Show I 1 JOHN IN BERTON OAK pew few trees havo have as n interesting a history as the famous old john pemberton oak in virginia soldiers who participated in ili six wars received their early drilling beneath the shade ot of this ancient tree IL II was under this tree that colonel john pemberton mustered musi ereo out his troops tor for the battle of kings mountain which took place in 1781 years ago when the war of oe came along the shade ot of this tree was again utilized as a convenient spot tor for tile mustering in 0 of patriots the boys who werle were eager to fight in the mexican war followed in the footsteps of their forefathers and placed their names on the muster rolls near tile the trunk ot of the sturdy old oak it was in 61 that the veteran tree unhappily witnessed the drilling ot of american men preparatory to fighting each other then came the span spanish ish american war arid and the tree saw the sons ot of the blue arid and the gray drill together side by side and march ok off to defend their country finally the world war the greatest struggle in all history found th 1 patient old tree still standing blanding nal and ready to lo oner offer its shade to tha ilia boys who would soon cross the wide atlantic arid and settle the scrap in europe it is still in an excellent state ot preservation and coolis as though it was good lor for several hundred years more it stands close to the line dividing virginia and tennessee near the city ot of bristol |