and highly respected citizen, but his zeal for the Southern cause had made him a most vindictive enemy to most of his former friends and neighbors, yet many of them expressed great indignation at the manner of his death. It is said that Worley, the man who shot him first, had been regarded as a rebel until he joined the Federal army in 1863."

Besides the names of those whose deaths and the manner of them, we have endeavored to relate, we give an additional list of names of men who met violent deaths in Carter and Johnson counties during the Civil War. These we presume were killed for the same reasons and under similar circumstances as those already described, and we confess that we have little disposition to delve' farther into the grave yards of the past with a view of uncovering and bringing to the light the skeletons of these martyrs though the cause for which the most of them died, if not a holy one, was at least a glorious one the preservation of the American Union, which we believe is, and is to be, the hope and beacon light of mankind struggling to be free, and to enjoy the blessings of religious liberty, "from earth's remotest bounds."

A Union man by the name of Gentry, a native of Carter county, and another, a stranger, were both killed on the same day on Stony Creek. William Blevins was shot down near his home also on Stony Creek by Confederate soldiers. William Waugh, a prominent secessionist of Johnson county, was shot down at his home by Lafayette Jones.

Green Moore was a prominent rebel citizen who lived in the 2d Civil District of Johnson county. He was killed by a man named Alvin Taylor, who, we are told, was at first a rebel, but later joined the unprincipled gang of robbers and murderers who infested the mountains toward the close of the war.

Timothy Roark was a Union man who was killed by the rebels in the 3d Civil District of Johnson county. We are not advised as to the cause or manner of his death.

Isaac Younce was an old man killed near the Walnut mountain by Captain Bozen's men in January, 1864. It is alleged he was first hanged to make him tell where the scouter's camps were, but either not knowing, or refusing to tell, he was finally killed and stripped of his clothing.

Four other men were killed in the Limestone Cove by this same company in March, 1864. Their names were: John Campbell, Robert Dowdel and John and Eli Fry. It was said they were most cruelly and inhumanly treated one of them, being run through with a bayonet and pinned to a tree and then shot.

Andrew Taylor, a well known citizen of Carter county, a true Union man, was called out of a house where he was visiting and foully assassinated.

One word more by way of apology for the disconnected manner in which these stories have been told, and this for the benefit of the fastidious reader who may be partial to order and sequence in all things, and this chapter will be closed.

Our time for gathering up and verifying these tragedies was limited, and while we might have given more time to arranging them in consecutive order and less to their verification we have preferred to sacrifice the former to the latter, and present our readers with a chapter of facts that we have every reason to believe are such, than take the chances of substituting fiction even in a more polished and readable form.

It was our design to give in this chapter a "brief outline" of the tragedies that were enacted in Carter an Johnson counties during the civil war. We have only mentioned a sufficient number of them to show the state of feeling that existed at that time. We might continue the recital of similar horrors until they would form a good sized book in themselves, but we assume that our readers, like ourselves, are satiated with these scenes of blood and will be more than pleased to consign the remainder to silence and oblivion, but we may remember that these are only a part of the terrible scenes that were enacted in two small counties of East Tennessee, and that similar tragedies were taking place at the same period all over the beautiful, historic but blood-stained mountains and valleys of the remaining twenty-nine counties of that devoted land.