I do have the names of the 6 men killed but must find my notes. Also 2 other Harp men were killed that same day.

First I would like to state that this story was not passed down to me by family. Any information I have I have acquired from different sources. This is my attempt to compile the separate stories, followed by well documented accounts.

The story goes, 15 Sept 1864 William Augusta Harp, his sons Samuel R, Marion, and Elijah, his wife's nephew James Marion Cecil, and George W Cooper (Cooper has some relation to the Harps by his wife Minerva Ann Morris) possibly one other man. They were camped on the Buffalo Gap River, in a peach orchard near a cave. This was close to the Harp homestead. They butchered a "beef" and had a BBQ. That night G W Cooper woke from a nightmare, saying he saw a rattlesnake slinking thought a fire. He said "boys, that is a sign that we'd better not stay here tonight." The rest of the group laughed and berated him as he packed up his bedroll and moved a mile or so downstream. That night a group of bushwhackers attacked the group in there sleep. G W Cooper heard the gunfire. Upon returning to camp the next morning he found the six men dead. The Harp and Morris women came and buried the dead. Some say on the spot.

Susannah and the 3 remaining children Niecy 14, Salina 12 and William Jr 9, were destitute. Having lost everything to Confederated and Bushwhackers. With no means of support Susannah had to beg for food and clothing. Nancy Green Morris filed for pension for Samuel. Susannah Harp drew pensions for her two sons Marion and Elijah.

The Cecil family was split North and South. Some say this is how the bushwhackers knew of the Harp encampment as one of the Harp son-in-law was a Cecil.

My grandmother Geneva Fern Martin had a saying that "If you dream of snakes enemies are close, if you dream of muddy water someone is going to die" I think this story may be where this came from.

other versions

Levi Doty (grandson of Niecy Reddin Harp) Several Harp men (under the impression many were brothers) were killed by Confederates. They had killed a beef and had a bbq one night in a peach orchard. They were in the Union Army. That night they all fell asleep in the orchard and were all killed. The other Harps thought a man named Dan Johnson was responsible for betraying them to the rebels.

Myrtle Doty Ryals' (Levis sister) Some rebels killed Niecy's father, And her brother was wounded. They took the brother to a cave to treat him, but he died there. Both Niecy's father and brother are buried in the cave. She also said that the rebels brought Niecy's dad into the house where she and her mother were and said "Tell him goodbye because we're gong to kill him" They then cut his throat, and he died.

Samuel Harps family- Seven Union scouts were camped out on the Buffalo River. Samuel R Harp and a man named Cooper were among them. They had bedded down for the night when Cooper had a vision of a rattlesnake coming out of the campfire. he was afraid and said "Boys, that is a sign that we'd better not stay here tonight." They all laughed at him as he packed up and moved his camp a mile or so down river. In the night, Cooper heard fun fire. Upon rising the morning, he saw no smoke from the other scouts camp. He found the six men dead shot in their beds.