Hello, I have a similar story from our family. Our 2nd Great Grandfather was James Sexton and he fought in the Arkansas Regiment 2nd Infantry Union side. He returned from the war very sick with "Lung Fever." He was coughing so much he couldn't work and was disabled. He was weak, feeble, and unable to defend himself. The Bushwhackers came looking for him at their family farm in Revilee Scott County. My 2nd Great Grandmother, Nancy Sharp Sexton, hid our grandfather under the floorboards of the house. She had just given birth to a child conceived prior to James becoming sick. One of the Bushwhackers was getting close to where James was hiding beneath the floor, she picked up a large ax and threatened to smash the first head that moves any further. To everyone's surprise the Bushwhackers left. James Sexton died not too long after the incident due to his service illness.