USA > Tennessee > Bradley County > History of the rebellion in Bradley County, East Tennessee > Part 26
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Gatewood and his men, while the fruits of the Polk county raid were being dis- posed of, quartered upon the plantation of a Union man named Smith. in Georgia, about sixty miles from Cleveland. Gatewood himself, during the time, boarded at the house of a rebel named Holland. The whole company, however, soon left for Walker county, Georgia.
In April, 1865, or shortly after the surrender of Johnston in Virginia, Gatev.oo I and most of his company, knowing that their conduct deserved death, and that their lives would be unsafe in Georgia, or anywhere else in the United state- after the war, left for Texas, taking one of their number, a murderer, out of Cherokee county jail, as they passed. They reached the Mississippi bottoms in safety. A report returned, ho vever, that they were attacked by some of our forces on the bank of the Mississippi, and that Gatewood was killed. This was simply a report; and this scourge of the human race, may yet be alive and en. gaged in his work of blood and crime, somewhere in the South.
Gatewood was married, shortly before he left Georgia. to a lady in Cherokee county, whose name was Kane.
When Gatewood's men, were murdering Baker Armstrong on the Polk county raid, two Union citizens were about starting from the Armstrong neighborhood, to go to Cleveland, Bradley county. Before they left, they heard the firing at Armstrong's, and learned that it was the work of rebel raiders. They hastened to Cleveland, and informed our military authorities, that the rebels were mak- inga raid through Polk county. These informants must have eached Cleveland as early as 3 o'clock P. M., and probably before. The rebels could scarcely have left Benton, when our military at Cleveland, were informed of the affair. Toi- ards night, some hours after our commander at Cleveland received this news, he started out an insignificant force of cavalry, which proceeded leisurly towards Ducktown. The party affected nothing further than to strike the upward trail of the raiders into Polk, and to ascertain some facts in regard to the raid. itad our authorities at Cleveland possessed the least spark of the spirit that fired the bosom of General Marion and Ethen Allen, in the days of the Revolution. Gate- wood and the most of his men would have paid the debt of their crimes under the gallows before daylight next morning Gatewood's camp on the Ococe, the night of the raid, could not have been but about forty miles from Cleveland.
During the seven or nine months, that Gatewood was in the country, he perpe- trated other and similar raids into Tennessee. His name became emphatically the terror of the land, especially in Georgia. That such a scourge of God and man was permitted to remain in the country for this length of time, with his gen- eral headquarters not more than thirty or fifty miles fromn Chattanooga, while our forces at that place and Cleveland, numbered during the whole period, from three to five thousand men, was as great a disgrace to our arms, as the presouce of such an enemy was terrible and destructive to the country ; and caused our commanders in those places at that time to be remembered by the Union people of Northern Georgia and East Tennessee with feelings at least of great disrespect.
The parents of Gatewood, before the war, for many years perhaps, were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. This son, it appears, in some respects, was a pre- cocious child as well as a precocious youth. When a lad, and going to mill on horseback, with a view to frighten the neighboring women whose houses he passed, he would suddenly drop helplessly from his ammal's back with a heavy fall to the ground, feigning death from the stroke of some terrible disease. This and similar traits when a boy, were the foreshadowing ofthe desperate character of the man. He was the pupil in blood of Champ Furguson ; but if he is yet alive and God sees fit to afflict our race by prolonging his days to the number that was aliorted Champ. other things being equal, he will infinitely outstrip his illustrious prototype in a life of crime. Hundreds of Union victims, probably, fell by his hand alone during his stay in Georgia. He reminds one of West's picture of death with the lightning forks of destruction in the monsters fingers.
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APPENDIX.
REBEL RAIDS FROM GEORGIA INTO BRADLEY COUNTY.
After Sherman started upon his Atlanta campaign, in the spring of 1864, with the exception of the principal towns and principal railroad stations, Bradley and its adjoining counties were left unprotected and exposed to rebel guerrillas and bushwhackers, who, in the rear of Sherman's army, collected into bands and im- mured themselves or established their headquarters in the fastnesses and moun- tains of northern Georgia and northern North Carolina. Depredations by this class of men commenced in the county as early as August, 1864, and were con- tinued till the following April or May. During this interval Bradley was in- vaded, more or less extensively, not less, perhaps, than ten different times by rebel bands emerging from Georgia and the mountains of North Carolina-bands composed of the most lawless and wretched men in existence.
The raiders would strike the southern line of the county usually about sun- down, and on a circuitous route penetrate during the night, sometimes even to the north part of the county, robbing and plundering Union families, shooting and murdering Union men; and sweeping the county of stock, would make their way back into Georgia generally about daylight the next morning.
In one of these raids the rebels attempted to murder a minister whose name was ifames. Supposing their shots to be fatal, they left him. He, however, sub- sequently recovered from his wounds. At another time the raiders murdered a Union man near Georgetown, whose name was HIunter. Mr. Hunter was mur- dered on the night of the 5th of February, 1865. His life was taken in cold blood, and for no cause, only, as was supposed that he was an unusually active Union man, and had previously, perhaps, reported as rebels some of the raiders to our authorities.
On the 1st of February, 1865, another Union citizen. named Alfred Johnson, fell in the south part of the county, by a band of these rebel murderers. Mr. Johnson was beaten to death with bludgeons, and left by the rebels, his head being broken literally to pieces. A small company from the 5th Tennessee Cavalry was sent from Cleveland to reconnoiter for the rebels. and perhaps to recover or bury Mr. Johnson's body. Being yet in the vicinity, the rebels attacked these cavalrymen, killing one of their number-Decatur Wier-and causing the others to fly. The remains of Mr. Johnson were finally buried by Union women. The following are the names of those who performed the humane work: Mrs. Coly, widow, Mrs. Arthur Oar, Mrs. Jno. Mitchel, Miss Mary Ann Mitchel, Miss Mary Willhoit, Miss Elizabeth Willhoit, Miss Margaret Huffine, Miss Myra Jones, Miss Queen- tine Jones, Mrs. John Bell.
One of the most remarkable of these raids was made, perhaps, in November. The raiders penetrated as far north as Georgetown, some six or eight miles north of Cleveland. It was during this raid that they murdered Mr. IFunter. Number- ing about one hundred and seventy, they were enabled to sweep a wide breadth of country as they traveled. On their return they spread into Hamilton. gather- ing up and taking out of the country an immense amount of stock, together with a large amount of supplies and household plunder.
In their course north, their right wing passed not more than three miles west of Cleveland. Col. Keiffner, of the 149th Illinois, was then in command of the post at Cleveland. Capt. Norwood and other officers of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, were anxious to take a command and ent the rebels off' on their return into Geor- gia. Notwithstanding the destrableness and practicability of this proposed mea- sure. Col. Keiffner overruled their request and sent Capt. Norwood, some time after the rebels had passed Cleveland, with an insignificant force to meet them at Georgetown. As was expected by Capt. Norwood, before he reached Georgetown the raiders had been absent from that place two or three hours on their return ont of the county. Thus Capt. Norwood's expedition was not only rendered a failure, but he and other Union officers of the post, and the Union people of the county generally, suffered the mortification of having less than two hundred rebels devour and lay waste the country almost within sight of about a thousand of our troops then at Cleveland.
These raids were not confined to Bradley county alone. Hamilton. Polk, Mc- Minn, and other counties east of these suffered also. The Union people of these counties, especially Bradley county, felt the scourge of these raids to be equally intolerable with the reign of rebel rule, before our forces took the country, All the Union men who fled from these counties, except those who were in the Federal army, had returned and were now at home. the raiders were principally rebels who had been raised in the country-men of the worst class, those who had fallen off' from Johnston's army as he retreated south before Sherman, and who were now taking advantage of the absence of our army to despoil the Union people. Individual rebels among these raiders would wreak their vengeance on those Union families and those Union men whom they considered their particular ene- mies. Thus, as it was before our armies took the country, rebels whose homes were in these counties, were again persecuting and destroying their Union neighbors. Notwithstanding the presence of our troops at the principal stations on the railroads, the scourge became so intolerable that the Union people ap- pealed in various ways to our authorities for relief. Some of our commanders at
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APPENDIX.
Cleveland urged that they were placed there to defend the post, not to institute offensive or even defensive operations against the rebels at a distance. The Union people of Bradley county, and possibly those of other counties, finally ap- phed to Gen. Steadman, commander of the district, whose headquarters were at Chattanooga, proposing to defend themselves if he would supply them with arms. This proposition, however, was as unsuccessful as the others. Gen. Steadman did not. it appears, consider that his position endowed him with authority to grant the request. The only alternative, therefore, as a general thing, left the Union people of these counties, was to bare themselves to the storm, and, with the best grace they could, allow it to spend its fury upon them.
It ought to be stated. however, in this connection that, Princesam, Col. of a Michigan regiment, who was in command at Cleveland in the spring of 1865, manifested a disposition to rid Bradley county and other parts of the country of these raiding rebel thieves and cut throats. He encouraged the officers of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, most of whom, perhaps, were from Bradley and adjoining counties, to prepare themselves to meet and to ferret out these rebel raiders; and promised to furnish them with troops on all occasions for these purposes. Though the help of this officer came too late, being appointed to the command in Cleve- land perhaps the first of March, 1865, yet the good effects of his policy in Bradley were soon perceptible. The last attempt of the raiders to enter the county was made during the first days of April following the appointment of Princesam. The band was met by Capt. Norwood near the southern line of the county and effectually scattered; and had it not been for the mismanagement of one of his Lieutenants, nearly the whole company must have been killed or captured.
In addition to the names given of those engaged in the Gatewood raid into Polk county, the following are the names of a few of those among the raiders into Bradley.
Wm. Stanton, leader; Wm. Rogers, kader; Abram Tate, leader; Wm. King, leader; Martin McGriff, John Tucker, Bloom Upton, Gillihan, Henry Stafford. Win. Bussey, Seth Gregory, Bud Wooton, James Sugart, James Gregory, George Hughes.
SHOOTING OF ELLSBERRY CASEY.
Mr. Casey was shot in Cleveland, Bradley county. on the 21st of Angust, 1865, by a soldier of the 11th Michigan, the Regiment then stationed at that place. Cusey had served three years in the Union army, and having just been discharged was keeping a saloon in Cleveland. A soldier of this Michigan Regiment, entered his saloon and called for a glass of liquor. Casey informed the soldier that his own Col., Col. Kegan, had issued an order, prohibiting dealers in Cleveland from selling liquor to soldiers. The soldier, however, insisted on having the liquor, but being still refused, began to curse and abuse Casey, threatening, if he did no comply with his wishes, to tear down his building. Casey then ordered him to leave his store, repeating the order the third time This still more enraged the sol- dier, who, drawing his bayonet from its scabbard by his side, began to stab with it over the counter at Casey. Casey drew his revolver and fired upon the soldier, wounding him in the wrist. The Provost Marshal, immediately arrested Casey. and took him to Col. Kegan's head quarters, preparatory to trying him for the offence. The citizens of Cleveland, petitioned Col. Kegan, to deliver Casey for trial, to the civil authorities, which, without much hesitation was complied with. Casey was tried by the civil authorities and acquitted.
By order of Col. Kegan he was immediately arrested the second time. and the second time taken to his headquarters. From the bearing of the Col. towards hnm -the Col. telling him that he now had him just where he desired to have bin- and from the expressions of others around him, companions of the soldier whom he had wounded, Casey feared his life and attempted to ffee. He reached the street, but was fired upon by Col. Kegan's men and brought down by a bullet that completely severed his thigh bone. Another soldier who was in pur- suit attempted to bayonet him as he lay upon the ground. This was prevented by other soldiers, or by citizens, or perhaps by both. The citizens again petitioned for Casey's release, and their request being complied with, he was taken to a pub- lic house and cared for by his friends till he recovered.
No punishment was inflicted upon the soldier who shot Casey, and the unavoid- able inference is that, if Col. Kegan did not himself order Casey to beshot, the act was, nevertheless, in accordance with his feelings. Complaint was made to Gov. Brownlow by the citizens against Col. Regan, and the Governor dispatched an officer to Cleveland to investigate the affair. 'The investigation, however, such as it was, if it resulted in anything positive, resulted favorable to Col. Kegan, and thus the whole matter terminated, at least so far as authoritative action was con- concerned.
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APPENDIX.
Although Col. Kegan escaped, perhaps even without censure by his superiors, for his action in this matter, yet serious prejudices were left on the minds of the citizens of Cleveland against him and his Provost Marshall, Capt. Stout-prejn- dices that will not soon be effaced; and the conduct of these officers in this partic- ular case, as well as their policy in regard to rebels and Union people in Bradley, when properly and conscientiously weighed, undoubtedly justify this prejudice to the full extent of its existence.
The following is taken from the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Tennessee, James P'. Brownlow, of the military forces of the State from 1861 to 1866.
The Report shows the following number of troops raised in Tennessee for the United States service, and which very efficiently aided in putting down the re- bellion, viz: eight infantry regiments, eight mounted infantry regiments, twelve cavalry regiments, five batteries of light artillery.
In addition to the above there were enlisted in this State, by U. S. recruiting officers. 17,770 colored troops, which were not reported to this office, and are not included, accordingly, in this reconl.
From various sources believed to be perfectty reliable, it is estimated, also, that some 7.000 Tennesseeans enlisted in the Kentucky federal regnments, and were credited to that State.
GENERAL AND STAFF OFFICERS FROM TENNESSEE IN U. S. ARMY.
MAJOR GENERALS BY BREVET .- Sanitiel P. Carter, Alvin C. Gillem, Joseph A. Cooper.
BRIGADIER GENERALS .- Andrew Johnson, Samuel P. Carter, Joseph A. Cooper. Wm. B. Campbell, Alvin C. Gillem. James G. Spears.
BRIGADIER GENERALS BY BREVET .- James P. Brownlow, George Spalding, Win. .J. Smith.
GOVERNOR AND STAFF .- William G. Brownlow, Governor, and Commander-in- Chief of State Forces.
James P. Brownlow, Brig. and Adj't Gen'l. Date of commission, March 6th, 1865; resigned Dee. 27th, 1865.
John IL. James. Brig. and Q. M. Gen'l. Date of commission March 6th, 1865 : resigned June 30th, 1865.
H IL. Thomas. Brig. and Q. M. Gen'l. Date of commission July 1st. 1865.
Edward Maynard, Col. and A. D. C. Date of commission March 6th, 1865.
Milton C. Wilcox, Col. and A. D. C. Date of commission March 6th, 1865: re- signed July, 1865.
THE WINAMAC PROPHECIES.
Truxton Chittenden, of Winamac, Pulaski connty, Indiana. being duly sworn, deposes and says : That on or about the 7th of April, 1865, David Myers, of Winamac, made the following statements and predictions, to-wit: That Abraham Lincoln would not live six months, that he would be assassinated; and he, Myers, refused to give his reason for making these statements, further than that he, just previous. returned from church, and sat down to read from his Bible; and as he was reading. heard distinetly the report of a pistol-sprang from his seat, impressed that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He also stated that for three mornings in succession, after this, he came to the depot to get a paper, expecting to see the report of the assassination, but failed then to find it ; but was firm in the belief that it was or would prove true, and Andrew Johnson would turn traitor and would be hung for participation in the assassination of Lincoln within three years ; and thus he would not serve out his time. After the news of the assassina- ion reached us, in Winamac, he Myers, on the 20th of April, said to me: "You would not believe what I told you about Lincoln, but you now see that it was true, and you will not believe that Johnson will be hung within three years, but von will find that true also. I have no doubt of it, and am as sure of it as I can be of any thing." TRUXTON CHITTENDEN.
Subscribed and sworn to this the 10th day of November, 1866. I also certify that the above affiant, Truxton Chittenden, is to me well known as a creditable per- son. [SEAL.] J. N. INGRIM, N. P.
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APPENDIX.
WINAMAC, Ind., Nov. 10th, 1866,
D. A. Farley, being duly sworn, deposes and says : That sometime previous to the assassination of President Lincoln, he, D. A. Farley, had a conversation with David Myers, of the town of Winamac, Pulaski county, Indiana, who stated that Abraham Lincoln would be shot, and that Andrew Johnson would take Ins place and turn traitor to the Republican party, and that before the expiration of his term of office he, Andrew Johnson, would be hung. DAN'LA. FARLEY.
Subscribed and sworn to, this 10th day of November, 1866. I also certify that the above affiant is to me well known as a credible person.
[SEAL.]
J. N. INGRIM, N. P.
WINAMAC, Ind., Nov. 10th, 1866.
Charles A. Meeker, being duly sworn, deposes and says; That David Myers, of Winamac, stated to him immediately after the election of Abraham Lincoln, in 1861, that he, Lincoln, would not live three months after his inauguration. fle also stated on the morning of the 15th of April, 1865, that Lincoln was assassin- ated-this statement being made before we in Winamac received the news that Mr. Lincoln was shot. Myers also stated that he heard the report of the pistol: also, that Andrew Johnson was at the bottom of the affair. Myers also statedl that Andrew Johnson would yet be hung for treason, and that before his term of office expired. I asked him how he knew these things. He replied that they were spiritual manifestations. CHARLES A. MEEKER.
Subscribed and sworn to this 10th day of November, 1866. I also certify that the above attiant. Charles A. Meeker, is well known to me as a creditable person. [SEAL.] J. N. INGRIM, N. P.
WINAMAC, IND., Nov. 10th, 1866.
Byram T. Lane-Being duly sworn, deposes and says: That on the 16th day of April. 1865, learning that certain statements and predictions had been made by David Myers, of Winamac, Pulaski county, State of Indiana, relating to the as- sassination of Abraham Lincoln-he (Lane) at that time acting Deputy Provost Marshal for the county of Pulaski-arrested said Myers on suspicion ( Myers being a violent opposer of the administration of Abraham Lincoln) of complicity in the plot to assassinate President Lincoln, or of being in possession of knowledge of said plot before its consummation.
Lane supposing this knowledge of Myers to have been derived through a secret organization that he believed to exist in the State of Indiana, before making the arrest, Lane requested Richard Taylor, of Winamac, to accompany him to the house of Myers. Taylor accompanied Lane to the house of Myers, when Lane arrested Myers and took him to his own (Lane's) house, where the following conversation ensued :
Lane-Mr. Myers, the reason that I have arrested yon is this: I learned from Mr. Wm. H. Ryley, that you stated in the post-office last night that you knew six weeks ago that Abraham Lincoln was to be killed, and that Ryley asked you how you knew, and you replied that that was best known to yourself. Did you make that statement?
Myers-I did.
Lane-Now, Mr. Myers, I wish you to tell me how you knew that Abraham Lincoln was to be killed.
Myers-I don't know as I have any right to tell you.
Lane-You can do as you choose, Mr. Myers, about giving me the information : but if you do not do so, I shall take you to Col. Shryock, at Michigan City, who is Provost Marshal of the District, and he can do with you as he pleases.
Myers reflected some time, then said he did not know as he could explain, so as to be understood; but stated that the knowledge came to him something like a dream, although he was not asleep at the time .- That he was sitting in his room one night reading his Bible, when he heard the report of a pistol. He sprang to his feet, and it came to him that Abraham Lincoln was shot, and that Johnson was to take his place; and that before Johnson had served three years he would turn traitor to his party .- That he (Johnson) would be arrested for, and tried and found guilty of the murder of Abraham Lincoln, and be hung for the crime. Myers said that he felt so certain that Lincoln was killed, that he came to the train every morning for a week, expecting to find the death of Lincoln announced in the papers. I then asked Myers, if he knew or believed that such a thing would take place, why he did not notify Mr. Lincoln of the fact. He replied. that he did not know as it was his business to do so. I then enquired of him ifhe had not received this knowledge in some secret meeting-if he had not been in some secret meeting and there heard that Mr. Lincoln was to be assassinated ? He replied that he had not. I then asked him if he had not made this statement at some secret meeting ? He answered that he had not. I then said, Mr. Myers, I shall release you, but be cautions in future, when any one asks you how you know these things, tell him, and not say that that is best known to yourself. I
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APPENDIX.
then went out to my gate, and there met Sheriff Korner and others. Iasked the Sheriff what he wanted ? lle replied that he came to ascertain why I had ar- rested Myers. Itold him in effect that it was none of his business ; and if he came there with the mob to take Mr. Myers out of my hands, I would send to Col. Shryock and have men enough come down, not only to take Myers if I wished, to Michigan City, but to take him and the whole of his party there also.
B. T. LANE.
Subscribed and sworn to this 10th day of November, 1866. I also certify that the above Byram T. Lane is well known to me as a credible person. [SEAL. J. N. INGRIM, N. P.
WINAMAC, IND., Nov. 10th, 1866.
Truxton Chittenden-Being duly sworn, deposes and says: That on Sunday, the 16th day of April, 1863, he saw from the window of his warehouse in Winamac, a crowd gathered in front of John Dean's saloon-the said warehouse being about four rods from said saloon. That he (Chittenden) lowered the window of said warehouse, and heard persons in the crowd say that they were going to release David Myers from the custody of the Deputy Provost Marshal, B. T. Lane .- That he saw the crowd leave the saloon and go to the residence of Lane, which was within sight. He (Chittenden) then followed the crowd in hearing distance to the residence of Lane. The Sheriff (Mr. Korner) said to Lane, that he (Lane) had no business to arrest Myers; and the purport of the conversation seemed to be that they (the persons of the crowd) intended to take Myers ont of Lane's hands. Lane told Korner, the Sheriff, that if they interfered with his business, he would have men enough sent to take them all to Michigan City.
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