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 5
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Eleventh. We shall await with the utmost anxiety the decision of the people of Ten- nessee on the Sth day of next month", and sincerely trust that wiser counsels will pervade the great fountain of freedom (the people) than seem to have actuated their constituted agent.
Twelfth. For the promotion of the peace and harmony of the people of East Ten- nessee, it is deemed expedient that this convention should again assemble, therefore: Resolved, That when this convention adjourns, it adjourns to meet again at such time and place as the president or vice-president in his absence may determine and publish.
After the adoption of the above resolution an eloquent and effective address was delivered by Andrew Johnson. This convention was com-
*Reference made to the election to be held June 8, 1601.
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posed of representative men of East Tennessee, men of influence and ability. They foresaw the result of the coming election, but not wishing to anticipate it by any act, made provision for a future meeting. The number of delegates in attendance is evidence of the intense interest in the question before the people; 5,000 copies of the proceedings of the convention were printed and distributed over the State, but it was of lit- tle avail in stemming the tide of secession which swept over Middle and West Tennessee. The leaders in those divisions, with few exceptions, notably among whom was Emerson Etheridge, had been carried away by it. So strong was the influence that such men as Niell S. Brown, Judge R. L. Caruthers, Felix K. Zollicoffer and many others, who at the previous election had voted against a convention, were now among the strongest advocates of disunion. The election on the Sth of June re- sulted as shown elsewhere, and three days later Judge Nelson issued a call for the East Tennessee Convention to meet on the 17th of that month at Greeneville. Delegates from all of the counties except Rhea assembled at the appointed time, and continued in session four days. Their labors resulted in the preparation of the declaration of grievances, of which the following is an extract, and the adoption of the resolutions succeeding:
We, the people of East Tennessee, again assembled in a convention of our delegates, make the following declaration in addition to that heretofore promulgated by us at Knox- ville on the 30th and 31st of May last. So far as we can learn, the election held in this State on the 8th day of the present month was free, with but few exceptions, in no other part of the State than East Tennessee. In the larger part of Middle and West Tennessee no speeches or discussion in favor of the Union were permitted. Union papers were not allowed to circulate. Measures were taken in some parts of West Tennessee in defiance of the constitution and laws which allow folded tickets, to have the ballots numbered in such a manner as to mark and expose the Union voter.
A disunion paper, The Nashville Gazette, in urging the people to vote an open ticket. declared that "a thief takes a pocket-book or effects an entrance into forbidden places by stealthy means: a Tory, in voting, usually adopts pretty much the same mode of pro- cedure." Disunionists in many places had charge of the polls, and Union men when vot- ing were denounced as Lincolnites and abolitionists. The unanimity of the votes in many large counties where but a few weeks ago the Union sentiment was so strong, proves be- yond a doubt that Union men were overawed by the tyranny of the military law, and the still greater tyranny of a corrupt and subsidized press. Volunteers were allowed to vote in and out of the State in flagrant violation of the constitution. From the moment the election was over, and before any detailed statement of the vote in the diferent counties had been published, and before it was possible to ascertain the result, it was exultingly proclaimed that separation had been carried by from fifty to seventy-five thousand votes. This was to prepare the public mind to enable the secessionists to hold possession of the State, though they should be in the minority. The final result is to be announced hy a disunion governor, whose existence depends upon the success of secession, and no provis- ion is made by law for an examination of the votes by disinterested persons, or even for contesting the election. For these and other causes we do not regard the result of the election expressive of the will of the majority of the people of Tennessee.
No effort has been spared to deter the Union men of East Tennessee from the expres- sion of their free thoughts. The penalties of treason have been threatened against them,
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and murder and assassination have been openly encouraged by leading secession journals. As secession has thus been overbearing and intolerant while in the minority in East Ten- nessee, nothing better can be expected of the pretended majority than wild, unconstitu- tional and oppressive legislation, an utter contempt and disregard of law, a determination to force every Union man in the State to swear to the support of a constitution he abhors. to yield his money and property to aid a cause he detests, and to become the object of scorn and derision as well as the victim of intolerable and relentless oppression.
In view of these considerations, and of the fact that the people of East Tennessee have declared their fidelity to the Union by a majority of about 20,000 votes, therefore we do resolve and declare
First. That we do earnestly desire the restoration of peace to our whole country, and most especially that our own section of the State of Tennessee should not be involved in civil war.
Second. That the action of our State Legislature in passing the so-called "Declaration of Independence," and in forming the "Military League" with the Confederate States, and in adopting other acts looking to a separation of the State of Tennessee from the Government of the United States, is unconstitutional and illegal, and, therefore, not bind- ing upon us as loyal citizens.
Third. That in order to avert a conflict with our brethren in other parts of the State, and desiring that every constitutional means shall be resorted to for the preservation of peace, we do, therefore, constitute and appoint O. P. Temple, of Knox; John Netherland, of Hawkins, and James P. McDowell, of Greene, commissioners, whose duty it shall be to prepare a memorial and cause the same to be presented to the General Assembly of Ten- nessee, now in session, asking its consent that the counties composing East Tennessee . and such counties in Middle Tennessee as desire to coperate with them, may form and erect a separate State.
Fourth. Desiring in good faith that the General Assembly will grant this our reason- able request, and still claiming the right to determine our own destiny, we do further re- solve that an election be held in all the counties of East Tennessee, and such other coun- ties in Middle Tennessee adjacent thereto as may desire to co-operate with us, for the choice of delegates to represent them in a general convention to be held in the town of Kingston, at such time as the president of this convention, or in case of his absence or in- ability, any one of the vice-presidents, or in like case with them the secretary of this con- vention may designate. and the officer so designating the day for the assembling of said convention shall also fix the time for holding the election herein provided for, and give reasonable notice thereof.
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 early 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 each 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-
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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 Sth 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 uien 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 not a sessionist would live in this region. The hostile element in those counties, and also in 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.
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