USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 20
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A great Union meeting was held at the court-house on the 3d of Janu- ary, 1861, by the laboring men of the city, of which Isaac Paul was made Chairman; James M. Hamilton, Green Sawyers, and Andrew Ander- son, Vice-presidents; and Charles A. Fuller and Hugh Carroll, Secre- taries. A Committee on Resolutions was appointed by the President as follows: S. N. Hollingsworth, B. W. Hall, John J. McCann, Samuel Watkins, John Coltart, C. W. Nance, G. S. Newcomb, and James Cav- itt. The series of resolutions adopted by the meeting were quite long, but were in substance as follows: That the election of Abraham Lin- coln to the presidency, though offensive to the people of Tennessee, was not in itself sufficient cause for the dissolution of the Union; that the personal liberty bills of some of the Northern States were in spirit offen- sive to the domestic institutions of the South; that the Republican doc- trine as incorporated into the Chicago platform, denying the right of property in slaves in the Territories, was violative of justice and the pro- visions of the Constitution, and if its theory were attempted to be prac- ticed would be cause for the people to enforce to the last extremity their rights under the Constitution. The committee resolved that secession was no remedy for the evils that afflicted the country; that the only guarantee the people had was in the Constitution, and they would at all hazards and to the last extremity enforce them by and under the Consti- tution.
The first action taken by Governor Isham G. Harris was on February 28, 1860, in a communication to the Legislature transmitting the resolu- tions of South Carolina and Mississippi upon Federal relations. His next was in convening the Legislature in extra session on January 7, 1861. His message to this General Assembly is, of course, matter of public history and too long for insertion in this work, but in it he advised the assertion and maintenance of the rights of Tennessee in the Union, or independence. out of it. Hon. L. P. Walker, of Alabama, and Gen- eral T. J. Wharton, of Mississippi, appeared before the Legislature Jan- uary 9, 1861, as commissioners of their respective States, with reference to the State joining her fortunes with the seceding States, and on the 12th of that month Hon. L. P. Walker telegraphed from Huntsville, Ala., to Governor A. B. Moore, of that State, as follows :
"I will leave for Montgomery to-day. It is absolutely certain that .Tennessee will go with the South."
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The Nashville Patriot, edited then by W. Hy. Smith and Ira P. Jones, said in reference to this dispatch that it should open the eyes of all who were opposed to immediate secession. It disclosed the schemes of the secessionists who were opposing the submission of the action of the State Convention for their approval-that is, if a majority of the convention could be secured that would favor an ordinance of immediate secession. This convention was called for February 25, and delegates were elected to it on the 9th of that month. The Central Union Committee of David- son County issued a call on the 21st of January, 1861, for a meeting on the 26th of that month to nominate delegates to represent Davidson County in that convention. This call was signed by Felix Robertson, James Walker, A. L. Demoss, H. H. Harrison, Isaac Paul, W. P. Hen- ley, John H. Smith, J. C. Richards, J. N. Buddeke, M. McCormack, J. E. Manlove, W. F. Bang, D. P. Ament, M. Burns, S. D. Morgan, John Pennington, John Shaw, T. Fanning, and C. W. Nance. At the meet- ing held in response to this call, Hon. Andrew Ewing, Neill S. Brown, and Russell Houston were nominated as the candidates of the Union men to represent them in the coming State Convention. When the votes cast on the 9th of February were counted it was found that those voting " For a Convention" numbered in Nashville 1,626, while those voting "No Convention" numbered 1,872. In the city the candidates named above received the following vote: Neill S. Brown, 2,962; Andrew Ewing, 2,985; Russell Houston, 2,921; while John F. House, representing the Flotorial district, received 2,939 votes. The candidates nominated by those favoring a convention received the following votes: John C. Burch, 547; J. R. McCann, 507; H. S. Foote, 474; and - - Flippin, cor- responding to John F. House, 5II. This vote shows the relative strength in the city of Nashville of those favoring the maintenance of the Union and of those favoring secession, though many of those voting in the ma- jority intended their votes to mean merely that they were not yet ready for secession, preferring to await the action of the Peace Congress then in session. The Governor of the State, however, and a majority of the Legislature were in favor of joining the Southern Confederacy. The sentiment in the State at large is indicated by the vote on "Convention" or "No Convention," taken of course at the same time. It was as fol- lows: "Convention," 57,798; "No Convention," 69,673. At length, however, came the attack upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, and the re- sulting electrification of the entire country, North and South, with refer- ence to the question of war. The South became almost a unit in favor of resistance to the last extremity: The change in the attitude of the people was instantaneous. While there were a few who did not yet despair of
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peaceful means preventing a dissolution of the Union, and while there was a still larger number who did not believe in the doctrine of secession, yet the State was compelled to take sides, and as it was the institution of slavery that was involved, she could not but array herself on the side of the South.
An address was published to the people of Tennessee, signed by Neill S. Brown, Russell Houston, Edwin H. Ewing, Cave Johnson, John Bell, R. J. Meigs, Samuel D. Morgan, John S. Brien, Andrew Ewing, John H. Callender, and Bailie Peyton, in which the following language was. used :
" Tennessee is called upon to furnish two regiments, and the State has through her Executive refused to comply with the call. The refusal of our State we fully approve. We unqualifiedly disapprove of secession both as a constitutional right and as a remedy for existing evils. . The present duty of Tennessee is to maintain a position of independence, taking sides with the Union and the peace of the country against all as- sailants, whether from the North or from the South. Her position should be to maintain the sanctity of her soil against the hostile tread of either party."
It now seems strange that men of the intelligence of those whose names. were signed to the address from which the above is an extract should fail to discern that the position they thus advised the people of the State to assume was wholly unreasonable and untenable. Neutrals in a great conflict never have friends in either party to that conflict, because they themselves, while seemingly friendly to both, are yet unfriendly to both. Then, too, it must be clear that to preserve her soil sacred from the tread of either army she would have to fight both the army of the South and the army of the North, and not only that, but to fight them successfully, which would require an army almost as strong as the combined armies of the two great sections which might seek to desecrate her soil. General Felix K. Zollicoffer far more logically outlined the necessities of the situ- ation in a letter to a friend a few days after the publication of the above address. He said: "If, while we draw the sword, we can with the other hand bear the olive-branch of peace, I shall most heartily rejoice; but the very act of refusing troops under the call of the President is a re- fusal of allegiance to the Federal Government. It places us in re- bellion. The suggestion, therefore, of an 'armed neutrality,' of a ' mas- terly inactivity,' is not possible for us to pursue. Could we have the heart to stand as indifferent spectators while nineteen millions of peo- ple in the North were crushing and destroying three millions in the South, we should find after their destruction that we should have a
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terrible accountability to render for the rebellious refusal of allegiance. At a time when a war of coercion is threatened by the power- ful North, suggestions that the South should divide are appalling to con- template."
Notwithstanding the fact that Tennessee had voted to remain in the Union, as related, yet when she realized that war was an actual fact and that she had to take sides, public opinion soon became so strong in that direction that all opposition to the war gave way, and the organization of troops began about April 20, 1861. "Cheatham Rifles" was organized that day, with J. R. McCann, captain; William T. Cheatham, first lieu- tenant; James Everett, second lieutenant; and E. W. Clark, third lieu- tenant. "Rock City Guards," Company A, was organized about the same time, with T. F. Sevier, captain; Joseph Vaulx, Jr., first lieuten- ant; T. H. Malone, second lieutenant; and W. D. Kelly, third lieuten- ant. "Rock City Guards," Company B, was also organized, with James B. Craighead, captain; R. C. Foster, 4th, first lieutenant; John Pat- terson, second lieutenant; and Joseph H. Vanleer, third lieutenant. " Beauregard Light Infantry" was organized with Samuel C. Godshell, captain; Samuel D. Nichols, first lieutenant; B. B. Leaks, second lieu- tenant; and M. O. Brooks, third lieutenant.
On April 20 there was a large meeting of the citizens at the court- house, of which Robert C. Foster, 3d, and Judge James Whitworth were the Chairmen; and Randal McGavock and Dr. J. W. Morton, Secreta- ries. A Committee on Resolutions was appointed, as follows: General W. G. Harding, Judge Whitworth, Captain Robert C. Foster, 3d, Gen- eral F. K. Zollicoffer, John Reid, George G. Bradford, Governor H. S. Foote, General Washington Barrow, and Judge W. K. Turner. The resolutions reported were in substance as follows:
"Whereas civil war is now raging in the bosom of the republic, as the result of acts of heartless and atrocious tyranny unsurpassed in enor- mity in any age or country, and the precious blood of patriots is now be- ing cruelly shed in an internecine strife upon the soil of Maryland and Virginia, . therefore .
" Resolved, That all controversy in regard to previous party opinions should be merged in the imperative necessity of resisting the armed in- vasion of Southern soil for the subjugation of Southern States and the subversion of Southern institutions."
The second resolution was to the effect that a committee of nine per- sons should be appointed to report to an adjourned meeting the wisest plan of uniting the people of Tennessee in the defense of their rights, interests, and honor, to repel the ursurpations of the Federal Government,
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and to secure a united South in sympathy and action. Speeches were made by Captain Foster, Judge Whitworth, R. W. McGavock, Hon. Andrew Ewing, Governor H. S. Foote, Governor Neill S. Brown, Colonel W. S. McConnico, Judge R. W. Turner, Hon. John S. Brien, and Dr. Paul F. Eve. Of the above speakers Governor Neill S. Brown, Judge Brien, and Hon. Andrew Ewing were particular to dissent entirely from the doctrine of secession, but accepted the fact that war existed, and urged all Tennesseeans to stand as one man in resistance to it and to use all proper means to bring it to an end.
Company A, "Home Guards," was organized about April 20, 1861. Its officers were : H. L. Claiborne, captain ; James R. Bruce, first lieuten- ant; J. E. R. Ray, second lieutenant; Dr. R. C. K. Martin, surgeon ; and Rev. W. M. Reed, chaplain. Company C, "Rock City Guards," was organized with the following officers: Captain, C. W. Kennedy; first. lieutenant, R. B. Snowden; second lieutenant, Thomas B. Eastland ; third lieutenant, J. F. Wheless; surgeon, Dr. J. R. Buist; chaplain, Dr. C. T. Quintard. On the 22d of April, a large number of the mer- chants of the city agreed to close their places of business at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, in order to give their clerks an opportunity to drill. A meeting was held at the court-house on the same day, at which an address was delivered by Hon. John Bell. It was attended by a large number of citizens who desired to be advised by this distinguished gentleman on the momentous issues of the day. He said, in brief, that the past was a sealed book; the time for action and for unity of action had arrived, and he was for standing by the South and by all of the South, against the un- necessary, aggressive, cruel, and unjust war which was being forced upon the South. Hon. Edwin H. Ewing followed Mr. Bell, and said that in his opinion the union between the North and South was at an end forever. He regarded the war as a war of subjugation, and he would never consent to such domination as was being attempted to be estab- lished over the South. Hon. Andrew Ewing was also for resisting the subjugation of the South, as was also Hon. R. G. Payne, of Memphis. On the same day a meeting of Virginians resident in Nashville was held, at which they determined to go to the assistance of their native State. Some days afterward about fifteen of them took their departure for Vir- ginia.
On April 23 a flag presentation took place on High Street opposite the residence of Mr. Claiborne. The flag was made by Mrs. M. A. Kitch and Misses Fannie E. Claiborne, Laura V. Claiborne, Cattie Cain, and Imogen Cain. It was presented by Miss Fannie E. Claiborne, and re- ceived for the company by Captain James B. Craighead. On the 23d of
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April a meeting of the citizens was held to take into consideration the propriety of organizing some efficient board to assist in supplying the vol- unteers with clothing, blankets, etc., the result being that the Central Bureau of Military Supplies was organized, consisting of Judge James Whitworth, Samuel D. Morgan, James Woods, R. C. McNairy, Robert H. Gardner, George W. Cunningham, Irby Morgan, G. W. Donegan, Michael Burns, Carl Schott, James M. Hamilton, and Madison Stratton. James Whitworth was made President; and James Plunket, Secretary of the Bureau. About the same time the ladies of the city organized the Soldiers' Friend Society, of which Mrs. James K. Polk was made President; Mrs. Thomas Claiborne and nine gentlemen, Vice-presidents. Mrs. M. A. Knox was elected Secretary; and Mrs. J. A. S. Acklin, Treasurer. "Sons' Hall," in the Masonic Temple, was tendered the Society in which to hold its meetings.
The Nashville "Shelby Dragoons" were organized April 24, 1861. The officers of this company were: Captain, W. L. Horn; first lieutenant, L. M. Gorby; second lieutenant, W. W. Calvert; and third lieuten- ant, W. H. Craft. "Hermitage Light Infantry" was organized about the same time, with George Maney, captain; James E. Rains, first lieuten- ant; and B. W. McCann, second lieutenant. The "Tennessee Rangers" were organized with the following officers: Captain, F. N. McNairy; first lieutenant, W. Hooper Harris; second lieutenant, Walter Brown; third lieutenant, Ed D. Hicks. The " Hickory Guards" were organized on the same day, with Will L. Foster, captain; Bailie Peyton, Jr., first lieutenant; E. F. Cheatham, second lieutenant; and A. C. Roberts, third lieutenant. Companies of home guards were also organized in all of the wards of the city, which were afterward organized into a regi- ment. Company A, First Regiment Tennessee Artillery, was organized about the same time, with Bushrod R. Johnson, captain; M. Houston, first lieutenant; E. F. Falconnet, second lieutenant ; James E. Brennan, third lieutenant; and M. L. Cockrill, fourth lieutenant. A company of Tennessee Light Artillery was also organized, with R. L. Crenshaw, captain; William Shene, first lieutenant; A. D. Creighton, second lieu- tenant; Thomas L. Bateman, third lieutenant; and P. K. Stankiewic fourth lieutenant.
A Committee of Vigilance and Safety was organized April 27, for the purpose of protecting the lives, property, and interests of the people of Davidson County. The committee was composed of the following per- sons: James Whitworth, Washington Barrow, R. C. Foster, Sr., Joseph W. Horton, Lewis Lanier, R. C. McNairy, Dr. Paul F. Eve, James M. Murrell, James M. Hamilton, F. R. Rains, R. W. Gardner, J. P. Cor-
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ley, Sr., T. L. Bransford, Calvin W. Jackson, B. L. Drake, N. D. Ellis, Hugh McCrea, James Walker, C. K. Winston, L. F. Beech, W. R. El- liston, Felix Compton, A. W. Johnson, Timothy Dodson, and W. G. Harding. The zeal of the citizens was in some measure indicated by the suggestion of S. W. Adkisson to the Governor that the State ought to have an act that would force all men and boys between the ages of fifteen and sixty to be enrolled and armed for the defense of the South, with the understanding that they were to live brave men, die like brave men, or leave the State.
Tennessee declared herself independent of the United States April 25, 1861, and on June 8 a vote was taken on separation from the United States and representation in the Southern Confederacy. The vote in Nashville on these questions was as follows: "For Separation," 3,029; " For Representation," 3,001 ; "No Separation," 250; "No Represen- tation," 278. On August I the vote for Governor was as follows: Isham G. Harris, 1,969; W. H. Polk, 275.
The Soldiers' Relief Society of Tennessee was organized August 8, to minister to the wants of the sick and wounded on the battle-field. Mrs. Felicia G. Porter was its President; Mrs. John M. Bass, Vice-president ; Mrs. M. H. Marshall, Secretary; and Mrs. L. D. Houston, Treasurer. An artillery company was organized a few days later, which was named "Nelson's Artillery," in honor of Anson Nelson. In September the La- dies' Hospital and Clothing Association was organized, for the relief of the sick and wounded Tennessee soldiers. Mrs. Francis B. Fogg was President; Mrs. Dr. Shelby, Vice-president; Mrs. William Cooper, Sec- retary; and Mrs. I. C. Nicholson, Treasurer. Besides these there were eighteen lady managers. Michael Vaughn, Esq., in October raised a company of infantry, which when organized had the following officers: Captain, Hiram Vaughn; first lieutenant, George A. Webber; second lieutenant, Michael Vaughn; and J. C. Hamblin, third lieutenant. This company was named the "Cumberland Patriots." W. Hooper Harris raised a company called the "Governor's Light Horse Cavalry." At first this company was officered as follows: Frank W. McNairy, captain ; W. Hooper Harris, first lieutenant; Ed D. Hicks, second lieutenant; and Walter Brown, brevet second lieutenant. When the company was placed with others in a battalion Captain McNairy was made lieutenant- colonel; W. Hooper Harris was made captain; and Hays Blackman, first lieutenant, the other officers remaining as at first.
The first drafting that was done in Nashville was on December 2, 1861, in the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Militia, commanded by Colonel H. L. Claiborne. This regiment was ordered out that day for the purpose of
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furnishing its quota of men called for by Governor Harris November 25, to fill a requisition made by General A. S. Johnston, for thirty thousand men for service in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States. There was considerable feeling and excitement manifested on this occa- sion, but no serious trouble resulted.
From the time of the organization of the military companies as detailed above, Nashville was the excited center of military operations. On Sep- tember 14 General Albert Sidney Johnston arrived in the city to take command of the Western Department. Bowling Green was soon taken possession of by General S. B. Buckner with about four thousand troops, which force was soon increased to about twenty thousand. January 19, 1862, General Zollicoffer was defeated at Mill Springs, Ky .; and on February 6 Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, near the line between Tennessee and Kentucky, fell before an attack of gun-boats under Com- modore Foote, of the United States Navy. Up to this time the people in the city had felt perfectly secure against invasion, and their confidence was very much heightened upon the receipt by General Johnston, whose head-quarters were in Edgefield, of a dispatch from General Pillow of a great and glorious victory won on the 13th by the repulse of the Federal gun-boats which had made an attack on Fort Donelson. Before day- light on the morning of the 16th he received another dispatch to the ef- fect that Generals Pillow and Floyd had left Fort Donelson on steam- boats for Nashville, and that the fort would capitulate that day. This information produced a profound impression on the minds of the people ; they were depressed far more than they had been previously elated. The wildest and most improbable rumors flew from street to street, a panic such as is rarely seen resulted and will be long remembered. The gen- eral confusion was increased by the destruction of several unfinished steam-boats at the wharves, and the free distribution of a large quantity of military stores to any that would take them. Governor Harris imme- diately convened the Legislature, which speedily adjourned to Memphis, to which place the public money and archives were also removed. On Monday, the 17th, the public stores were closed, and an effort made by General Floyd, who had been placed in command, to recover what had been already distributed; but the distribution began again on Tuesday, and continued the rest of the week. On Tuesday night, in spite of the remonstrances of the citizens, the troops destroyed both the suspension bridge and the railroad bridge across the Cumberland, and many people advised the destruction of private property, but this bad advice was most fortunately not acted upon. Much of the machinery, however, was re- moved from the most important workshops and taken to Chattanooga.
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On Sunday, February 23, the rear-guard of General Floyd's army evacuated the city, and the advance of General Buell's column occupied Edgefield. On Monday General Buell notified Mayor Cheatham that he should be pleased to see him at his head-quarters on Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock. At the appointed hour the Mayor and a deputation of citizens designated by the City Council waited on General Buell, the deputation consisting of Messrs. James Woods, R. C. Foster, Russell Houston, William B. Lewis, John M. Lea, John S. Brien, James Whit- worth, N. Hobson, John Hugh Smith, and John M. Bass. These gen- tlemen agreed to surrender the city the next morning (the 25th), and re- ceived assurances that the liberty and property of all citizens should be respected.
On the morning of the 25th General Nelson arrived with his columns on transports, and took possession of the city in the name of the United States, the Sixth Ohio Regiment being first to land. The flag of the "Guthrie Grays" was hoisted on the capitol building. From this time to the end of the war Nashville remained in possession of the Union forces, and became an important base of military operations.
Upon the possession of the city by the United States troops order was quickly restored. Colonel Stanley Matthews, of the Fifty-first Ohio, was appointed provost marshal. A large amount of military stores was found in the city, consisting of corn, beef, pork, rice, and molasses. General Buell removed his head-quarters to the city, and General McCook, with the reserve of the Union army, arrived and was in winter-quarters by March 2.
A large portion of the State having now been taken possession of by the United States army, President Lincoln nominated Senator Andrew Johnson as military Governor of Tennessee. The nomination being con- firmed, Governor Johnson arrived in Nashville March 12, accompanied by Emerson Etheridge and Horace Maynard. In response to a serenade, Governor Johnson delivered an address, which he afterward published as an "Appeal to the People of Tennessee." The address was listened to with respect, but not much Union feeling was developed in consequence.
On the 25th of the month the Governor required municipal officers to take the oath of allegiance to the United States; to which requirement they replied on the 27th, refusing to comply, stating that the records of the city for the past twenty-five years failed to show that the Mayor or Aldermen had taken any such oath. The section of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee to which the Governor had called their attention applied only to State and County officers. The Governor thereupon de- clared most of their offices vacant, and appointed other persons to fill
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them. Following is the oath required by Governor Johnson, which the members refused to take: " We do solemnly swear, each and every one of us, that we will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Gov- ernment of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign, and that we will bear true faith and allegiance and loyalty to the same, any law, ordinance, or convention to the contrary notwithstanding ; and further that we will well and faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of us by law-so help me God."
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