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, V.2 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
by the Tennesseans. The army marched to Tampa Bay, thence by ship to New Orleans, and from there went home. The war was finally brought to a elose by Gen. Taylor. With 600 regulars he left Fort Gardner, and on December 19 gained the most decisive victory of the war at Lake Okechobee. He was made a brigadier-general for his success at Oke- chobee, and on the resignation of Gen. Jessup the whole conduct of the war was entrusted to him. His policy was to carry out the stipulations of the existing treaty. As fast as a sufficient number of Indians were captured or gave themselves up, they were sent to the reservation. By 1830 he had sent 1,900 to their future homes. The war could not be said to be closed till 1842, with a loss of 1,466 lives by disease, such as yellow fever and other diseases pecular to that climate, and by Indian bullets and scalping knives, and an expense of $10,000,000.
Texas was early an inviting field for adventurous speculators and per- sons seeking homes. Many, after the Creek and Seminole wars, went there from a spirit of adventure alone. The disturbed condition of that unfortunate republic, with its periodical revolutions, compelled those living in Texas to protect themselves against the aggressions of the Mex- ican Government. Among the most distinguished men living in Texas was Gen. Sam Houston. of Tennessee, who had won renown in the Creek war, also had been distinguished as a political leader. The settlers of Texas were largely American, and the tyranny of Mexico led them to rey- olution. Many old friends and companions in arms of Houston flocked to his standard, he at this time being at the head of the revolution. Af- ter varying turns of fortune, a decisive victory was gained at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, which resulted in the complete discomfiture of the Mexican forces and the capture of Santa Anna, the Mexican president. While a prisoner. he signed with the Texans their treaty of independ- ence. The State maintained its independence for ten years, though after
478
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
the release of Santa Anna, he disavowed the act done by himself, on the ground of its being done while a prisoner of war. Texas made applica- tion for admission into the American Union. This was bitterly opposed by the Mexican authorities on the ground that she had never acknowl- edged the independence of Texas, and that Texas was still a part of the Mexican Goverment. This became a question in American politics. The elections of 1844 were favorable to the issue of the Texan admission. Mexico claimed sovereignty not only over all Texas, but particularly that part lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande Rivers. A threatened invasion of this territory on the part of the Mexican authorities, led the American Government to send Gen. Taylor with a large force of United States troops into the disputed territory to take post at Corpus Christi. at the mouth of the Nueces. After some negotiations for peace, on March 8. 1846, Gen. Taylor advanced to Point Isabel, thence in a few days to the point on the Rio Grande opposite Matamoras. On his arrival there Ampudia notified Gen. Taylor that his forces must quit the territory be- tween the Rio Grande and the Nueces within twenty-four hours, or risk the consequences. Taylor's communications with Point Isabel, his base of supplies, were threatened by Mexican cavalry. He went with his main force to open communications, and in his absence, his works at Matamoras were attacked and Maj. Brown was killed. In honor of him the American work was called Fort Brown.
On May S Gen. Taylor in his return to Matamoras encountered Gen. Ampudia at Palo Alto. An engagement ensued and the Mexicans were forced to retreat with a loss of 600 men. The American loss was 6 killed and 44 wounded. Another battle was fought on the 9th at Resaca de la Palma, in which the Mexicans were again defeated, with a loss of 1,000 men, the American loss being only 110. On the announcement of these engagements, it was stated that American blood had been shed on Amer- can soil.
The President declared that war existed between the United States and Mexico, and called for 50,000 volunteers. Congress immediately appropriated $10,000,000 for carrying on the war. The apportionment of volunteers for Tennessee was 2,000, and Gov. A. V. Brown called for that number. It was finally agreed to accept 2.400 men, 1,600 infantry, and 800 cavalry. Such was the spirit for volunteering, that it became a question, not as to who must go, but who may go. It was remarked that a draft would be necessary to compel men to stay at home. The State ' was divided into four military districts: one in East, two in Middle and one in West Tennessee. The volunteers of the middle division consisted of the Harrison Guards-Captain R. C. Foster; Lieutenants A. Heiman and
---
474
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
George Maney; the Nashville Blues-Captain B. F. Cheatham; Lieuten- ants William R. Bradfute, and E. Eastman; Shelbyville Guards-Captain Edward Frierson; Lieutenants J. L. Scudder and G. W. Buchanan; the Polk Guards -- Captain R. A. Bennett; Lieutenants J. M. Shaver and Patrick Duffey; Tenth Legion-Captain S. R. Anderson; Lieutenants William M. Blackmore and P. L. Solmon; Union Boys -- Captain W. B. Walton; Lieutenants Samuel High and C. W. Dixon; Dixon Spring Guards -- Captain L. P. McMurray; Lieutenants W. Bradley and James Lanahan; Lincoln Guards-Captain Pryor Buchanan; Lieutenants A. L. Fulton and J. V. Myers. Lawrenceville Blues-Captain A. S. Alexander; Lieutenants James Burkitt and G. H. Nixon. Hickory Guards-Captain J. Whit- field; Lieutenants J. B. Easley and L. P. Totty. Richland Guards- Captain H. Mauldin; Lieutenants W. P. Davis and W. H. MeCrory. Mountain Blues --- Captain A. Northcutt ; Lieutenants E. M. Mercer and J. J. Hill. These men rendezvoused at the race course near Nashville. The regiment was organized June 3, 1846; William B. Campbell, of Smith County, colonel; Samuel R. Anderson, of Sumner County, lieutenant-col- one]; Richard Alexander, of Smith County, first major, and Robert Far- quharson, of Lincoln County, second major; Adolphus Heiman was made adjutant; Dr. McPhail, surgeon, and W. D. Morris, assistant sur- geon. These companies were constituted the First Regiment. Before leaving for the seat of war a beautiful flag was presented to the regi- ment by Miss Irene C. Taylor, in behalf of the young ladies of the Nash- ville Female Academy. On the 4th and 5th of June they left Nashville for New Orleans. The Second Regiment was ordered to assemble at Camp Carroll, near Memphis, on June 15, 1846. These men were sworn into the service by Gen. Hay. The forces consisted of the Tennessee Guards, Capt. H. P. Maney; Avengers, Capt. T. P. Jones: Memphis Rifle Guards, Capt. E. F. Ruth; Gaines Guards, Capt. M. B. Cook. In addition to these were the following cavalry companies: Fayette Cavalry, Capt. J. Lenow, and the Eagle Guards, Capt. W. N, Porter. From East Tennessee came the Knoxville Dragoons, under Capt. Caswell: Claiborne Blues, Capt. Evans, and the Rhea County Cavalry, Capt. Waterhouse. The infantry companies from this section were Capt. Standifer, from Hamilton : Capt. Lowery, from McMinn; Capt. McCown. from Sevier, and Capt. R. L. Kilpatrick, from Anderson. instead of Capt. Barnett, of Sul- livan. The officers of the Second Tennesse were J. E. Thomas, colonel: R. D. Allison, lieutenant-colonel, and Richard Waterhouse, major.
The cavalry of this division moved by way of Little Rock, Fulton, San Antonio and joined Gen. Taylor at Matamoras. Each regiment and company was given an ovation on their departure. The First Regiment.
475
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
consisting of twelve companies, embarked at New Orleans on June 17, and arrived on the Brazos early in July, and were stationed at Camargo till August 29. when the rest of the men were called to assist in the capt- ure of Monterey. The hot weather and climatic causes made a worst havoe in the ranks than Mexican bullets. The regiments were soon sadly depleted before seeing any active service. The First Regiment was attached to Gen. Quitman's brigade and the Second to Gen. Gideon J. Pillow's brigade. The line of march for Monterey was taken up on Sep- tember 7, and on the 19th the army was within five miles of the city. The 20th was employed in preparing for battle. The American forces consisted of about 6.000 troops, the city was defended by about 10,000 Mexicans. The battle was fouhgt on the 21st. The city was strongly fortified and stood at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. The points of defense were Taneria and the Black Fort on the east and Bishop's Palace on the west. The Tennessee troops were to the left on the east. Their eager- ness to measure strength with their enemies was intense. The guns from Fort Taneria greeted them with both musketry and artillery fire and the bloody work began. They were within eighty yards of the works before they fired on the Mexicans, although they were suffering terribly. As the fire of the Americans opened the fire of the Mexicans slackened. A rush was made for the parapets and the flag of the First was the first planted on the battlements of Monterey. Of 350 men in the charge 105 were lost. Among these 26 were killed. 77 were wounded and 2 were
missing. From private to colonel every man acted gallantly.
The city
of Monterey capitulated on the 25th. After the surrender of the city an armistice of four months followed. during which time efforts for peace were made. The truce having ended a large portion of Taylor's men were withdrawn and given to Gen. Scott, who was meditating a descent upon Vera Cruz. The movement began December 14.
In the meantime the two Tennessee regiments had been placed in the brigade of Gen. Pillow. On December 14 the troops started for Tampico. the place of embarkation. They were finally landed at Vera Cruz ou March 9, 1847. and approaches were begun. The siege guns opened on the city on the 22d. and continued till the 27th. On the 26th a detachment of sis companies of the First and Second Tennessee Regiments was as- signed the duty of assaulting a barricade defending Madeline Bridge. The battalion was led by Col. Haskell. Capt. Foster was the first to leap upon the work. The place was carried with little loss. The city of Vera Cruz and the strong castle of San Juan de Ulloa surrendered on the 29th. Gen. Scott's army began its march toward the City of Mexico April 9, and on the 18th, his progress was disputed at Cerro Gordo. In
470
HISTORY ( .NNESSEE.
the assault that followed the Tennesseeans were on the left of the line. The assault was vigorous but the Second, entangled in the chapparal in front of the works. suffered terribly. The loss in the two regiments was 79, 8 being from the First and the remainder being from the Second. Gon. Pillow was among the wounded. The army then moved forward to Jalapa. The time of service of the Tennesseeans having expired the remaining portion of the regiments were sent to New Orleans, where they were mustered out. Gen. Scott moved his army on to Pueblo, where he was compelled to await re-enforcements to fill his much depleted ranks. A call was made on Tennessee for two additional regiments, the Third and the Fourth, and a battalion of six companies called the Fourteenth. Capt. B. F. Cheatham was largely instrumental in raising the Third. It. was composed of the companies of Capt. Chambliss, from Giles and Mar- shal Counties, Capt. Solomon, of Sumner: Capt. Whitfield. of Hickman: Capts. Trigg and Bradfute, of Davidson; Capt. Collyer, of Franklin : Capt. Douley, of Rutherford and Coffee; Capt .--- , of De Kalb; Capt. Anderson, of Coffee, and Capt. Leftnick of Maury and Lewis Counties. Capt. Cheatham was elected colonel of the Third and it was mustered into the service on October 8, 1847. Their place of rendezvous was about two and a half miles from Nashville on the Nolensville pike. The Fourth Regiment was composed of the companies of Capt. H. Dill, of McMinn; Capt. C. J. Flagg, of Blount; Capt. R. Oliver, of Anderson; Capt. J. B. Collins, of Bradley; Capt. E. Thomason, of Grainger; Capt. J. C. Vaughn, of Mon- roe; Capt. J. J. Reese, of Jefferson; Capt. G. W. Bounds, of Hawkins. Capt. G. W. Kenzie, of Meigs; Capt. Mcclellan, of. Sullivan: Capt. Waterhouse, of Rhea, and Capts. Parson and Council, of Knox. Capt. Waterhouse, of Rhea, was elected colonel. The remaining forces of the State rendezvoused at Camp Carroll or Carrollton under Col. Trousdale.
These forces were all taken to New Orleans by boat, thence by vessel to Vera Cruz. Here they were formed into a brigade, but did not arrive at the City of Mexico until the work of capture was done. However, Gen. Pillow paid a visit to Tennessee in the summer of 1847, and returned in July and joined Scott's army at Pueblo. He was in the advance upon the City of Mexico and engaged in the battles of Churubusco. Chapulte- pec, Molino del Ray and the seige of the city. He was one of the com- missioners to negotiate the surrender. Some very distinguished men were developed by this war; among them may be mentioned Govs. Trous- dale and Campbell, and Gens. B. F. Cheatham and Pillow. On settle- ment of the Mexican question the soldiers of Tennessee returned to their homes to enjoy the full measure of praise their valor upon the field had won.
177
Landingcy
BATTLE OF
FORT DONELSON, Feb. 13-16, 1862.
Road, 48
Ft. Henry
port
30
1.5334
FORT
DONELSON
A BUCKNER'S. DIVISION,
DIVISI
PILLOW'S
DOVER
„RIÉ
DIVISION
MC CLERITAND'S
DIVISION
0
aGunbouts
NAFE Dri
477
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CHAPTER XV.
FEDERAL MILITARY HISTORY-CAUSE OF THE LOYALTY OF EAST TENNESSEE-AR- RAIGNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OF THE EXECUTIVE BY THE UNION CONVENTIONS -- THE CONCENTRATION OF THE CONFEDERATE FORCES AT KNOXVILLE-ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIONISTS-THE HELPLESS SITUATION OF LOYAL CITIZENS-ACTIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS-SELECTED ILLUSTRATIVE CORRESPONDENCE -- THE EXECUTION OF THE BRIDGE BURNERS-ARREST OF THE UNION LEADERS-AN OUTLINE OF THE PRINCIPAL MILITARY MOVE- MENTS-BURNSIDES' OCCUPATION -- SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE -- THE CONCLUDING SKIRMISHES-SKETCHES OF THE REGIMENTS.
N TTO fact connected with the late civil war, abounding in striking events and gigantic achievements, is more remarkable than the number of troops furnished by Tennessee to the Federal Army. It is scarcely credible that a State with a voting population of only about 140,000, raising nearly 100,000 troops for the Confederate Army, should also have furnished 30,000 men to fight for the Union. It becomes still more remarkable to consider that a very large proportion of this 30,000 came from a division of the State, having a male population between the ages of twenty and fifty, of only 45,000; and that unlike the volunteer from the Northern States, the Union soldier from Tennessee was not tempted to enlist by a munificent State bounty, nor impelled by the force of public opinion, but on the contrary, to do so, he was forced to escape from an enemy's watchful guard at night and, leaving his home and all he held dear to the mercy of a hostile foe, make his way across the bleak and cheerless mountains, to the Union camps in Kentucky.
For an explanation of this remarkable adherence to the Union on the part of the people of East Tennessee, it is necessary to look to the origin of the war. As many as have been its alleged causes, all may be traced to the one prime cause, slavery; all others were the result of or incident to slavery, as has been shown by Dr. Draper, in his history of the war. The difference in climate, soil and physical features between the North and the South, through its effect upon the growth of slavery, was a remote agency in producing strife between the two sections. On the other hand, the dissimilarity in character, occupation and political sentiments of the people was largely the result of their different systems of labor. It is true, the difference in character of the original colonists was a more or less important factor, but its effect was not great.
East Tennessee was settled by the same class of people as that part of the State west of the Cumberland Mountains, and at one time the people
30
478
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
of the two sections were homogeneous; but owing to the peculiar topogra- phy of the former, however, slave labor was not very profitable, and com- paratively few slaves were owned-the proportion of the free men be- ing about as one to twenty. The same divergence of interest grew up be- tween East Tennessee and the middle and western divisions of the State, as between the North and South as a whole. Consequently upon all ques- tions of political and domestic economy, East Tennessee was usually identified with the Northern States. Since 1836, as a whole, it had been strongly Whig, and in some sections for many years, a strong aboli- tion sentiment had existed; when therefore, it was proposed to sacrifice the Union to perpetuate slavery, the majority of the people of East Tennessee joined with the freemen of the North, to prevent its consum- mation. They foresaw that should a Confederacy of the slave States be- come established, the person who owned no slaves, as a factor in politics and in society, would be a cipher. It is undoubtedly true that the great body of the people did not see this result, but their leaders did, and per- haps in no State were the masses more submissive to leadership than in Tennessee.
In addition to this the State, as a whole, had always been intensely patriotic. The readiness with which she had come to the defense of the country, when threatened by an alien or a savage foe, had won for her the name of "The Volunteer State." It was the greatest of Tennesseeans who said: " The Union! It must and shall be preserved." Even the ma- jority of those who joined in the support of the Confederacy, did so, only when they felt it to be their highest duty, and it was with no feigned grief that they left the old "stars and stripes," to rally around a new and strange flag. As has been stated, the preponderance of Union sentiment in Tennessee was in the eastern division of the State, yet at the election in 1860 the majority for the "Union" electors was quite large throughout the State. Even after the secession of South Carolina and other more Southern States, the entire State remained firmly for the Union, as was shown by a vote of 24,749 for, to 91,803 against calling a convention. But after the attack upon Fort Sumter, and the call for troops by Presi- dent Lincoln, which worked such a change in the sentiment of the people of this State, the stronghold of the Unionists was in East Tennessee. At the election held in June, to vote on the question of separation or no separation, while the total number of votes in the State against that meas- ure was 47,274, 32,962 of them were cast in East Tennessee .*
This result was due in a great measure to the position taken by the political leaders Andrew Johnson, T. A. R. Nelson, William G.
*See elsewhere for the full returns of these elections.
17:
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Brownlow, Horace Maynard, Connolly F. Trigg, William B. Carter aud others, who took a determined stand against secession and did all in their power to prevent Tennessee from going out of the Union. To determine the relative amount of influence exerted by each individual would be an impossibility. Mr. Johnson has by many been accorded the credit for the loyalty of East Tennessee, and it was in part due to his influence. He was very popular with the Democracy of the State, and especially of his congressional district, and his powerful pleas for the Union carried many of his party with him. But with the Whig element he could have had but little influence, since he had advocated the election of Breckin- ridge at the preceding presidential election, and had otherwise rendered himself obnoxious to them. In fact, as has been stated, the Whigs of East Tennessee were naturally attached to the Union, and diametrically opposed to the principles of the extreme Democracy, which had inaug- urated the Rebellion. It, therefore, required only the eloquence and zeal of the old leaders Nelson, Maynard, Brownlow and others to fire them with an enthusiasm for the Union and the " old flag," which not even the hardships of four years of war served to abate. On the 30th of May preceding that election, about 500 delegates, representing nearly every county in East Tennessee, assembled at Knoxville in pursuance of the following call:
The undersigned, a portion of the people of East Tennessee, disapproving the hasty and inconsiderate action of our General Assembly, and sincerely desirous to do, in the midst of the trouble which surrounds us, what will be best for our country, and for all classes of our citizens, respectfully appoint a convention to be held in Knoxville on Thursday, the 30th of May inst .; and we urge every county in East Tennessee to send dele- gates to this convention, that the conservative element of our whole section may be repre- sented, and that wise and judicious counsels may prevail-looking to peace and harmony among ourselves.
F. S. HEISKELL, JOHN J. CRAIG, DR. W. ROGERS, JOAN TUNNELL, C. H. BAKER,
JOHN WILLIAMS, S. R. ROGERS,
DAVID BURNETT, W. H. ROGERS. JOHN BAXTER.
O. P. TEMPLE, W.G. BROWNLOW,
C. F. TRIGG, [and others. ]
The convention met at Temperance Hall, and was called to order by Connolly F. Trigg, upon whose motion John Baxter was chosen tempo- rary president, and John M. Fleming, temporary secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Thomas. W. Humes, after which Thomas A. R. Nelson was chosen president, and John M. Fleming, secretary. After addresses by the president and Gen. Thomas D. Arnold, and the appointment of a general committee representing the various counties, the convention adjourned to meet the next morning. On the next day the committee, through their chairman, Col. Trigg, submitted their report which. after considerable debate, was amended and finally adopted. The following
480
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
are some of the resolutions, which were preceded by a preamble of con- - siderable length :
We, therefore, the delegates here assembled, representing and reflecting, as we verily believe, the opinions and wishes of a large majority of the people of East Tennessee, do resolve and declare:
First. That the evil which now afflicts our beloved country in our opinion is the legitimate result of the ruinous and heretical doctrine of secession; that the people of East Tennessee have ever been, and we believe still are opposed to it by a very large majority.
Second. That while the country is upon the very threshold of a most ruinous and desolating civil war, it may with truth be said, and we protest before God. that the people (so far as we can see) have done nothing to produce it. **
* *
* *
Sixth. That the Legislature of the State, without having first obtained the consent of the people, had no authority to enter into a " military league" with the "Confederate States" against the General Government, and by so doing to put the State of Tennessee in hostile array against the government of which it then was and still is a member. Such legislation in advance of the expressed will of the people to change their governmental relations was an act of usurpation, and should be visited with the severest condemnation of the people.
Seventh. That the forming of such "military league," and thus practically assum- ing the attitude of an enemy towards the General Government (this, too, in the absence of any hostile demonstration against the State) has afforded the pretext for raising, arm- ing and equipping a large military force, the expense of which must be enormous, and will have to be paid by the people. And to do this, the taxes, already onerous enough, will necessarily have to be very greatly increased, and probably to an extent beyond the ability to pay.
Eighth. That the General Assembly by passing a law authorizing the volunteers to vote wherever they may be on the day of election, whether in or out of the State, and in offer- ing to the "Confederate States" the capitol of Tennessee, together with other acts, have exercised powers and stretched their authority to an extent not within their constitutional limits, and not justified by the usages of the country.
Ninth. That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
Tenth. That the position which the people of our sister State of Kentucky have assumed in this momentous crisis, commands our highest admiration. Their interests are our interests. Their policy is the true policy, as we believe, of Tennessee and all the bor- der States. And in the spirit of freemen, with an anxious desire to avoid the waste of the blood and the treasure of our State, we appeal to the people of Tennessee, while it is yet in their power, to come up in the majesty of their strength and restore Tennessee to her true position.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.