USA > Tennessee > Bradley County > History of the rebellion in Bradley County, East Tennessee > Part 10
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
Brown was too bad a man to serve even the Devil him- self with prosperity to his cause. He was too dishonest to be honorable even among thieves ; and had he been a public man in any other cause than this Southern Rebel- lion, he would have been hung as high as Haman by his own friends before he had more than half finished his career. Notwithstanding the opportunities his position gave him to gorge himself with the substance of his ene- mies, his reckless greed of gain goaded him to steal sys- tematically from his friends also. This was usually per- formed in that base and cunning manner that left him the widest margin for escape, and, consequently, his victims the narrowest chance for obtaining redress. The weakest and most helpless-those having the least opportunity to defend themselves-were usually the persons of his own party whom he selected to wrong, rob and plunder. His cruelty was as ready and as venomous against his own men when they intercepted his wishes, as against the Lin- colnites. On his return from the expedition against Col. Clift, he fell out with one of his men by the name of Swaf- ford, and as punishment fastened one end of a log chain around his neck, compelling him to march dragging the length of it in the sand till he was exhausted and could go no further with his load.
It was too well known in Cleveland to need any caution in the statement, that a portion of the choicest articles solicited and voluntarily provided by rebel families for the rebel soldiers, and even rations of sugar that belonged to them, were not only freely used at his headquarters, ut secretly transferred to the private use of his own fam-
112
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
ily. When successful raids had been made by Brown and his men upon Union people, he would invariably smuggle some of the most valuable articles, such as counterpanes, choice quilts and blankets, pillows and pillow-cases, and other articles of the kind, and covertly pass them on to his own home. This system of dastardly theft was perse- vered in till it became a proverb among the Union peo- ple that Brown's dwelling was the depot of stolen goods.
113
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
CHAPTER XI.
THE TUSCALOOSA PRISONERS.
MANY Union men in Bradley saved themselves from incarceration in Southern prisons-some by purchasing their freedom with money, others by instantaneous flight to the North, and still others who could neither pay nor flee, by connecting themselves with the rebel army until opportunities offered for their escape.
We purposed to obtain, from some one of the victimized party, a written statement of the particulars of these incidents, but failing to do so, we are enabled to record the tragedy of the "Tuscaloosa Prisoners," only in its general aspects.
Although many rebel citizens in the different parts of the county, such, for instance, as W. H. Tibbs, James Donahoo, Joseph Tucker, and others of the worst stamp, participated, acting as spies and informers. As usual, Brown was the principal actor in arresting these men, seventeen in number, and sending them to Southern pri- sons.
The following are the names of the victims.
Maj. James S. Bradford,
Dr. John G. Brown,
Capt. C. D. Champion,
Samuel Hunt.
Col. Stephen Beard,
John Beene. Esq .. Samuel Richmond.
Dr. Wm. Hunt,
Levi Trewhitt, Esq.,
Thomas L. Cate, Esq ..
Capt. John T. Kincheloc, Jesse Taylor,
Jackson Spurgen. S. B. Wise.
John Boon,
Allen Marler, George V. Marler,
Lawyer Trewhitt one of the above prisoners, was arrested at his own house, about four miles from Cleve- land, on the 19th of November, 1861, by a posse of Capt. Brown's men; the posse being headed by John Dunn and Jo. Horton. Although Capt. Brown was the authorita- tive actor, Esq. Trewhitt's arrest was made at the instance
114
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
of Cleveland rebels. Col. Wood, then in command at Knoxville, telegraphed to Brown to make the arrest. Wm. H. Tibbs, E. F. Johnson, and other Bradley rebels, either were then at Knoxville influencing Col. Wood to do this, or telegraphed to him from Cleveland to this effect.
Soon after his arrest, lawyer Trewhitt, with Doctors Brown and Hunt, and possibly some others, were sent to Knoxville, where they requested of the rebel authorities a trial. They were promised, or at least made to believe, that their request should be granted; but through the influence of Cleveland rebels, then at Knoxville, and through the representation of some who were not there, these prisoners instead of being granted a trial, were immediately dispatched for Tuscaloosa. Others, we be- lieve, were sent to Knoxville before being doomed to Tuscaloosa. Be this as it may, however, not long after the arrest of Esq. Trewhitt, the whole were incarcerated in the Tuscaloosa prison.
Esq. Beene lived in the fifth district; James Donahoo the inveterate rebel lived in this district also. Mr. Beene was arrested at the instance of this Donahoo. Brown and his men, or his men alone, acting under his instructions, came to Mr. Beene's house in the night, arrested him in the presence of his family, and took him to Cleveland.
Of the particulars of the arrests of the others, we have no knowledge. Reports entitled to credit justify the statement that none of these men, had committed any overt or extravagant act of hostility against the rebellion, and that nothing of this kind was alleged against them as the cause of their arrest. They were, however, known to be uncompromising Union men-men of talent and influ- ence, men whose presence and example were dreaded, and whom it was considered important to put out of the way as unceremoniously as possible. Thus, without re- gard to justice, with no specified charges against them, and denied the chance of trial, they were suddenly dis- patched to the prisons of Tuscaloosa, intentionally for the term of the war.
They were sent in the month of December, 1861, in three
115
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
different parties, but all within the period of two weeks. All but two or three, and possibly all, were from Bradley county. The two Marlers might have been from Hamil- ton.
Being forced to engage in the drudgery of carrying heavy sacks of corn, Spurgen soon died at Tuscaloosa, with a naked billet of wood for his pillow. His death was induced by hard fare, the want of proper food, bad quar- ters, etc., as well as by being compelled under these cir- cumstances to perform this hard labor. We have not the date of his death.
After being kept at Tuscaloosa for some time, a part, if not the whole of the rest, were sent to Mobile. While at Tuscaloosa their fare was, as a general thing, decidedly objectionable, and in some instances, perfectly shameful. At Mobile, their condition in this respect was somewhat improved. Some of the ladies of Mobile-whether Union or otherwise, we know not, to their credit be it recorded- interested themselves in behalf of the prisoners. The latter were supplied with food and other comforts, which made their transfer, at least in this respect, a matter of gratitude. These blessings, however, came too late for the recovery of lawyer Trewhitt. The mental sufferings occasioned by his arrest, the physical hardships of his trip from home, together with the privations and other effects of his imprisonment at Tuscaloosa, were too severe for a man of sixty-four years ; and he died at Mobile on the 31st of January, 1862.
Judge John C. Gaut, D. C. McMillen, and other Union men in Bradley, as well as some in other parts of East Tennessee, especially Mr. T. H. Calloway of Polk county, knowing the injustice and cruelty, as well as the suffering and danger to their lives, of the imprisonment of these men, were exerting themselves for their release. An ap- peal was first made to Judge T. J. Campbell, one of the most influential and far reaching rebels in East Tennessee, but with no other effect than to rouse in him the most determined opposition to the application.
Mr. Birch, of Chattanooga, then serving on Gen. Pillow's
116
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
staff at Murfreesboro, happening in Cleveland shortly after the appeal to Judge Campbell, was approached by Judge Gaut on the subject, and the case fully explained to him in its true light. Notwithstanding Mr. Birch was engaged in the interest of the rebellion, he at once com- prehended the injustice of such proceedings; and though he then had to return to Murfreesboro, promised to give his attention to the matter in a few days, when he would render the Judge all the assistance in his power. The Judge communicated these facts to Mr. Calloway ; and arrangements were made for a meeting at Loudon, a place about fifty miles west of Knoxville. Mr. Birch was at Loudon agreeable to appointment, when the parties pro- ceeded to Knoxville and made known their business to the military authorities by whom these men were impris- oned. Here, however, they came in contact with the old and inveterate influence which was at the bottom of the rascality in the beginning. The notorious Wm. H. Tibbs, then at Knoxville, opposed the proposition with all his might, meeting the arguments of Mr. Birch as well as those of Calloway and Judge Gaut, with his usual disre- gard of principle and justice. He succeeded in exciting the opposition of Judge Campbell, and making it, if pos- sible, more bitter than before. In view of this opposition, precisely to what extent the applicants succeeded with these authorities at Knoxville, is not known. Their efforts here were either an entire failure, inducing them to agree among themselves to lay the matter before the rebel Sec- retary of War at Richmond, or possibly their case was referred to him by the Knoxville authorities themselves. Mr. Galloway and Judge Gaut furnishing the requisite funds, Mr. Birch hastened to Richmond, and the rebel Secretary of War, J. P. Benjamin, without much delay ordered the immediate release and transportation to their homes, of the Tuscaloosa prisoners from Bradley county.
As soon as possible this order was forwarded from Knoxville, and passed Cleveland the day Mr. Trewhitt died at Mobile. Could these proceedings have been has- tened a few days, or had they not been retarded at Knox-
117
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
ville by the Cleveland clique of Tibbs, Tucker and com- pany, possibly news of his release might have been in time to save Mr. Trewhitt's life.
After an imprisonment of about four months, with the exception of Esq. Trewhitt and Mr. Spurgen, all reached their homes in comparative safety, only, however, at the expense of sufferings, risk to health and life, which, doubt- less, they could not be induced to take the second time for the treasures of Tennessee.
Notwithstanding the release thus granted to these Union men amounted to an acquittal from all the charges which Bradley rebels informally alleged against them, yet, no sooner had they returned than they found them- selves the persecuted objects of suspicion, the same as before. The most of them found it necessary secretly to leave the State in order to escape from their old enemies. Doctors Brown and Hunt, under the pretense of going on a fishing excursion, with hook and line in hand, left Cleveland soon after their return from Mobile, and reached Nashville in safety.
Both subsequently entered the Federal service as sur- geons,-Dr. Hunt in the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, and Brown in the 4th East Tennessee Cavalry. Major Brad- ford was subsequently Major in the 5th East Tennessee Cavalry, while Beard was Lieutenant-Colonel of the same regiment. Kincheloe and Champion were Captains in the 4th East Tennessee Cavalry.
Thus, with two exceptions, this loyal and memorable seventeen of Bradley, after imprisonment and suffering, fleeing and fighting, resisting and hoping, lived to see the rebellion crushed. and their individual and political ene- mies subdued. They are now wearing the honors of vic- tory and enjoying their homes in peace.
In 1864 and 1865, some three years after their imprison- ment, a portion of these victorious Tuscaloosanites en- forced the civil law, and mulcted their rebel persecutors in heavy damages.
This subject ought not to be dismissed without refer- ence being made to the honorable conduct of Mr. Birch
118
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
as to this affair. Mr. Birch was a professed rebel, and doubtless felt an anxiety for the success of the cause equally with that of the most vehement of its advocates. Yet he had too much Christianity to allow himself to ig- nore all justice in the defense of any cause. He had too much civilized and cultivated humanity, too much good breeding, to turn savage at once and incarcerate and mur- der by starvation and slow tortures his nearest neighbors and best friends, especially when among them were the venerable sires of three generations, who had stood the virtuous supports and leading ornaments of society for half a century-simply because of an honest difference of political opinion, a natural right of theirs as well as his.
Had such men as Mr. Birch controlled the South from the beginning, the rebellion never would have existed Had not such men as he, and those like him, from the be ginning been controlled by such men as Judge Campbell, Judge Rowls, Wm. H. Tibbs, and his company of leading Bradley rebels, they never would have been rebels at all.
The following bull from the Cleveland Banner of May 9th, 1862, was hurled at the backs of Doctors Brown and Hunt, who, as we have seen, were compelled to flee from. Cleveland after their return from Mobile. It was also hurled at the back of Mr. M. Edwards, who left about the same time :
"DECAMPED .- Some three weeks ago Doct. John G. Brown, Doct. Wm. Hunt. and R. M. Edwards, Esq., all citizens of this place, very mysteriously left, and have not been heard of up to this present writ- ing. But little anxiety or solicitude has been felt for them since they left, as it was supposed by their friends that they had gone to old Abe's bosom. Doct. Brown was considered a gentleman in all his social relations-stood high in his profession, but a man who was cor- rupt in his political opinions as we conceive. The two latter gentle- men were like small potatoes in Ireland, 'no damned big things.'- had neither money nor reputation to lose in the operation. and we think it is a perfect God-send to a country to get rid of such men. All the harm we wish them is that they may never get back."
It appears they did get back notwithstanding your wish, and that you finally took back your abuse of them by tak- ing the Lincolnite oath which sanctioned their return.
119
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
CHAPTER XII.
CAPT. BROWN'S WHIPPING OF THE CAMP WOMEN.
THE tragedy which we have to relate here, is among the most revolting cases of rebel inhumanity, perpetrated in East Tennessee ; and will cause feelings of indignant hor- ror, aggravated by a thought of the wretch who could, under the circumstances, inflict this scandalous punish- ment upon helpless females, perhaps in advance of those occasioned by any other act of Brown's unparalleled career. We regret that we are not in possession of all the particulars.
It appears that two women were either in, or lingering about the rebel camp at Cleveland, being induced to come there by some of the most abandoned of the soldiers, especially by Brown's own son, who was a member of the same regiment with himself, and we believe of his own company. It was also currently reported at the time that Brown himself, previous to inflicting on them this pun- ishment, had visited these women, either at their own homes or somewhere in the vicinity of the camp, thus in- curring himself, more than they, the guilt of their pres- ence among the soldiers. Whether this report is true or false, it is one of the facts connected with the affair, and is given only as such, with the balance of probabilities, however, in its favor. That Brown's son was one of the principals in inducing these women to visit the rebel camp, is given upon the most reliable authority ; and this, his son's guilt, could not have been unknown to Brown.
Partly, perhaps, as an apt strategy by which he endeav- ored wickedly, to hide the truth, and make the public disbelieve the reports so justly rising against him and his son, and partly from a desire to revenge on the women for the public disgrace which he and his son were suffer- ing from their secret guilt with them, Brown had them
120
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
CAPT. BROWN WHIPPING THE CAMP WOMEN.
121
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
arrested, tied them to trees in the vicinity of the camp, in the meantime procuring a supply of green whips, and after compelling them to remove their clothing down to the waist, with his own hands lashed their naked persons until their arms shoulders and breasts were completely disfigured with cuts and bruises, and their persons cov- ered with blood.
No other act of Brown's abominable career was spoken of by the Union people of Bradley, with so much loath- ing and disgust, as his brutality to these women. One of the rebel soldiers, whom Brown compelled in some meas- ure to be accessory to the foul deed, also asserted that it was one of the most shocking, heart-sickening, and heart- rending tragedies that a human being ever committed or witnessed.
It was reported that one of these pitiable creatures, was in a delicate condition at the time, and from the extent of her injuries, was brought to a premature confinement, resulting in her own death and that of her offspring. So far as the woman's own death was concerned, this report was found to be untrue, but with a pretty strong proba- bility, that in other respects it was correct.
CAPTAIN BROWN'S ARREST.
At what particular period of Brown's military career, the event indicated above occurred, we are not informed ; but probably it took place in the last of December 1861, or in the first of January 1862.
A Mr. Stewart, a rebel, but not yet entirely lost to all human propriety, in view of Brown's entire course, for the honor of the Confederacy, for the sake of humanity and Christianity, as well as a matter of policy, thought it high time to bring his career to a check, if not to a close. Consequently he reported him to the rebel authorities at Knoxville. The charges preferred against Brown by Mr. Stewart were so remarkable, and environed with so much apparent truthfulness, that these authorities at once arrested Brown, who was, we believe, then at Knoxville,
9
122
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
and preparations were there progressing to put him on trial.
No sooner, however, had a knowledge of these proceed- ings reached Cleveland, the immediate locality of Brown's vandalisms, than a movement was inaugurated by his friends, the Bradley rebels, those who had been eye-wit- nesses to his entire behavior, to have these proceedings intercepted, and Brown released from arrest. A petition was drawn up, endorsing his conduct, and after being signed, perhaps by every active rebel then in Cleveland and its vicinity, with one exception, was forwarded to Knoxville.
The petition, it appears, was a systematic and somewhat elaborate document, taking strong ground against the justice of Capt. Brown's arrest, fully endorsing his entire course in Bradley, hinting at his efficiency, and the value of his services to the common cause, and earnestly pray- ing for his immediate release from arrest, with full per- mission to continue his work, and finish his career without further molestation.
The matter was pushed with great perseverance, and very strenuous efforts were made to procure a formidable array of signatures, especially to obtain the names of those who were wealthy and influential. From all the information that could be obtained, but one individual, rich or poor, to whom the petition was presented, refused to sign it. Mr. John Craigmiles objected to the honor of having anything to do with the transaction. Mr. Craig- miles was a gentleman of talents, wealth, and influence, which made it very important to the success of the enter- prise, to have the petition go up to Knoxville with the weight of his signature upon it. Consequently, no means were left untried to obtain it. The petition was first pre- sented to Mr. Craigmiles by Joseph R. Taylor, who, on its presentation, was informed by Mr. Craigmiles, that he never sanctioned the course of Capt. Brown, and that he could not endorse it now. Mr. Taylor pressed his suit, but was compelled to pass on with his petition in despair, so far as he was concerned, of obtaining the name of
123
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
Mr. Craigmiles. The name, however, was of too much importance to be given up, at least without one more effort to secure it. Mr. John H. Payne was the individual selected the second time, to bear down upon Mr. Craig- miles, on the subject. Mr Payne was a man of some con- siderable influence, was also related to Mr. Craigmiles by marriage, and it was thought would be as likely to win him over as any other person. The fact, however, was otherwise. Mr. Payne also uselessly exhausted his inge- nuity to convince Mr. Craigmiles, that it was his duty and for his interest to sign the document. Though Mr. Craig- miles was a rebel, he could not be convinced that it was either his duty, or for his interest to endorse the abomin- able career of such a man as Wm. L. Brown. Feeling him- self about to fail, Mr. Payne informed Mr. Craigmiles that he was already suspected of being wanting in devotion to the cause, and that if he persisted in his refusal to assist them to extricate their favorite leader from arrest, he need not be surprised if it worked to his pecuniary disadvantage, lessened his rebel popularity, and caused him to be closely watched by his particular friends in future. All considerations, however, failed of having the desired effect on Mr. Craigmiles ; and the petition went to Knoxville without the benefit of his signature. What they lost, however, in this, was probobly counterbalanced in numbers; for as already stated, this was the only instance in which the friends of Brown were known to fail with the entire rebel community at Cleveland.
Others besides Mr. Payne and Mr. Taylor were active in Brown's favor. Mr. James Donahoo was one of the principal concoctors of the scheme-watched it and inter- ested himself in its progress, and when the petition was completed volunteered his services to bear these import- ant dispatches to the authorities at Knoxville, where with his personal presence and representations, the petition prevailed with these authorities, and Brown was imme- diately set at liberty.
It is very much to be regretted that this petition, with- out the alteration of a syllable, or the loss of a single
124
HISTORY OF THE REBELLION
name from its column of signatures, could not have been preserved and sent to Washington, and stored among the documentary archives of the rebellion, there to remain, though an infinitesimal, yet a memorable curiosity in its line. As the present, when it recedes into the past, becomes almost an entire blank to existing generations, on condition that we, or any one else succeeds in giving to posterity, a faithful portraiture of Wm. L. Brown, in a hundred years from now, this petition, if accessible, would throw more light upon the animus of the rebellion in East Tennessee, than fifty times the same amount of manu- script that will ever be written about it. As much as the historian has desired to recover it, and as much as the antiquarian may lament its loss, this singular scroll of a communities' infamy and crime, has doubtless, long since, been consigned, even by its own friends, to the common receptacle of unhallowed and condemned communica- tions.
In view of certain possibilities, in which a knowledge of the persons connected with this transaction might be important, a few of the names attached to this document were preserved; and the parties were kind enough to place them at our disposal. We give them upon the authority of those who preserved them, which, however, we are enabled to state is perfectly reliable.
These few signatures are as follows:
J. F. Rogers. Joseph Tucker, Wm. H. Tibbs, Joseph M. Horton, David Kincannon, John H. Payne,
D. C. Kenner, Wm. Grant,
Win. H. Grant,
Dr. P. J. R. Edwards, Robert McNelly,
James Donahoo, Isaac Guthman.
Wm. J. Hughes,
Joseph R. Taylor, Wm. Johnson, C. L. Hardwick,
Louis Guthman, James Johnson, Dr. Pepper.
These names can be but a small number of the whole that went to Knoxville in behalf of Brown. Those acquainted in Bradley at the time are aware that rebel numbers were not wanting to justify the conclusion, that, perhaps, three or four times this number were on the peti-
125
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
tion. With the single exception already given, with the rebels in and about Cleveland, it was a complete success, as it was with the authorities at Knoxville. As we know all who did not or would not sign the petition, allowing for accidents, we know all who did sign it. As all acted one way or the other, having the negative, upon general principles, we are in possession of the affirmative also. If Mr. Craigmiles was the only one who refused to sign the petition, then, of course, all the rest consented; and as this petition must have been from one to three days in circulation, it is reasonable to conclude, that all or very nearly all the rebels in and about Cleveland had an opportunity to sign it, and consequently must have done so. Thus, not only those whose names are here presented. stand committed, but the entire rebel community of Cleveland and the immediate vicinity, are seen to have endorsed the course of Capt. Brown, as emphatically as those whose names are here given.
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.