286 Nortu Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

These marauders were divided into two bands. One, led
by Simmons, had its headquarters in the Brushy Mountains,
and the other, led by Wade, had its headquarters near the
Yadkin river in Wilkes County. The bands at times oper-
ated together, but it is principally with Wade’s band that
this article is to deal. The house which Wade had chosen
and fortified was situated near the road which leads from
Wilkesboro to Lenoir, in Caldwell County, and about a mile
from Holman’s Ford, where the valley road crosses the Yad-
kin river. The house was situated on a high hill, command-
ing a fine view of the Yadkin Valley, and of the valley road
for a distance of a mile above and a mile below the ford. The
house fronted the river on the south while the rear was pro-
tected by the “Flat Woods” belt, in which there were sympa-
thizers if not aiders and abettors of the band. From this
position the Yadkin Valley and the surrounding country for
at least half a mile in-every direction could be swept and con-
trolled by Wade’s guns. There is a legend that this point
was chosen by Daniel Boone as a-splendid military post to
protect himself against the Indians. At any rate it would
have been almost impossible to have chosen a stronger loca-
tion, both offensive and defensive, than this. The house was
built of oak logs, and was two stories high. In the upper

“story Wade had cut port holes for his guns, which were army
guns of the most improved type, and could command the ap-
proaches to the house from all directions, making it indeed
hazardous to attempt to reach it. This house belonged to
some dissolute women by the name of Hamby, and after
Wade had fortified it, the name by which it was known was
“Fort Hamby.” The exact number of men engaged in these
depredations is unknown, though it has been stated on good

authority to have at no time exceeded thirty. °
Making this their headquarters, Wade’s force began to

plunder the surrounding country, and from their eruelty it
appears that their object was to gratify a spirit of revenge as
well as to enrich themselves. They marched as a well-drilled
military force, armed with the best rifles. It was only a short
time before they brought the citizens for many miles around
in every direction under their dominion. They plundered the

A BattLe AFTER THE War. 287

best citizens, subjecting men and women to the grossest in-
sults. Their cruelty is shown by this act: A woman was work-
ing in a field near Holman’s Ford, having a child with her.
The child climbed on the fence and the men began to shoot at
it, and finally killed it. Emboldened by their success in Wilkes
County, they made a raid into Caldwell County on 7 May.
Major Harvey Bingham, with about half a dozen young men
from Caldwell and Watauga Counties, attempted to rout
these marauders from their stronghold at Fort Hamby. On
Sunday night after their raid into Caldwell, Major Bingham
made a well-planned move on the fort, at a late hour of the
night. For some reason, Wade and his men were not aware
of the approach of Bingham’s men until they had entered the
house. Wade and his men announced their defenceless con-
dition, and begged for their livés. Major Bingham had as
sured Wade, who was a deserter from General Stoneman’s
command, and who had organized this band of robbers, that
his only purpose was to compel them to desist from any fur-
ther robbery and insult upon the citizens, and it was agreed
that no violence was to be done them, and they were to be
delivered to the military authorities at Salisbury for trial.
This the robbers pretended to be willing to submit to. No
guns were seen, and they were, so Bingham believed, his
prisoners. They gave Wade and his men time to dress, after
which, at a moment when the captors were off their guard,
they rushed to their guns, which were concealed about their
beds, and opened fire on them. The result was that Clark, a
son of General Clark, of Caldwell County, and Henley, from
the same county, were killed. The others escaped, leaving
the bodies of Clark and Henley.

Clark and Henley were both young men of rare excellence
of character. Major Bingham himself narrowly escaped
being a victim of this treachery. The robbers, being nse a
aged by the failure to dislodge them, began to enlarge t e
territory which they were to plunder. About a week previous
to this Simmons with his band had crossed into Alexander
County and had made a raid on Colonel McCurdy, a well-to-
do planter. They forced this excellent old pcre to
lead them to the place where his money was concealed, but it