University of South Carolina Libraries
* *, Dtyiot^d to ^u^nlturf, gortiqultur)), and ttiq Current ^ttcs o( the gag. * ,* 1 * * a*- -*< Ia~t?--1 i- '- AMjmni.L1. * .. A. .1 ?i.n . 'L'l.aj ] 111 II1.?- 1? . I .c 1L? m^1 ?. . , . ^ rjj L. . .-A^f ? , ' l,V.m tl... XJ ? ^ . .v... %iiv uuu vuuncr. KEDMONi)'S STUANWK STORY. A TALK WITH TUB ol'TV** IN TUB UBAItT UK THK uyxi K. TickkSh C. II., Juno 28.?"Tho next trouble I got iuto," continued Redmond, 'took place some time after that otic in which Duckworth was killed, and it resulted in my capture." "1 escaped however," he added with a laugh of merriment over tho recollection Omitting in my interesting particulars which might bo considered irrelevant, and would extend this letter to a greater leugth than permissible, I commence iu the uiiddlo of his story. , THE WHISKEY BUSINESS. A large reward has been ottered in North Carolina lor his apprehension, nod having his sisters to support and knowiug, moreover, th uit arrest at that time meant trial in A United States Court and very speedy con7iction, Redmond transferred the scene of his o'JiWtrfjftM lotb South Carolina, where Jio drove a thriving trado almost in the I 4 ^C iI.a ill?, "nniinc '9 w^a in "?? ? IUIUHUI llll! XVC? V" ? *"?} ",vu *u ?Mll? I to catch hiai. "I bought and soiu P"'v ihc j best whiskey," he said, "aud could always get ?1.50 per gallon for my stock where other traders could only command ?1.? 'Redmond Whiskey* soon became well known aud was sought after by everybody, even the Rcvcuucs. 1 was always very liberal with tny customers and have frequently set out a ten-gallon keg for a 'treat,' aud <?ee6r' them drink every drop in a few hours. I havo no doubt that [ have 'treated' nwny fully 1,500 gallon* in this way siuce I begun. 1 did uot mind trcatiug my friends, but I did hato to treat a rascal, as I havo often done, though I never said a word.? The fact is," he added, "there is very little profit in tho business, and what with losses and captures, and the risk of arrest and imprisonment a man ucccssarily runs, it does uot pay to follow it. 1 havo not distilled a drop for three years, aud have uot sold any for over six mouths. REDMOND BETRAYED. Among others with whom 1 used to trade was a man named Van Hendricks. 1 met him one day aud he told me that lie wanted to buy ft quantity. We finally agreed to meet at a certain house that night, where 1 was to deliver the whiskey and receive the moucy. He wanted it on credit, but 1 could not afford to let liirn have it, so he promised to cou?.cjuid brjn^>tl)e lppnoy^? lie wa? to meet 1 nVliml- ilmi and after dark I drew off what he wanted (I had to make the faucet out of a sweet potato!) and carried it to an outhouse, where 1 waited for him. Amos Lndd, niv wagon driver, was with me, and wo kindled a big tire on the hearth and laid down to sleep. About half-past 12 Hendricks and Jauiiison came in, and 1 drew a pint bottle full and 'treated' them both. 1 then laid down again with my coat and boots off and wc commenced talking. 1 had my pistols by uie, one in sight and one under my pillow, and Hendricks asked me to let him see what kind I used. He picked up one and examined it and then asked mc to let him sec the other. This made mc suspicions, and I replied that I never allowed any man <. to handle all my weapons at one time. TUB CAPTURE. Just then a crowd of men, who had been waiting outside, burst open the door and rushed in on uie and surrounded mc.? There was a big light in the fireplace, and I saw a dozen guns were cocked and pointed right at me. Tluy were hollering, "Surrender! Surrender!" as fast as they could, and Amos Ladd said, "1 surrender." I said nothing, and turned over to get my pistoljVom under my pillow, and saw that Jlendrieks had run around behind inc and had uiy own pistol within a few inches of my head. Several of thorn jumped upon me at once, and held mc down and pinioned my arms, and then they turned me over on % my back and Barton and (lary tied my wrists close together. It was all done in a moment, but when they jumped on mc, I thought to myself, 'if there were only two of you, how quick I could turn you under.' If 1 had done so, however, they .Would have riddled me with buckshot and balls, so 1 thought I would wait. Till UTA I. TltKATM ENT. When tlicy were tying mo I hey used a small strong rope, and they pulled mighty hard on it. I had a 'rising' on one wrist and they hurt me pretty badly ; they broke the rising and cured it. Here is the scar now, he Raid, laughing, but if they had torn my arm off I wouldn't have said a word.? When L was tied, Barton asked ins if I was Maj. Redmond'( L saiu, yes! He said, 'Yes, (1?d d?n you, you are the man who wanted to kill me.' I replied, 'I have not wanted to kill you ; I could easily have done so if I had wanted.' He ordered mo to get up, but pulled so hard on the end of the rope he had me tied with that I couldn't get up. It is no easy thing to rise when you arc on your back with your hands tied. I tried to do so, hut couldn't get up quick enough to please hint, and then," said the outlaw, his eyes flashing at the recollection of the indignity, "then he kicked at mo, bis boot grazing my side! If be bad kicked me squarely be woitd have hurt me, though I don't think he mnhj have hurt nv miudi, that iiiuht. whatever lie did, but ( hat was enough. I I'-'t. like I was as strong as three men, and sprang up I don't know how. I kept quiet, however, and they held ujc, and Burton run his hand into uiy pocket and took out my pockctbook. I hud ouc hundred and eigh'ty-six dollars. lie asked me if it was uiino '( 1 said 'yes, put it baek iu my pocket, you have no right to take my money, lie said you have no right to it,' and kept it. I then said, 'Look here, I want uiy boots.' A UASII FOR FREEDOM. Barton dropped the end of the ropo he j had been holding and started past me to get the boots which were by uiy pallet. I was mad because he had kicked me, and felt as tall as if I wcro three feet above the flocr. I turned my hands in the rope and 'whopped' my uruis into Gary's breast and knocked him down. 1 kuockcd Moore down iu the same way ou tin other side ; the others "Vrtfre all standing two-deep between mc and the door. 1 kicked at Charley White, who gave way ; the rest scattered, and I jumped out of the door like I had been greased.? My wagon was in front of the door, fortunately; so I ran arouud it, gathering up as 'I ran the rope with which I was tied to -Lc.p it from tripping uie, (I kucw they I would catch mc if 1 fell.) They dashed I i? i .... i uuv iim-i iiiu. j>uug i uang: wcnc tueir gUNS. Tim balls struck all around mo and knocked up the snow. I heard one of them say, 'By G?d, I know we have killed him;' hut I knew they hadn't, aud kept on. 1 was still tied so tight I couldn't get loose, though I kept tugging at the rope as I ran. I had one pistol iu my pocket, and twisted my hands round and got it out, hut dropped it in juuipiug a big chcsnut log. FIRST CATCII YOUR HARE. TImk the way, bat I went over it without any trouble. I think I flew over, I got over so easily. The officers turned hack ; they wore afraid to follow me very far, and then I stopped aud untied the rope with my teeth, aud knew I was safe. The snow was thick on the ground, and I was without hat or coat aud iu my stocking feet. I knew they had my pistols, hut as they had Amos, loo, I determined to rescue him or die. - I thought they wouldu't stay long about there after I was loose, so I ran accross the fields in my stocking feet to a neighbor's house. I won't tell his name ; but when I got there the soles of my stockings were cut to pieces by the ice, and the legs were cliugiug around my nuklcs. 1 knocked and he let mo in, nnd I told him those 'hell-fired devils' had captured me and my driver, and I intended to take hiin away from them. lie gave me a hat and a coat and shoes, and a gun and ammunition. I th^ went back to the load which I knew tn^ would have to travel, and waited for them. I heard tbeui getting ready to start with Amos, and all were talking and shouting together. They had captured a highstrung black mara of mine, and when they 1.24-1 11 A - - l uiicnuu ncr 10 me wagon to start one ot them whipped her, and she began to kick things to pieces generally. Uarton was anxious to get away, so Amos told mo afterwards, and stood by with his gun aiming at every noise he heard in the bushes. They got started finally ; the bay mare did all the pulling, as the black was mad ; and I heard thorn coming qp (he road. Amos was crying ; he was nothing but a boy, then, and I can't tell you how I felt. ATTEMPTED RESCUE OP AMOS LADD. I just seemed to swell, I felt so big; but I couldn't help from crying myself. I knew my own wagon by the black marc, which I could see against the snow bank. Their's was a one-horse .concern and was in 'Vont, and just as soon as it eumo within reach 1 levelled my gun and fired ! I heard some one holler. 'Hun! run! run!' and hoard liartou say, 'What's the math r?' I thought to myself, you w ait a minute and I will show you what's the matter. Then some one in the foremost wagon fired at 1110 two or three times and they till fell out of the wagon, and as they ran up the snow bank into the bushes I fired again. My gun was loaded with buckshot, and when L hoard some one groaning and I thought 'I have got meat this time.' T shot six more times, hut the banks were so high that 1 over-shot them and didn't get anybody. CHARLEY WHITE'S TERROR. One ef thorn, Charley White had caught a shot in his thigh, and as Amos who was then dodging behind the barrels 4old me afterwards, tried his best to get under orjiuto Amos for protection. Amos told nim 't<> get out niul take, his share;' and he replied, I I have got my share already.'" To do him justice, I luay say here that the "Major" did not seem to think that, under all the circumstances, there was anything particularly wrong in his single-handed attack upon the dozen Revenues, lie certainly enjoyed telling how hard poor Charley White had tried to crawl into Amos, and how his faithful hlack marc had "fanned timber" with her indignant heels. The officers took Amos into their midst and drovo off rapidly, and Redmond ceased firing for fear of killing his friend. AWAITING ANOTHER CHANCE. "T hadn't got Amos out yet," ho continued, "so as they drove ou I ran on down the fence by their side until they got to the next house, (Mr. Pepper's,) which was not far off, and then 1 heard them holler 'whoa!' and call for old man Pepper. Mr. Pepper started to bring out a light, but Barton ordered him not to bring it there. 1 was standing a few feet from him in the darkness watohiug for a chance to reacuo Auios, but could not tell liiin from the others. He had untied himself iu tho wagon, however, wvtic wo wore fighting, and suddenly I hcarcf some one holler, 'Ho's gono ! he's gone I" iod then soveral shots were fired ; but I knew that ho had got off safely. 1 then thought I would rash in and cut the traces nud recapture my Lorses, but thought they might hit 1110, so J stood still. They all went into the house, and I went off and whistled for Amos, win came to me and told inc I had wounded'Barton and Hendricks. Wo went back together to watch the house, and I looked through the window and saw thctn all sitting before the fire. I could have killed Dartwi or any of them, they were nut ton>feeV .from mo j but I wouldn't .shoot any ouo dotrti iu another man's bouse. THE WAY THE REVENUES RUN. The next morning I saw them again in j tne road in the one horse wagon and wanI ted to shoot Janniaon, but Amos begged uic uot to do it, and I wouldn't. Prosen tly tbo others came slong aud Gary was riding on my horse by the side of Dr. Earlc who had been attendiug the wounded. It made uie mad to seo biui on my own horse, after all that had happened, but I wouldn't shoot at liiui for fear of wounding Earlc, who was between us. Gary had gotten him to ride by him. At last I saw Earlc go a little ahead, and I saw my chanco and fired at Gary and hit him. Karlo helped him back 011 uiy horse, and then I navr.r saw men run so in my life. I thought I would stop theui so I shot my own horse;?be commenced staggoring, but he was game and kept going, and I followed pn after them as fast as tliey and I could ruah^ vTUoy osossed a creek and all stopped nud Gary ;holWed back to uic : Tonic over hero and X will kill you.' I had only my pistol, bftt I started towards him. I had to cross infc crock 011 a small log, aud loaded na I JJo-j fore I could gat across they pcmiuauccd running again, and L called out to them to 'wait and I would kill every one sf^theua.' That is the way you do,' I said, 'you steal all a mar has, and tlion run !' I then itemed and went back. Gary had dropped lrtS*hat in the road, aud I found it and tore it all to pieces. lie bad my overcoat, a ?i 1 T I..J ?: i -? .... ... cuuiti x u?u j)uiu iwcuiy-eignr- dollar? lor, and also my hat and boots and a fine dress coat. Tlicy gave the hat aud boots and coat to negroes living ow th? I heard of it and gave out word that-T would kill them all if they didn't bring thcui back. They brought theui that same niglft, and I found them hanging on the wagon next morning. The revenue officers carried off my shawl and overcoat and kept them for their own use." (It was attempting to recover this stolen property that Judge Mackey issued a bench warraut lor him for committing highway robbery.) a moonshiner's raid. "The next day,', continued Redmond, "I sent word to Barton that if ho would return my horses and moacy and havo my wagon mended, I would call all square betweeu us aud be done with it. Ify refused to do it, so a few days latter I raised a company of about twelve meu from Creek. and wont to call on him. We rode all that night. It was very dark and missed the way, and I rode into a cut in the railroad. It was very deep, and I had a hard fall. My horse fell on me and knocked my leg out of joint. I thought it was brokeu it hurt so, but I called to the boys to halt or they would ride in too. One of them ,?\yn? no oiono tinit as wheeled his horse's hind legs slipped over the edge arflfthrcw dirt down on me. I heard one of them say, 'II3 is killed, let's go hack home.' 1 found my horse was not hurt much, so I got on him and rode down the track until I could get out, and went back to them.? .My leg was hurting very Httdly, so I called one ot the boys to uie and'"told him to catch bold and pull as bard as lie could, lie did I so, and my leg slipped back with a pop which I thought could have been heard a hundred yards off. I did not say anything about it. Wo had no light -exempt matches, and burned about five boxes of them in trying to find our way. Wo got to Kasley Station that night, and some of the boys wanted to go on at once to Barton's house. NO llOliliKIl OR HORSE TIIIF.F. 1 saiil no. Iff. Il? u-nit Itroil /lntr nn/l rr - ---? ? ?- " - ?? ? ""j v like men ; I am no robber or horse thief, and what I do I propose to do by daylight. ' They go in like dogs?don't let ?? do like them!' We stayed at the station until daylight, and a man asked ine where I was going. I replied, 'bird hunting!' That was what tbo officers had said when they started after mo. * I got some ammunition at ftasley's and we started down the road. One of the boys tried to primo bis old Hint and steel rifle as lie galloped along, and lie left a black trail of powder for half amile !' TIIB RAID ON HAUTO.N'S When we got nearly to Jtr.rlon's house we saw a negro run in, and as we closed ar und the house 1 saw Barton steal out ami crawl under it. Mrs. Barton came out wringing her hands and screaming, but 1 'old her not to be alarmed as T didn't want to hurt anybody. I asked where her husband was and she said lie was in Greenville. I told her lie was under the house and asked her to call him out. She said I had come to kill him, but T told her no, T only came to get my horscireffind utjnoy. .She ' asked if I would give UW my hand on ibat? I did so and she called Barton, who cauic crawling out on his hands and knees. It had been raining and he was very muddy ; he cstno forward arm in arm with his wife and said to uie, 'Redmond, I know you have couie to kill uie, and 1 want to die right here at home with my wife., I tolu him that I only came for my property?my horses and wagon?and he replied that they were in Greenville, but that ho would go there and get them, or 1 could send one of the boys for theui. 1 told him I hadn't como for auy foolishucss, and would have them or his hide I REDMOND DEMANDS ftlS 0%N. lie asked for a chair and Btartod off to get one, but I ordered hiin to stand where he was. lie then asked for a dry pair of socks, and 1 let him send and get them.? I thou told him I wanted my money, lie 1 asked mo how much it was. I said you i L*nnw hnw nntnli vaii cfnia frr?m ' ?... ..v. jvv. ovvig IIVUI uiv; UUU get it.. ^It was 818(1.) lie said I have a 1 check on tho banA lor SI 00. You can have 1 that; it is ail the money I have, and you 1 can take my horses. 1 said I don't want ' your horses. 1 want my own, and I won't 1 have your cheek. You tcok money from ( me ; pay it back and I will go lje offered ' to send Mrs. Barton to Easley to get tho ' money, and 1 said all right, lie then said ' I could go to his stable and take his horses. ' I replied that I was no horse thief, and did ! uot propose to go near his stable; lie could 1 go and bring thcui to me in the presence of 1 those witnesses, if he desired to pay mo for \ what he had taken from mo wrongfully.? He took two negroes with hiui, and I told 1 them not to touch the horses, lie brought thcui out, and all who saw them said that neither of them was as good as mine, but it ffas tho last chance, so 1 took them. He ' culled a man who lived near him to witness ' that ho gave up the horses freely, as I had i told him that 1 wonld't take thcui on any ' I other terms. I told him he had to pay Amos * also six dollars he had taken from him the ( night of our capture, and he said ho had 1 no money to pay him with. Mrs. Barton 1 said there was some loose silver in the house, 1 and went to get it, and counted out five j dollars and gave it to Amos, lie had lost J his wages in my service, so I paid him the 1 remaining dollar afterwards out of my own 1 pocket. .Barton then brought out a jug of f whiskey and nffi'.red tn prnw.l 1 Both Mr. and Mrs. Barton drank a little to 1 show that if was all right, and one or two of ( the boys drank with them. I could not driuk his whiskey alter all that had passed between us, but 1 had some of my own, and the rest of boys drank it with me. 1 THE VISIT TO EASLEY'S. f Mrs. Barton then went on to Easley's cfutimi tvWV\ iic nnil elm n??/1 T #11 If IVII W^J IIUU OIIU Iiuu A liimuu tu^ctll* cr all the way. Slie is a good woman, and I was nevor so sorry for auy one in my life as I was for her. She said they were broken up completely, and b^qotkidg to live ' j on or to work with.' Whfett'Verg^t to Kasley's she had the chcekoaajti^jta^u^iMrtV^t| one huudrad thinking of what sho told mo on the road, so I told. ; her never mind about the eighty-six dollars; she might have that. It was not the inou- ] ey that I had cared for, E only didn't waut to be robbed and abused. A crowd ha? collected at the station by this time, flMlshe wtis afraid to go hotno by herself. 1 sent j one of my friends to keep her company, and told her to keep the horse to help make bread for her and her children. She did not want to take it, as she said L would come I Imuli ? ? Itwr ) >>...?J it I i.J.j lior tlwit. r^Riid not, bul that 1 didn't want to hear j of him on any more raids. She was satisfied and went off. ^ A KIND INVITATION. , I bought five gallons of whiskey at Eas- i ley's Station, and treated the whole crowd < that had collected there. It looked like a regiment, and 1 didn't know there were half that number of men at the station. While i they were drinking I saw Moore, oue of the men who had helped to capture me, standing at a corner, ami some opo asked me to treat | him too. I called to him and invited him ( to join us. I said 'Ucllo, Lieutenant, conic < up and take a drink with inc.' lie said he wouldn't come, and I told him I would bring him, and turned my horse to go after him. He said, 'All right, I will come.' 1 said, I paid my own money for this whiskey, it is not stolen, come and drink with mo.? lie refused again but 1 made him take two drinks. Amos Ladd said to him, 'You were the man who tied mo. Do you remember what you said when you did it?' Moore said, No, 1 don't remember.' Amos replied, 'You said to mo you have got the best man hold of you you ever saw, and yet you wtro the lirat to run !' This turned the laugh on Moore, and soon alter we rode oil". Harton went on one raid after this; Moore never went on another." tiif. second i.ettf.r. Pickens C. 11., June 21).?Redmond's second and last raid was made against his own wishes, was contrary to his judgment, and, as lie declares, is the only thing he has done for which ho condemns himself. The circumstances nnd< r wh'oli lie told his brief story concerning it deserve to he mentioned for many reasons which will presently appear. - - mv i I IIM - -I*w , II . "^?7 AN UKBX EJECTKI> SENSATION. *: At the close of our first interview, on Tuesday afternoon, he accompanied my companion Hnd myself to the foot of the uioun- ^ - ? tain. Before we had reached that point, f however, and while we wore sauntering ... quietly along the "trail," we were suddenly saluted with the summons "Halt and surrender ! I aui a revenue officer," which proceed from tho bushes on our light. At tho same moment the sound of horses' feet was heard in the road in our front, and for a moment I thought I was about to. have an expericuco I had uot bargained for. Tho voice wa6 that oi one friend, however, aud tho horse which quickly came into sight was bestrode by another, wheroforo 1 was spared any further sensation than tho nnmcrovw unpleasant ones I had just felt iu my mind in view of an anticipated skirmish. Tho newcomers brought the information that a squad of thirteen ".Revenues" had just passed down the road, a mile or two distant, with a prisoner, a friend of Jlcduiond'b in t?hnrt*f? th.-lt. tllf?w u-nrn ir? -c J p. , ..V>v Pir.MVII U1 I\CUtnond himself, and that they had divided for the purpose of "beating np" tho neighborhood. Some of them might be expec- * ^ led any moment at the house nearest to us, [where 1 had left my buggy,) they said, ind it was advisable for us to keep n sharp lookout. A sharp lookout was aceordingly kept, but Redmond accompanied us to tho bouse and remained with us, and uigbt hud *ct in before ho left us, and returned, by another route than that by which we had come, to the monntaiu. -I^was quite ill by time, in consiK(fcM?4$htetoocurQ to tho hot sun, and ofTTio unweuTea and excessive exercise I had undergone iu climbing, but after supper I started again to find him. WIIO CAN STAND THIS SORT OF LIFE ? It was so dark under the trees and in tho hollow of tho hills that I could not see my band held within nn inch of my face. My guides seemed to know the way by instinct, lowcvcr, aud one of them taking my arm ,hey led me by n devious path which seemed ndlcss, nud only to lead into deeper and lcepcr darkness until wo came to the appointed rendezvous. Here one struck a natch aud lighted a small hand-lamp, and 1 earned for the first time that Redmond had oined us somewhere on tho way. Wo bund scats on the ground or on rocks and oots of trees as best w* ??* - ?- ??- * - M..^UV) uiiu om in dlcuce around tlio flickering light wliilo TnP mnM -v jf coffcc at tho risk of my neck, but lio never drank coflcc," ho said. Meat there was in abundance, but ho barely tasted it. 'It was very seldom that he ever touched it." lie appeared very thoughtful and ipoko but once or twice during tho repast. Dnce ho said to inc, "Who can stand this iort of life? It is enough to drive an iulocent man to do wrong." THE SCENE WAS IMPRESSIVE ind gloomy enough. We sat within a narrow circle of dim light, hedged iu by a .hick darkness that might havo .rnnnnrlT^ mlii|iijlyid mi?'' wHfMfc as many feet fromtno lamp. Tho trees seemed to bo whispering seorcts to each other or warnings to us, and tho leaves.looked strangely us they reflected the light fVoth their under sides. The air was heavy and oppressive, ind seemed fraught with danger, and wo looked in each other's faces with feelings aot unlike what we might havo experienced had all instead of one only been under ban ind expecting betrayal and a death-dealing volley out of the night at any moment! It could not have been worse had we been on the frontier and surrounded by hostile Infinite. Wor were thomo o..n/>?ocI to ;,hat little group out there in the forest.? It was shared in kind by every household lor miles around us. One of our party ?aid : "There is not one man iu ten iu this neighborhood, be be guilty or innocent, who will sleep in his house to-night!" "And you say true," echoed every voice but mine, within liis hearing. I, too, learned its truth in part before many hours had passed. TIIK HAII) AFTER GARY. T reminded Redmond of my errand, and his promise to tell me of his "raid" after flary. "It was not my doing," he said.? "I did not lead tho imrtv. and nt firsf. m. fused to go with them. They said they had gone with nie when T needed them, and now 1 refused to help them when they needed me. iSo I went. Ga:y had broken up a still and behaved badly, and tho man the still belonged to collected the crowd and went to thrash him. 1 said to them, 'lie has done nothing to be killed for? this thing of killing a man won't do; but I will go with you, if you wish rue, to get satisfaction for cutting up the still.' They said they did not intend to kill him, but only to 'put tlio withe on him,' (i. c., whip him.) This was distinctly understood before we started. We did not cbase any revenue officers, but went directly to Gary's house at Liberty, lie was not there, and wc returned home. Wc started ono Monday afternoon about 1 o'clock and cauio back through Pickens Courthouso by 10 o'clock next morning. Thcro would not have been anything said about this raid but for what was done at Hendricks house.?? Ho was a brother of 'Van,' and the boys hearing that the overcoat and shawl which they had stolen from me were in the house, determined to take them away. [roNTisrr.o xr.xT wkiiic.]