294 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

orous language, informed them that the death of our young
heroes, Clarke, Henly, Linney and Brown must be avenged.
As the flames of this out house began to ascend, all 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, Lockwood, 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 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 tous. 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 Isaac Oxford said, “If you will hold my
gun I will pray;” but instead of praying for the men, he
thanked God that they were to be brought to justice and that
none of the party had been killed. After this Rev. W. R.
Gwaltney offered an earnest prayer for them, and then they
were shot, “‘as nearly in strict conformity to military usage as
these old Confederate soldiers, under the excitement of the
occasion, could conform to.”

After the prisoners were shot, the fort was set on fire.
When the flames reached the cellar, the firing of guns was
like a hot skirmish. Wade’s men had stored away a great
many loaded guns, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Wade was seen in the vicinity several days after. He
claimed to have been a Major in Stoneman’s command and a
native of Michigan. He said that he had escaped to the Yad-
kin river from the fort and had hid under the banks until

A Barrie AFTER THE WAR. 295

night; that in searching for him the soldiers had frequently
come within six feet of him.

On the way back to Alexander County Captain Cowan,
from Iredell, was met with a small body of men on their way
to Fort Hamby. Also a company of Federal troops, then
stationed in Statesville, were met on their way to the fort.
They were told what had been done. The Captain ordered
three cheers, which the men gave with a good will. The bodies
of Linney and Brown were brought back home for final burial.
Though all.the desperadoés were not brought to justice, this
completely broke up their depredations.

The most startling thing about the whole tragedy is this:
Major Bingham attacked the robbers and lost two young
heroes eleven days before the fort was taken and four of the
robbers shot. It seems almost incredible that such a band
of robbers should be permitted to plunder a county where
700 men able to wear an helmet, and of sufficient courage to
assail any foe, had their homes. The writer inquired of Col-
onel Flowers a few days since how he was armed. “I had a
small pistol,” said he. So had I. We had no guns of
any value to use upon such a fort, such a strong log wall. The
rifles of the robbers were the very best then used in the Fed-
eral army. The writer has one of them taken from the fort
from the robbers we shot. It shoots with accuracy 1000 yards
and the lock to-day appears to be as strong as when first made.
The gun weighs ten pounds. The destruction of the band
of robbers was at great sacrifice indeed. It put an end to
plunder and insult of our people, but the loss of the lives of
four of the gallant youths that had survived the war was a

dear price to pay for it.
Romutus Z. Linney.

TAYLORSVILLE, N. C.,
14 May, 1901.