Many of them died soon after they reached our lines, and there were large numbers who perished on their way.
Among those who arrived early in January, 1862, was a man from Northern Arkansas.

Born in Pennsylvania, he emigrated to the Southwest in 1830, and, after a few years' wandering, settled near Fayetteville.
When the war broke out, he had a small farm and a comfortable house, and his two sons were married and living near him.
In the autumn of '61, his elder son was impressed into the Rebel service, where he soon died.

The younger was ordered to report at Fayetteville, for duty.

Failing to do so on the day specified, he was shot down in his own house on the following night.

His body fell upon one of his children standing near him, and his blood saturated its garments.
The day following, the widow, with two small children, was notified to leave the dwelling, as orders had been issued for its destruction.
Giving her no time to remove any thing, the Rebel soldiers, claiming to act under military command, fired the house.