USA > Tennessee > Monroe County > Sweetwater > History of Sweetwater Valley > Part 35
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The forces reported as being under command of Colonel Wolford were the First, Eleventh and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry and the Forty-fiftlı Ohio (mounted) Infantry. A rather amusing circum- stance of how tables can be turned is well illustrated by the following incident: Private Henry Sawtell, of Neil's Battalion, while on a scout near the Thomas Osborne place, ran upon a foraging party of Federal soldiers. He was captured and taken to Philadelphia and placed under guard. When the Confederate forces reached Philadel- phia they found that he had taken several of his guards prisoners and was on guard over them.
The results of the battle may be seen by the official reports of the battle, by each side, appended. The Federal forces undoubtedly lost all of their baggage, wagons and cannon-as to the number of pris- oners taken there is some discrepancy.
DATA ON THE BATTLE AT PHILADELPHIA, TENN., FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 21, Part. 1.
Report of Major-General A. E. Burnside to Major-General Grant:
General:
On the 20th instant, Colonel Wolford's Cavalry Brigade, at Phila- delphia, was surprised by the enemy's cavalry and driven back to Loudon, with the loss of six mountain howitzers and a considerable
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HISTORY OF SWEETWATER VALLEY
number of men. Colonel Wolford reports his loss at 100. The enemy has been driven back again beyond Philadelphia, and are said to be concentrating at Sweetwater a heavy force of infantry, cavalry and artillery. The reports of the number of the enemy are indefinite, ex- cept as to the presence there of Stevenson's Division of Infantry and of some 3,000 or 4,000 cavalry. I have re-enforced the garrison of Loudon and shall leave for there at once; from there I will endeavor to telegraph you more definitely. We have had a good deal of rain. Trains late, and I fear much of our supplies will be very badly; de- layed by high water and bad roads. It is reported from several sources that a considerable force under Joe Johnston has left Bragg's army.
A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General.
Report of Colonel Frank Wolford, First Kentucky Cavalry, com- manding cavalry brigade:
Loudon, Oct. 20th, 1863.
About ten o'clock this morning I got information that about 1,500 Rebels had attacked my wagon train, six miles from camp. I sent Colonel Adams with the First and Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, who got in the rear of the enemy and were cut off by some 3,000 Rebels. I soon after got information that a large body of Rebels were coming up from Sweetwater. I then mustered up the rest of my men, amount- ing to about 700, and attacked them and drove them back several times. After driving, they re-enforced, attacking us from every side. Our artillery fired their last round. I rallied my men and charged through, saving most of men and several prisoners. We had several killed and several taken prisoners. I am confident we killed more of them, and took more prisoners than they did of us. We have lost some of our wagons and baggage and some of our artillery-perhaps all of it. The enemy are in large force, both, infantry and artillery, with several heavy pieces of the latter.
To Gen. Burnside.
WOLFORD, Colonel.
Return of casualties in the Union forces engaged at Philadelphia, Tenn., October 20th, 1863:
Killed: 1 officer and 6 enlisted men.
Wounded: 1 officer and 24 enlisted men.
Captured or Missing: 7 officers and 440 enlisted men. Total, 479.
Report of Colonel George G. Dibrell, Eighth Tennessee (Confed- erate), commanding cavalry brigade:
Headquarters Second Cavalry Brigade,
Philadelphia, October 20, 1863, 5 P. M.
Dear Sir:
The colonel commanding instructs me to say that he engaged the enemy in front of this place at 8 o'clock to-day. After a sharp artillery duel of an hour or more the guns of Colonel Morrison's Brigade were heard in the enemy's rear. Colonel Dibrell immediately charged into the town. The enemy was completely routed. We cap- tured all his wagons, ambulances, tents, cooking utensils, all his artillery. about 400 prisoners and at least that many small arms. The colonel cannot speak too highly of his officers and men. The rout
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is not yet over; prisoners, horses and mules are hourly coming in. Our loss is nothing.
By order of Colonel G. G. Dibrell, commanding Second Cavalry Brigade.
DIXON A. ALLISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
To Major-General Stevenson.
Report of J. J. Morrison, First Georgia Cavalry, commanding cavalry brigade:
Headquarters Second Cavalry Brigade,
Lenoir's House, Philadelphia, Tenn., October 20th, 1863.
General:
I have the honor to state that, agreeable to your instructions, I succeeded in getting between Philadelphia and Loudon, after making a march of fifty miles in fifteen hours. Found the enemy (Colonel Wolford's Brigade) in line of battle. Sent one regiment to Loudon to make demonstration to prevent Colonel Wolford's force being aug- mented by forces from Loudon. I attacked him at once with the re- mainder of my forces, numbering 1,200. After a very severe fight, with twice my number pitted against me, supported by six pieces of artillery, I succeeded in completely routing him, capturing all of his artillery (six pieces), entire wagon train, with, many fire-arms and ammunition. Captured 400 prisoners. My loss will foot up 10 killed, 68 wounded and 70 missing. The whole command acted very gal- lantly. I will report at full at earliest opportunity.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
J. J. MORRISON, Colonel, Commanding Second Cavalry Brigade.
P. S .: Colonel Wolford fell back in great confusion upon four regiments of infantry at Loudon. Night prevents me from pursuing him.
A REMINISCENCE OF COLONEL FRANK WOLFORD.
Some time in September, 1863, Wolford's Brigade of Cavalry camped at Sweetwater. The space between the hotel and the big springs was then woodland, and was a favorite camping place for soldiers of both armies. A day or two after Colonel Wolford's com- mand came I went to the town of Sweetwater to look around. I asked some of the soldiers questions and displayed, as the soldiers thought, quite too much curiosity. So they proceeded to arrest me and took me before the Provost Marshal. He asked me what I was doing and why I came inside the lines. I told him I came on business and wished to see Colonel Wolford. He questioned me as to my sym- pathies in regard to the war. When I told him I was a Southern sympathizer he told me I would have to take the oath to support the United States government. I answered him I preferred not to do so. He said if I did not he would give me a nice little trip up to Camp Chase. I respectfully informed him that I did not see what good that would do as I was a non-combatant, and asked if I could see the commanding officer. I was detained some little time after that, when for some reason, Colonel Wolford came into the Provost's office. He may have heard that a spy had been arrested in camp. I ex-
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plained to Colonel Wolford that some of the command were encamped on my father's land, that the soldiers being near the corn fields were taking corn. If this was according to his orders I would like to get something for it. He then told me he would have the commissary issue me a voucher for everything his soldiers took. I then told him my father was away from home and that my mother would like to have a few soldiers to guard our premises, and would prefer to have some Kentuckians. He replied that he would do so and "such as would give protection." I told him also that I would like to have a pass so that I could go in and out of the lines at any time so I could attend to whatever was needing looking after. He gave me the pass and at the same time he said to the Provost Marshal: "Captain, we are not making war on boys." This produced quite a change in his· manner toward me.
According to promise, he sent four guards, I think of the First Kentucky Cavalry, who were quite polite and attentive. While they stayed at our place they feasted on turkey, pies, cake and wine. They were relieved from other duties while on guard at our home, and when the command was ordered away, as I remember, in about ten days' time, they expressed very many regrets.
I thought Colonel Wolford was a grand old man if he was sur- prised and did get whipped at Philadelphia. When the soldiers got corn and other supplies for the brigade, he gave me, in my father's name, vouchers, omitting the words "on proof of loyalty." This, too, when my father at that time was a refugee in Georgia. These were the only vouchers that were ever paid my father, I. T. Lenoir, or myself by the United States government. What a contrast was Wol- ford's conduct to that of Return J. Meigs, Claim Commissioner! One would expect of him, as his mother lived for a while in this Valley, and he was personally known to my father, that he would treat him with some measure of justice, but the claims for wood and ties, got for the use of the railroad taken over by the United States govern- ment, and for hay, corn and wheat, attested by vouchers and sworn to by reliable witnesses, filing with the same the oath of amnesty which I. T. Lenoir took at Loudon in 1864, after he returned home from Georgia, were disallowed by him and were refused reconsidera- tion.
LOUDON.
When I contemplated writing the history of the early settlers of Sweetwater Valley it was my intention to take in that part of it which was formerly a part of Roane County, but time and space and the difficulty of access to the records at Kingston prevented me from so doing. The task set for myself was greater than I thought. But as I have almost two years issue of the Loudon Free Press, which commenced publication on November 20, 1852, I feel that I ought to publish some excerpts from the same, the facts contained in which might otherwise not be preserved. Even previous to the publication of the Loudon Free Press there ap-
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peared in the Athens Post of November 7, 1851, an ad- vertisement of James H. Johnston, stating that on Thursday, the 27th day of November, 1851, there would be a sale of 200 town lots at Blairsport or Blairs Ferry (afterwards Loudon) at public auction. I presume the sale took place. It was not stated what particular lands were to be sold. This sale was very widely advertised in papers from Richmond, Va., to Augusta, Ga. How many lots were sold or what prices they brought I have not found out. This was the first example of systematic "booming" that I know of occurring in this part of East Tennessee. So the laying out of towns on paper, and the selling at auction, as in the late eighties and early nineties, was really nothing new to Loudon people.
The editors and proprietors of the Loudon Free Press were Jno. W. and Samuel B. O'Brien. It was excellently printed on good linen paper and well edited. It contained many well written articles and various im- portant advertisements of railroad and large business enterprises. Not only those in Loudon but many from cities of Tennessee and large cities in the east. Among other things there was a half column advertisement of the Saturday Evening Post. There were also the fol- lowing advertisements :
Orme, Wilson & Co., Merchants. This Wilson was R. T. Wilson, afterwards so well known as a banker in New York. Lenoir & Goddard, merchants in Philadel- phia, Tenn. Notice May 13, 1853, of Wm. and W. A. Lenoir, executors of Wm. B. Lenoir, deceased. Adver- tisement of the firm of William, W. A., B. B., and I. P. Lenoir, cotton factors, millers, farmers and merchants at Lenoir's. On November 20, 1854, were also the law cards of Hopkins & Stephens, Welcker & Key, of Chat- tanooga, Tenn., Gahagan & Wright of Madisonville, William G. McAdoo, Thos. C. Lyon, Maynard & Vaughn of Knoxville, and N. A. Patterson of Kingston.
Track laying of the E. T. & Ga. R. R. reached Blair's Ferry, afterwards Loudon, in May or June, 1852. This made Loudon the terminus of the railroad until 1856, on account of the difficulty at that time, of bridging the Tennessee River. This caused Loudon to be very much "boomed." The optimistic claimed that it would be- come a rival of Knoxville as it was exceedingly uncer-
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HISTORY OF SWEETWATER VALLEY
tain when the railroad would be completed, and as Lou- don had railroad transportation to the south which Knoxville did not.
In the issue of the Free Press of August 26, 1853, not- ing the town improvements it mentioned those who were about to complete buildings and residences, as follows : R. T. Wilson, E. P. Clark, James W. Clark, W. R. Hur- ley, H. Ingalls, W. B. McInturf, Joseph Rowan and L. A. Markum. The New School Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church, the parsonage were completed and the work on the Cumberland Presbyterian had been commenced.
Some time in the year 1853, date not at hand, Loudon was incorporated, for the issue of the Free Press for January 11, 1854, stated that an election had been held, and that the following were elected: W. T. Low, mayor; H. Bogart, recorder; B. F. Davis, treasurer; R. T. Wilson, H. Ingalls, J. H. Leuty, and J. W. O'Brien, aldermen. Thomas Russell was unanimously elected city constable.
Under the heading: Facts about the Hiwassee and East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, there is given, in this book, a schedule of trains between Loudon and Dalton, Ga., published in the Athens Post of August 10, 1852, which recites that the "down train" leaves at 4 a. m. and the "up train" arrives at 6:35 p. m., making a round trip daily. In the Loudon Free Press of March 14, 1854, the time of departure from London for Dalton was 5:45 a. m. and the time of arrival from Dalton was 3:09 p. m.
The elevation of London as given to the Free Press by Mr. Pritchard, chief engineer of the E. T. & G. R. R., is 814 feet above the sea level.
Comparative population of Loudon and Sweetwater on the dates given below, taken from the United States census :
Loudon.
1860. 1,292
Sweetwater. not given
1870.
1,357
1,609
1880. 832
1,335
1890. 942
879
1900. 875
1,716
1910.
995
1,850
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HISTORY OF SWEETWATER VALLEY
In the Free Press of July 25, 1854 is an editorial, "Come Back,"' pleading with those, who had fled from the cholera to return, as the panic had subsided, that the disease which was afflicting the people was not Asiatic cholera but was malignant cholera morbus. It says that there are a thousand and one silly reports circulating through the country. "To set these rumors aside we will state that with the exception of Mr. Strange there has not been a case since last Wednesday. Mr. Strange was attacked Tuesday night, he was relieved of cholera, and died on Friday of typhoid fever." The editorial goes on :
"The weather continues warm but the atmosphere is quite lively and a gentle breeze is constantly playing through our office. So come back, ye fugitive inhabitants of Loudon! And, oh, ye Iron Horse! why standest thou quaking in the distance? We little thought that your iron nerve would quail at the sight of five or six cases of cholera. Oh, ye hotelkeepers, return! The danger is now past and you can all come back swearing that you were not scared. Since the 9th inst. we have had the following deaths in town, with cholera symptoms: N. D. Sutton, taken on Saturday about one o'clock, died Sunday about three o'clock; Mr. Taylor, a blacksmith, died on Saturday after a short illness; Harvey Erskine, colored, taken on Sunday night, died after an illness of twelve hours; W. P. Truitt, taken on Sunday morning, died on Tuesday at three o'clock."
Editorial a week later says:
"Since our last we have had but one death by cholera in Loudon, Mrs. Dialtha Donohoe. One at Philadelphia, Mrs. J. W. Clark; one near Philadelphia, Mr. Gilbreath. * * * We verily believe there is less apprehension relative to cholera felt in Loudon than there is in any point in fifty or a hundred miles of this place."
In the Athens Post of September 29, 1854, there is a comparative table of the rainfall in July, August and September, 1853 and 1854; for Nashville and vicinity :
1853.
July 7 inches
1854. 1 1-2 inches
Aug. 6 inches 1-2
Sept. 61-3 "
1-4
Total 191-3 "
21-4
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HISTORY OF SWEETWATER VALLEY
A difference of more than 17 inches in Nashville. It is probable the difference might have been equally as great in this section. This drouth may account for the terrible devastation of the cholera in the year of 1854.
AFTERTHOUGHTS.
I hope this book will be criticised; for a work of this kind which is not will attract little attention; but I trust that the criticisms will be made with some degree of fairness, just as I have tried to treat with fairness those I have written about.
I will, no doubt, be blamed for mistakes I did not make and for many that I did make. I have endeavored to give the old settlers and their descendants, wherever they are found, with as great accuracy as I was able. Some, though not a large proportion; have failed to an- swer the letters addressed to them. Quite a few letters have been returned unclaimed, as those not living where written to at last address, or passed beyond the reach of the U. S. mail.
I will be criticised for writing about some people I did give sketches of and because I failed to write of others I should have written about. Possibly I did not have sufficient accurate information to justify. I have not tried to give a history of families who came to this sec- tion later than 1865. That is more than a half century ago. Even of those who came previous to that time, and did not stay long enough to leave their impress upon the country and were merely transients, it would hard- ly be expected I should treat.
I will, doubtless, be blamed for not dwelling more at length on the material resources and manufactures of our section. But it must be remembered that previous to 1865 there were no mills of any kind, except a few small custom mills, and not a bank within the bounds of Sweetwater Valley until a much later date. The check and deposit habit had not been acquired.
The old settlers of the valley were thrifty people but I have laid much greater stress on character than ac- cumulated land and dollars.
What constitutes a community as well as a state has been fitly answered as follows:
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"What constitutes a State?
Not high raised battlements or labored mound,
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned, Not bays and broad-armed ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; Not starred and spangled courts,
Where low-browed Baseness wafts perfume to Pride; No, men, high-minded men-
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights and knowing dare maintain;
Prevent the long-armed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain; These constitute a State."
If I have not missed my estimation gravely, of such were those of our valley and with more excellent char- acteristics added thereto.
I close this work with quite a feeling of relief. It has been much more troublesome, far more expensive and taken much longer time than I anticipated, even after the families whom I was investigating rendered me all the assistance in their power. Some had kept no rec- ords and many had had their records destroyed by war, flood and fire. It is also with a feeling of some sad- ness that I finish the compilation of the work. It has brought me in personal touch, and also into correspond- ence with many friends of my youth who I had almost forgotten or only faintly remembered; and in corre- spondence with them they brought to mind many cir- cumstances which but for that I would never have thought of again.
The publication of this book about the old families may cause some who are dear friends or relatives to get into correspondence with each other and bring to their knowledge those who are far separated.
I can not write finis to this book without making some acknowledgment to some who especially assisted me; most of these have been laides, who, as is usual, take more interest in personal history than men. I thank especially for assistance, Mrs. J. N. Heiskell, Miss Ran Yearwood, Mrs. Sarah Willson, of Niota, Tenn., Mr. W. P. Jones of Pond Creek, Mrs. Robert Stickley of Mem- phis, and Mrs. Julia R. Love, and the record clerks of Monroe County at Madisonville, Tenn., and Hon. W. L. Brown of Philadelphia.
With this I make my bow to the public as an author.
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