Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/278

 272 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Gwaltney's men were to be notified, by the firing of a gun, when the main body had reached their position. One or two men were seen to escape from the fort before it could be surrounded. They were fired at, but escaped. The supposition was that they had gone to get re- inforcements from the other band. The companies had left their encampment before day, and by daybreak the fort was sur- rounded, the men being placed about twenty steps apart. The sol- diers kept up the fire on the fort during the day and night. Wade's men returned the fire, shooting with great accuracy. The soldiers were compelled to keep behind logs and trees, or out of range of the guns. It seemed impossible to take the fort. "Some of the bravest men were in favor of giving it up, while others said death was preferable to being run over by such devils." (Rev. W. R. Gwaltney. )

This state of affairs continued until the night of the iQth, when the lines were moved nearer up, and about 4 o'clock in the morn- ing Wallace Sharpe and W. A. Daniel crept up behind the kitchen and set it on fire. The flames soon reached the roof of the fortress, and the sight of the fire seemed to completely unnerve Wade's men. " What terms will you give us ? " cried out Wade. "We will shoot you," replied Sharpe, from behind the burning kitchen.

It was now about daybreak, and some of the men surrounding the fort began to rush up. Wade made a rush towards the river, through a body of Caldwell men, who opened fire on him, but as it was yet a little dark, he escaped. Four men were captured, Beck, Church, Loockwad, and one whose name cannot be ascertained. The flames which had caught the fort were extinguished, and in the house was found property of almost every description. Five ladies' dresses and bonnets had been taken for the dissolute women who had occupied the house. About twenty horses were found stabled near the fort. Some of the property was restored to the owners. The men who were captured plead for a trial according to the course and practice of the courts. They were informed that they would be disposed of as summarily as they had disposed of Clark, Henley, Brown, and Linney. Stakes were put up, and on the way to the place of execution they were given time to pray. They knelt down to pray, but the prayer was, " O, men, spare us." Wallace Sharpe replied : " Men, pray to God; don't pray to us. He alone can save you." Captain Sharpe requested W. R. Gwaltney to pray, but he replied that he never felt as little like praying in his life. Captain