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hearted man, who had fed confederates as well as Union men at his house. He was a Union man, but not active in arresting Southern sympathizers, and had tried to prevent the raids on Lott Green's and Carroll Moores' houses.

Two Michiganders Escape.-- Reuben Coffey, sick of living in a turmoil with his neighbors, had left the Globe and moved to a house on Meat Camp, but needing some household articles he had left at his Globe home, returned during this winter, accompanied by his daughter, Millie, who was riding a white horse. The robbers had taken all of McCaleb Coffey's horses, and when the white horse appeared McCaleb threw a "grise" of corn over his back to be taken to Elisha Coffey's mill by Miss Millie. On their way down the mountain Reuben and his daughter met two men, who said they were from Michigan and had escaped from prison. They were not in uniform, neither were they armed. Reuben had a gun and arrested them, after which he took them by McCaleb Coffey's house to David Miller's, one mile away, hoping to get Miller to go with him and them to Camp Mast on Cove Creek, but Miller excused himself, and Reuben went on alone with his prisoners. When they got to the intersection of the turnpike with the old Morganton Road, about two miles above Shull's Mills, one of the prisoners called Reuben's attention to some rude benches standing on one side of the road, and when he looked in the direction indicated the other seized his gun, while his companion struck Reuben a blow on the back of his head with a heavy stick. In the ensuing scuffle the two overcame Reuben and took his gun away from him. At that moment, after having tried to shoot him and failing only because the cap snapped, they heard Wilson Beech, a boy, returning at a gallop from the mill, when they ran off and escaped. This boy, now an elderly man, remembers that he was working in the field at McCaleb Coffey's, with Polly Hawkins as a helper, when they saw James C. Coffey coming down the road on foot. He said, "Hurrah! the war is over." This, however, was in April, 1865.

The Sins of the Children.-- Leading up to the surrender of this camp are several ver distressing cirsumstances. Levi Guy, who lived on Watauga River near its falls and its passage into

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Tennessee, was an old man during the Civil War. His three sons, Canada, Enoch and David, were active Union men. Their enemies called them robbers. There were near the head of North Fork of New River several men of the name of Potter and others named Stout. Thomas Stout, another old man, had three sons, Abram, Daniel and John, who, with the Potters and Guys, were charged with many depredations throughout this region. One night in 1863 a band of men, among whom were supposed to have been the three Guy "boys," as they were called, went to the home of Paul Farthing on Beaver Dams, where Lewis Farthing now lives, and after demanding his surrender, fired into the log walls of his residence. It had been agreed by the people of this neighborhood that, in case any house should be attacked, horns or trumpets should be blown, so that all who heard the signal might hasten to the assistance of those in trouble. This alarm was sounded from the upper story of Paul Farthing's house by his women folk, while he fired at the at-tacking party from the rooms below. Several neighbors heard the alarm and started to the rescue. Among these was Thomas Farthing, and he was shot dead as he approached the house, the robbers taking flight immediately thereafter. Some time later Levi Guy was captured by some of the Confederate Home Guard and hanged, although he protested that he had done nothing more than shelter his own sons when they came to his house for food and beds. Paul Farthing was falsely charged with having been concerned in this deed.

While Isaac Wilson, son of Hiram, was ploughing in his field at the head of the North Fork of Cove Creek, bushwhackers, among whom are supposed to have been Potters and Stouts, slipped up on him and shot him dead. Soon thereafter Canada Guy and a boy named Jacob May, a son of Jeff May, of Roan Creek, Tenn., were captured by Daniel Sheppard and some of Captain Price's men of Ashe County, near Sutherland, and hanged, though it is said that May was innocent and was ex-honorated from all complicity by Guy before he was killed.
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Note: (1)It is said that Sheppard was afterwards captured and hanged on a dogwood in Johnson County, Tenn., but that the rope broke. Jeff May, his captor, then took the halter from Sheppard's horse and strangled Sheppard to death with it.

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After this it is claimed that Paul Farthing's house was again attacked at night, but that he returned the fire and wounded or killed one of the assailants, as blood was seen on the road leading away from the dwelling. Then, sometime afterwards - dates are lacking all through this period - Old Man Thomas Stout, father of the Stout boy or boys charged with having been concerned in the killing of Isaac Wilson, was captured by Confederate Home Guards in the spring of 1864 and taken to Hiram Wilson's on Cove Creek, where he was kept all night. Big Isaac Wilson, a cousin of "Little" Isaac, the slain man; Jay or Jehu Howington and Gilbert Norris are said to have started with Stout next day for Camp Vance, below Morganton, and after having been told to go "the nigh-way." Thomas Stout was never seen alive again. Two months later James H. Presnell was cow-hunting on Rich Mountain and found a shoe. He reported this to his brother, Col. W. W. Presnell, when he got back to their home on Brushy Fork. The next day the two brothers went back to the place at which the shoe had been found, and within fifty paces they found what remained of the body of Thomas Stout, including his gray hair. It had been placed in the cavity formed by the blowing down of an oak tree; logs had then been placed beside the body and the whole covered with brush and leaves. Not far off, dangling from a leaning white oak, was the hickory thong by which he had been hanged, with the noose still in a circular form, though it had been cut in two when the body was removed. Colonel Presnell reported these facts to Abram Lewis, an officer at Camp Mast, and soon afterwards Thomas Stout's widow had the remains removed and buried near her home.' Thus was the Bible promise reversed, that the sins of the fathers should be visited upon the children; but, alas, the sins of the children are much oftener visited upon their fathers!

Retribution?--It became necessary sometime in the fall of 1864 to gather the crop of Big Isaac Wilson on the head of the
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(1) E. B. Miller, of Meat Camp, says that on the 10th of April, 1865, he was near the Little Cavit of the Rich Mountain, and hearing some one sobbing, went to the place from which the sound came. There, at the root of the tree,, stood Mrs. Tom Stout with the bones of her husband in her apron, crying as her heart would break.

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North Fork of Cove Creek. Friends of Thos. Stout knew of this and were lying in wait when the men came with fell purpose. They shot and killed Howington(1) and James Norris, a son of Gilbert's, while Big Isaac himself was severely wounded, but recovered. It is said that Gilbert Norris afterwards went blind. All concerned in the death of old Levi Guy are said to have speedily come to a bad end, also.

Some Watauga Amazons.-- In "the course of human events" it so happened in John Walker's lifetime, as it had in the Declaration of Independence, that things had got past all endurance. He was a soldier in Camp Mast, but he was sick and tired of it all. John wanted to be well out of it, but he did not wish to desert. Therefore, when it came time for him to spend a week at the home of his father, Meredith Walker, he got Levi Coffey and Erwin Calloway, a brother of W.H. Calloway, afterwards sheriff, to "capture" him at the end of his week at home. But it would never do for Levi to be known in the matter, as he was John's best friend, and for Calloway to capture him unaided might seem to smack of complicity. But it had so chanced that, some time before, Henderson Calloway had brought in from Tennessee a full United States officer's uniform, shoulder-straps, belt and sword. Adorned in these, it was hoped that Erwin would not be recognized, but where were the "assisting force" to come from? Levi was not long in answering. His own wife, Edith and Elvira Taylor, Catharine and Jemima Yarber and Frankie Danner were "force" enough for the occasion. So he got them to assume male attire and armed them with "stick guns." At night Erwin Calloway, panoplied in full regimentals, marched his squad into the Walker yard and halted them at the front door, himself rapping for admittance. John and his women folk, with white faces, appeared and opened the door. Erwin demanded his surrender, the female guard, with sergeant Levi Coffey remaining in the dark, but still dimly visible. There was a parley, John's women pleading for him, with tear-bedimmed
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Note: (1) Dr. J. G. Rivers lived at the Swift place on Cove Creek and was the first to hear of the killing of these men. He ran his horse to camp Mast and reported the facts, and the entire camp hastened to the scene. Doctor Rivers was with Howington asked him why it was so hard for him to die. Rivers asked if he had anything on his mind. He said he had helped hang old man Thomas Stout, and had nnever known any peace since. He then died.

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eyes. Erwin went inside, leaving Levi to keep the sentinels outside alert and watchful, which he did by gruff commands. But erwin was obdurate, and tore John away from the arms of his family and marched him to the squad outside. For Effect Jonathan McHaarg was also captured at the same time and place, the women of the family alone being ignorant of the deception practiced. Meantime, however, it had become bruited about that Yankees were in the gap of the mountain, and France and Wilts Beech, two boys, were started on horses for Camp Bingham to bring assistance. These were met by Erwin's squad and turned back, while John Walker was taken on to a ridge and rock cliff just above Elisha Coffey's Mill, afterwards known as Lenoir's Stonewall Mill, where he was fed by Elisha whenever he went out to feed his hogs. It was about one week later that John walked into his home, apparently much crippled up and sorely distraught, but bearing an iron clad paper-writing with his signature attached, a duplicate of one he declared the Yankees in Tennessee had compelled him to sign while in captivity in order to secure his parole. Of course this was merely a fake, but it worked, for when Bingham sent for John the messenger advised John to respect his parole, and he was left at home till the surrender at Appomattox and ever thereafter.

Camp Mast at Sugar Grove.-- Captain Price had a company of the Home Guards at Jefferson, while Major Harvey Bingham had two companies at a camp on Cove Creek, four miles above Valle Crucis, which had been named in honor of the Mast family. It was just below the old Mast Mill, now called Pete Mast's Mill. Geo. McGuire was captain of one company and Jordan Cook of the other. The land on which it stood is now occupied by the residence and grounds of Boone Deal. Only one-half of the force was in camp at any one time, the other half being at their homes every alternate week. The camp consisted of wooden shacks and tents. There were also some fortifications around it. Many wounded Confederate soldiers formed part of the garrison of Home Guards stationed there. The men were rather poorly armed, and Major Avery's battalion was on its way to supply them with better weapons in February, 1865, when it was surrendered, as will more fully appear later on.

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The Battle on the Beech.-- In the fall of 1864 nine men went to James Farthing's home, a mile and a half below what is now Ward's Store on lower Watauga River, robbed him, shot him and left him for dead. They then went a mile further up, to Reuben P. Farthing 's, claiming to be Confederates. Thomas Farthing was up stairs in Reuben's house, wounded. But he had a pistol, and hearing what was passing below, put his head out of the widow and ordered the nine men to leave. They did so, but took several horses from one of Thomas Farthing's brothers as he was going with them to the pasture. Word was sent to Major Bingham, who immediately came with eighteen men. Rations for three days were then cooked by the Farthings for these men, and they followed the horses to Cranberry and recaptured them, returning to the old Joel Eggers place near Balm, where they stayed that night. Captain James Hartley was notified of their presence there, and supposing that they would return to Valle Crucis by the Bower's Gap, secreted himself and thirteen of his men there and awaited Bingham's approach. But Bingham had decided to return to Reuben Farthing's below Ward's Store for the purpose of returning the recaptured horses. There is a wagon road there now, but then there was only a trail. One of Hartley's runners informed him of Bingham's purpose, and Hartley, taking a near way up the ridge, arrived in time to confront them at the place now owned by Lee Gwaltney, seven miles from Ward's Store and one mile from what is now Balm. This spot is about half way between the Hanging Rock and the South Pinnacle of the Beech, but then known as the Abe Baird land. In the fight which ensued Richard Kilby was killed and Elliott Bingham, a brother of the Major's, so badly wounded that he died afterwards. These men belonged to major Bingham's battalion. None of Hartley's men was hurt. The Confederates retreated, although they greatly outnumbered the attacking force. A. J. McBride, of Bingham's command, although a preacher, cursed and swore when ordered to retreat.

Surrender of Camp Mast.-- It is difficult to get the exact date of the fall of this mountain stronghold, for weak as it was, it was all there was at that time, but T. P. Adams, of Dog Skin

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Creek, says it was the 5th of February, 1865. As he was one of the captured garrison, he probably knows. Assuming that this is the correct date, on the 4th of February of that year Captain James Champion, of Indiana, a recruiting officer for the Federals, gathered at Banner Elk about one hundred Union men, most of whom were armed after one fashion or another, But many of them had no weapons at all. He marched them that day to Valle Crucis, where they halted, killed one of Henry Taylor's beevs, cooked it and had supper. This dispatched, Captain Champion made them a speech, in which he told them of his plans. But, he added, that if there was any man in the party who expected to loot or rob or burn or destroy any property not strictly contraband, he must fall out, as all he expected to do or allow to be done was to burn the camp, capture the garrison and disable the arms found there. Out of 123 men in his command, twenty fell out, indicating that they had joined in the hope of plunder only. With James Isaacs for guide, the residue started, following the public road to the old Ben Councill place at what has been called Vilas since Cleveland's first post-master general was in office. They crossed Brushy Fork Creek at this point and took the ridge between that stream and Cove Creek, and came down upon Camp Mast just before a chill dawn. It seemed, however, as they passed over the frozen ground, that the clang of their horses' shoes had aroused every dog in Christendom, and just before reaching the camp a flock of sheep became frightened and fled helter-skelter down the ridge toward the camp, with bells jingling and sheep bleating, thus making a veritable pandemonium. But the camp was still asleep, and Champion's men were placed at regular intervals around it, each second man being required to build a fire. When the plaid dawn gave way to the roseate sunrise and reveille sounded, the sleepy garrison looked out upon the frozen hills but to discover that they were indeed encompassed round about, if not by an army with banners, at least by an apparent wall of smoke and fire. Champion had divided his force into three companies, one under I. V. Reese, the second under Aaron Voncannon, while he remained in charge of the third. General Franklin, General being his baptismal

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name and not a mere empty title of military rank, was sent forward with a flag of truce, returning soon afterwards with Captain George McGuire, who was native and to the manner born, but afterwards suspected by some to have conspired with Champion for the surrender of the Camp, as the latter had selected a time when Major Harvey Bingham had gone to Ashe to confer with Captain Price as to some desired co-operation between the two forces. McGuire reported hat he had taken a vote and found that about sixty of his men favored surrender, while eleven voted to fight. He was sent back for the names of those on each side of the question, and soon returned with them. The minority was overruled and garrison surrendered, all being over by nine o'clock that winter morning. They were taken down Cove Creek, crossing Watauga River at the old Ben Baird place, and followed the old Bedent Baird Road over Beech Mountain to George Dugger's, and thence to where Sam Banner lived, where Keith Blalock's son joined them, taking charge of the prisoners. When these reached Ham Ray's at Shell Creek in Tennessee most of those who had voted to surrender were paroled and discharged, while all of those who had voted to fight, except T. P. Adams, were sent on to Camp Chace. McGuire went on, but not to Camp Chace. He rode with the officers and never returned to this State.

Paul and Reuben Farthing.-- When the question of surrendering was put to the garrison at Camp Mast, Paul Farthing declared that the surrender of the Camp meant the surrender of his life. Miss Sophronia Mast, a daughter of the venerble Joseph Mast, of Sugar Grove, and Miss Melinda Williams, now the wife of Mr. Wesley Holtsclaw, were returning at dawn from having sat up all night with a sick neighbor, when they discovered that they were within the lines of Champion's men encircling the camp. They were detained there, and while waiting to be allowed to proceed to their homes advised Paul Farthing and his nephew to escape by following the stream under the bushes growing on the bank of the creek flowing hard by, but they said it had grown too light and that they would be discovered and killed. Paul Farthing, however, gave Sophronia his pistol,, knife and pocket-book,

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and Dr. J. G. Rivers, who was also of the surrendered garrison, entrusted some things to Miss Williams, and these articles were afterwards faithfully delivered by these two young girls, Miss Mast afterwards becoming the wife of Captain Newton Banner. The two Farthings, Paul and his nephew, Reuben, did die at Camp Chase, just as they had predicted would be the case if surrendered.

Stoneman's Raid.--General stoneman reached Boone in the forenoon of March 28, 1865. The day was fair. Some men in the house which stood where J. D. Councill's residence now stands, among whom was W. Waightstill Gragg, fired on the head of the column as it came down the road from Hodges Gap. This was enough: Warren Green was killed; so were Jacob M. Councill and Ephraim Norris. The following were wounded: Calvin Green, son of Alexander Green; Sheriff A. J. McBride, Thomas Holder, son of Elisha; John Brown, son of Joseph Brown, of Gap Creek, and W. Waightstill Gragg, of the First North Carolina Cavalry, who was then at home on a furlough. The house from which the shooting had been done, now J. D. Cuncill's, was converted into a hospital and the Federal surgeon did his best for the wounded. Calvin Green was taken to the old Jordan Councill house. He had been badly wounded, but recovered. McBride had been shot in the breast, but the ball followed a rib and lodged near his spine, from which the federal surgeon removed it, while McBride lay on his stomach on the floor, without anaesthetics of any kind. Holder's wound was in the hip and groin. He lived on Howard's Creek, but is now dead. Brown had his ankle broken. Gragg's wound was not very severe. He lived a short distance above the house now occupied by Benjamin Brannock. After the firing from the Councill house, Stoneman's men charged, and all who were in that house or near it ran through the fields toward the foot of Howard's Knob. Hence, all were wounded in the rear, except Mc Bride, who was hit in the breast. The house in which Jacob M. Councill was killed is called the Mark Hodge house. It still stands, in the rear of Benjamin Councill's home, though untenented now. Jacob had been ploughing and was putting his harness up when one of Stoneman's men
 
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came to the door and shot him dead, notwithstanding his protestations. A colored woman, Phoebe by name, who had been at work with him, saw the deed.

Offical Account.-- Major-General George Stoneman's command, consisting of a cavalry division and a battery of artillery, left Knoxville March 21, 1865, and camped at Strawberry Plains, and by the 27th forded Doe River and crossed the Smokey Mountains into North, moving out at 5:00 a. m. March 28th and reaching Boone about eleven o'clock that morning. Here the division divided, the first brigade taking the route to Yadkin River, while part of the remainder when through Deep Gap to Wilkesboro. Col. George W. Kirk, in command of the second and third North Carolina Mounted Infantry, United States Army, left Taylorsville, Tenn., on the 5th of April and came to Boone, where he was joined next day by Brigadier-General Davis Tillson. On the morning of the 7th Major Bahney left with the second North Carolina Mounted Infantry for Deep Gap, and Major W. W. Rollins, with 200 men of the third North Carolina Infantry, went to Blowing Rock Gap, called by army officers Watauga Gap, while Colonel Kirk, with 406 men, remained in Boone. General Tillson gave instructions for building rough but formidable field works and collections of as large a supply of forage and subsistence as possible, while Kirk was instructed to barricade the Meat Camp road leading through State Gap and also a road not then on General Tillson's military map, leading through Sampson Gap, between Deep and Watauga Gaps, a few miles from the latter. On the 27th of April the second and third North Carolina Mounted Infantry were moved toward Asheville, reaching there on the 30th. (Rebellion Records, Series I, Vol. XLIX, Part I, pp. 323 to 337.) Signal stations on mountain tops were established from Butler, Tenn., to Lenoir, N. C.

Obeyed Orders.-- Boone court house was pierced with holes to fire through, while a barricade was made around it of timbers taken from an unfinished building which then stood where the Blair hotel now stands, and from another half finished house then standing near Blackburn's present hotel. Deep Gap and

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