USA > Tennessee > Bradley County > History of the rebellion in Bradley County, East Tennessee > Part 18
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The command to which Amos Manes belonged was, during the foregoing occurrences, stationed at Nashville. Shortly after these occurrences, we believe, one of the orderlies of Gen. Grose-the same, perhaps, that was mouth-piece for him at the house of Mrs. Manes-was at Nashville, and there informed young Manes of the manner in which Henry had reported his mother and sister. Be-
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sides, his sister had informed him of the whole transaction by letter. It was reported that, upon receiving this infor- mation, young Manes threatened to revenge on Henry, stating, in effect, that when he should visit his home he would put him where he would report his mother no more. The probability is that he did make threats, and perhaps threats of this kind. It is to be remembered, however, that if he made threats at all, he made them under the influence of feelings that would very naturally arise in the breast of any person on the receipt of such news as that just referred to.
Young Manes and his brother William came home on furloughs, the last of June, 1864. Mrs. Manes advised her boys to have nothing to do with Henry, to let him alone entirely, and to avoid his presence. Being influenced perhaps by this advice, and their feelings on the subject having apparently subsided, neither of them, while at Irome, made any threats against Henry, or manifested any disposition to injure him for his previous abuse of their mother.
On the fourth of August, after being at home about five weeks, and having soon to return to his command, Amos remarked that before he left he would see Henry, and endeavor to collect an amount that Henry was owing him. His mother stated that if he had any unsettled business with Henry, to let it remain unsettled for the present, and attempted to dissuade him from calling on Henry ; he re- plied that no danger existed, there would be no trouble. He and his brother William went to Henry's house, dis- tant a mile, perhaps, from their own. It was very warm weather, the doors of Henry's house were open, and chairs were setting in the shade of the trees in front of one of the doors. After the usual salutations, the two with Henry being seated upon these chairs, Henry re- marked that he supposed they " came to create a fuss." Amos replied that they did not come for that purpose, but to have a settlement with him of the business that was between him and himself. Henry then referred to the reports of his abuse of Mrs. Manes, stating that those
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reports were lies. This brought on words between him- self and Amos, William remaining silent to the end. In the brief conversation that ensued, Henry, in an impu- dent and insulting manner frequently used the term "lie," applying it to those who had accused him of perse- cuting Mrs. Manes, including both Mrs. Manes and her daughter, and, perhaps, giving the lie to Amos himself, until Amos raised his arm threatening to strike him. At this point Henry hurried into his house evidently to get his gun, the door remaining open behind him. The Manes boys then drew their weapons, Amos cocked his revolver, calling out to Henry not to bring his gun "out there." By this time Henry had reached his gun, and standing, perhaps, in the middle of the room he was in, firing through the door space, shot Amos through the heart, causing immediate death. William caught his brother as he fell, saying to Henry that he had killed his brother, but if he would put up his gun he would put up his re- volver,
Henry was arrested and tried by our military authori- ties at Cleveland. He and his friends attempted to show that he shot Manes in defence of his own life. On trial, confident that he would be cleared on this ground, Henry manifested no remorse for his crime, but was self-justify- ing, bold and defiant throughout. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in the penitentiary at Nash- ville. Afterwards, very unjustly, no doubt, his sentence was commuted to three years.
No blot or stain was upon the character of the Manes family. All its members were respectable citizens, good and acceptable neighbors, and were true to their country. The same can be recorded of Mr. Henry's family, except- ing Mr. Henry himself. Two of his sons were soldiers in the Federal army, and served with honor to their country and with credit io themselves.
Henry, at one time, had to defend himself in a law case. A relative was a witness against him, it was stated privately by this witness, that if on oath he should be compelled to state all that he knew against Henry, the people would
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hang the defendant. Henry possessed great tact and power to deceive. His fair and plausible exterior was sure to make a favorable impression at first, and continue to mislead those whose acquaintance with him was super- ficial. Some of his nearest neighbors, among the most reliable and respectable in the community, those who knew, and had dealings with him for many years, finally declined all commerce with him whatsoever, saying that it was impossible to give him any liberties, and pre- vent him from taking that which did not belong to him.
IMPRISONMENT OF MR. DANIEL MCDOWELL.
At the commencement of the rebellion Mr. McDowell lived in the ninth district. He was arrested on his way home from church, July 17th, 1863, by the notorious Capt. Snow of Hamilton county, Snow having with him at the time two other notorious rebel outlaws, Jack Roberts and David 'L. Walker. McDowell was taken to Cleveland and locked up in the county jail. After re- maining there seven weeks, he and three other Union men then in the same jail, Austin Shiflit, Owen Solomon, and J. L. Kirby, made their escape and struck for the woods. Thomas Low was then jailer of the county, but had no control over these four political prisoners, they being watched while in jail by a rebel military guard. . Low, however, with his blood hounds, and one of the guards, gave chase after the fugitives. Running them about four miles, Mr. McDowell having been sick, and being feeble was overtaken by the dogs, and to avoid being torn by them, took refuge in a tree. The dogs watched and guarded their prey perched above them in the tree, until Low and the guard arrived. Low ordered McDowell out of the tree, and told him that he must return to pri- son. McDowell argued that Low had no control over him as he was under the rebel guards; and after some dispute on the subject, McDowell offered Low fifty dollars if he would release him. Law objected to this, saying that that would deprive him of the opportunity to report to
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the public that he, McDowell, was caught by his dogs, or in other words, would deprive him of the opportunity of publicly establishing the character of his dogs, as being expert in catching Union conscripts. Mr. McDowell was compelled to return to jail. The other three escaped. Suffering in a miserable jail for some time longer, giving Low, perhaps, sufficient time to announce the success and skill of his dogs in catching Union conscripts, thereby inviting for them future employment in the same business. McDowell succeeded in bribing Low with one hundred dollars, also bribing the guard, he was secretly released. In the following winter, when the Federals took the coun- try, Mr. McDowell complained of Low to our authorities. Low was tried and sent North for his treason, but Mr. Mc- Dowell's hundred dollars was never returned to him.
SIX SOLDIERS.
Isaac Richmond, William E. Fisher, Wilson Norton, Jacob Humbert, Wm. L. Hicks and Nicholas N. Keith, were among the first, and possibly, were the very first Union men who fled from Bradley, and joined the Federal army.
Richmond discharged his duty faithfully to the satisfac- tion of his officers, the honor of his country, and with cre- dit to himself during the war. He and Fisher, it will be remembered, were those who captured their two neigh- boring rebels in the third district.
Fisher was at one time attacked by sixteen rebels. He fought them until he emptied three revolvers, killing one and wounding others, after which he was taken prisoner, throwing his revolvers down a precipice to keep them from falling into the hands of his captors. He was after- wards exchanged and served until the end of the war.
Norton, in a skirmish in Kentucky, killed two rebels at one shot and thereby saved the life of his Captain.
Humbert, at one time, with others, was charging upon the rebels in the village of Lancaster, Kentucky. A ne- gro came running to him, pointing in a certain direction, and crying out "Yonder go de rebs, massa !" Humbert
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wheeled his horse, and charging in the direction the negro pointed, soon came upon six or seven rebels, making pri- soners of the entire company. Charles Tibbs, son of Con- gressman Tibbs, was one of the number, recognizing Humbert, Tibbs was the first that approached him, with the left hand raised in token of surrender.
Nicholas Keith, was among the troops who captured Gen. John Morgan, in Ohio, July, 1863-was the soldier, or one of the soldiers, at least, to whom Morgan surrendered. Keith got Morgan's negro and nine hundred dollars in Confederate money.
Hicks having been home on a furlough, was returning from Cleveland to his command, through Bradley county, September 11th, 1863, the day Col. Bird's men were driven out of Cleveland by the rebels. Hicks fell in with Bird's men, and particularly distinguished himself in that con- flict. Throughout the war Hicks never failed to be at his post, and never flinched from a hand-to-hand encounter with the rebels.
HOME GUARDS.
The " Home Guards " in Maury Co., Georgia, at their drill, June Ist, 1864, adopted the following resolutions :
"Ist. Resolved. That we invite all ministers of the Gospel who preach among us, to give a lecture on the war. at their earliest con- venience. or give their hearers unmistakable evidence that they sup- port the Southern Confederacy.
2d. Resolved That no more negro preaching be allowed until the war is over. Negroes can hear white men preach if they wish to.
2d. Resolved. That these resolutions be presented to our preachers at their first meeting.
E. B. May. Chairman.
F. Summerour, W. T. Trimmier, R. A. McDonald, John K. McDonald, Madison Bates,
William Hosler,
Jesse Thompson,
T. R. Bates, Samuel Stoveall.
James Vann.
Vigilance Committee."
IN BRADLEY COUNTY, EAST TENNESSEE.
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CHAPTER XX.
THE RED FOX.
THOMAS SPURGEN Was born in Green county, East Ten- nessee, and is perhaps a lit- tle over thirty years of age. On the 14th of November, 1856, he was married to Miss Nancy Jenkins, of Cock county, of the same State.
Mr. Spurgen is of medium stature, squarely built and well proportioned ; with a frame and natural physique indicating more power of en- durance than nimbleness or elasticity of muscle. He has THE RED FOX. light, sandy hair, light, florid complexion, blue eyes, with firm, compact features ; is naturally cool, inhering the power of self-possession equal to any emergency. If he were going to shoot you he would get ready and do so, perhaps without a word, and with as little ado as he would hand you a cup of water or give you a chew of tobacco. His temperament is the nervous bil- ious predominating, with enough of the lymphatic to head off an effervescence of feeling under all circumstances, and at all times to prevent a flustering concern about future consequences, but not enough to impair the judgment or prevent a vigorous play of his well developed perceptives. Hence Mr. Spurgen is no coward nor anybody's fool. His organs of locality and memory are large; this, with his perceptions and the endowment of purpose, make him a good woodsman and sure campaigner. Here lay the
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principal secret of his success as a pilot. A moderate am- bition always kept him within himself. He never at- tempted too much, and always accomplished what he undertook.
This is a brief, but perhaps a truthful analysis of the subject of the portrait at the head of this chapter. Mr. Spurgen was facetiously and very appropriately styled the " Red Fox of East Tennessee." Though a young man, he has now answered to the call of his country the second time. He served in the Mexican war sixteen months-was at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Chepultepec, and at the taking of Vera Cruz.
At the commencement of the rebellion he was living in the eighth district, Bradley county, and in a commun- ity almost exclusively of rebels. From the fall of 1861 till July, 1862, he operated in the north of the county, piloting Union men across the Tennessee, at the same time deceiving the rebels of his neighborhood both as to his refugee operations and his political sentiments.
In May, 1862, Spurgen determined to join the Northern army. At this time the Tennessee was lined with rebel pickets. Another Union man, Wm. Marr, wished to ac- company him, and to lessen the dangers of escape, Spur- gen resorted to strategy. The rebel commissaries at Charleston were greatly in want of beeves. This at once furnished him with a clue to the kind of strategy that would serve his purpose. Acquainted with cattle growers in the Sequatchie Valley-a valley on the refugee route to Kentucky -- he forged a note purporting to have been given to him by one of these stock raisers, to be paid in cattle, and as maturing about that time. He also forged a letter purporting to have been just written by the giver of the note, informing him that his cattle were ready according to agreement, and that the writer wished Spurgen to come immediately and get them. Spurgen showed these papers to two of his rebel neighbors, Lorenzo Alexander and Ezekiel Spriggs, enquiring if they would assist him to get passes on them for him and his friend to go to Se- quatchie for his cattle. These rebels replied that if he
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would sell them to the rebel commissaries when he should get them over, they would vouch for him ; and as these commissaries were much in want of cattle, in view of such an agreement on his part they presumed he could get the passes he desired. To this Spurgen consented, and had no difficulty in getting his passes. Spurgen and Marr could now go to Kentucky and be protected by the rebels as far as the Sequatchie, instead of being exposed to be shot down by them as fleeing Union refugees. Reaching the Tennessee Spurgen produced his passes, explaining to the pickets the nature of his business, when they willingly allowed him and his friend to pass over. On leaving these pickets Spurgen told them that he would be back with his cattle in a day or two, and if they should be removed before that time he wished them to notify those who should succeed them of his coming, that they might have no fears to pass him back, for the com- missaries at Charleston were anxious to get his cattle as soon as possible. It is needless to add that these river pickets never had the privilege of passing Spurgen and his cattle back into Bradley. The two rebel neighbors, Alexander and Spriggs, as well as the accommodating rebel authorities at Charleston, found themselves badly gored by Spurgen's horned cattle, notwithstanding these cattle kept themselves some fifty miles away.
Spurgen and Marr reached Huntsville, Scott county, East Tennessee, July 6th, 1862. Spurgen, and, we believe, Marr also, enlisted in the 7th Tennessee Infantry, then at that place, a regiment an account of which has been given in the history of the second Clift war. On the 9th of July, Spurgen was detailed to return to Bradley and re- cruit for Clift's regiment. He returned in safety, recruited a company of fifty or sixty men, piloted them to Hunts- ville, performing the trip in twenty-nine days.
The day after he arrived at Huntsville-the 9th of Aug- ust-Col. Clift, as already related, was attacked and driven from his post. Spurgen participated in the fight, and distinguished himself as a successful sharp-shooter. He remained with his regiment and was with it in its per-
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egrinations among the Cumberland Mountains, when it was endeavoring to join the Northern army.
About the twenty-fifth of August, Spurgen returned to Bradley for recruits the second time. He was again suc- cessful, piloting his company across the two States, Ten- nessee and Kentucky, delivering it at Cincinnati, Ohio. From Cincinnati he went to Louisville, Ky., where he was appointed by Gen. James Spears, a regular recruiting officer for the Army of the Ohio. He selected Bradley county as the field of his operations, and in a few days once more reached his home in safety. For nearly one year from his appointment Spurgen toiled unceasingly as a recruiting officer. At the expiration of this period, in- cluding the two trips already mentioned, he had com- pleted thirteen tours from Bradley to the Northern army, piloting through the forests of Tennessee and Kentucky thirteen companies to our lines. The aggregate number of men in these companies was a little more than eleven hundred and fifty, about a thousand of whom enlisted in the Federal army. The remainder were persons, many of' whom were unqualified to enter the service, who passed through with Spurgen simply as refugees. The average distance traveled each tour was about 275 miles.
At one time, returning to Bradley, Spurgen was cap- tured, as he supposed, by Champ Ferguson's cavalry. A companion named McUen was captured with him. Spurgen, always equal to any emergency, soon managed a way of escape. The two were ordered to take the road in advance of their captors, Spurgen, observing that the rebels were deeply absorbed in conversation, apparently considering some important enterprise, and it occurred to him that this might afford them some advantage. Getting a short distance in advance of their enemies, at the right time, Spurgen and his friend darted into the bushes, and dropped themselves down a precipice, where it was im- possible for cavalry to follow. Getting to a place of safety, they concealed themselves among the rocks and thickets the rest of the day and during that night.
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Before dawn the next morning, Spurgen cautiously went back to the point where he was captured, to get a bundle of letters which he was taking through for Tennessee boys, to their friends in Bradley, and which he dropped under a bush, unseen by the rebels, a few moments before he was taken. Had Spurgen been taken with these letters, doubtless that would have been the end of his useful career as recruiting officer, and pilot. This was the only time that he was worst- ed by the rebels. No refugee or recruit was lost who com- mitted himself to Spurgen's guidance, nor did any letter or other valuable fail of its destination that was entrusted to his care. His success could not have been the result of accident, but must have been the fruits of foresight, judgment, unwearied caution and industry. He scarcely ever conducted his companies successively through upon the same route. Many in Bradley, who received letters from their friends in the Northern army, through Spur- gen's hands, were ignorant of the means by which they were conveyed. His rule was, that no letter or package given to him for conveyance should contain his name, or any allusion to him whatever, or any allusion to the fact, that Union companies were being piloted from Tennessee to the Northern army, by any persons whomsoever.
A soldier or refugee named Francisco, in the Northern army, desired Spurgen to bring a letter to his wife in Bradley. Spurgen knew that Francisco had a brother in Bradley who was a bitter rebel, and he hesitated. Fran- cisco promised that his letter should contain only his own name and that of his wife, and should contain nothing by which she or any other person could obtain a clue to the means by which it reached Bradley. In direct violation of this promise, maliciously, or through sheer idiocy, Fran- cisco stated in the letter that Spurgen was the bearer of it. He also instructed his wife in the letter to show it to his rebel brother. She received the letter, showed it to this rebel brother, who immediately rode to Cleveland and reported to the rebel authorities, that Spurgen was in the country as a spy. The rebel troops then at Cleveland being Mississippians, and not informed of the state of
15
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things in Tennessee, did not fully credit the tale, or at least were dilatory in regard to the matter, and Spurgen in the meantime started with his company to Kentucky and was soon beyond their reach.
In the summer of 1863, when our armies neared the Tennessee River on their way to Knoxville and the field of Chickamauga, the necessity for piloting recruits from Tennessee to these armies, no longer existed ; and Spur- gen on the 20th of August, joined Col. Bird's command, then having reached the west side of the Tennessee, opposite the mouth of the Hiwassee. A body of rebels was at the time on the opposite side of the river, east of the Hiwassee. The 4th Ohio and 15th Indiana batteries were part of Bird's command. These batteries opened fire across the river upon the rebels quickly shelling them out of their camps. Spurgen and four others, Baker Arm- strong, who was subsequently murdered by Gatewood, the noted guerrilla, being one of the four, were sent across the river in a skiff to reconnoiter for the ousted enemy. The rebels had not only vacated their camps, but fled, taking the main road leading west to Kincannon's Ferry on the Hiwassee, but having halted on the flats, east of the river, to gather corn, stationing their pickets a short distance east of them in the road. Our boys, following hurriedly, came suddenly upon these pickets, and boldly firing into them they fled, throwing their main body also into a panic, when the whole were driven pell mell across the ferry, in all the haste and confusion imagin- able, although they outnumbered their pursuers perhaps ten or fifteen to one. The rebels continued their flight through Bradley, apparently with a view to join their main army at Chickamauga, followed by the five Federals to the heart of that county. Spurgen being now near his home, visited his family. In the meantime Bird ascended the Tennessee, crossed at Kingston, returning on the east side to the Hiwassee. From this point he sent a company of about sixty men to Cleveland. These were the first Federals that entered Cleveland, arriving on the 11th of September, 1863. They remained in Cleveland
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one night only, returning to their command by way of the ninth district. As they passed through, the Union people of this district entertained them with a sumptuous dinner at a place called Beeche's Springs. Spurgen joined them at this point, and with them returned to his post in the ranks. He remained with Col. Bird, then under the com- mand of Burnside, until the spring of 1864, spending the most of the winter at Lick Creek, about forty miles from Knoxville. In May 1864 he was attached to Scofield's corps, and continued with it to the end of the war. He performed his full share of the services and toils of the Atlanta campaign, being in the battles of Buzzard's Gap, Resaca, Dallas, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw, and was at the taking of Atlanta. On this campaign he was twice slightly wounded, once in the face, again in the ankle. His services on this campaign obtained for him the com- plete confidence of his officers, and on the return of our army north after Hood, through this confidence he was entrusted with the most important duties of a soldier. He distinguished himself at the battle of Nashville, and par- ticularly distinguished himself in the pursuit of Hood's scattered army, to the Tennessee river. He was at Clif- ton on the Tennessee when the 23d corps started on its transfer to the eastern army, and was one of the many who assisted to perform that wonderful movement.
Vigorous as ever, Spurgen filled his place in the ranks throughout the eastern strides and swift circumvolutions of this corps, in the glorious work of decapitating the last living head of the rebellion. He was at Fort Fisher a few days after this stronghold of treason fell into the hands of the Government; and after the surrender of Johnston, was mustered out of the service in Alamance county, North Carolina, being sent to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was paid off and discharged, July 25th, 1865. During his entire services, Spurgen never lost an hour from sick- ness or even from his wounds, he was always ready for duty, and always accomplished what he undertook.
At the close of Spurgen's career as pilot, Andrew John- son and others, sensible that his services merited that
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honor and favor, strongly urged him to accept a commis- sion. Not ambitions of distinction, and having too much sense to accept a post, which in his judgment he was in some respects unqualified to fill, he declined the honor.
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