USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 55
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 55
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Fifth. In order to carry out the foregoing resolution the sheriffs of the different counties are hereby requested to open and hold said election or cause the same to be done, the coroner of such county is requested to do so, and should such coroner fail or refuse, then any constable of such county is hereby authorized to open and hold said election or cause the same to be done, and if in any county none of the above named officers will hold said election, then any justice of the peace or freeholder in such county is author- ized to hold the same or cause it to be done. The officer or other person holding said election shall certify the result to the president of this convention or to such officer as may have directed the same to be holden, at as carly a day thereafter as practicable, and the officer to whom said returns may be made shall open and compare the polls, and issue certificates to the delegates elected.
Sixth. That in said convention, the several counties shall be represented as follows: The county of Knox shall elect three delegates; the counties of Washington, Greene and Jefferson two delegates each, and the remaining counties shall cach elect one delegate.
Twenty thousand copies of the proceedings of this convention, to- gether with the proceedings of the session at Knoxville, were ordered to be published in pamphlet form for general distribution. The excite-
4
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ment in East Tennessee soon became intense. The proceedings of this convention, together with speeches denunciatory of the new government, fanned the already glowing fires of insurrection among the Unionists. Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, a paper which had a very large circulation in this part of the State, did much to arouse the people. Every number contained articles filled with the bitterest invective against the "bogus Confederacy." Landon C. Haynes, a Confederate leader, in writing to L. P. Walker, Confederate Secretary of War, concerning the condition of affairs in East Tennessee, on July 6, 1861, said: "Thomas A. R. Nelson, William G. Brownlow, Connolly F. Trigg and William B. Carter are the leaders. Moral power cannot longer be relied on to crush the rebellion. No man possesses that power. Bell had more than any other man, but he is as helpless as a child." Three days later Secretary Walker requested Gov. Harris to send immediately two regiments to East Tennessee, which was accordingly done, and on July 26, "Gen. Zolli- coffer was ordered to assume command of that district, to preserve peace, protect the railroad and repel invasion." On August 26 he issued Gen- eral Order No. 11, in which he states: "The following are the names of the Lincoln leaders in Johnson County: Lewis Venable, of Laurel Creek; Northington, hotel-keeper at Taylorsville; R. R. Butler, of Taylorsville, representative of the county; John G. Johnson and J. W. Merrick, cap- tains of Lincoln companies. Joseph P. Edoms, of Elizabethton, Carter County, and A. Evans, of Washington County, are also among the ring- leaders of them." On July 10, 1861, Judge Nelson issued a proclama- tion for an election to be held on the 31st of August, to choose delegates as provided in the resolutions of the Greeneville Convention. Owing to succeeding events, however, this election did not take place. At the election held the first week in August, Horace Maynard, Thomas A. R. Nelson and G. W. Bridges were elected representatives to the United States Congress by the Unionists, who refused to vote for representatives to the Confederate Congress. A day or two later Judge Nelson started for Washington, by the way of Cumberland Gap, but was arrested in Lee County, Va., and taken to Richmond. He was soon after paroled and returned to his home. At about the same time Bridges was arrested in Morgan County, and was also released upon taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy.
During the summer and early fall Union men were quietly organiz- ing and drilling. In most places this was done secretly, but in some localities the Union sentiment was so unanimous that there was no need of concealment. Singly and in squads they began crossing the moun- tains into Kentucky, where they were organized into companies and regi-
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ments. Those who remained behind were constantly urging and expect- ing an advance upon East Tennessee by the Federal troops, and they held themselves in readiness for a general uprising when that should take place. John F. Fisk, in writing to R. Buckner, on September 22, 1861, says: " The mountaineers will whip Zollicoffer as soon as they get ammunition. By all means send them lead, lead, lead!" William B. Carter wrote to Gen. Thomas on October 27 and earnestly called for an advance upon East Tennessee. In speaking of Zollicoffer's forces he said: "Zollicoffer has 6,000 men all told; 1,000 of them are sick, 600 or 800 are not arrived; 1,600 of the 6,000 are at Cumberland Gap, the balance beyond the Gap." This force proved to be too small to sup- press the constantly growing power of the Unionists and the leading Confederates in East Tennessee began to call for re-enforcements. Gen. A. S. Johnston, on November 4, 1861, sent a despatch to Secretary Ben- jamin, in which he said: "Herewith I transmit for your information a letter from Gov. Harris, inclosing one from Mr. C. Wallace, imparting information in regard to the political sentiments of the people of East Tennessee, which he represents as extremely hostile to the Confederate Government, and that there is among them a large and well-armed force ready to act at an opportune moment. I have already ordered Stanton's and Murray's regiments and some cavalry companies from their stations in Fentress, Overton and Jackson Counties to Jamestown to join some cavalry companies at that place, thence to report and await the orders of Gen. Zollicoffer, who has been notified." The letter referred to above was written at Knoxville, October 29, and is as follows:
Dear Governor: I don't like to meddle in things that are in keeping of men so much more vigilant and wise than I, but I am constrained by the circumstances about me to be- lieve that Zollicoffer and the railroads of East Tennessee are in a dangerous condition at present. I am well aware that the views of the "original panel" in East Tennessee are not much heeded abroad, but I am well satisfied that there is to-day a larger Lincoln force, well armed in East Tennessee, than Zollicoffer has of Southern men under his command. * * There is no giving way in the hostile feeling in East Tennessee. This you may
rely on, and time will convince you. Truly your friend,
C. WALLACE.
On November 1 Col. W. B. Wood, commanding the post at Knox- ville, wrote to Secretary Benjamin: "There can be no doubt of the fact that large parties, numbering from twenty to a hundred, are every day passing through the narrow and unfrequented gaps of the mountains into Kentucky. I do not believe that the Unionists are in the least recon- ciled to the Government, but, on the contrary, are as hostile to it as the people of Ohio, and will be ready to take up arms as soon as they be- lieve the Lincoln forces are near enough to sustain them." These opinions proved to be well founded, and on the night of the 8th of
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November the excitement culminated in the burning of three or four railroad bridges on the road between Bristol and Chattanooga. This created great alarm, and more vigorous measures were adopted to subdue the Unionists, and crush out the insurrection against the Confederate Government. Many arrests were made, not only upon charges of com- plicity in the bridge burning, but for encouraging the Unionist move- ment.
Col. D. Leadbetter was immediately ordered to East Tennessee with an engineer corps to repair and protect the railroads. Letters and despatches from all points in East Tennessee were poured in upon the Confederate authorities, all telling of the imminent danger from a gen- eral uprising of the Unionists. Maj. T. J. Cannon, stationed at Loudon, wrote: "The Union feeling of this country is very bitter, and all they want, in my opinion, to induce a general uprising, is encouragement from the Federal authorities by the introduction or advance of Lincoln armies. They have a great many arms, and are actually manufacturing Union flags to receive the refugee Tennesseeans when they return. They are getting bold enough to avow their purpose." Col. Wood wrote from Knoxville to Adjt .- Gen. Cooper: "Five hundred Union men are now threatening Strawberry Plains, fifteen hundred are assembling in Ham- ilton County, and there is a general uprising in all the counties. The whole country is now in a state of rebellion. I learn from two gentle- men just arrived that another camp is being formed about ten miles from here, in Sevier County, and already three hundred are in camp. They are being re-enforced from Blount, Roane, Johnson, Greene, Carter and other counties." The writer of the letter of which the following is an extract, advised the removal of the Union sympathizers from East Tennessee:
JONESBORO, TENN., November 12, 1861.
HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS:
Sir: Civil war has broken out at length in East Tennessee. In the late election" scarcely a so-called Union man voted. Neither Mr. Nelson nor any of the released men who had been sworn to be faithful to the Southern Confederacy voted upon the occasion, and there appeared a simultaneous assault upon our line of railroads from Virginia to the Georgia line. In this county the secession strength is about equal to the Union force, but our force is much weakened by five volunteer companies now in the service. In Carter and Johnson Counties, northeast of this, the Union strength is not only as formidable but it is as violent as that of any of the northwestern counties of Virginia. Had they the power zot a sessionist would live in this region. The hostile element in those counties, and also än Greene, is so strong that I give it as my firm conviction that it will neither abate nor be conciliated. They look for the re-establishment of the Federal authority with as much confidence as the Jews look for the coming of Messiah, and I feel quite sure when I assert it that no event or circumstance can change or modify their hope. * * We will crush out the rebellion here in a week or ten days, but to prevent its recurrence should be a matter of anxious consideration. * * There are now camped in and about Elizabeth-
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ton, in Carter County, some twelve or fifteen hundred men armed with a motley assort- ment of guns, in open defiance of the Confederate States of America, and who are awaiting a movement of the Federal troops from Kentucky to march forward and take possession of the railroad. These men are gathered up from three or five counties in this region, and com- prise the hostile Union element of this section, and never will be appeased, conciliated or quieted in a Southern Confederacy. I make this assertion positively, and you may take it for what it is worth. We can and will in a few days disperse them, but when will they break out again? I am satisfied the only hope for our quiet and repose, and our co-opera- tion without hindrance in the present revolution, is the expatriation, voluntarily or by force, of this hostile element.
I am respectfully your obedient servant,
A. G. GRAHAM.
Gov. Harris telegraphed President Davis that he should send immedi- ately about 10,000 men into East Tennessee. November 20, 1861, Col. Wood wrote to Secretary Benjamin: "The rebellion in East Tennessee has been put down in some of the counties, and will be effectually sup- pressed in less than two weeks in all the counties. The camps in Sevier and Hamilton Counties have been broken and a large number of them made prisoners.' Some are confined in jail at this place and others sent to Nashville. In a former communication I inquired what I shall do with them. It is a mere farce to arrest them and turn them over to the courts. Instead of having the effect to intimidate, it really emboldens them in their traitorous conduct. We have now in custody some of their leaders, Judge Patterson, the son-in-law of Andrew Johnson, Col. Pick- ens, the senator from Sevier, and others of influence and some distinc- tion in their counties. These men have encouraged this rebellion, but have so managed as not to be found in arms. Nevertheless, their actions - and words have been unfriendly to the Government of the Confederate States. The influence of their wealth, position and connection has been exerted in favor of the Lincoln government, and they are the persons most to blame for the trouble in East Tennessee. They really deserve the gallows, and, if consistent with the laws, ought speedily to receive their deserts; but there is such a gentle spirit of reconcilation in the South, and especially here, that I have no idea that one of them will re- ceive such a sentence at the hands of any jury impaneled to try them. * I have to request at least that the prisoners I have taken be held, if not as traitors, as prisoners of war. To release them is ruinous; to convict them before a court at this time next to an impossibility; but if they are kept in prison for six months it will have a good effect. The bridge-burners and spies ought to be tried at once, and I respectfully re- quest that instruction be forwarded at as early a day as practicable, as it needs prompt action to dispose of the cases." The following reply was received:
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WAR DEPARTMENT, RICHMOND, November 25, 1861.
COLONEL W. B. WOOD:
Sir: Your report of the 20th instant is received, and I now proceed to give you the desired instruction in relation to the prisoners of war taken by you among the traitors of East Tennessee.
First. All such as can be identified in having been engaged in bridge-burning are to be tried summarily by drum-head court-martial, and, if found guilty, executed on the spot by hanging in the vicinity of the burned bridges.
Second. All such as have not been so engaged are to be treated as prisoners of war, and sent with an armed guard to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, there to be kept imprisoned at the depot selected by the Government for prisoners of war.
Whenever you can discover that arms are concentrated by these traitors, you will send out detatchments to search for and seize the arms. In no case is one of the men known to have been up in arms against the Government to be released on any pledge or oath of alle- giance. The time for such measures is past. They are all to be held as prisoners of war. Such as come in voluntarily, take the oath of allegiance and surrender their arms, are alone to be treated with leniency. Very vigilant execution of these orders is earnestly urged by the Government.
Your obedient servant,
J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War.
P. S. Judge Patterson (Andy Johnson's son-in-law), Colonel Pickens and other ring- leaders of the same class, must be sent at once to Tuscaloosa to jail as prisoners of war.
At this time Johnson, Maynard, Etheridge, Meigs, and most other Union leaders throughout Tennessee had left the State. William G. Brownlow, whose newspaper had been suppressed about the 1st of No- vember, had sought personal safety by retiring to the mountains. On December 4, he received notice from the commander of the department, that should he return and deliver himself up, he would be given a pass- port to go into Kentucky accompanied by a military escort. He accord- ingly returned, but was immediately arrested and placed in jail upon the charge of treason. He was kept in confinement at the jail until January 1, 1862, when he became sick, and afterward at his home under guard until March 3, when he was sent with a military escort to Nashville. On No- vember 30, 1862, three men: Henry Frey, Jacob M. Henshaw and Hugh A. Self, were tried at Greeneville by drum-head court-martial, for bridge burning, and sentenced to be hung. The sentence with respect to the first two, was executed on the same day; that of Self was commuted to imprisonment. On the same day Col. Leadbetter issued the following conciliatory proclamation :
.
GREENEVILLE, EAST TENN., November 30, 1861.
TO THE CITIZENS OF EAST TENNESSEE:
So long as the question of Union or Disunion was debatable, so long you did well to debate it and vote on it. You had a clear right to vote for Union, but when seces- sion was established by the voice of the people, you did ill to disturb the country by angry words and insurrectionary tumult. In doing this you commit the highest crime known to the laws. Out of the Southern Confederacy no people possesses such elements of prosperity and happiness as those of Tennessee. The Southern market which you have hitherto enjoyed, only in competition with a host of eager Northern rivals, will now be
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shared with a few States of the Confederacy equally fortunate politically and geographi- cally. Every product of your agriculture and workshops will now find a prompt sale at high prices, and so long as cotton grows on Confederate soil, so long will the money which it brings flow from the South through all your channels of trade. At this moment you might be at war with the United States, or any foreign nation, and yet not suffer one- tenth part of the evil which pursues you in this domestic strife. No man's life or property is safe; no woman or child can sleep in quiet. You are deluded by selfish demagogues, who care for their own personal safety. You are citizens of Tennessee, and your State one of the Confederate States. So long as you are up in arms against these States can you look for any thing but the invasion of your homes and the wasting of your substance? This condition of things must be ended. The Government demands peace and sends troops to enforce order. I proclaim that any man who comes in promptly, and gives up his arms will be pardoned on taking the oath of allegiance. All men taken in arms against the Government will be transported to the military prison at Tuscaloosa, and be confined there during the war. Bridge burners and destroyers of railroad tracks are ex- cepted from among the pardonable. They will be tried by drum-head court-martial and hung on the spot.
D. LEADBETTER, Colonel Commanding.
Col. Leadbetter evidently did not understand the steadfast loyalty of the Unionists of East Tennessee, or he would have saved himself the trouble of issuing this proclamation. Very few took advantage of the proffered clemency. Meanwhile Brig .- Gen. W. H. Carroll had been placed in command at Knoxville, and on December 11, he issued a proc- lamation declaring martial law, and suspending the writ of habeas corpus. On the same day C. A. Haun, who had been confined in the jail at that place, was hanged on the charge of bridge burning. About a week later Jacob Harmon and his son, Henry Harmon, were hanged on a similar charge. These vigorous measures had the effect of driving many of the Unionists to Kentucky, and of silencing the most of the remainder for the time being.
In December, 1861, Gen. George B. Crittenden was assigned to the command of the Confederate forces in a portion of East Tennessee, and southeastern Kentucky, which included the troops then at Mill Springs under Gen. Zollicoffer, who had been stationed at that point to prevent Gen. Schoepf from penetrating Tennessee. The latter was stationed at Somerset on Fishing Creek, a small tributary of the Cumberland. Jan- uary 18, 1863, Gen. Thomas, with the remainder of his forces came up, and in the battle which-ensued on the following day Gen. Zollicoffer was killed, and his force driven back in great confusion. In this action the First and Second Union Regiments of Tennessee Infantry, under Gen. S. P. Carter, took a conspicuous part, fighting with great spirit against, among others, several Tennessee regiments on the Confederate side.
By the death of Gen. Zollicoffer the forces in East Tennessee lost a valuable officer, and on February 25, 1862, Gen. E. Kirby Smith was assigned to the command of the troops in that district. He arrived
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at Knoxville on March 9, and on the following day reported to the War Department that the troops then in East Tennessee numbered less than 8,000 effective men, 4,000 of whom were at Cumberland Gap, 2,000 at Knoxville, and the remainder distributed over neighboring counties. In a report a few days later he refers to the capture, without the fire of a gun, of a large number of two companies of the First East Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, near Jacksboro, and states that, in his opinion, "East Tennessee troops can not be trusted, and should be removed to some other field." On March 28, 1862, an expedition was sent into Morgan and Scott Counties to chastise the Unionists, who had been gathering there in considerable force. A skirmish took place near Montgomery, Jasting about thirty minutes, in which the Unionists were dispersed with a loss of fifteen killed and a large number of wounded. During the latter part of the same month, Gen. George W. Morgan was assigned to the command of an expedition against Cumberland Gap. His force con- sisted of four brigades, under the command of Gens. Carter, Spears, and Baird, and Col. DeCourcy. Carter's brigade consisted of the First, Second and Fourth (Union) Tennessee, * Third and Nineteenth Kentucky, and the Forty-ninth Indiana, all infantry. Spear's brigade consisted of the Third, Fifth, and Sixth ( Union) Tennessee Infantry. The two other brigades contained no Tennessee regiments. After considerable pre- liminary skirmishing a general advance was made about the 10th of June, and on the 18th the post was evacuated by the Confederates with- out firing a gun. Gen. Morgan remained at Cumberland Gap until the 17th of the September following, when he was forced to retreat or be cut off from his line of supplies, as Gen. Stevenson with a force estimated at 20,000 had taken position in front of the Gap, and Gen. Smith with a still larger force was at Barboursville, Ky. After an arduous march of several days he reached the Ohio River at Wheelers- burg. In his report of the evacuation and retreat Gen. Morgan compli- mented the gallantry of the Sixth Tennessee. He says: "We resumed the march from Manchester, Ky., on the 21st. The enemy's cavalry ap- peared on our rear and endeavored to cut off one of our trains, but was gallantly repulsed by the Sixth Tennessee under Col. Cooper, who had before rendered good service in attacking the enemy's force near Big Creek Gap."
Several of the regiments had been poorly equipped, especially the Second and Fourth Cavalry, both of which regiments had been organized at Cumberland Gap. Consequently, several weeks were spent in equip- ping and refitting, and in recovering from the demoralization incident
*Col. Robert Johnson afterward re-enlisted, and the Fourth was organized as First Tennessee Cavalry.
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to so long and difficult a retreat. As soon as this had been accomplished, they were ordered to report to Rosecrans at Nashville. The battle of Stone's River was fought almost immediately after their arrival at that place, and was participated in by Gen. Spear's brigade, including the Third, Fifth, and Sixth Tennessee Infantry, and a portion of the Third Cavalry, then not fully organized; also by Carter's brigade, including the First and Second Tennessee Infantry. The Second and Fifth Ten- nessee Cavalry were also actively engaged, with the exception of the First and Fourth Regiments of cavalry, which did not arrive until after the battle; these included all the Tennessee regiments which had then been mustered into service.
But to trace the movements and record the achievements of Tennessee troops in all the numerous campaigns, raids and battles in which they participated would require a volume; therefore only a few of the most important, and especially those of East Tennessee, will be noted. The troops of no other State were more active, untiring and intrepid. Their service was chiefly performed within their own State and the territory immediately surrounding it. As this was disputed ground from first to last "eternal vigilance" was required of the troops within its borders, and it seems to have fallen to the lot of the Tennessee regiments to do more than their share of the arduous work of scouting, raiding and skirmishing. Indeed the mounted infantry regiments, all of which were organized dur- ing the last eighteen months of the war, saw no other kind of service.
The campaign for the deliverance of East Tennessee was entered upon in August, 1863, simultaneously with the advance of Rosecrans upon Chattanooga. Gen. Burnside's army, numbering about 18,000 men, consisted of the Twenty-third and Ninth Army Corps, together with new troops raised in Kentucky. The Tennessee troops were attached to the Twenty-third Corps, and included the First, Second and Eighth Regi- ments of Infantry, the Ninth Cavalry, and the Eighth and Tenth East Tennessee Cavalry, afterward consolidated and known as the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry.
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