James Snider decided to take his family out west in order to take advantage of a land give-a-away program.  His only obstacle was his wife, Alice.  Reluctant to leave, she agreed and the family joined with a wagon train which had stopped in Chatom, Alabama.  The pilgrims were excited about what the future would hold.  What it held were constant attacks by a renegade veteran of the War of Northern Aggression, Sgt. John McClemmey.  He and his gang of thugs killed several on the wagon train and raped a 10-year old girl named Annie Rantsom.