INTRODUCTION

In May, 1862, the undersigned was oppressed by the rebel army and caused him to flee to the mountains for shelter. In July he took down with fever, and was concealed in his father's house. Then when he recovered of this illness he took to the woods again for safety. The rebel conscript being in force against the union people of Tennessee, he hid and skulked about like the wild beasts of the forest, until on the 5th day of December, 1863, when he took the mountain path to hunt the United States army, which will be seen in this book.