CHAPTER XIX.

FUND FOR RELIEF OF EAST TENNESSEE AT BOSTON, PORTLAND AND NEW YORK--MR. TAYLOR AND FAMILY IN GREAT TROUBLE--THEIR TIMELY RELIEF--KNOXVILLE EAST TENNESSEE RELIEF SOCIETY--PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE--EFFECTIVE WORK IN RELIEVING DESTITUTION--SUMMARY OF RESULTS.

The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. MERCHANT OF VENICE.

The only measure of relief for East Tennessee contemplated by the resolutions adopted at Faneuil Hall, was an appropriation by the State Legislature, and no arrangement was made for obtaining individual subscriptions. Col. Taylor had, however, touched a chord which drew a sympathetic response from the community. On the day after the public meeting, a contribution of three dollars was received by the President of the Association from a “Teacher in a Public School,” which within a week was followed by other gifts amounting to more than a thousand dollars. Means were then organized to receive and announce donations. Legislative aid was prevented by constitutional difficulties, and the executive committee of the relief society published an address to the people of Massachusetts, in order to enlarge the field of contributions. From that time the fund increased with remarkable rapidity. Soon it amounted to more than $90,000. Public opinion had assigned $100,000 as the sum to be raised by private subscription, and it was completed June, 4 by a gift of $1,000 from a children’s fair.

Boston and its suburbs were chief sources of these donations, but many of them were made from other places and States. The enthusiasm to help in the work was ardent and prevailed among all the people. Mr. Everett kept the public constantly informed of the contributions as they were received and his patriotic presence inspired others to assist.[58]

In the spring Mr. Taylor visited Maine, and eleven thousand dollars were given through Gov. Cony, and a relief association organized at Portland. He also visited New York city upon invitation, but the holding of a metropolitan fair at the place and time, prevented any important results from his labors. His address there was well received and a society formed which adopted means to promote the object of his mission. A letter from Gen. S. P. Carter was read on the occasion, dated at Knoxville a few weeks previous, in which he said: “From 40,000 to 50,000 troops have been in East Tennessee for more than four months; of that number, 10,000 to 15,000 were cavalry. In a great measure both armies lived off the country. The rebels drew all their supplies from it. Of course nearly the whole of the forage subsistence of East Tennessee has been consumed. Many families have been left without a bushel of corn or a pound of meat. And it is certainly to the credit of the people, that although they have been stripped of their substance by their own friends--by our troops--there is no abatement of their love for the old Government. Many rations have been issued daily from the Government stores; but for this, more than a few would be without bread. Even those who have supplies have only enough to last for a short time, and then, unless assistance comes from abroad, many, I fear, will suffer terribly for bread.” ... “From the destruction of fences, impressment of horses, and absence of forage as well as laborers, I fear that only a small part of our farms will be cultivated during the present year. Numbers of the people are driven to seek homes north of the Ohio; many others must follow, not willingly, but because there is no help for it.”

An address to the people of the State of New York, drafted by William Cullen Bryant, Esq., was published by a large and influential committee; but the aggregate of contributions to the New York city relief fund was less than $20,000, of which one-fourth was from Buffalo.

Mr. Taylor’s wife and children had of necessity left home, and with them he dwelt at Haddonfield, N. J. As strangers, with narrow means of support, their faith and patience were tried, and at one time severely. They were delivered when in great need, by an interposition that appeared to come from a Divine Providence.

The family of exiles, numbering thirteen, although not free from painful recollections of recent life in Tennessee, were no longer disturbed by alarms of war or shocked by atrocities of a hostile soldiery, and were contented and happy in their new home. In the afternoon of the day when Mr. Taylor returned from an absence of six weeks in New England, his wife said to him:

“We are nearly out of provisions. You must go to market in the morning. Besides, the rent is due next Monday and it must be met promptly.”

“Well, of course I’ll go to market, and I’ll settle the house-rent; but I suppose (drawing an almost empty purse from his pocket) you will furnish the money, as I believe I am about broke.”

“Why, dear me,” she exclaimed, with lengthened face and fading color, “is it possible you have come back home without money? You are surely jesting.”

“Indeed, my dear wife, I am in dead earnest. All I have in the world is this five dollar bill,”

For the first time in all their troubles, she lost faith and hope, and was helpless. Overcome by emotion and unable to speak, she dropped into a chair, sobbing. When the power of speech returned, she bewailed their condition:

“Oh! oh! just think to what we have come. Here we are a thousand miles from home. If we were there, enemies are ready to kill us. Here we are among strangers, in a rented house--rent due--provisions all gone--thirteen in family--and only that five dollar bill between us and starvation.”

Confessedly, the case had a dark outlook, and to any person of desponding mind it would appear desperate. Her paroxysms of grief brought all the household together; they stood around in deep, silent sympathy; but the head of the family soon rallied courage to speak in a tone of cheerfulness, not very well sustained:

“My dear wife, I am astonished at your want of faith and extravagant apprehensions. We are indeed among strangers, but they are our friends. Would the Lord lead us through all the dangers we have survived, only to let us starve here in a peaceful, prosperous land? And that, when we are in His service--working for the poor and destitute in unhappy East Tennessee? Away with your fears, and be assured that the same God who has led us safely so far, will lead us safely to the end.”

Her mind was calmed by these words, but they failed to remove all its doubts and forebodings. Next morning, the husband went to Philadelphia, armed with a bushel market basket, and after payment for a round ticket by railroad, with his five dollar bill distressingly reduced in size. Prices of provisions were high. He had to buy inferior qualities to supply the needful quantity, and to use thought and skill lest his little means prove unequal to the occasion. At length he started homeward, with the basket cheaply but plentifully filled, and in passing through Haddonfield was hailed by the postmaster and given a letter for his wife. It was postmarked at Boston. Who could have sent it? “Perhaps some of our rebel kin,” he thought, “have been captured and taken to that city, and have written to her.”

All day he had been praying inaudibly to the Lord for help, and he believed it would come, but all his forecastings as to the whence, how and when of its coming, had only been perplexing. He did not dream it would be from strangers and a distance; yet his curiosity was so keen to know who had written the letter that, contrary to his habit, he broke the seal and read.

It informed Mrs. Taylor that its writers highly valued the important services her husband was rendering to the cause of humanity and of our country; that they were aware of his inability, because cut off from all home resources, to maintain his family while he successfully prosecuted his good work; and therefore they begged her to accept the within check as a testimonial of their appreciation of his labors and their kindly regard for his wife and children. The names of six persons were subscribed to the letter, and it enclosed a check on Philadelphia for one thousand dollars. A mountainous weight rolled from the heart of its surprised reader. Midnight had changed to day. His whole soul bowed itself in thankfulness to the God of Elijah, for he looked on the thousand dollars as sent directly from the Lord. Quickening his steps, home was soon reached. At its entrance stood the tearful wife, as he drew near whistling a joyful hymn-tune. Alarmed at his lightness of spirits, she cried out:

“What in the world is the matter, Mr. Taylor? You are surely deranged. How else could you come home whistling, with only the contents of that basket between your poor family and starvation? I know you must be crazy!”

“Never was of sounder mind in all my life. It is you that are deranged, my dear! Did not I tell you, ‘The Lord will provide?’ There, read that (handing her the letter). See how thankless it is to doubt His promises; and learn to trust the Lord.”

She wiped away her tears and began to read. Gradually the signs of distress and depression disappeared from her face and it beamed with hope, gratitude and joy. Meanwhile _his_ thoughts were busy concerning the Hebrew prophet and God’s commissary-ravens--the replenished oil-cruse and meal-tub--the weary disciples tugging at the net, over-full of fish--and concerning Him who still and ever reiterates in men’s dull ears, “Ask and ye shall receive.” When she had finished reading, she wept tears of joy, and with uplifted hands exclaimed, “Never again will I distrust my Lord as long as I live.”

In July, ’64, Mr. Taylor, by request, undertook a tour through the State of New York, accompanied as he had been before to New England, by J. E. Peyton. The heat of August and the political excitement in the canvass for the Presidency soon brought these labors to an end.

Because of the scarcity of food in East Tennessee, the Sanitary Commission sent some supplies from Cincinnati to relieve it, but the evil was too great to be overcome without extraordinary means. Not long after Mr. Taylor’s visit to Philadelphia, it was advised by his Eastern friends that an association should be organized in the destitute region, to receive gifts and administer help to the needy; and also that a competent committee, representing the distant contributors should visit the afflicted people, to observe their condition, confer with the society located among them and to report. Accordingly on February 8, 1864, at a public meeting in Knoxville, a relief association was formed and officers elected: Rev, Thomas W. Humes, President; Executive Committee, William Heiskell, Samuel R. Rodgers, John Baxter, O. P. Temple, William G. Brownlow, R. D. Jourolmon, George M. White and David Richardson; John M. Fleming, Secretary; M. M. Miller, Treasurer. Mr. Fleming was soon succeeded by George M. White as Secretary; and after one year David A. Deaderick became Treasurer of the Society. Needful agents were appointed for purchase and transportation of supplies.

About the same time, two Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Relief Society, Lloyd P. Smith and Frederick Collins, expended at Cincinnati, on their way to East Tennessee, over $8,000, in buying and shipping to that region, articles of food, chiefly flour, bacon, salt, sugar and coffee. These were transported to Nashville, free of charge, by means of a credential letter from Chas. H. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, to Gen. Grant. Soon afterwards, $28,000 were used for like purchases at the former city by Mr. Hazen, agent of the Knoxville Society, which were forwarded by means of $2,000, kindly loaned by Hon. Joseph E. Fowler, of Nashville.

The Pennsylvania Commissioners were well qualified for the duties assigned to them, and which required they should make a tedious and uncomfortable journey of 2,500 miles and of nearly three weeks’ time. They were heartily welcomed at Knoxville, and gave to its Association a memorandum of their own Society’s judgment concerning the distribution of supplies. They advised first, that the provisions should be given away to those who were unable to buy, and secondly, that to all other applicants they should be sold; the preference to be given, among both classes, first to Union families who had suffered on account of their loyalty; second, to families, who, without having specially suffered, had adhered throughout to the Federal Government; thirdly, to people who, whatever their past conduct, had given their adhesion to the United States. Lastly, they recommended that the old men, women and children of families which then had representatives in the Confederate army should be permitted to share in the bounty, no part of which, they thought, was intended for secessionists of the fighting age. The plan thus proposed was adopted by the Knoxville Association, and practically observed.

The Pennsylvania Commissioners informed themselves as far as possible concerning the destitution said to prevail throughout the region. Before they reached Knoxville, refugees had been arriving there daily in growing numbers and some of them slept of necessity in the open air. Gen. Carter, U. S. Provost Marshal, and Wm. G. Brownlow, U. S. Treasury Agent, provided shelter for the needy. Rations were also issued to them for a time and until the necessities of the army prevented.[59] The destitution was found to be all that it had been represented to persons at a distance.

Thrifty and well-to-do people were not exempt from it. One instance came directly to the knowledge of the Commissioners. A member of the Society of Friends from Blount County, sought for help from the U. S. Quartermaster at Knoxville, saying that he and all his people had nothing to eat. Before the peace of the country had been broken, they lived in plenty. At various places the visitors met with refugees on their way to the North in search of bread, not only from East Tennessee, but from Western North Carolina, Northern Georgia and Northern Alabama. Their losses had been entire, and having no means to buy food and shelter by the way, they kept on fleeing, for behind was threatening starvation. In their poorly clad and dispirited condition, sickness among them, especially of women and children, was inevitable. Pitiful cases of afflicted families came to the knowledge of the Commissioners, such as that of a mother and four children, all prostrated at the same time by disease. These unhappy emigrants were to be counted by thousands, not always impelled only by hunger and losses of property. Fear of being coerced to do military service for the Confederacy was in some instances an additional motive. At one town, a Western North Carolinian, nearly three-score years old, lay dangerously ill. His distressed wife, standing at his bed-side, said: “We came away because the ‘Rebs’ took away every thing from us and were about to force my husband and my son, 17 years old, into their army.”

At a point between Bridgeport and Chattanooga, the Commissioners, detained by a railroad accident, approached a group of passengers, decently but poorly dressed, huddling around a fire. They were three families, thirteen persons in all, on their way to Vincennes, Indiana, where they had friends. One old man, dressed in home-spun and wearing a straw hat, said simply, “All gone!”.[60] He lived eleven miles east of Knoxville, and when Burnside arrived, he volunteered and was in camp five weeks, but he was then refused on account of his age--being over sixty-six years old.

The evidences of a superior loyalty to the United States among East Tennesseeans (and Western North Carolinians) were as conclusive to the visitors from Philadelphia, as were those of great destitution. A farmer who had emigrated and was returning home, told them that if secession had succeeded, he would have left all and remained at the North. He said, “I would rather protect the Government than protect my property. If I had one bushel of corn, I would be glad to give one-half of it to the Union men. We could do a heap of good, if we could only stay there and raise truck for the army.” The mind he expressed was that of the people generally, and justified the opinion that “with the men of East Tennessee, devotion to the Union was not a mere sentiment, but a passion.”

In March, 1864, Mr. Thomas G. Odiorne of Cincinnati, was appointed purchasing and forwarding agent of the Society. He consented to serve, reluctantly and only upon condition that no remuneration be paid him. Too much can scarcely be said of the wisdom and fidelity with which he fulfilled his office.

As the summer advanced the beneficence administered by the Society told perceptibly upon the destitution. Clothing as well as food was distributed. Two thousand dollars were invested in goods which were made into garments by the Ladies’ Sewing Circle of Boston, and numerous boxes of clothing were contributed from various sources, all of which--timely and useful--were issued with discretion to the needy by Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Humes at Knoxville, and by chosen agents at other places. Shoes amounting in value to $7,000 were bought by Mr. Everett at Boston, and $4,000 worth of woolen goods by Mr. Lloyd P. Smith at Philadelphia, and shipped on a U. S. Government steamer; but they were burned at Johnsonville, on the Tennessee River, by order of the Commandant of the Post, along with a quantity of Government stores on board, to prevent their capture by the army of Gen. Hood. No compensation was made.

The friends of the work of relief were not unmindful of the needs of refugees at Nashville, through which city more than 9,000 of them passed in the first two months of 1864, from different parts of the South, being chiefly old men, women and children. The Pennsylvania Association, by its Commissioners contributed $1,500 of its funds to the Nashville Aid Refugee Society, in March, to which the Knoxville Association added a donation of $1,000 the following October.

In August, 1864, Mr. A. G. Jackson resigned the office of resident General Agent, and was succeeded by Rev. E. E. Gillenwaters, who continued to serve to the end of the work. Both were competent and faithful in the conduct of affairs.

The Hon. Edward Everett, to whom the people of East Tennessee are so largely indebted for the means of deliverance in their time of trouble, departed this life, January 15, 1865, and a meeting of the citizens of Knoxville--Hon. Seth J. W. Lucky, President and D. A. Deaderick, Secretary--was soon after convened to honor his memory. Sincere sorrow for his death and strong esteem for his character and life were expressed in resolutions by the assembly and appropriate addresses were made. The speakers’ hearts were in profound sympathy with their subject and their minds found ready utterance in apt and glowing words. Gratitude to the deceased statesman and patriot, was conspicuous in all that was said. The common sentiment was well expressed by one of those who spoke:

“It is not saying too much to affirm that the history of our people during the last four years, is one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of the race. Enough is already known of it to excite the admiration of all friends of the country. In Mr. Everett’s case, it took a practical form--resulting in a fund of upwards of one hundred thousand dollars in cash, expended with a sagacity and fidelity that, aided by the benevolent of both sexes among our own citizens, will make thousands of humble sufferers bless the memory of their distant and unknown friend.”

The orator concluded with the words:

“As we follow his retreating form and begin to take the account of our loss, I cannot help feeling that from the aggregate of learning, the sum total of human knowledge, all that makes up the complex idea of civilization and lends grace to the affairs of men, he, in departing, has taken away a larger measure, than will in like manner be withdrawn by any one he has left behind.”[61]

Twelve months after the work of relief began, the destitution was largely diminished but still serious, especially in the most eastern counties of the State, which military conditions had prevented from being reached with supplies. When hostilities ceased, the people of those counties being the most needy, received chief attention and help from the Association, which distributed among them in 1865, fifty thousand dollars in goods and provisions. Its ability to do this, and at the same time assist the needy in other counties was due to the faithful observance of the plan recommended by the Pennsylvania Commissioners--by which, the supplies, excepting issues without charge to the penniless, and sales at cost to soldiers’ wives and widows who had means, were sold to citizens, able to pay, at an advance. The results obtained, were as follows:

First, the aggregate receipts of the Association by gifts from a distance, of one hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars, were increased to two hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars.

Second, the amount of cash paid for food and clothing, alone, was more than that originally contributed. From the proceeds of sales were also paid the cost of freight and insurance, the salaries, wages and expenses of all officers, agents and employes; all other necessary expenses; twelve thousand dollars for shoes and woolen goods destroyed at Johnsonville; three thousand dollars for aid to refugees at Nashville, and five hundred dollars sent to Portland, Maine, which had given thousands to East Tennessee, and later had suffered by a great fire.

Third, as the benefit of the poor and needy was the controlling purpose of the Association in all its deliberations and transactions, that supreme end was practically reached in the use of the fund originally contributed. The articles of food purchased and distributed were judiciously chosen, and the wearing apparel, in buying which fifty thousand dollars were expended, was suited to the wants of the people.[62]

Altogether, there was much cause for congratulation among the friends of the undertaking both at home and abroad, that at a period of time when because of civil war, vast sums of money were lavishly expended and temptations to mis-use of them were strong, more than one hundred and sixty thousand dollars should have been managed with such prudence and efficiency and with such strict integrity, for the relief of the suffering people of East Tennessee. The generous givers and the thankful beneficiaries were far away from each other in space. A deep gulf of deadly strife intervened between them; but across that gulf, their hearts went forth and were clasped together--the prosperous and the comfortless,--in love for the American Union, and in brotherly love as fellow-countrymen.

“Those friends thou hast and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel.”

Sincere human friendships by no means perish with the loss of their mortal surroundings. To a pure mind, inspired by the truth, they are spiritually related to the invisible and permanent. Else, hopelessly we should often have to cry--

“For the touch of a vanished hand, And the sound of a voice that’s still.”

Just so with human citizenship, wisely conceived and cherished. It is more than a mere symbol of one higher and nobler. As one has well said:

“There is a mystery in all affections which rises above vulgar instincts; it is thus with the love of country. The patriot sees in her more than can be seen by those who are without; and yet he remembers that there remains in her much that cannot meet his eye; for it is part of the greatness of a nation, that though her fields and cities are visible things, her highest greatness and most sacred claims belong in part, like whatever includes a spiritual element, to the sphere of ‘things unseen.’”[63]

The archetype of _our country_ is the “better country, that is, an heavenly,” for which prophetic souls--children of faith and promise--have yearned throughout all the centuries. A man dwelling here, may have there his citizenship, and in its fulfillment is required and insured the performance of all other civic duty.

APPENDICES.

CONTENTS.

NOTE A: Love of Religious Excitement. “ B: Contrary Statements; Sevier and Tipton. “ C: A Southerner’s Letter, in 1861. “ D: Rev. Herman Bokum. “ E: A New Yorker’s Letter, in 1861. “ F: Col. David Cummings. “ G: Delegates to Union Convention. “ H: “ “ “ “ “ I: Employment of Bloodhounds. “ J: Verse on the Execution of Haun and the Harmons. “ K: Edward J. Sanford’s Narrative. “ L: Heroism of East Tennessee Women. “ M: Gen. Samuel P. Carter’s Raid. “ N: Lieut. S. T. Harris, at Columbia, S. C., &c. “ O: Report of Col. Wm. P. Sanders’ raid. “ P: Report of Col. R. C. Trigg, (C. S. A.) “ R: Letter from Gen. Longstreet. “ S: Concerning Knoxville refugees. “ T: Capt. Poe’s Topography of Knoxville. “ U: Gen. Sherman’s dinner with Gen. Burnside. “ V: Col. E. P. Alexander, (C. S. A.) concerning the siege. “ W: List of superior U. S. A. officers from East Tennessee. “ X: Martyrdoms of non-combatant Unionists. “ Y: Concerning gifts at Boston to East Tennessee relief. “ Z: Receipts and expenditures for East Tennessee relief.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX: NOTE A: Page 27.

The love of religious excitement, attributed by the ex-United States Consul at Singapore, to the mountaineers of East Tennessee, is apt to exist among a civilized, yet, uneducated people, who lead a simple, natural life. Its indulgence was formerly much greater in the Western States.

A religious excitement sprung up in East Tennessee in 1802, which was attended with remarkable bodily manifestations, familiarly called “the jerks.” The affection included among its subjects equally the young and old, the strong and weak, the good and bad in previous moral character, those who desired and those who hated it. Involuntary, it had no premonitory symptoms, and left the patient as he was before. The very atmosphere seemed to be laden with an influence that brought the mind and body into relation and sympathy that were abnormally close. If the preacher, after a smooth and gentle course of expression suddenly changed his voice and language to the awful and alarming, instantly some dozen or twenty persons or more would simultaneously be jerked forward where they were sitting, with a suppressed noise, once or twice, like the barking of a dog. And so it would continue or abate, according to the tenor or strain of the discourse.

This extraordinary nervous agitation commenced in East Tennessee at a “sacramental meeting,” and on that day several hundreds of persons were seized with it. At first uniformly confined to the arms, the quick, convulsive motion went downwards from the elbow, and these jerks succeeded each other after short intervals. For some time no religious meeting was held in which this novel, involuntary exercise was not exhibited by more or less of the audience in that part of the country where it originated. Generally, all who had once been its subjects, continued to be frequently affected, and not only at meeting but at home, and sometimes when entirely alone. After the commencement of the “jerks” they spread rapidly in all directions. Persons drawn by curiosity to visit the congregations where they existed, were often seized, and when they returned home they would communicate them to the people there. In some instances they occurred in remote valleys of the mountains, where the people had no opportunity of communication with the infected. In East Tennessee and the southwestern part of Virginia, their prevalence was the greatest. Soon the “exercise” began to assume a variety of appearances. While the jerks in the arms continued to be the most common form, in many cases the joint of the neck was the seat of the convulsive motion, and was thrown back and forward to an extent and with a celerity which no one could imitate, and which to the spectator was most alarming. A common exercise was dancing, performed by a gentle and not ungraceful motion, but with little variety in the steps. One young woman had what was termed, “the jumping exercise.” It was truly wonderful to observe the violence of the impetus with which she was borne upwards from the ground: it required the united strength of three or four of her companions to confine her down. None of these varieties however, were half so terrible to the spectator, as that which affected the joint of the neck, in which it appeared as if the neck must be broken. Besides these exercises, there were some of the most curious and ludicrous kind. In one, the affected barked like a dog, in another, boxed with fists clenched, striking at any body or thing near, in another, ran with amazing swiftness,--imitated playing on a violin, or sewing with a needle, &c.

The affection was “imported into Kentucky” as well as Virginia. Not only was it contagious, but particular kinds of exercise were caught from a stranger visiting a congregation that had known it in other forms of bodily movement.

These nervous agitations were at first received as supernatural agencies, intended to arrest the attention of the careless multitude, and were therefore encouraged and sustained by many of the pious, but after a while they became troublesome. The noise made by the convulsive motions in the pews was such, that the preacher could not be composedly heard; and in several of the exercises the affected person needed the attention of more than one assistant. Besides, subjects of the jerks became weary of them, and avoided serious and exciting thoughts, lest they should produce this effect. However, they all united to testify, that in the most violent and convulsive agitations, when the head would rapidly strike the breast and back alternately, no pain was experienced; and some asserted, that when one arm only was affected with the jerks, it felt more comfortable than the other through the whole day. In some places the persons affected were not permitted to come to the church on account of the noise and disturbance produced. The subjects were generally pious or seriously affected with religion, but not universally. There were cases in which the careless, and those who continued to be so were seized. The dread of the jerks was great in many persons, both religious and careless, and the affection did not contribute to the advancement of religion. There were persons however, who after much experience still approved them.

APPENDIX: NOTE B: Page 75.

According to Haywood and Ramsey, the ex-Governor of Frankland, when attempting to escape in the mountains on the way to Morganton, was pursued, became entangled in the woods, was fired upon by one of the guard, was recaptured unhurt and delivered to the High-Sheriff of Burke County, N. C. Gen. McDowell, Sevier’s compatriot at King’s Mountain and another friend, procured him a brief liberty, which the Sheriff renewed. The Court was then in session and the prisoner was arraigned before it as a traitor to North Carolina. Six of his friends had separately come from west of the mountains to Morganton:--Dr. James Cozby, his former Army Surgeon; Maj. Evans, his tried fellow-soldier; his two sons James and John, and two others, Greene and Gibson.

Dr. Ramsey’s history repeats the narrative in MS. of one who lived at that time. He tells that four of the six men above named concealed themselves outside the town, while Cozby and Evans went into it and entered the crowd attracted to the scene by the prisoner’s fame. Evans, apparently an unconcerned visitor, led Sevier’s horse, (celebrated for swiftness,) in front of the Court house, and threw the bridle carelessly over its neck. Cozby went into the house, and his eyes met those of the prisoner. Sevier at once knew that rescue was at hand, but a sign from Cozby restrained him. There was a pause in the trial. Cozby stepped forward in front of the Judge and asked him with quickness and energy: “Are you done with that man?” His hearers were startled and wondering, and while their attention was turned aside, Sevier sprang to the door, then to the saddle on the waiting horse and speedily was gone. He was followed by his rescuers and welcomed by the two friends who were without the town. Then, away the whole party went homeward, leaving their pursuers hopelessly behind.

There have been recent publications concerning Sevier, in which his antagonist, Tipton, has been spoken of unfavorably. J. C. Tipton, an aged grandson of Col. John Tipton, has been moved to publish, that there are two errors in current history of that early period. One of these is in the statement that Tipton would have hung Sevier’s sons, his prisoners, but was persuaded by friends to spare their lives. The second error, relates to Sevier’s deliverance from captivity. Mr. Tipton affirms that “Col. Tipton started Gov. Sevier to North Carolina for trial under a guard of two men, that Sevier escaped in the mountains on the way, and was not taken to Morganton.” He represents that these facts were received by him from his father, Jonathan Tipton, to whom they were communicated by Col. John Tipton. He admits that the errors of which he writes, should have met long since with correction, but the general character of both Tipton and Sevier having been that of “honorable, brave and magnanimous men,” the necessity for it sooner has not seemed urgent. The historical revival of the subject now invites this act of justice to the memory of his ancestor.

APPENDIX: NOTE C: Page 88.

The following letter to the author of these Reminiscences, is from his friend,--a gentleman of superior social and professional standing, and a citizen of Richmond, Virginia. It expresses his mind, and probably that of many other intelligent and reflecting persons in Virginia at the time it was written, concerning the civil and political situation.

RICHMOND, Dec. 26, 1860.

“There are times when friends are indeed blessings. I prize a sympathizing friend more and more every day: and I almost think that the time has come when union with Christ is the only bond that can certainly survive the shock and the disintegration that threaten our social structure.

After a conversation held last evening with a circle of intelligent friends, I retired to my room convinced that we are, as a nation, all adrift,--under cross tides,--under high and variable winds, without chart, compass or generalship,--except the secret purposes of the Eternal Mind.

Paul’s experience on the Adriatic,--without sun, moon or stars for many days, comes up to my mind. This only I know, that God is serene; in knowledge and power,--the sure trust of His Church and people.

The work of disintegration goes on,--without any combination, as yet, of the forces. The inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, (if he is inaugurated,) will give proportions and type to the entire Southern elements, which will present a distinct and palpable issue to the North and South.

I incline to think that the South will become substantially a unit upon the main points at issue, whilst the North is likely to be divided both on the moral and political questions pressing upon them. Then a line will have to be conceded or fought for, or a reconstruction of the Federal Government will take place. The West and North West are inoculated already with the doctrine of free trade; and if Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and New Orleans are declared free ports of entry, the laws of trade will prove invincible powers, aided by foreign diplomacy and interests, before which manufacturing New England will have an unequal struggle.

The trouble is with Pennsylvania and her iron interests; but New York will force Philadelphia into Southern sympathies, and Commerce will butter the bread of politicians. Such are my poor thoughts.

I go with a United South on such grounds as Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia may consent to. The Cotton States cannot, as I think, make themselves respected as an independent power, at home or abroad. They will feel this before their Conventions dissolve.

Our pride needs to be humbled! our national and public sins to be felt and deplored. I trust the fourth of January will bring the people of God before Him in such an attitude, that He, as He alone can, will deign to hear and save us yet.

... If this Union is to be dissolved, and especially if extreme Cotton ideas are to prevail, I would willingly accept a home in England or Scotland. The thought of exile from America! Strange!!! But I am now humiliated and grieved, so that I know not what more I could feel except at the horrors of _blood_ shed by brothers.”

APPENDIX: NOTE D: Page 88.

This Bible Colporteur was Rev. Herman Bokum, a Minister of the German Reformed Church and a Pennsylvanian, who had resided for five years on a farm near Knoxville. His education was superior in kind, and he had the Germanic conscientiousness with which Martin Luther was so magnificently gifted. Under his eccentric, decidedly brusque manners, there lay hidden a tender heart and a deep vein of piety. Whatever disturbances his mind had once suffered from outward troubles, it certainly had emerged from them (as is sometimes the outcome in such cases,) with a sharpness of discernment, of which minds are blameless that have never been moved from their even tenor and plodding ways. His mental astuteness was of little or no use to him in the conduct of his own affairs,--his poverty always keeping in front along with his sincerity. But he early saw the fatal drift of the Secession movement and the magnitude of the proportions to which it would grow. Dr. Hill, then President of Harvard University, told a Tennesseean after the war had closed, that his eyes had been first opened by Mr. Bokum, to the reality of the Rebellion, early in its progress, as _a great and portentous fact_. Being an ardent Union man and of a fearless nature, he soon became obnoxious to the Confederate authorities. Eventually they detailed a file of soldiers to arrest him at his home. But he heard of their coming and made his escape over the mountains through Kentucky to Philadelphia. There he was appointed a Hospital Chaplain and in 1863 published in pamphlet, “A Refugee’s Testimony,”--being a narrative of his personal experiences in Tennessee.

APPENDIX: NOTE E: Page 95.

The young New-Yorker soon went on his way homewards. At Washington City he was forced to tarry, and from there he wrote to his friend at Knoxville as follows:

April 23, P. M., 1861.

“I have succeeded in effecting a junction with my other forces--my brother and brother-in-law--but we are all now prisoners of war! Not that I would give you to understand that we are in the power of either of the belligerents, but because of the war we are most decidedly prisoners in this place.

I found the whole line of the road in a blaze of enthusiasm and excitement from Knoxville to Lynchburg, which place I reached the next morning. Having occasion for a business purpose to introduce myself to ----, Warden of the Church there, (the Clergyman being absent), he very kindly asked me to stay at his house, which I did until Monday morning, when I came on here without interference.

The people of Virginia display a noble spirit of patriotism if it were only in a right cause, which I cannot feel to be the case. The very soil seems to teem with armed men. Even the boys and the old men are enlisting, and the cry is ‘To Washington!’ Senator Mason addressed them on the route and said, ‘War has begun,’ and Jeff. Davis with two thousand Carolinians is already at Richmond. I regret the policy of the Government and think it is a grand mistake; but it is the most absurd dream in the world that Lincoln wishes to lead an army against the South. The truth is, Virginia’s sympathies are so much more with the South than with the Government, that although denouncing utterly both South Carolina and Secession, she preferred uniting her fortunes with them, to sustaining a policy which involved force against them to any degree at all.

I am struck with the fact that at the South the loyal feeling goes to the State, while at the North it goes to the General Government. The radical difference of belief concerning the relations of the separate States to the Nation, is a principal cause in the whole trouble. The very same act which crazes Virginia, crazes the whole North in an opposite direction, and brings Pierce, Buchanan and Fillmore out in support of the Government.

My friends (at Lynchburg) did not dare invite me to take part in the services, and the most atrocious sentiments were uttered in my hearing against Lincoln and the Yankees. Here all seems quiet--no cannon in the streets and few soldiers to be seen. Martial law is not proclaimed and there is a wonderful contrast to the feverish atmosphere of Virginia. Still I believe the Government is wide awake and more ready than people dream of. Communications have been open to Baltimore but broken up beyond. To-day Rev. Mr. P---- and I concluded to go there and try to make our way around through Harper’s Ferry and Hagerstown, but we found that since morning the Government had seized the depot and would allow no train to leave. So here we are.

I despond very much about peace. Perhaps I am superstitious, but the two singular portents (which have so many parallels in history) of the first lesson last Sunday from Joel, and the co-incidence of the Baltimore fight with the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, dishearten me.

The Potomac is now fortified and the Government must march its troops through Maryland or give up its Capital. Unless this should be seized soon, it will not be done; and if Maryland refuses passage through her borders to men and provisions, Maryland must be put down, if it burns her every town and makes the State a desert. Self preservation will extort that.

But in these exciting times we must do what we can to check the madness of the people. Do not let yourself suppose, as so many seem to do, that all this excitement at the North is hatred of the South. No such thing. The very same feeling of patriotism which in Lynchburg called six hundred men to arms and equipped them with eighteen thousand dollars, is at the North rallying all to the support of the old and loved Government--no conglomeration of States but the Federal Union. That hates will arise on both sides now, we must expect. War lets loose fearful passions, and I know human nature is alike every where; and judging from what I saw in Virginia, I can readily believe the North will be about as bad.”

APPENDIX: NOTE F: Page 101.

Colonel David Cummings, of Anderson county, an officer of the Tennessee (Confederate) troops, was conspicuous in preserving peace at the time of the imminent deadly collision between Union men and Secessionists on the principal street of Knoxville. It was he, who with two Union citizens,--Abner Jackson and John Williams--afterwards succeeded by persuasion in halting hundreds of State soldiers on their way from camp to the town with a destructive purpose against Charles Douglass, and so, in preventing a bloody encounter between the soldiers, and Douglass with his friends. It was also Col. Cummings, who on a subsequent day, as the body of the murdered Douglass was borne along the street to its grave, relieved the occasion of its reproach in the eyes of unfriendly observers, by magnanimously joining on horseback the officiating minister in leading the sad procession.

APPENDIX: NOTES G AND H: Pages 107 and 115.

Delegates to the Union Convention at Knoxville and Greeneville, Tenn., May 30 and June 17, 1861.

Names unmarked are of members present only at Knoxville.

Names marked * are of those present only at Greeneville.

Names marked † are of those present on both occasions.

ANDERSON COUNTY.

T. Adkins, J. Ayres, H. H. Baker, Lindsey D. Hill, L. Hockworth, Oliver Hoskins, James Ross, Philip Sieber, William Smith,

John Black, J. C. Chiles, J. H. Cox, William Cross, J. A. Doughty, Edward Freels, John Freels, W. S. Freels, † L. C. Houk, J. B. Lamar, G. W. Leath, Samuel Moore, L. A. Powell, Grandison Queener, Wm. Reynolds, J. Thompson, P. C. Wallace, John Weaver, W. W. Weaver, A. T. Williams. D. K. Young, S. C. Young.

BLEDSOE COUNTY.

S. P. Doss, Wm. S. Findlay, M.D., J. W. McReynolds, † J. G. Spears.

BLOUNT COUNTY.

S. F. Bell, Henry Brakebill, Rev. J. S. Craig, * F. M. Cruze, W. H. Cunningham, † Rev. W. T. Dowell, W. L. Dearing, Rev. W. T. Dowell, Robert Eagleton, † Solomon Farmer, S. C. Flannigan, H. Foster, David Goddard, William Goddard, John Godfrey, * J. R. Frow, Henry Hammell, J. M. Heiskell, * H. J. Henry, James Henry, Spencer Henry, Isaac Hinds, W. A. Hunter, G. W. Hutsell, John Jackson, Alex. Kennedy, Edward Kidd, Jefferson Kidd, James Henry, † A. Kirkpatrick, Sanders Leeper, Stephen Matthews, Fleming Mays, Andrew McBath, M. McTeer, Robert Pickens, Thomas Pickens, James H. Rowan, John Trew, Jas. H. Walker, † Lavater Wear.

BRADLEY COUNTY.

S. Beard, J. S. Bradford, * J. G. Brown, J. M. Campbell, M.D., T. L. Cate, C. D. Champion, A. A. Clingan, J. N. Dunn, † R. M. Edwards, S. P. Gaut, C. T. Hardwick, J. L. Kirby, John McPherson.

CAMPBELL COUNTY.

George Bowling, William Carey, † Joseph A. Cooper, David Hart, Joseph Hatmaker, John Jones, J. L. Keeny, John Meader, Wm. Robbins, R. D. Wheeler.

CARTER COUNTY.

* B. P. Angel, * J. L. Bradley, John W. Cameron, J. T. P. Carter, * L. Carter, * W. B. Carter, * W. J. Crutcher, * J. Emmet, * J. Hendrickson, * T. M. Hilton, * J. G. Lewis, * Wm. Marsh, * B. M. G. O’Brien, * J. Perry, * V. Singletary, * H. Slagle, * L. Slagle, * H. C. Smith, * John M. Smith, Daniel L. Store, * D. Stover, † Abram Tipton, † C. P. Toncray, * Robert Williams, * C. Wilcox.

CLAIBORNE COUNTY.

* J. J. Bunch, † E. E. Jones, * F. Jones, * V. Myers, * H. Sewell, * J. J. Sewell.

COCKE COUNTY.

* J. Bible, * W. A. Campbell, † J. W. Clarke, † P. H. Easterly, * W. Graham, * W. Hornett, * S. H. Inman, * W. Nicely, * G. L. Porter, * William Wood.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

F. Kindred, A. C. Yates, * R. K. Byrd; Proxy.

FENTRESS COUNTY.

* E. B. Langley; Proxy.

GRAINGER COUNTY.

† John Brooks, † James James, † Harmon G. Lea, † D. C. Senter, * Edward L. Tate.

GREENE COUNTY.

* Thos. D. Arnold, † Samuel H. Baxter, * Jacob Bible, * H. B. Boker, * J. Brannon, † James Britton, † James Britton, Jr., T. G. Brown, * W. R. Brown, † Wm. Cavender, M.D., † G. Click, † R. A. Crawford, * William H. Crawford, * W. D. Culver, * E. Davis, * Thomas Davis, * J. B. Dobson, * B. Earnest, * N. Earnest, A. G. Easterly, † Jonathan Easterly, Reuben Easterly, R. M. Easterly, Adam Farnsworth, * James A. Galbreath, † Charles Gass, * George F. Gillespie, † Solomon Goode, † Abram Hammond, * C. Harden, * Peter Harmon, * J. W. Harold, * A. W Howard, * J. P. Holtsinger, † Chas. Johnson, M.D., † Robert Johnson, * James Jones, † John Jones, Jr., † William Jones, * J. Kerbaugh, * George Kinney, † Alexander A. Lane, * John Love, † John Maloney, W. A. Maloney, † W. D. McClelland, * B. McDannel, † Jas. P. McDowell, * Samuel McGaughey, * Anthony Moore, * J. Myers, * Hon. D. L. Patterson, * J. G. Reeves, * David Rush, † B. B. Sherfie, † D. G. Vance, * C. M. Vestal, † A. W. Walker, † Wm. West, M.D., * Israel Woolsey.

HAMILTON COUNTY.

John Anderson, J. D. Blackford, F. G. Blacknall, A. M. Cate, G. O. Cate, E. M. Cleaveland, † William Clift, Wm. Crutchfield, William Denny, J. F. Early, R. Hall, Wilson Hixson, J. D. Kenner, Monroe Masterson, J. A. Matthews, P. L. Matthews, * S. McCaleb, A. W. McDaniel, R. C. McRee, Peter Mounger, A. A. Pearson, I. C. Rogers, A. Selser, J. G. Thomas, † D. C. Trewhitt.

HANCOCK COUNTY.

* Charles L. Barton, Wm. G. Brownlow and Wm. C. Kyle: Proxies.

HAWKINS COUNTY.

* Thomas Benny, † John Blevins, † A. P. Caldwell, * C. W. Hall, * A. B. Keel, † Wm. C. Kyle, * A. A. Kyle, * C. J. McKinney, * H. Mitchell, * John Netherland, Robert G. Netherland, John Vaughn, * James White.

JEFFERSON COUNTY.

* John Alderson, † Sam’l Anderson, M.D. J. M. Bewley, * Rev. J. R. Birchfield, † A. A. Caldwell, M.D., † ---- Cawood, M.D., * J. L. Coile, † William Dick, † Wiley Foust, * Wm. Harris, W. A. Haun, Joel Johnson, † William Jones, * W. Kirkpatrick, † L. F. Leeper, * L. McDaniel, Wm. McFarland, † J. Monroe Meek, * N. Newman, * R. D. Rankin, * E. A. Sawyers, * C. K. Scruggs, † J. P. Swann, * N. B. Swann, † John Tate, * M. Thornburg, * John Thornhill, * Edward West.

JOHNSON COUNTY.

* Alexander Baker, † R. R. Butler, † J. W. M. Grayson, * Samuel Howard, M. T. Locke, M.D., Rev. L. Madron, * H. P. Murphy, * Kemp Murphy, † John Murphy, J. Norris, * J. H. Norris, * J. F. Norris, * H. C. Northington, † S. E. Northington, * A. G. Shown, G. H. Shown, F. Slimp, † A. D. Smith, D. Smithpetre, M.D., † J. H. Vaught, † Rev. L. Venable.

KNOX COUNTY.

F. A. Armstrong, John Armstrong, Caleb H. Baker, J. P. Barger, † John Baxter, William Beard, James D. Bell, R. B. Gibbs, A. Gideon, Wilson Groner, James Hall, R. M. Hall, Robert Harper, R. A. Harrison, John H. Mynatt, R. G. Mynatt, David Nelson, Jacob L. Nelson, J. M. Nelson, Nicholas Nelson, H. Osborne,

J. S. Bell, R. M. Bell, R. M. Bennett, F. H. Bounds, H. R. Brown, John Brown, John M. Brown, T. W. Brown, † Wm. G. Brownlow, † J. F. Bunker, Absalom Burnett, David Burnett, John A. Callaway, * A. C. Callen, P. H. Cardwell, C. W. Carnes, T. W. Carnes, W. B. Carnes, M. Childress, Henry Chiles, † H. R. Clapp, William Clapp, William Coker, John M. Conner, W. A. A. Conner, George Cooper, F. Coram, John J. Craig, Robert Craighead, O. H. Crippen, John Currier, † A. Davis, D. F. DeArmond, P. Derieux, † John Devers, James Hartley, W. E. Hedgcock, F. S. Heiskell, John Henson, A. D. C. Hinds, William Hines, Daniel Hommell, Joseph Hubbs, * Abner G. Jackson, L. D. Johnson, William D. Johnson, W. Kennedy, Daniel King, John Kirk, † Andrew Knott, Joseph Larew, W. R. Lawrence, M. D. Lea, Seth Lea, John Lester, John Letsinger, * Lewis Letsinger, Thomas Long, John Looney, Jas. C. Luttrell, John Luttrell, J. Luttrell, J. M. Marcum, † James Maxwell, W. N. Maxwell, John J. May, * Horace Maynard, † Samuel McCammon, Wm. McClelland, Levi McCloud, † D. W. Parker, James Raison, † A. P. Rambo, Lewis Reed, Jacob Reid, B. Roberts, * Henry Roberts, Milton Roberts, Samuel R. Rodgers, Thomas Rodgers, † Wm. Rodgers, M.D., * P. A. Ruble, Frederick Rule, P. Rutherford, William Sharp, Joseph Shell, Matthew Simpson, P. H. Skaggs, James Smith, † John Smith, † T. A. Smith, † Robert Sneed, M.D., Jesse Stubbs, W. H. Swan, James Tarwater, † O. P. Temple, † Andrew Thompson, G. W. Tindell, † C. F. Trigg, A. R. Trotter, John Tunnell, H. Turner, John Vance, P. Walker, M.D., Thos. J. White,

J. R. Draper, † John M. Fleming, Joseph W. Fowler, B. Frazier, J. D. French, Joseph Garner, J. O. Gentry, P. George, J. C. S. McDaniel, J. A. McMillan, A. A. Meek, J. H. Morris, A. K. Mynatt, Col. Mynatt, Hugh Mynatt, H. D. C. Mynatt, † John Williams, Calvin Wood, John Wood, R. H. Wood, F. M. Yarnall, Martin Yarnall, R. A. York.

MARION COUNTY.

† William G. Brownlow: Proxy.

M’MINN COUNTY.

W. W. Alexander, † M. D. Anderson, † George W. Bridges, David Brient, Rev. H. Buttram, Charles Cate, Robert Cochran, A. C. Derrick, J. J. Dixon, O. Dodson, Wm. L. Dodson, C. Foster, J. H. Hornsby, A. Hutsell, Nathan Kelly, Wm. L. Lester, M. R. May, M.D., T. B. McElwee, † John McGaughey, N. J. Peters, Wm. Porter, E. T. Renfro, B. Wells, Rev. John Wilkins, D. P. York.

MEIGS COUNTY.

Andrew Campbell, Thomas Miller, † T. J. Matthews, Thomas Sessell.

MONROE COUNTY.

I. C. Brown, A. W. Cozart, T. H. Davis, W. H. Dawson, † B. Franklin, M.D., † William Heiskell, Samuel M. Johnson, J. R. Robinson, Wm. M. Smith.

MORGAN COUNTY.

T. H. Davis, † S. C. Honeycutt, Rev. W. R. Jackson, † E. Langley, † J. M. Melton, B. T. Staples, M. Stephens, † Jesse Stonecipher.

POLK COUNTY.

* W. M. Biggs, * W. J. Copeland, J. M. McCleary.

ROANE COUNTY.

* J. Adkisson, † W. M. Alexander, † Joseph Anderson, J. W. Atkisson, F. Bales, † J. W. Bowman, R. W. Boyd, E. W. Brazeale, † R. K. Byrd, T. F. Carter, Samuel L. Childress, Isaac A. Clark, William Clark, E. S. Clarke, T. T. Coffin, J. I. Dale, Reuben Davis, John DeArmond, P. I. Doremus, G. W. Easter, W. L. Goldston, A. L. Greene, * J. S. Hagler, Wesley Harwell, † D. F. Harrison, John Hays, J. O. Hays, * W. J. Hornsby, E. D. Hoss, † James H. Johnston, † George Littleton, William Lowry, Joseph B. Martin, † Thomas J. Mason, W. S. Patton, Wm. E. Pope, † M. Rose, W. P. Rose, T. Russell, † J. T. Shelley, Wm. H. Selvidge, J. Y. Smith, * W. B. Staley, † T. J. Tipton, † J. J. West, C. C. Wester, J. W. Wester, † L. M. Wester, Samuel Williams, John Womble, * J. Wyatt, † F. M. Wylie, * L. M. Wylie, † F. Young.

SCOTT COUNTY.

* S. C. Honeycutt: Proxy.

SEVIER COUNTY.

* L. D. Alexander, † J. H. Caldwell, * J. Caldwell, * J. Cate, William Catlett, Harvey Cowan, R. M. Creswell, † Rev. Jas. Cummings, * John Douglass, Lemuel Duggan, † Wilson Duggan, * F. L. Emmert, † J. K. Franklin, † J. T. Havis, † R. H. Hodsden, M.D., † Edmund Hodges, * C. Inman, David Keener, Alexander McBath, † D. McCroskey, * H. Mount, † J. C. Murphy, William Petty, † Samuel Pickens, † D. M. Ray, Isaac Russell, E. H. Williams.

SULLIVAN COUNTY.

P. N. Easley, * J. Hughes, † James Lynn, William Mullenix, † G. R. Netherland, † Jacob Shewalter, † R. L. Stanford, M.D.

UNION COUNTY.

† Isaac Bayless, John Cox, F. P. Hansard, L. Huddleston, * M. V. Nash, A. McPheters, J. G. Palmer, J. M. Sawyers, S. H. Smith, † J. W. Thornburg.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

D. B. Barkley, * J. Biddle, * C. Bashor, † A. J. Brown, * M. H. Clark, * Jas. W. Deaderick, * C. A. Eames, * J. W. Ellis, * J. A. Estes, * R. L. Gillespie, * T. S. Gillespie, * W. Glaze, J. F. Grisham, * P. H. Grisham, * J. W. Hartman, M.D., * E. S. Harvey, † A. Hoss, * E. Keezell, * A. Kibbler, † S. T. Logan, † J. F. Mahoney, * E. S. Matthews, * Wm. H. Maxwell, * R. B. McCall, M.D., * D. M. McFall, * R. M. McKee, * G. W. Nelson, † Thos. A. R. Nelson, * D. Onk, * E. W. Oughbrough, † R. H. Palmer, M.D., † S. K. N. Patton, * John Pennybaker, * H. Presnell, * W. M. Reese, * J. Slack, * W. Slemmons, * W. Smith, M.D., * A. B. Tadlock, * E. H. West, † S. West, * G. W. Wilson, * J. Yerger.

APPENDIX: NOTE I: Page 139.

A comparison of the date of Gen. Zolicoffer’s letter from Campbell County to Col. Wood, announcing his purpose immediately to disarm the Union population, with the date of the following advertisement in the _Memphis Appeal_ by two Confederate officers, written from the same county, seriously weakens the plea given in the advertisement for the barbarous use of so many dogs against that population. For disarmed Union men could scarcely carry on an irregular warfare that would require or justify the employment to their damage of sanguinary beasts.

“BLOODHOUNDS WANTED.”

“We, the undersigned, will pay five dollars per pair for fifty pairs of well-bred hounds, and fifty dollars for one pair of thorough-bred bloodhounds that will take the track of a man. The purpose for which these dogs are wanted is to chase the infernal, cowardly Lincoln bushwhackers of East Tennessee and Kentucky, (who have taken advantage of the bush to kill and cripple many good soldiers,) to their haunts and capture them. The said hounds must be delivered at Captain Hammer’s livery stable by the 10th of December next, where a mustering officer will be present to muster and inspect them.”

(Signed) F. N. MCNAIRY, H. H. HARRIS, Camp Crinforth, Campbell Co., Tenn., November 16.

APPENDIX: NOTE J: Page 151.

In proof that the hanging of young Harmon before his father’s eyes, while the latter awaited death by the same method, was not, as a grave judicial procedure, without censorious comment at the time, are these satirical lines by one who was more of a wag than a poet. Necessarily, they had a very limited circulation in _M. S._ among friends.

To General ----

Plentiful heroes from this War will spring, With praise of whom shall Fame’s proud arches ring, And unborn generations with pains be taught, At mother’s knee and school, what deeds they wrought. But thou, as Jupiter excels in light Planets and stars which deck the robe of night, Shalt for thy courage and milit’ry skill Above compeers, historic pages fill. They have won battles,--strong batteries storm’d, And such small deeds, common in War, perform’d: But thou, with soaring aim, hast hung three men, Sentenced by Martial Court and thy brave pen. These loved their country; one, in prime of life Bequeathed it all he had, children and wife; The second, gray with age, the third, his son, Whom thou didst order,--by no pity won, Should to life’s closing scene together go, And while one died, the other see his woe! Brave General! goodness ever is allied With greatness. Be thou, thy country’s pride!

APPENDIX: NOTE K: Page 167.

NARRATIVE BY EDWARD J. SANFORD OF KNOXVILLE, TENN.

In February, 1862, the Rebel Conscript Law was enacted in Tennessee declaring every man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five a soldier of the Southern Confederacy, and the then Governor, I. G. Harris, made a call for the entire militia force of the State. Consequently the prospect of being speedily compelled to do battle against their sense of right and justice, added to the already precarious condition of those citizens who were known to entertain Union sentiments, and many companies of Union men were formed in East Tennessee for the purpose of running through the rebel lines and joining the Federal army in Kentucky.

For several days previous to April 18, 1862, such a company was forming in Knox and Blount counties. Guides were procured who knew the mountain paths and who were constantly passing to and from the Federal camp in Kentucky. For the ostensible purpose of buying beef in the mountain region for the Confederate army, passes were procured by men who employed their time in preparing a boat on the Clinch river about twenty miles north of Knoxville and secreting it from the watchful eyes of rebel pickets, so that the company could be set over without delay.

The place of _rendezvous_ was on Bullrun creek, fifteen miles north, and its time midnight, April 18. The party was to number three hundred and seventy-five men; but the authorities at Knoxville having got wind of the matter, placed a strong guard around the town which prevented seventy-five of this number from their purpose. I was fortunately one of the few citizens who intended to join the party and were outside of the town before nightfall when the guard was stationed. A carriage ride with my wife early in the evening, as though only for recreation, gave me the opportunity without suspicion, to pass into the country; and leaving her at the house of a friend five miles from town to return home the next day, I went on foot to the house of the well-known Unionist, Andrew Knott, Esq., and remained there until nearly dark. By that time six others had come to bear me company. Two of these were the son and son-in-law of Squire Knott, who united with his family to bestow their best wishes on the little band at its departure. Accessions to it were almost constantly received, as we cautiously proceeded on our way to the _rendezvous_. We avoided the intervening houses of rebels by going through the fields. But happily this precaution was seldom necessary, for from almost every house we passed, one at least was added to our number, and many were the words of encouragement given and bitter tears shed by mothers, sisters and wives, as those they held dear stepped noiselessly forth from their homes and joined the marching column. Before reaching the appointed place of meeting, our number had increased to seventy-five, and there we found seventy-five men awaiting us. Every one had a haversack of provisions; all were without blankets and extra clothing and only one-third of the company had succeeded in arming themselves for defence with guns or pistols. One half of the whole party did not arrive at the time agreed upon.

We had no shelter, our clothes were completely wet by the rain which had fallen during the entire night and we dared not make a fire, as it would have exposed us to the enemy who, we had reason to know had discovered our movements. For a small scouting party of theirs had captured a few miles back two of our party who had fallen behind the main body. After a short consultation we pushed on as fast as possible and found our boat unmolested where it had been hidden. One-half of our company at one time were set over the river and it so happened that I went with the first boat load. We found relief from fatigue in putting off our haversacks and, (although the rain was pouring down,) in sitting upon the ground on the north side of the stream, while the boat returned for the rest of our party. But scarcely were we seated when a startling cry arose that the rebel cavalry were upon us. We knew at once that if such were the case, our only safety was in fighting, for the river behind us barred our escape in that direction. In a moment a line was formed;--those fortunate enough to have either gun or pistol stood in front and the unarmed behind;--and the expected attack was awaited.

Two horsemen could be seen approaching through the woods, but in the darkness it could not be told whether they were in advance of a column of troops or not. In either case we concluded they were enemies and with weapons levelled, we listened for the word of command to fire upon them. Much to our joy however, they gave us the friendly countersign, and we found that they were an Official of Anderson county and others, who had come to show us on our way. It was then about two o’clock in the morning and without waiting for the second half of our party to cross the river, we went forward under the guidance of our recently supposed enemies at a “double quick” pace. Not a word was spoken as we pressed on without halting,--sometimes through woods and sometimes through fields. As day began to break, from a very secluded spot in a piece of thick woods through which we were going, out stepped a small man with dark eyes and determined look, who without a word motioned us to follow him and then went rapidly ahead. The Anderson County Official who had guided us, immediately turned back homeward, bidding us adieu with a wave of his hand. Our new guide started off at such a quick gait that it was difficult for our leg-weary party to keep up with him. Some of them finding it impossible to do so, were obliged to fall behind and risk the chance of capture. We had walked almost forty miles during the night, through a hard and constant rain and over muddy, slippery ground. Our guide, (Wash Vann by name,) seeing that all were much fatigued, led the way to a secluded place near Nelson’s Ridge and there halted the company for needed rest. Haversacks were then opened, a breakfast made from their contents and nearly all stretched themselves upon the wet ground for repose. A few men were put upon the watch and soon the others were fast asleep. All was quiet for about two hours, when (at 9 A. M. of the 19th) we, who served as sentinels, discovered a man walking very fast and coming upon the trail we had made. He seemed to be scrutinizing our tracks and was evidently following us, but for what purpose of course we could not tell. He approached within thirty yards of us before he raised his eyes or perceived that we were near. At the first glance, he turned and began to run; but hearing the word, Halt! he looked over his shoulder and seeing that several rifles were drawn upon him, he thought it wise to obey the summons. When he came up, we catechized him very closely,--asking him where he was from? how far he had followed us? Where going? &c. To none of these questions could he give a satisfactory answer; but crossed himself frequently and seemed much confused. He said he was a rebel, but could tell nothing about the rebel troops. We concluded that he had been sent to pursue and discover us for the information of our armed enemies, and that our longer delay at the spot would be dangerous. Our short rest and breakfast, with the excitement consequent upon taking a supposed spy, made us all ready to start at once. Our prisoner was ordered to fall in and told that if he attempted to escape, he would be shot.

We soon ascended Nelson’s Ridge and from its summit we could see the rebel cavalry scouts hunting for us in the valley road below, and trying to cut us off, as they were not able on horses to follow us over the Ridge. By going very cautiously through the thickets we managed to escape discovery, safely crossed the valley road north of Walson’s Ridge and soon began the ascent of the Cumberland Mountains, where for the time we felt secure from pursuit by cavalry.

In order to understand our real condition at that time and what had saved us from capture, it will be necessary to revert to the place where we had crossed Clinch river, and notice what was transpiring there. As before stated, one-half of our company crossed Clinch river before two o’clock in the morning. But the remainder, numbering about one hundred and fifty, did not do so until near daylight. In consequence they were discovered by a rebel, named Jones, who lived in the vicinity. He gladly hurried off to a rebel camp a few miles below and gave information. The rebels were on the alert, for they had previous notice that a party of Union men were in the neighborhood, and they gave quick pursuit. But fortunately, a Union man hearing that our friends would probably be overtaken by their enemies, hurried along a near way and told them of their danger. Upon receiving this warning, they had but time to hide in a thicket close at hand, when the pursuing cavalry went rushing by at the top of their speed upon the trail the first half of our company had made hours before, without discovering that any of the fugitives were being left behind them. As the cavalry moved with the utmost possible speed, they reached the spot where we had rested, only an hour after we had left it, and where, but for our capture of the spy, they would no doubt have found us. The hour we had, in advance of the troopers, had been well improved and enabled us to find safety from them in the Cumberland Mountains.

It was then dark. We had walked rapidly for twenty-four consecutive hours, excepting the two hours of halt. The rain, which had fallen during the whole period, came down in torrents at its close. Every one suffered with fatigue, but some were so overcome by it they could not proceed at all. Soon the darkness became intense; we had almost to grope our way; no one could pick his footsteps, and there were many bruises and scratches of the flesh. But over the rocks and through the brush we had to go in the gloom of that dreadful night. At length the joyful sound of “halt!” was heard. Our guide said that we were five miles from any shelter or habitation. It must have been a dismal spot at all times. On every side arose high hills which would almost shut out the light of the mid-day sun. But in the then impenetrable darkness and pouring rain, the thick forest seemed a fit abode for evil spirits. Yet it afforded security from enemies, and we were glad to rest even there. No one of the company would be apt ever to forget the wretched night we spent at that place. After supper from our water-soaked haversacks, we lay down to rest as best we could, without blankets or other means of protection from the wet ground and drenching rain, having agreed without a dissenting voice that the place ought to be known for all time as Camp Misery!

As soon as it was light enough the next morning, we again moved forward and soon began to ascend the highest point of the Cumberland Mountains, known in that vicinity as “The Smoky Range.” On its top, alternate snow and rain were substituted for the continuous, soaking rains of the previous thirty-six hours, and added much to our discomfort. On the top of that and adjacent peaks we travelled nearly the whole day,--keeping upon the roughest and highest surfaces to prevent successful pursuit on horses. Our experience during the remainder of the journey was like that already related. The enemy tried to intercept us, when in passing from one hill to another we crossed over the valley roads, as we were obliged to do. On such occasions one or two of our number would first advance cautiously and reconnoitre. If no danger appeared, the whole company would then pass over the road swiftly, making as little trail as possible, and sometimes by walking backwards, leaving deceptive impressions on the soil.

One incident of the trip will show after what manner the people of Scott county were organized to resist their enemies. They were most thoroughly loyal to the United States and both determined and active. Through one of the narrow and deep vallies among the hills over which we traveled, runs New River. Usually it is little more than a creek, but at that Spring-time because of the heavy and steady rains, it was a formidable stream. When arrived on its southern bank we could find but one small canoe; and knowing it would be imprudent to wait until the whole company could be carried in it over the river, the guns and provisions were placed in the boat, and all who could swim jumped in and breasted the waters. Upon the hillside about the fourth of a mile in front of us, could be seen a small cabin, and as our guide said that the occupant was a Union man, we did not hesitate to approach it. We saw no one about the house until one of our guns, in being placed in the canoe, was accidentally discharged. Immediately a man ran from the house to the stable, mounted a horse and rode rapidly up the hillside. We thought this a suspicious circumstance, and on reaching the house and making known who we were, it came to light that the horseman, in the belief that our company was one of rebels, had sped over the hills to inform the “Home Guards” of which he was a member, and that they would probably fire upon us from every convenient spot, or as it was commonly termed “bush-whack” us. But upon this a woman of the family went ahead of our party, and let the “Guards” know their mistake; and the wounds or death they would have inflicted upon us were averted. Knowing us to be friends of the Union, we were in their eyes as brothers, and instead of resistance and blows, they would have given us help and comfort to the utmost limit of their power.

* * * * *

At the end of the sixth night of this kind of travel we arrived at the Federal Army Camp at Boston, Kentucky. The second half of our original company, whom we had left behind at Clinch river, joined us the day before that termination. This accession made us three hundred strong. The sight of that camp gave us relief, joy and thankfulness, which they only can understand who have had complete deliverance from protracted sufferings and trouble. Beneath the flag of our choice we found nourishment, rest, protection and a hearty welcome from friends who had gone before us and were anxious to hear from dear ones at home. In six hours, three companies of as good soldiers as were ever dressed in blue were added to the Sixth East Tennessee Regiment and went forth to do battle for their homes and country. But they all united afterwards in saying that no week of their lives as soldiers, would begin to compare in hardships with the one they spent in this trip over the mountains.

* * * * *

Before closing this narrative, I should state that the supposed spy whom we captured at our first halting-place and whose capture saved us from being overtaken by the pursuing cavalry, proved to be one of a party of Union men who had several days previously been attacked on their way to Kentucky and all either scattered or captured. Being lost in the woods, he accidentally came upon us while resting, and under the supposition that we were Rebel soldiers, he gave us confused statements. In a short time he learned the true character of his captors; but fortunately for us, we did not find out that he was on our side, until we had reached for the night a secure position. He afterwards carried a musket in the Sixth East Tennessee Regiment and was called one of its best soldiers.

APPENDIX: NOTE L: Page 185.

Mrs. Edwards, wife of Mr. Edw. C. Edwards, of Campbell county, carried information, at the cost of exposure to inclement weather and risk of arrest and punishment, to the Union troops in several instances. Once she traveled from her home in a buggy to Lenoir’s Station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railway and thence by Rail to Athens, 55 miles southwest of Knoxville, and quickly returned. She was accompanied by a neighbor’s adult daughter, Miss Bettie Carey, to whom she did not divulge her purpose. They traveled with passports from the Confederate authorities, and accomplished the journey of more than 150 miles with remarkable celerity. Upon arriving again at home, Mrs. Edwards mounted her horse, and with the valuable knowledge concerning intended movements of the Confederate troops which she had obtained on her recent visit among them, she went alone through the rain over Pine Mountain to the encampment of Gen. J. G. Spears, near the Kentucky border. He was of Bledsoe county, East Tennessee, and in May and June, 1861, a member of the Union Convention at Knoxville and Greeneville. The information given him by Mrs. Edwards, was the means of saving from capture, him and his soldiers, and also, several hundreds of East Tennessee refugees who were on their way to the interior of Kentucky. General Spears thought that she deserved for her daring, patriotic exploit, so useful in its results to his army, more than wordy gratitude; and that she should be paid two thousand dollars by the Federal Government; but the papers he gave her to prove that reward was justly due her failed of their purpose. The United States has never paid it in whole or in part; but her work was not done for the sake of money.

On another occasion, when Winter was about passing into the Spring of 1863, she went on a patriotic errand to Williamsburg, Kentucky, accompanied by Miss Bettie Carey,--both on horseback, their cavalier being a son of Mrs. Edwards, ten years old, mounted on a mule, but as on the previous trip, she kept her special purpose from her companion. Their ostensible object was to purchase supplies needed by their households. As the first night closed in upon the travelers, they lost their way on Pine Mountain. Mrs. Edwards preserved her cheerfulness and hopefully said, that by and by they would find a house. This they did after tedious wandering in the cold and darkness. Observing a light, they found the hospitality they sought in a log cabin which had but one apartment. Their supper, consisting of coffee corn bread and bacon, was kindly provided by the family, and one of the beds in the room was assigned to their use. The two women, with the lad nestling at their feet, slept as comfortably as the cold wind which found entrance through the crevices of the house would permit.

The journey had several difficulties, not the least of which was in fording rivers that were in such a swollen condition, that the horses had almost to swim and their riders were compelled to mount high in their saddles to escape the waters. Mrs. Edwards alone knew what communications she had with others at Williamsburg in relation to the War. In returning home, they were hospitably fed and lodged at the house of a worthy Union man, of whom, as illustrating the wanton cruelties inflicted here and there upon country people by the Confederate soldiery, it has to be said, that not long afterwards, he was arrested by them at his home, and deliberately shot to death, and two of his neighbors of like mind, at the same time shared his fate.

“Were the three men charged with any offence?” was the question asked of the lady who told of the occurrence in connection with the above narrative. “O, no!” was her reply; “they were only Union men.”

There was an instance of dangerous adventure in behalf of the United States, which a young lady and a boy who had just entered his teens undertook during the siege of Knoxville. According to a report made to the House of Representatives, (50th Congress, 1st Session,) by its Committee on War Claims, Gen. Grant sent an important dispatch to Gen. Burnside. So overrun was the territory between Chattanooga and Knoxville by Confederate troops, that it could only be delivered, if at all, with great difficulty and hazard. At length, Miss Mary Love, of Kingston, Tennessee, agreed to take the message through the Confederate lines. She went, attended by a guide, Thomas F. Carter, as far as Louisville, Tennessee. Being there compelled to abandon personally the attempt, she could find but one person who was willing to prosecute it: and to him, a boy, John T. Brown, only 13 years of age she entrusted the dispatch. He carried it safely to its destination, but has never received from the Government, any acknowledgment of his brave and patriotic service.

APPENDIX: NOTE M: Page 194.

[From the Official Report of General Carter.]

A movement of troops into East Tennessee was proposed as early as November 25, 1862, but was not ordered until December 19, when arrangements for it had been completed. It was hoped that the force to be sent on this hazardous but important expedition, would have been much larger than that which the Commander of the Department felt could be detached for that service when the time to enter upon it arrived.

The original design was to divide the force into two columns, and strike the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad at two points at the same time, distant 100 miles apart, and by moving towards the centre, destroy the road for that distance.

A junction of the forces (consisting of two battalions 2nd Michigan Cavalry, Lieut. Col. Campbell; the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Major Russell; and one battalion 7th Ohio Cavalry. Major Raimey) was made near the mouth of Goose Creek, Clay County, Kentucky. As ordered by Gen. Burnside, Col. Charles J. Walker of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry was placed in command of the cavalry brigade.

The troops were ordered to move without baggage, with ten days rations, and 100 rounds of ammunition; but as it was feared some difficulty would be met with in obtaining forage, a supply train was ordered to proceed some 60 miles on the route and then transfer forage and rations to a train of pack mules. On the 22nd December Gen. Carter, who left Lexington on the 20th, came up with the two battalions of the 2nd Michigan and the 9th Pennsylvania at McKee, Jackson county, Kentucky, and after one day’s necessary detention, they effected a junction on the 26th with the remainder of the troops, (1st Battalion of 7th Ohio Cavalry) at Heard’s on Goose Creek. The whole force amounted only to about 1,980 men, and of that number a considerable portion were in the field for the first time.

The marches, owing to the roughness and narrowness of the roads, (being merely bridle paths along the banks of creeks and over steep and rugged mountains) were of necessity slow and tedious, and their length had to be governed by the distance to the several points at which forage could be obtained. It was not until about meridian of the 28th, that they reached the foot of the Cumberland mountain (on the north side,) opposite “Crank’s Gap,” 12 miles to the southward and eastward of Harlan Court House. The pack train was sent back in charge of a detachment of the Kentucky State Guard.

A little before sunset they reached the summit of the Cumberland mountain, and had the field of their operations, with its mountains and vallies spread out before them. Gen. Carter then consulted with the officers of his command, and it was the unanimous opinion that the force was entirely too small to venture on a division according to the original plan. This decision seemed to be the more necessary from the news they had received through East Tennessee refugees at the foot of the mountain, relative to the disposition of the rebel forces along the line of the railroad.

Soon after dark, the advance commenced the descent of the mountain, hoping to make a long march before sunrise, but owing to the steepness, narrowness and roughness of the way, the rear of the column did not reach the foot of the mountain, until 10 p. m., having consumed four hours on the way. Gen. Carter was told there were 400 rebel cavalry in the vicinity of Jonesville one mile distant. As it was important to move through Lee County, Virginia, without exciting suspicion, he moved down Cane Creek, and passing through a Gap in Poor Valley ridge, crossed Powell’s Valley about five miles east of Jonesville. On leaving the valley road, his guides were at fault and valuable time was lost in finding the way. The march was continued through the night and at daylight the troops reached the top of Wallen’s Ridge, 22 miles distant from the foot of Cumberland Mountain, and halted. Thus far they had advanced without giving any alarm, or even exciting any suspicion as to their character. The village of Shelbyville lay immediately below, and but for the imprudence of an officer in allowing the men to visit the village, they could have passed on as rebel cavalry. A number of rebel soldiers belonging to Trigg’s battalion were within Carter’s lines, supposing they were among friends and were captured.

In a short time the U. S. troops were again in the saddle,--passed through Stickleyville, across Powell’s Mountain, and through Pattonsville. Before sunset, they crossed Clinch River 12 miles from Estillville, Scott County, Virginia, and halted for a couple of hours. News of their approach had gone before them, but few of the rebels were disposed to credit it, believing it impossible that a Government force would venture so far within their territory. Upon arriving at Estillville at 10 P. M., they were told that a considerable rebel force was in possession of “Moccasin Gap,” prepared to resist their passage. Gen. Carter could not afford to lose time. The Michigan Battalions were dismounted, and under Lieut. Colonel Campbell, a portion was deployed and moved through the Gap. Being unacquainted with the ground, and having to guard against an ambuscade in this strong pass,--which could have been held by a strong force against greatly superior numbers--they advanced with great caution. It was midnight before the rear of the column had passed through. The enemy, deterred by this resolute advance, fled towards Kingsport, East Tennessee, without firing a gun. A rebel Lieutenant and several soldiers with their arms, were captured on the south side of the Gap, on the Blountville road. During the remainder of the night the men moved forward as rapidly as was practicable over unknown roads,--picking up rebel soldiers by the way. Owing to the darkness of the night, a portion of the command lost their way and became separated from the main body. A small force of the enemy’s cavalry, hovering about the rear, killed a Sergeant of the 2nd Michigan, and captured two others who had wandered from the road. At daylight on the morning of 30th December, the troops reached the town of Blountville, Sullivan County, East Tennessee, surprised and took possession of the place, captured some 30 soldiers belonging to the 4th Kentucky Rebel Cavalry and paroled them. They were there informed that at Bristol, some eight miles distant, there was a large amount of stores, besides the meat of a considerable number of hogs, belonging to the Rebel authorities, but as the place was guarded, according to the best information obtained, by a regiment of Infantry under Colonel Slimp, (said to be 900 strong,) a Cavalry force under Colonel Gettner and a battery, they were reluctantly compelled to leave it on their left, and move towards the railroad bridge at Union, six miles from Blountville. The General sent forward Lieut. Colonel Campbell, with a portion of the 2nd Michigan under the direction of Col. Jas. P. T. Carter of 2nd East Tennessee Infantry, towards Union, with orders to take the place and destroy the railroad bridge across the Holston river. As soon as the remainder of the troops which had been separated during the night, came up, he moved them rapidly forward in the same direction. When he reached Union, he found the town in the possession of his men, and the railroad bridge, a pine structure some 600 feet in length, slowly burning. The rebel force, about 150 strong, consisting of two companies of the 62nd North Carolina troops under command of Major McDowell, had surrendered without resistance; the Major himself having been first captured by the advance of the U. S. troops while endeavoring to learn if there was any truth in the report of their approach. The prisoners were paroled, and a large number of them were that afternoon on their way to the mountains of North Carolina, swearing they would never be exchanged. Their joy at being captured seemed to be unbounded.

The stores, barracks, tents, a large number of arms and equipments, a considerable amount of nitre, a railroad car, the depot, &c., &c., were destroyed; also a wagon bridge across the river, a few hundred yards below the railroad bridge. As soon as the work of destruction was fairly under way. Gen. Carter dispatched Colonel Walker with detachments from the 2nd Michigan, 9th Pennsylvania and 7th Ohio Cavalry,--in all 180 men, the whole under the guidance of Col. Carter,--towards the Watauga bridge at Carter Depot, 10 miles west of Union. On their way they captured a locomotive and tender, with Col. Love of the 62nd North Carolina troops, who having heard of the approach of the “Yankees,” had started on the locomotive to Union, to ascertain the truth of the rumor. On the detachments reaching the Station about sunset, they found the enemy, consisting of two companies of North Carolina troops, estimated by Colonel Walker at nearly 200 men, falling into line. Col. Walker gallantly attacked them and after a brief but warm resistance, they broke and fled to the woods. The gallant Major Roper of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, with two Companies of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry under Capt. Jones of that Regiment, made a dashing charge and captured and destroyed many of their number. Maj. Roper’s loss was 1 killed, 1 mortally, 1 severely and 2 slightly wounded. The entire loss of the enemy, owing to the darkness of the night, could not be learned with certainty, but it was in killed, 12 to 16. The railroad bridge across the Watauga River, some 300 feet in length, was soon in flames and entirely destroyed; also a large number of arms and valuable stores. The captured locomotive was run into the river and completely demolished, destroying in its passage one of the piers of the bridge.

The men and horses, especially the latter, were much worn and jaded from constant travel and want of rest. The alarm had been given. The rebels had the road open to Knoxville and could move up a strong force. The General also learned that some 500 cavalry and 4 guns, under Col. Folks, were within three miles; that an Infantry force would be concentrated at Johnson’s depot, six miles west of Carter’s station by daylight; and further, that Humphrey Marshall, who was at Abingdon, Virginia, was moving his troops to occupy the mountains and thus cut off his egress. It was deemed prudent therefore to return. The command left Watauga, and after a hard march, reached Kingsport at the mouth of the North Fork of the Holston River at sunset on the 31st of December. After feeding and resting a short time and issuing meat to the men, they were again in the saddle, passed eight miles north of Rogersville, and reached Looney’s Gap on Clinch Mountain late in the afternoon, passed through without opposition, and about 11 P. M., January 1st, reached a place on the edge of Hancock County, Tennessee, where forage could be procured, and bivouaced for the night. This was the first night’s rest the men had been able to take since the night of the 27th ult. They had been annoyed during the day and night by bushwhackers, but Providentially escaped with only two men slightly wounded.

Soon after daylight on the morning of the 2d inst., the command proceeded towards Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia, with the intention of reaching the foot of Cumberland Mountain on the Kentucky side before halting. Its march was much impeded during the day by bushwhackers, who constantly annoyed the front and rear. Just before reaching Jonesville, they endeavored to check Gen. Carter by occupying the hills in his front with two companies, (supposed to be Larimore’s and Staley’s); but they were soon driven from their strong position by the skirmishers of the 2d Michigan. The command reached Jonesville late in the afternoon; but before its rear guard had passed, it was attacked by about 200 rebels. Col. Walker took charge of the rear guard, reinforced by two light companies and drove the assailants back to the woods. Several of their number were killed,--one in the village of Jonesville and some twenty were captured during the day, without suffering any loss. From prisoners the General learned that the passes in Powell’s and Clinch mountains, through which he marched in going to Union, had been blockaded and were occupied by three or four companies of infantry. He reached the foot of Cumberland Mountain, passing through “Crank’s Gap,” at 11 P. M., and bivouaced;--men and horses completely jaded and worn, having been in the last five days and seventeen hours, but thirty hours out of the saddle.

On the 5th inst., the command reached Manchester, Clay County, Kentucky, and rested on the following day.

Gen. Carter says in conclusion, that “notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the severity of the march and the scanty supply of rations, for no inconsiderable portion of the time; both officers and men bore their hardships without a single murmur or word of complaint. They returned after a journey of 470 miles, 170 of which were in the enemy’s country, in high spirits and in good condition, proud to think they had accomplished a feat which for hazard and hardship has no parallel in the history of the war.”

APPENDIX: NOTE N: Page 196.

When the United States Army under Burnside approached Knoxville, September, 1863, Captain S. T. Harris was taken with other prisoners to Columbia, S. C. He was there put in chains that weighed from 12 to 15 pounds, and cruelly imprisoned. His father applied to President Davis, and in consequence, he was transferred from the filthy and almost airless cell where he lay, to a better one.

In the same prison were confined a scaling party of the United States Naval Officers, who had been captured in a night attack on Fort Sumter, September, 1863. One of them was Ensign Porter, of whom the Rev. H. Clay Trumbull says in the Church Magazine, August, 1886; “Apart of the time he was in irons as one of the hostages for two Confederate privateersmen who were held by our (the United States) Government as pirates. He was the life of the party. He was always taking a cheery view of the situation.... In a room of the jail, adjoining that of the naval officers, there was confined in irons a Captain Harris of Tennessee, held as a hostage for some Confederate prisoner under special charges. It was a delight of Ben. Porter to put his mouth to the key-hole of the intervening door and whistle a lively tune, while the Captain danced to it with the accompanying clanking of his chains. After Porter had been himself in irons, he taught Captain Harris how to remove and replace his handcuffs and fetters, without the knowledge of the prison officials. It was through this instruction, that Captain Harris’s life was saved when the Columbia jail was burned, early in 1865.”

Captain Harris relates that he was hurried off with other prisoners under guard from Columbia, that they might not be delivered by Gen. Sherman’s army, and that, having learned while in prison at Knoxville the trick of slipping off his chains at pleasure, he released himself of those with which he had been bound in Columbia and left them in a swamp. He was paroled at Charlotte, N. C., and in exchange for Captain Ellison of the C. S. Army, a prisoner at Nashville held as hostage for him by order of President Lincoln, he was finally transferred from Wilmington, to the United States authorities. On his return to Knoxville, where he had forgiven all his enemies when expecting soon to be executed, he did not fully illustrate the saying of the poet, that young men “soon forget affronts;” but meeting with one who had sought his life when a helpless prisoner, he remembered the wrong, and in a brief interview redressed it to his enemy’s discontent.

APPENDIX: NOTE O: Page 207.

[From official reports concerning the Sanders raid in East Tennessee, June 14-24, 1863.]

Colonel William P. Sanders, in obedience to special instructions from the General Commanding the Department, left Mount Vernon, Kentucky, June 14, 1863, with a force of 1,500 mounted men, composed of detachments of different regiments, as follows: Seven hundred of the 1st East Tennessee mounted Infantry, under Colonel R. K. Byrd; 200 of the 44th Ohio mounted infantry, under Major Moore; 200 of the 112th Illinois mounted infantry, under Major Dow; 150 of the 7th Ohio Cavalry Volunteers, under Captain Rankin; 150 of the Second Ohio Cavalry Volunteers, under Captain Welch; 100 of the First Kentucky cavalry Volunteers, under Captain (G. W.) Drye, and a section of Captain Konkle’s battery. First Regiment Ohio Artillery Volunteers, under Lieutenant Lloyd,--for the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. From Mount Vernon to Williamsburg, on the Cumberland river, a distance of sixty miles, a train of wagons containing forage and subsistence stores, accompanied the expedition. From this point, he followed a route known as the Marsh Creek road to near Huntsville, Tennessee, leaving that place a few miles to his left. He reached the vicinity of Montgomery, Tennessee, on the evening of the 17th of June, and learning that a small party of rebels were stationed at Wartburg, one mile from Montgomery, he sent 400 men from the 1st East Tennessee to surprise and capture them, following one hour afterward himself with the remainder of the command. The surprise was complete. They captured 102 enlisted men and two officers (one of them an aide to General Pegram,) together with a large number of horses, sixty boxes artillery ammunition, several thousand pounds of bacon, salt, flour, and meal, some corn, 500 spades, 100 picks, besides a large quantity of other public stores, and six wagons with mule teams. The prisoners were paroled, and the property destroyed.

A small portion of this command, who were out some distance from the camp, with their horses, escaped and gave the first notice of Sanders’s approach, at Knoxville, Kingston, Loudon and other places. From that point he marched toward Kingston. When within eight miles of it, he learned positively that Scott’s brigade and one battery were at that place, guarding the ford of Clinch River. For this reason, leaving Kingston to his right, he crossed the river eight miles above, at Waller’s Ford on the direct road to Loudon. At daylight, on the 19th (June), he was within three miles of Loudon, and about the same distance from Lenoir’s. He there learned that a force of three regiments was at the Loudon bridge, with eight pieces of artillery, and that they had been for two weeks strengthening the works at that place, digging rifle pits, ditches, &c. A courier was captured from the commanding officer at Loudon, with dispatches ordering the forces from Kingston to follow in Sanders’s rear, and stating that the troops from Lenoir’s had been ordered to join them. Sanders determined to avoid Loudon and started immediately for Lenoir’s station, which place he reached about 8 A. M., arriving there about thirty minutes after the departure of the rebel troops. At that station he captured a detachment of artillerymen, with three 6 pounder iron guns, eight officers and fifty-seven enlisted men, burned the depot, a large brick building, containing five pieces of artillery, with harness and saddles, two thousand five hundred stand of small arms, a very large amount of artillery and musket ammunition, and artillery and cavalry equipments. The depot was entirely occupied with military stores, and one car filled with saddles and artillery harness. He also captured some seventy-five Confederate States mules and horses. There was a large cotton factory with a large amount of cotton at the place, and he ordered that it should not be burned, as it furnished the Union citizens of the country with their only material for making cloth, but it was burned by mistake or accidentally. He had the telegraph wire and railroad destroyed from there on to Knoxville, at points about one mile apart. He met the enemy’s pickets at Knoxville about 7 P. M. on the 19th (June,) and drove them to within a mile of the city. Leaving a portion of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry on the southwest side of the town, he moved the rest of his command as soon as it was dark by another road entirely around to the other side, driving in the pickets at several places, and cut the railroad, so that no troops could be sent to the bridges above. At daylight he moved up to the city on the Tazewell road and found the enemy well posted on the heights and in the adjacent buildings, with eight or nine pieces of artillery. The streets were barricaded with cotton bales, and the batteries protected by the same material. Their force was estimated at 3,000, including citizens who were impressed into service. After about one hour’s skirmishing Sanders withdrew, capturing near the city two pieces of artillery, 6 pounders, the tents, and all the camp equipage of a regiment of conscripts, about eighty Confederate States horses, and thirty-one prisoners.

He then started for Strawberry Plains, following the railroad, and destroyed all the small bridges and depots to within four miles of the latter place at Flat Creek, where he burned a finely built, covered bridge and also a county bridge. The guard had retreated. He left the railroad three miles below the town, and crossed the Holston River, so as to attack the bridge on the same side the enemy were. As soon as he came in sight they opened on the advance with four pieces of artillery. He dismounted the infantry and sent the 44th Ohio, under Major Moore, up the river, and the rest under Colonel Byrd and Major Dow, to get in their rear. After about an hour’s skirmishing, the enemy was driven off, and leaving a train and locomotive with steam up in waiting, a portion of them escaped. All their guns (five in number), 137 enlisted men and two officers, a vast amount of stores, ammunition, and provisions, (including 600 sacks of salt) about seventy tents and a great quantity of camp equipage were left in his hands. He remained at the place all night and destroyed the splendid bridge over the Holston River, over 1,600 feet long, built on eleven piers, the trestle included.

At daylight on the 21st (June) he started up the railroad for the Mossy Creek bridge, destroying the road at all convenient points. At Mossy Creek, New Market and vicinity, he captured 120 prisoners and destroyed several cars, a large quantity of stores, several hundred barrels of saltpetre, 200 barrels of sugar, and a large amount of other stores. The bridge burned at Mossy Creek was a fine one, over 300 feet in length. Near this place he also destroyed the machinery of a gun factory and a saltpetre factory.

He determined to leave the railroad here and endeavor to cross the mountains at Rogers’ Gap, as he knew every exertion was being made on the part of the enemy to capture his command. Fording the Holston, at Hayworth’s Bend, he started for the Powder Spring Gap of Clinch Mountain. There a large force was found directly in his front, and another strong force overtook and commenced skirmishing with his rear guard. By taking country roads he got into the Gap without trouble or loss, and had all this force in his rear. On arriving within a mile and a-half of Rogers’ Gap, he found that it was blockaded by fallen timber, and strongly guarded by artillery and infantry, and that all the gaps practicable were obstructed and guarded in a similar manner. He then determined to abandon his artillery and move by a wood path to Smith’s Gap, three miles from Rogers’ Gap. The guns, carriages, harness and ammunition were completely destroyed, and left. He had now a large force, both in front and rear, and could only avoid capture by getting into the mountains, and thus place all his foes in the rear, which he succeeded in doing, after driving a regiment of cavalry from Smith’s Gap. The road through this pass was only a bridle path, and very rough. He did not get up the mountain until after night. About 170 of his men and officers got on the wrong road, and did not rejoin the command until it reached Kentucky.

Owing to the continual march, many horses gave out and were left, and although several hundred were captured on the march, they were not enough to supply the men. He reached Boston, Ky., on the 24th, with a loss of two killed, four wounded and thirteen missing. The number of prisoners paroled by him was 461.

After acknowledging his indebtedness for the success of the expedition to several officers of his command, Col. Sanders did so chiefly to Sergeant Reynolds, First East Tennessee volunteers, and his guides. He said: “Reynolds’ knowledge of the country was thorough, reliable and invaluable.” “All the officers and men deserved great credit and praise for the cheerfulness with which they submitted to great hardships and fatigue, and their energy and readiness at all times either to fight or march.”

APPENDIX: NOTE P: Page 207.

[Confederate account of the fight at Knoxville, in the Sanders Raid, condensed from the Report of Lieut. Col. Milton A. Haynes, C. S. Artillery, to Maj. Von Sheliha, Chief of Gen. Buckner’s staff.]

DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE, JUNE 21, 1863.

Major General Buckner had marched toward Big Creek Gap with all the artillery and all the other disposable force at this post, except Colonel Trigg’s 51st (54th) Virginia Regiment, and Colonel J. J. Finley’s 7th (6th) Florida Regiment; effective force about 1,000 men; leaving Colonel Trigg temporarily in command at Knoxville. On the morning of the 19th, Maj. Von Sheliha, Acting Chief of Staff, was informed that the enemy in large force had passed by Loudon, and were at Lenoir’s Station, twenty-four miles from Knoxville, and he requested Lieut. Col. Haynes to take charge of the artillery defence of the city, and to organize his force from the convalescents in the hospitals and from citizens, to man his guns then in the city. At the same time he ordered Maj. S. H. Reynolds, Chief of Ordnance, to issue to Lieut. Col. Haynes as many field pieces as could possibly be put in condition within a few hours, and to furnish him with all necessary equipments and one hundred rounds of ammunition. This order was fulfilled as far as was practicable.

In the mean time the citizens of Knoxville had been ordered to report to Col. Haynes or to Col. (E. D.) Blake for duty for the defence of the city.

At 3 o’clock in the afternoon of that day it was known that the enemy was within five miles of the city, and their advance were skirmishing with thirty-seven of our cavalrymen, being all that were then in Knoxville. The eight pieces of artillery at the ordnance department were immediately posted in sections. First, at College Hill, under Maj. Baker (the exposed point); second, on McGhee’s Hill, under Capt. Hugh L. McClung, and third, under Lieut. Patterson and Lieut. J. J. Burroughs, at Summit Hill. This last battery had been fortified during the afternoon, under the superintendence of Capt. (W. F.) Foster, of the engineers, with a cotton bale revetment. During that evening, the enemy failing to advance, Colonel Trigg removed Major Baker’s battery from College Hill to a point near the Asylum Hospital. In the evening about 200 persons, citizens and convalescent soldiers from hospitals, had reported for duty, and each of the batteries was fully manned, although in the morning of the same day there was no artillery force whatever in the city.

During the night the pickets of the enemy advanced upon the city, but the Confederate pickets, thrown out by Col. Trigg, after an hour’s skirmish, drove them back at about 2 o’clock in the morning.

At 7 o’clock on the 20th, four pieces of artillery, detached by Gen. Buckner from his command, reached the ordnance depot, and were immediately taken to the rear as a reserve. Soon after, the enemy advanced at double quick time from beyond the workshops in North Knoxville, where the Confederates had neither battery nor soldiers to oppose them. Colonel Haynes took “a section of Wyly’s battery, and moved them at a gallop to a point immediately in front of the advancing column, and opened fire upon them with spherical case. The enemy took shelter behind houses and fences, and threw forward sharp-shooters within 200 yards of the Confederate Battery which was entirely unsupported by infantry, and 400 yards from any support. At the same time a battery of three-inch rifled guns belonging to the enemy opened upon the Confederates at 800 yards, and during the first two or three shots killed and wounded some of their men and several horses. The battery was then advanced and ordered not to fire at the artillery, but at the infantry. The enemy at this moment forming a column, advanced rapidly, but after receiving two rounds of canister, they retreated.” ... “During the same time the battery under Lieut. J. J. Burroughs and Lieut. Patterson on Summit Hill, were also engaged and kept up a continual fire, during which Capt. McClung and Lieut. Fellows were killed. The section under Lieut. Whelon, before ordered by Col. Trigg to Temperance Hill, opened fire from there upon the retreating enemy, which, with the fire from Wyly’s battery, Burroughs’ battery and Maj Baker’s, completed the victory.” ... “The enemy had one battery of artillery and about 2,600 men, opposed by about 1,000 men, part of whom were citizens and convalescent soldiers.”

Col. Haynes says in his report: “Among many citizens who reported to me that day for duty, I must not forget to mention Hon. Landon C. Haynes, Hon. Wm. H. Sneed, Hon. John H. Crozier, Rev. Joseph H. Martin and Rev. Mr. Woolfolk, and many others who do not desire me to mention their names. With such compatriots and such fellow-soldiers a man might willingly at any time meet the foe.

“Our loss was two officers and two enlisted men killed and four enlisted men wounded. Loss of enemy, forty-five.”

APPENDIX: NOTE R: Page 227.

[Gen. Longstreet, concerning the military situation in East Tennessee, Nov., 1863.]

Whether or not the movement of Longstreet against Burnside originated with Mr. Jefferson Davis, as Gen. Grant was informed, it appears from the following letter published in 1871,[64] that Gen. Longstreet was dissatisfied with the way in which Gen. Bragg had ordered things and was conducting operations in front of Chattanooga; that he attributed the idea of his own expedition to Bragg’s mind; that he thought it was the least favorable of opportunities for relief to the situation, but that having heard of it, he had proposed, without avail, a plan to make the movement greatly advantageous. Gen. Grant in his Memoirs, puts the force with which Longstreet left Chattanooga “to go against Burnside” at about 15,000 troops besides Wheeler’s Cavalry, 5,000 more.

Extract from a letter written by Gen. Longstreet, dated July 12th, 1871:

“I have just concluded to send you a copy of a letter written by me just on the point of mounting my horse to start upon the East Tennessee campaign. It was written after my tent was struck, sitting in the rain, (a light drizzle) from the head of an empty flour barrel; but I think that, concise and hurriedly as it was written, it plainly indicated that I understood what Grant’s campaign would be; that is, I understood the conditions and situations of the two armies well enough to know what Grant _should_ do, and it is always safe to assume, with such a man, that he will do what he should do. Seeing the letter that I send a copy of, amongst my papers that I was overlooking. I determined to send it, in order that you might be assured of our force and of my appreciation of the campaign when it was projected by General Bragg:”

HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 5, 1863.

S. B. BUCKNER, MAJOR GENERAL.

MY DEAR GENERAL--I start to-day for Tyner’s Station, and expect to get transportation to-morrow for Sweetwater. The weather is so bad, and I find myself so occupied that I shall not be able to see you to say good-bye.

When I heard the report around camp, that I was to go into East Tennessee, I set to work at once to try and plan the means of making the move with security, and the hope of great results.

As every other move had been proposed to the General and rejected, or put off till time made them more inconvenient, I came to the conclusion as soon as the report reached me, that this was to be the fate of our army; to await till all good opportunities had passed, and then, in desperation, to seize upon the least favorable one.

As no one had proposed this East Tennessee campaign to the General, I thought it possible that we might accomplish something by encouraging his own move, and (I) proposed the following plan, viz: To withdraw from our present lines, and the forces now in East Tennessee: the latter to be done in order to give the impression to the enemy that we were retiring from East Tennessee, and concentrating here for battle or for some other movement, and place our army in a strong (concentrated) position. The moment the army was together, make a detachment of 20,000 to move rapidly against Burnside and destroy him; and by continued rapid movements, to threaten the enemy’s rear and his communications to the extent that might be necessary to draw him out from his present position. This, at least, is a tedious process, but I thought it gave promise of some results, and was therefore better than lying here destroying ourselves.

The move, as I proposed it, would have left this army (Bragg’s) in a strong position and safe, and would have made sure the capture of Burnside. That is, the army here could spare 20,000 if it were in the position that I proposed, better than it can spare 12,000, occupying the lines that it now does. Twenty thousand men well handled could surely have captured Burnside and forces. Under present arrangements, however, the lines are to be held as they now are, and the detachment is to be of say, 12,000. We thus expose both to failure, and really take no chance to ourselves of great results. The only notice my plan received was a remark that General Hardee was pleased to make: ‘I don’t think that that is a bad idea of Longstreet’s.’ I undertook to explain the danger of having such a long line under the fire of the enemy’s batteries, and he concentrated, as it were, right in our midst, and within twenty minutes march of any portion of our line. But I was assured that he would not disturb us. I repeated my ideas, but they did not even receive notice. ’Twas not till I had repeated my plan, however, that Gen. Hardee even noticed me.

Have you any maps that you can give or lend me? I shall need every thing of the kind. Do you know any reliable people living near and east of Knoxville, from whom I might get information of the condition, strength, &c., of the enemy. I have written in such hurry and confusion of packing and striking camp, that I doubt if I have made myself understood.

I remain very sincerely your friend, (Signed) J. LONGSTREET, Lieutenant General.

APPENDIX: NOTE S: Page 246.

[The night ride of Refugees to Kentucky.]

One of the party of refugees from Knoxville, as Longstreet approached it, relates: “The attention of wayside inhabitants, on the occasion of this escapade was the sharper, because the news of Longstreet’s advance had already spread through the country; and many were the questions with which the excited and curious population plied the fleeing party; such as “What is the matter,” etc., etc. The discomfort of the travellers was especially relieved by the tongue of an elderly woman whom they encountered. In order to relish the amusement her sallies afforded them it should be remembered that “Parson Brownlow” as he was often called, not only had great popular notoriety, but was as highly esteemed by one party to the strife as he was intensely hated by the other. By the rebels he was thought to be,

“The very head and front of their offending.”

By the Union people he was everywhere known as their fearless and indomitable champion; and the idea of his giving way before the coming of their foes, could find place in their minds only along side of a desperate emergency.

As we plunged along with the north star for our main guide, we were continually hailed to know what was the trouble, and what was the state of things at Knoxville? It is specially remembered that just after entering Anderson County, we were saluted by one of the numerous families peculiar to that region, headed by the matron, torch in hand:

‘What in the name of goodness does all this mean? and where are you men going? Is Burnside retreating? or who are you any how?’

It was mildly answered to her by one of the more polite-mannered gentlemen of the party, that Gen Burnside, so far from being able to retreat, was in all probability a prisoner with his whole army.

‘And are you running,’ exclaimed she, ‘without firing a gun?’ ‘Oh no!’ said an elderly gentleman; ‘we are simply retiring in good order, to save the country.’

‘Yes!’ said she, as she flamed her torch with a sort of patriotic fierceness; ‘I expect the next thing I’ll hear will be that Old Bill Brownlow is running too!’

At this juncture, the reverend gentleman so irreverently referred to, in a subdued tone of voice, remarked:

‘Gentlemen, this is no place to make a stand; I think I’d rather encounter Longstreet’s army, or Vaughn’s cavalry, than that woman.’”[65]

Capt. A. J. Ricks, the military escort of the party says: “One man of the group, from the beginning of the hazardous ride, impressed me with the coolness, judgment and courage, with which he confronted dangers, and advised as to the best means of avoiding them; and it was soon apparent that the distinguished band looked to him as leader and adviser. And when, at an hour that all agreed my orders required me to leave them to their own chances and I parted from them with many misgivings as to their safety, I noticed that they all instinctively turned to John Baxter, as pilot and commander.”

They did so with good reason, for he had quick and accurate judgment and a powerful will. Mr. Ricks, now of Massilon, Ohio, in his address at a meeting of the bar of northern Ohio, held at Cleveland, Ohio, April 6, 1886, concerning the recent death of the Hon. John Baxter, of the U. S. Circuit Court, related some interesting incidents in the Judge’s personal history during the civil war.

“No one of all the famous Union men of that conspicuously loyal section, (East Tennessee,) was more fearless, consistent or aggressive in the struggle against secession than our departed friend. He was a leader in the historic Union Convention of 1861, which held its session, planning open opposition to the Confederacy, while rebel regiments by the train load, destined for Virginia, were passing by within hailing distance. Johnson, Maynard, Brownlow, Nelson and Baxter were the leading spirits in its deliberations.

“Although the disposition of many members of that convention to make organized armed resistance at once, and to put Baxter in command of the forces was not approved by his knowledge of the environment, he was recommended from Greeneville to President Lincoln for a Brigadier General’s commission in the army. This honor was tendered, but for satisfactory reasons was declined.

“In 1862, while on professional business at Memphis, he was arrested by the Confederate military authorities and confined to prison sixteen days, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, but finally, he was unconditionally released.

“In 1861, he defended three Union men[66] before a Confederate Military Commission. They were charged with having burned railroad bridges in aid of the Union cause. He argued against the jurisdiction of the tribunal, contending that so long as the civil courts were open and the due course of legal proceedings was uninterrupted, the citizens arraigned were entitled to a trial by jury, after indictment by a grand jury, a doctrine long afterwards affirmed by the Supreme Court, in the Milligan case.

“In 1862, a gallant band of Ohio soldiers, known as the Mitchell raiders, who, in a lawful military expedition, had seized some engines and cars and run them towards the Federal lines, were captured and tried before a court-martial as spies. Baxter volunteered to defend them and made a fearless argument for them before the court-martial at Knoxville, urging that they were not spies engaged in a sneaking expedition, but that taking the risks of war, they had made an open venture as soldiers under legitimate military orders, and were entitled to be treated as prisoners of war, subject to exchange, &c. But the spirit of animosity was then so great, that the argument of the Union lawyer was of no avail, and seven of the brave men were shot as spies, while five others escaped during the excitement of a retreat. One of them is now a prominent Methodist clergyman of this State.

“One other incident of this stormy and eventful part of his life, forcibly illustrates his fearless character. In 1861, happening one day to step into the Court-house, he found a meeting of citizens called to devise means for raising troops for the rebel army. A person in the audience, unfriendly to him, and desiring to provoke him to talk in the presence of soldiers, suggested that perhaps Colonel Baxter would make them a speech. He did so, and made quite a different speech from what they wanted to hear. He compared the resources of the North and South--told them that superior numbers and wealth and advantages in arming and equipping forces were sure to give the North success; and that the war, if prosecuted long, would end in the liberation of their slaves, loss of life and treasure and final defeat. He also argued against the policy of conscripting Union men for the Confederate army, and advised the soldiers present, that such men would be of no service or aid to them. A garbled report of the speech was published in a Confederate paper, making it even more obnoxious than it was as delivered. A Georgia regiment stopped a few days afterwards, on the way to Virginia, and a few personal enemies of Baxter supplied them with drink and copies of the paper containing the garbled speech and suggested that he ought to be hanged. They proceeded to the Court-house where, it was reported, that Colonel Baxter was engaged in the trial of a case. His friends, learning of the danger that threatened him, reached the Court-house in advance of the soldiers and advised him to flee for his life. Instead of doing so, he walked out of the Court-house in the midst of the soldiers and inquired if they were looking for him. One of the leaders thrust a copy of the rebel paper into his hands and asked him if he was the man who made that speech? He told them in a cool, deliberate, fearless manner of the circumstances under which he had made a speech and of the character of the one actually delivered--of the spirit that actuated the men in calling on him for the speech, and of the motive that prompted the publication of it in a garbled form; and then portrayed the cowardice of those who had incited them through drink to come by hundreds to take the life of an unarmed and unprotected man. He asked them if they proposed to be the tools of such men, who dared not confront him personally? His manner, his tact, his manly courage, first startled them, then arrested their attention to his defence and finally won their admiration. Instead of hanging him, they applauded his pluck and approved his denunciation of his enemies. And it is believed that he could easily have turned their fury against his assailants, if he had made the attempt.”

APPENDIX: NOTE T: Page 251.

[The Topography of Knoxville and Its Vicinity.]

“On the north bank of the river, a narrow ridge is formed, extending from a point about two and a-half miles east of Knoxville, to Lenoir’s. It has an average base of about one and a-half miles in width. At Knoxville, the width is about one mile. This ridge is cut through at short intervals by small streams, two of which, First and Second creeks, run through the town of Knoxville at a distance from each other of about three-fourths of a mile. The main part of the town is built upon that portion of the ridge bounded on the northwest by the valley, on the southwest by Second Creek, on the southeast by the Holston River and on the northeast by First Creek. It has the appearance of a table, elevated about 150 feet above the river, and about 100 feet above the valley. Again, Third Creek is found about seven-eighths of a mile below Second Creek, forming a second similar table. A depression in the ridge about the same distance east of First Creek, forms still another table upon which is built East Knoxville. This elevated ground is called Temperance Hill. From this eastward, the ridge is more broken until it disappears and other ridges spring up. This last division is known as Mabry’s Hill, and is the highest ground by some twenty feet to be found on the north side of the river within cannon range of Knoxville.”

CAPTAIN O. M. POE, Chief Engineer, Dept. of the Ohio.

APPENDIX: NOTE U: Page 282.

Gen. Sherman found on Gen. Burnside’s table such a good dinner, that he exclaimed at its contradiction of statements he had heard, that the besieged army was starving. Gen. Burnside explained that he had access to supplies from farmers on the south side of the river. No doubt the dinner was exceptional in the family and had been provided at extra pains, in honor of the guest. Had he shared the rations of the soldiers during the siege, he could have verified the reported scarcity.

The Comte de Paris seems to have read between the lines of Gen. Sherman’s Memoirs, for he represents that “Gen. Sherman relates his astonishment when entering a place (Knoxville) which he believed to be reduced to the last extremities, he beheld a park of the finest cattle, and when afterwards, Burnside bade him sit down to a table abundantly served, he understands that the peril has been exaggerated.” (History of the Civil War in America: By the Comte de Paris, Vol. IV., page 329.)

The Count is here distressingly inaccurate. Gen. Sherman does not say that at Knoxville he beheld a park filled with the finest cattle. He could not have done so, for they were not there to be seen. The “park and the finest cattle” are figments of the imagination.

APPENDIX: NOTE V: Page 285.

Will H. Brearley of Michigan quotes from a letter written by Col. E. P. Alexander, Chief Engineer of Gen. Longstreet, dated October 18, 1870, as follows:

“I believe I know as much or more of the assault on Fort Sanders than any one living, as I first proposed and planned it--not, however, as it was carried out, for several days’ delay was caused by the arrival upon the ground of Bragg’s engineer, Gen. Leadbetter, who insisted on an attempt _above_ the town, which, however, he gave up in a _reconnoisance_; and by an additional delay of one day of bad weather, during which Gen. Leadbetter suddenly decided to give up the plan we had agreed upon and try a surprise!!! I was then too young and modest to say a word of objection, and the attempted surprise ended as you well know--though doubtless was and will always remain a surprise to you, in one sense at least.” (See “Recollections of the East Tennessee Campaign.”)

Mr. Brearley also states in his sketches, that during the truce ordered at the conclusion of the Fort Sanders fight, Capt. Poe and Col. Alexander, who had been acquaintances at West Point, had an interview. “Col. Poe very naturally felt like bantering Col. Alexander about the morning’s work, and asked him if they ‘intended to try it again?’ which was answered in the negative. Col. Alexander then said, ‘We did not know there was a ditch in front of the Fort;’ which was responded to by an invitation from Col. Poe to ‘go up and see it,’ but was politely declined with, ‘I am fully satisfied on that point.’”

APPENDIX: NOTE W: Page 298.

Commissioned Officers of the United States Army from Tennessee, in 1861-’65, above the grade of Lieutenant:

_Major Generals by Brevet_--Samuel P. Carter, Joseph A. Cooper, Alvin C. Gillem.

_Brigadier Generals_--William B. Campbell, Andrew Johnson, James G. Spears.

_Brigadier Generals by Brevet_--James P. Brownlow, George Spaulding, William J. Smith.

_Colonels_--Spencer B. Boyd, R. K. Byrd, J. P. Carter, Wm. Cross, L. C. Houk, Fielding Hurst, Robert Johnson, George McPherson, James M. Melton, John K. Miller, George W. Moore, John Murphy, Samuel K. N. Patton, Joseph H. Parsons, William C. Pickens, William F. Prosser, Daniel M. Ray, Felix A. Reeve, James W. Scully, James T. Shelley, William B. Stokes, Daniel Stover, Isham Young.

_Lieutenant Colonels_--James T. Abernathy, Joseph H. Blackburn, Albert F. Beach, Stephen Beard, W. K. M. Breckenridge, George W. Bridges, J. W. Bowman, Andrew J. Brown, Roderick R. Butler, John C. Chiles, William J. Cleveland, William J. Clift, William R. Cook, R. Clay Crawford, James J. Dail, R. A. Davis, Calvin M. Dyer, John Ellis, John Feudge, Frank F. Fisher, Frank T. Foster, Robert Galbraith, Abraham E. Garrett, J. W. M. Grayson, George A. Gowin, Charles C. Halfling, Owen Haney, Isaac R. Hawkins, Charles C. Holding, William H. Ingerton, John S. Kirwan, George D. La Vergne, Edward Maynard, John B. Minnis, Charles C. McCaleb, Michael L. Patterson, Milton L. Phillips, Thomas H. Reeves, Pleasant C. Rutherford, William M. Sawyers, Orlando H. Shearer, James W. Spaulding, Brazilian P. Stacy, William P. Story, Duff C. Thornburgh, Jacob M. Thornburgh, D. C. Trewhitt, Fremontin Young.

_Majors_--John F. Armstrong, William S. Barnett, Benjamin J. Bingham, Edward Black, Luther M. Blackman, James S. Bradford, Jason A. Bradshaw, William H. Bean, Sater Boland, James O. Berry, Thomas H. Boswell, David G. Bowers, Morgan F. Buckhart, D. A. Carpenter, Favor Cason, Albert C. Catlett, M. Cleaveland, Henry Crumbliss, Ben. Cunningham, William B. Davis, James E. Deakins, William J. S. Denton, James M. Dickerson, Oliver M. Dodson, David C. Donett, Robert H. M. Donnelly, George W. Doughty, R. H. Dunn, Patrick F. Dyer, John Elliott, John Ellis, Daniel D. Emerson, Henry G. Flagg, A. Marion Gamble, Joseph Grigsby, Sterling Hambright, Abram Hammon, John S. Herman, James H. Hornsby, George W. Hutsell, Charles Inman, James H. Johnson, Christopher C. Kenner, Gaines Lawson, Mack J. Liaming, William R. McBath, Francis M. McKey, Louis Mandazy, Middleton L. Moore, John Parr, Samuel W. Pickens, John M. Sawyers, Charles C. Shoyer, Eldridge S. Sidwell, Burton Smith, Meshac Stevens, Benjamin F. Taylor, Robert M. Thompson, Russell Thornburgh, Alexander Thurneck, William R. Tracy, Eli N. Underwood, Joseph H. Wagner, S. L. Warren, Shelah Waters, Thos. Waters, H. W. Wells, C. C. Wilcox, Wilson W. Willis, John Wortham, John C. Wright.

_Captains_--James W. Adkisson, William C. Allen, Allen G. Anderson, Francis M. Anderson, Max H. Andrea, William Ausmus, Alfred C. Aytse, Julius Aytse, Daniel W. Baker, Frederick W. Baker, R. M. Baldwin, A. B. Barner, William S. Barnett, Charles L. Barton, Thomas J. Barry, Ezekiel W. Bass, Albert F. Beach, William H. Bean, William O. Beebe, James W. Bell, Rufus M. Bennett, Charles S. Berry, James W. Berry, William S. Bewley, John C. Bible, Thomas Bible, James M. Bishop, Edward R. Bladen, Joseph H. Blackburn, Leonidas Blizard, Ainsworth E. Blount, James L. W. Boatman, James S. Bonham, Francis H. Bounds, James J. R. Boyd, John C. Boyer, John S. Bowers, James W. Branson, Jacob P. Brient, Davis Brooks, David W. Brown, John D. A. Bryan, S. S. Buck, Charles H. Burdick, William C. Burnett, John H. Byrd, Robert E. Cair, David M. Caldwell, William A. Campbell, Thomas J. Capps, Andrew C. Card, James L. Carter, Landon Carter, Robert C. Carter, Alfred M. Cate, William L. Cate, Charles D. Champion, Elisha Chastain, Joseph W. Chockley, William J. Cleveland, James Clift, Judge R. Clingan, Robert H. Clinton, Samuel S. Cobb, William A. Cochran, Charles W. Coker, Lafayette Coil, Gillon O. Collins, Joseph A. Collins, Louis Collins, James E. Colville, George B. Colver, Albert Cook, Bennett J. Cooper, Alfred Couch, Reuben C. Couch, Adam T. Cottrell, William J. C. Crandall, Jordan W. Creary, Robert C. Crawford, Jacob P. Crooker, Charles W. Cross, John H. Cross, Thomas J. Cypreh, John A. Davis, Ross R. Davis, Thomas Davis, James A. Davison, John F. DeArmond, Jas. E. Deakins, Spencer Deaton, Risden D. Deford, John G. Dervan, David J. Dickinson, Dennis Donahue, Alf. T. Donnelly, Robert H. M. Donnelly, James A. Doughty, John C. Dougherty, Thomas J. Dougherty, Rufus Dowdy, Thomas P. Duggan, John C. Duff, James L. Dungan, Pat. F. Dyer, Thomas H. Easley, Thomas D. Eddington, John H. Edwards, James H. Elkins, Daniel Ellis, John W. Ellis, Richard Ellis, Peter Engels, Samuel E. Erwin, Samuel P. Evans, James T. Exenn, William Farmer, Eli G. Fleming, David Floerke, Munro M. Floyd, Michael Fogarty, Asbury Fowler, Richard B. Freeman, Jacob Fritts, Fred. F. Fulkerson, James H. Galbraith, Theodore W. Gambee, A. Marion Gamble, Robert L. Gamble, William A. Garner, Andrew J. Garrison, Joseph W. Gibson, Homer Gillmore, Ellas Goddard, James A. Goddard, Pastede L. Good, George W. Gorman, Thomas J. Gorman, William M. Gourley, John T. Graham, George W. Gray, Benjamin F. Green, James C. Green, Joseph Grigsby, Gid. R. Griffith, George E. Grisham, Martin V. Guest, Robert A. Guthrie, Newton Hacker, John N. Haggard, Jacob S. Hagler, Jonathan H. Hall, Henry D. Hamm, Abram Hammond, Drury P. Harnell, John W. Harrington, Shadrick Harris, William Harrison, John Harrold, William L. Hatherway, William C. Hayworth, George W. Heard, John Heavy, Willis E. Hedgecock, Jacob M. Hendrickson, James M. Henry, Chester J. Hoag, Elijah J. Hodges, Harry Hodges, Henry G. Hodges, George W. Holtsinger, Samuel C. Honeycutt, Robert N. Hood, James Howe, George E. Huckaba, William Hughes, Levi Hurst, John W. Isbell, Solomon Irick, Otta Jacobi, Wilson C. Jackson, Alexander J. P. Jarcroy, S. M. Jarvis, David B. Jenkins, William D. Jenkins, Lafayette Jones, Thomas A. Jones, Wade Jones, Armine T. Julian, John O’Keefe, Henry C. Kelly, Nathan D. Kemp, James P. Kendrick, Henry C. Kerner, William A. Kidwell, Jno. F. Kincheloe, James H. Knight, Alfred Lane, Morgan Lane, Richard S. Lane, Ephraim Langsley, William L. Lea, James L. Ledgerwood, Wash. L. Ledgerwood, Henry N. Lee, Samuel Leinart, George Littleton, Jesse M. Littleton, Henry C. Lloyd, Jacob K. Lones, William S. Long, Richard H. Luttrell, Alexander Lynch, Vanatta MacAdoo, James R. McBath, J. T. C. McCaleb, Samuel McCaleb, Oliver P. McCammon, Moses McConnell, Thos. McDermott, Francis M. McFall, James McGill, John McKay, Francis M. McKey, Nelson McLaughlin, Thomas McNish, George McPherson, Rufus McSpadden, Fielding L. McVay, Daniel McWilliam, John W. Magill, Daniel D. Markwood, James M. Martin, John Martin, John H. Martin, Samuel H. Martin, George W. Massey, Monroe Matterson, Goldman G. Meador, Daniel Meador, Bayless A. Miller, John A. Miller, Mitchell R. Millsaps, James A. Montgomery, William F. Morgan, William W. Mosier, William W. Mount, W. M. Murray, Archibald Myers, James C. Myers, Vincent Myers, David M. Nelson, Jacob H. Norris, Samuel E. Northington, Polasky W. Norwood, George Oatley, David Odell, Will Odle, William J. Patterson, Robert J. Patty, James P. Patey, William B. Pearson, E. L. Pennington, John C. Penoyar, Daniel T. Peterman, George W. Peters, William C. Peterson, W. W. Phillips, Chas. A. Pickens, Samuel W. Pickens, Levi Pickering, John D. Poston, Pleasant M. Pryor, William Pryor, James H. Queen, Norton E. Quinn, Robert W. Ragon, Thomas Rains, David Ressh, Alexander D. Rhea, Elias H. Rhea, William O. Rickman, Barney J. Riggs, Andrew J. Roberts, James G. Roberts, John C. Rodgers, John T. Robeson, Harbert S. Rogers, Robert A. Rogers, Thomas J. Rodgers, Samuel P. Rowan, Samuel W. Scott, Andrew P. Senter, James B. Sharp, David Sharp, John Sharp, William C. Shelton, Chas. W. Shipmate, H. N. Y. Shipp, John Simpson, Alex. P. Slatery, John C. Slover, Francis A. Smith, John W. Smith, Louis Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Brazilian P. Stacy, Thomas Stephens, Alex. D. Stone, Van Stuart, Fred Slimp, John B. Tape, Isaac A. Taylor, John W. Taylor, Spencer J. Tedder, James B. Terry, William P. Testerman, Samuel Tewls, James R. Thompson, Robert M. Thompson, Samuel W. Tindell, Thomas D. Tipton, John H. Trent, Jacob F. Tregler, William A. Tuiggs, Joseph D. Turner, Joseph D. Underdown, John A. Wagner, James H. Walker, John P. Walker, Theophilus F. Wallace, Henry E. Warren, Shelah Waters, Thomas Waters, John W. Watkins, William C. Webb, William D. Webster, Robert Weitmuller, Louis M. Wester, Samuel West, William O. White, Galyon Wiley, Moses Wiley, Pleasant Williams, Eli P. Willis, Joseph N. Witt, William R. Willoughby, A. H. Wilson, John Wilson, Jonathan E. Wood, Martin V. Wood, Robert A. Woolen, Gideon Wolf, Cushbert B. Word, James Wortham, Edwin F. Wiley, James B. Wyett, David K. Young.

_Adjutants_--Noah Acuff, Samuel P. Angel, John K. Beckner, Charles H. Bently, Moses C. Brown, Nathaniel B. Brown, Frank Cameron, James B. Carpenter, Henry A. Cobin, Lawrence Forkner, Joseph P. Galbraith, James R. Gettys, Charles C. Haefling, William S. Hall, John M. Harris, W. R. Harris, John W. Hines, Jacob Leab, William A. McTeer, George B. Morehead, Spencer Munson, John Murphy, Henry W. Parker, Jesse S. Reeves, William H. Roberts, William Rule, Eli T. Sawyers, William J. Scott, Ashley L. Spears, William J. Stokes, Gustavus E. Teubner, Horace H. Thomas, John Thomas, John H. Thorington, William B. Tickering, William Van Dorn.

APPENDIX: NOTE X: Page 307.

MARTYRDOM OF UNION PEOPLE.

Mr. N. G. Taylor undertook after the war ended, to collect materials for its “Unwritten History” in East Tennessee, and they not only confirmed but enlarged the knowledge he acquired in 1861-’2 and ’3 concerning the cruel treatment of Union people during those years. His estimate of those unarmed, who were put to death in various ways throughout that region, is founded upon diligent inquiries. In writing to a friend, February 22, 1886, he says, “I was at some pains to gather up from the different counties the facts on this point, and the result showed an aggregate of 2,500 to 3,000 non-combatants massacred for their Union sentiments. I had at that time a list of those thus slaughtered in this (Carter) county, which aggregated 70 or 75; in Greene County over 200; in Washington County over 100, &c., &c.”

Hon. C. W. Hall, of Rogersville, Tenn., in 1861-2, in “Threescore Years and Ten, by a Lawyer” (Cincinnati, 1884), tells of such atrocities. He says: “Guerilla bands claiming to belong to the Rebel army, were engaged generally in the plunder of Union families. One of these bands was commanded by one William Owens. His company was a band of cut-throats, marauding around, seeking to shed blood. They found a lad of some sixteen years, whose name was Lizemore. His father was a Union man and quite aged. This gang of desperadoes arrested the old man, took the boy into the woods and deliberately murdered him. Whether the Confederate Commander in East Tennessee commissioned Owens to plunder and kill in order to subdue the loyal sentiment of that section, as Reynolds and others were trying to do in other counties is not stated. One fact is known, viz.: that Owens was recognized by the Rebel military as a Captain.” After detailing the cruel treatment to which Union people were subjected, Judge Hall adds: “These outrages were not confined to the more populous portions of the counties, but were often perpetrated in the hills and hollows, and usually upon men reputable at home, but bold enough to confess their loyalty. Indeed it was a rare thing to find a man who had a bad character before the war, advocating the Union cause.”

APPENDIX: NOTE Y: Page 317.

The list of contributors to the Boston Fund for the relief of East Tennessee, is interesting. Some sent their proper names with their gifts. Mr. George F. Bartlett, of New Bedford, wrote to Mr. Everett: “In response to Col. Taylor’s touching appeal in behalf of our suffering loyal brethren in East Tennessee, I cheerfully part with the only thing saved from the whaleship ‘Lafayette,’ burned by the pirate ‘Alabama,’ April 15, 1863, off Fernando de Noronha, and enclose the same to you herewith, viz: (6) six English sovereigns, worth about forty-three dollars. Captain Lewis was fortunately on shore with this gold to purchase stores, when Capt. Semmes steamed around the island and burned his ship. I will regard it as a _forced_ contribution from Capt. Semmes, in the name of the immortal Lafayette, who loved our country and its Father, and I am most happy in being able to make so worthy a bestowal of it.”

Hon. J. L. Motley, Jr., U. S. Minister at Vienna, wrote: “I enclose a check for $200, and I wish it was in my power to send a much larger sum. When, in after days, the history of this unexampled insurrection against Liberty comes to be written, there will be few episodes more moving or more instructive than the record of those Tennesseeans who have so long sustained the Republic and its principles, amid such trial and at such sacrifices. Certainly it is no _charity_ on our part to assist them, but a sacred duty, which I am sure that all will fulfill in proportion to their means.”

Master John W. Pierce, Jr., twelve years old, wrote from S. W. Harbor, Tremont, Maine: “Dear Sir: Enclosed please find twenty-five dollars, which I have collected for the suffering East Tennesseeans. I had read and heard so much of these loyal people that I wished very much to do something for them. I said to my mother, I will give them my dollar, _all my money_. She said that will do very little good alone, but I might go round and ask my young friends to give for this noble cause. I was pleased to do so, and have collected this sum. I found both old and young ready to give me something; very few refused. In one family I got almost five dollars. I know this is a small sum compared with the thousands you are receiving, but if some little boy in each town in this State would go round among his friends, the sums thus collected would make thousands of dollars, and oh! how much suffering would be relieved.”

Some, in transmitting their gifts, substituted for their proper names, such inscriptions, as “A little boy, six years old, his own money,”--“A poor ex-teacher,”--“A school girl’s monthly allowance,”--“A law student at Cambridge, being one-half of all he has,”--“C. and J., two poor young men,”--“Three little sisters,”--“A Vermont soldier on the Potomac,”--“One day’s pay of a navy yard employe,”--“A lady, aged 83,”--“Acts, 11th ch., 26 and 27th verses,”--“The earnings of a little boy,”--“A poor old duster.” The citizens of historic Lexington sent $280, and eight little girls, $80, the proceeds of a fair they held at Plymouth. The Pastor of the Second Church in Dorchester, in remitting its contribution “for the patriots of East Tennessee,” said: “We observe a fourth Sabbath evening of each month as a time for prayer for our country, and last evening thought it fitting to _act_ as well as _pray_.” The Pastor of the Congregational Church at Taunton, delivered a special sermon in the same behalf, and the responsive offerings of his people amounted to $870. From the Unitarian Society at Watertown, founded in 1630, its Pastor sent a handsome contribution “for brothers who suffer for their dear country’s cause and glory.” The 44th Regiment of Massachusetts volunteers had been given $5,000 by fellow-citizens. One-fifth of the sum was transferred through the Colonel to the fund “for the relief of the suffering loyalists of East Tennessee.” “Anonymous” enclosed $500 in a note, saying: “I have stood in the fight many a day by the side of those East Tennesseeans, but I see that there are yet other ways of doing one’s duty towards them, so I add my contribution to their aid.” Another “Anonymous” wrote: “Fifty dollars from one, who in days of yore was a short sojourner about Knoxville, and whose then estimate of East Tennesseeans has been borne out and tested.” “A Young Ensign” left his gift, as he “went forth to serve his country.”

The tone of the communications received, showed the ardent patriotism and abounding liberality of the people. Mr. Everett styled it “a noble letter,” in which the Selectmen of Dorchester sent about $3,000--the gifts of its citizens and Churches. Three school-girls at Chelsea devoted their afternoons to visiting “from house to house in the little town, which is far from rich, with a subscription paper, asking from each person the small sum of ten or fifteen cents.” They wrote to Mr. Everett: “It might be a comforting thought to the suffering Tennesseans, if they could know how generous and interested even the poorest people have been in their cause. One poor old woman gave all the money she had (seven cents), with the earnest wish that it was a great deal more, and that it might also do a little good.” Their collections amounted to $45. The boys of Mr. Allen’s School at New Bedford made their gifts under the caption:

“The loyal boys of Massachusetts, to the loyal boys of Tennessee, send greeting. Having heard through Col. Taylor of the hardships and privations that you have endured while your fathers and our fathers have been struggling side by side for the support of the Union cause and the defence of Liberty, and feeling that, although remotely situated, we are brothers and have a united interest in the prosperity of our glorious country, we wish to manifest to you our sympathy.”

APPENDIX: NOTE Z: Page 331.

CASH BALANCE SHEET OF THE EAST TENNESSEE RELIEF ASSOCIATION. RECEIPTS.

From the E. T. R. A. at Boston, by Mr. Edward Everett, $100,000 00 From the New England Loyal Relief Society, by M. Brimmer, Esq. 10,000 00 From the E. T. R. A. of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia 26,184 55 “ “ “ at New York City 15,675 18 “ “ “ at Portland, Me., $7,641 16; also, through Governor Cony, $3,518 90 11,160 06 From Stamford, Connecticut 1,200 00 “ Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania 1,000 00 “ Brooklyn, N. Y.; Packer Institute, $236 36; Boys’ C. and P. Institute, $271 17 507 53 From Utica, New York 500 00 “ Cincinnati, Ohio 402 00 “ Knoxville, Tennessee 211 25 “ Providence, Rhode Island 200 00 “ Springfield, Mass. 156 75 “ Springfield, Ohio 134 00 “ Quincy, Illinois, (Ladies’ Needle Picket) 100 00 ----------- $167,431 32 From sales at Knoxville, from 1864 to 1868, $46,413 82 “ “ by County Agents “ “ “ 37,557 92 “ Loans to poor, 185 00; interest in Cincinnati, &c., 172 08 357 08

From various sources, 191 55; cash in excess, 253 82 445 37 84,774 19 ----------- $252,205 51

Boxes and barrels of clothing, &c., were received: From Massachusetts towns and Boston, 34 packages; N. E. Refugee Aid Society, 15; American Union Commission, 13; Unknown, 15; Philadelphia Ladies’ Relief Association, 9; Ladies’ Aid Society, Wilmington, Delaware, Refugee Commission, Cincinnati, and Sag Harbor, New York, 2 each; Dunkirk, Binghampton, and Saugerties, N. Y., 1 each.

EXPENDITURES OF THE EAST TENNESSEE RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

1864. Feb.--For supplies of food at Cincinnati, by Philadelphia Committee; freight, insurance, &c. $8,106 66 Mar.--For supplies of food at Cincinnati, by General Agent; freight, insurance, &c. 32,759 49 1864 & ’5--For supplies of food from Cincinnati, by Thos. G. Odiorne; freight, insurance, &c. 90,892 10 Goods made into clothing by Ladies’ Sewing Circle, Boston 2,000 00 Dry Goods bought by General Agent at Philadelphia and New York 11,000 00 Dry goods and groceries bought at Cincinnati by General Agent 45,963 70 Wheat bought at Cincinnati by General Agent 4,133 51 Freight, insurance, &c., on above purchases 4,075 08 Shoes at Boston and woolen goods at Philadelphia (Mr. Everett and L. P. Smith) 12,041 10 Stipends and expenses of Agents (including Nashville), buying and forwarding 3,596 56 Supplies bought at Knoxville in successive years to 1868 2,409 37 ----------- $216,977 57 1864-’5--Salaries and expenses attending contribution of fund 11,187 57 For 4 Years--Home Agency, officers of the Association, employes, &c. 10,442 73 Cash for support of refugees and poor at Knoxville, Nashville and Cincinnati 6,961 15 House rent, labor, drayage, printing, &c. 3,911 31 Gift towards Everett Hospital, Knoxville 2,000 00 Gift for relief of sufferers by fire, Portland, Me. 500 00 ----------- $251,980 33 Balance cash on hand, July, 1868 225 18 ----------- $252,205 51

INDEX.

Arnold, Thomas D., 109

Baxter, John, 106, 108, 119, 156, 246, 323

Bell, John, 83, 102

Benjamin, Lieut., 241, 251, 274, 275, 277, 279

Benjamin, J. P., 140, 155, 157, 313

Blue Springs, fight at, 223

Bragg, Gen. Braxton, 171, 227, 234, 237, 280

Bridges, Hon. George W., 128

Bridges on railways in East Tennessee burned, 133

Brownlow, Wm. G., 83, 106, 147, 153-158, 166, 246, 323, 325

Buckner, Gen. Simon, 201, 208-9

Burnside, Gen. A. E., 201, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 217, 219-224, 227, 230-232, 236-238, 241, 250-54, 256, 258, 265, 272-3, 279, 280, 283

Byrd, Col. R. K., 201, 215, 220, 222, 294

Campbell, Col. Wm., 43, 46, 52-5

Campbell’s Station, battle of, 241-2-3

Carroll, Gen., 147, 155, 163

Carter, Gen. Samuel P., 194, 222, 230, 245, 247, 248, 317, 325

Carter, Col. J. P. T., 167, 214, 220

Church Ministers, 180-1-2

Churchwell, Col. Wm. M., 173, 174, 187

Cooper, Col. (Gen.) Joseph A., 116, 119, 294

Cox, Gen. J. D., 214, 293, 296

Crittenden, Gen. (C. S. A.), 155, 156, 163-4

Cumberland Gap, 128, 131, 161, 186, 187, 207, 216, 223, 226

Dana, Charles A., 226, 236, 324

East Tennessee Relief Society, 310, 311, 317, 323

Everett, Edward, 12, 22, 311, 317, 328, 329

Executions, 147, 150, 151

Ferrero, Gen., 223, 241, 252, 276

Foster, Maj. Gen., 286, 289, 291

Foster, Col., 215, 221, 223-’4, 226

Grant, U. S., 225, 226, 227, 234-’5-’6, 237, 267, 281, 288

Halleck, Gen., 220, 221, 222

Hartraupt, Gen., 240, 241, 262, 264

Heiskell, William, 108, 323

Humphreys, Judge W. H., 124, 141, 143

Imprisonments, 145, 146

Johnson, Hon. Andrew, 100, 102, 114, 129, 158, 309

Kirby Smith, Gen. E., 170, 171-’3, 186, 187, 301

Knoxville, 34, 35

Lenoir’s, 201, 225, 238, 239

Lincoln, President A., 92, 94, 235, 286, 309

Longstreet, Gen., 226, 227, 234, 238, 241, 261, 265-’6-’7, 271, 275-’6, 279, 281, 291

Loudon, 134-’5, 201, 222, 225, 236-’7, 239

May, M. R., M. D., 108

Maynard, Horace, 102, 127, 158, 174, 236, 329

Military League, 100, 104, 113

Murphy, J. C., 108

Nelson, Thomas A. R., 100, 102, 108, 128, 323

Pennsylvania Commissioners, 323, 324, 326, 330

Poe, Capt. Orlando M., 250, 253, 256, 263, 284, 285

Potter, Brig. Gen., 223, 225, 236, 241, 271

Reynolds, Robert B., 145, 157

Rosecrans, Gen., 219, 221-2

Sanders, Col. (Gen.) Wm. P., 199, 201-’2, 207, 213, 238, 253, 254, 255, 256

Schofield, Gen., 293, 294, 295-’6

Sevier, Col. John, 42, 43-’4, 46, 53, 59-60, 63, 67-’71-76

Shackelford, Gen., 223, 226, 244

Shelby, Col. Isaac, 42, 43-’4, 46, 50, 52-’3

Sherman, Gen. W. T., 234, 237, 281, 282, 287, 288, 293, 296, 297

Slavery in East Tennessee, 30-34, 78

Smith, Lloyd P., 34, 310, 323, 328

Spears, J. G., 108, 119

Stanford, Dr. R. L., 159-163

Taylor, Nathaniel G., 80, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 313, 316, 317, 322, 323

Temple, O. P., 82-’3, 106, 246, 323

Thomas, Gen., 163, 227, 235, 294

Trigg, Connelly F., 101, 106, 109, 153, 158

Union Convention at Knoxville and Greeneville, 105-119

University, East Tennessee, 179-180, 298

Wheeler, Gen., 234, 238, 244, 293

Wheeler, R. D., 108

White, Gen., 214, 222, 236, 241

Wilcox, Gen., 214, 223, 224, 226, 267

Williams, John, 106, 108

Wood, Col. W. B., 131, 132, 136, 139

Woolford, Col., 214, 222, 225, 244

Yancey, Wm. L., 81-85

Zolicoffer, Gen. Felix, 122-126, 131, 139, 153, 163

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Two Brothers Hare--in “_Guesses at Truth_.”

[2] Bancroft. Ch. XLVI.: Ed. 1854.

[3] “A Brief Historical, Statistical and Descriptive Review of East Tennessee, Developing its Immense Agricultural, Mining and Manufacturing Advantages. By J. Gray Smith.” ... London, 1842.

[4] Its population was 301,056 in 1860, and 428,929 in 1880.

[5] See Appendix: Note A.

[6] Mr. Balestier.

[7] In 1887 East Tennessee voted in favor of a State prohibition law by a majority of nearly 13,000.

[8] The mountaineers are innocent of the dialect given them in recent novels.

[9] Moses White, Esq., in an address to the Tennessee Press Association, has made these historical statements.

[10] See letter of “Gath” (George Francis Townsend)--Cincinnati Enquirer, September, 1885.

[11] Hon. Henry R. Gibson.

[12] “History of the Battle of King’s Mountain,” by Dr. Lyman C. Draper: (the fruit of laborious historical research, and exhaustive of its subject.)

[13] Dr. Ramsey writes, “Dupoister.”

[14] Haywood’s History of Tennessee: Knoxville, Tenn., 1821. 8vo.

[15] See Appendix: Note B.

[16] See Appendix, Note C.

[17] Note D.

[18] See Appendix: Note E.

[19] See Appendix Note F.

[20] See Appendix: Note G.

[21] See Appendix Note H.

[22] A Union man, who was also an elder of a Presbyterian Church, was grieved to hear its bell joining with merriest notes in the chorus of song. He sought with speed to know the reason, and found a citizen of good social position, whose intimate relations were more with this present world than with that which is to come, had got into the Church by a window, and was vigorously applying his gentlemanly muscle on the rope that led to the steeple.

[23] See Appendix: Note I.

[24] He died in prison.

[25] See Appendix Note J.

[26] NOTE.--The youthful officer was soon after killed in battle for the Confederacy.

[27] See Appendix: Note K.

[28] See Appendix Note L.

[29] See Note M.

[30] See Appendix: Note N.

[31] See Notes O. and P.

[32] See “A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary at the Confederate States Capital,” Vol. 2, page 46.

[33] NOTE.--The Comte de Paris charges “guilty neglect” upon Foster: that while he halted his column under the pretext of allowing his men time to rest, he sent on the road to Henderson’s Mill the Fifth Indiana Regiment, through which the Confederate troops easily opened a way.--_The Civil War in America, Vol. 4._

[34] Gen. Grant, in his “Personal Memoirs” (see Vol. II., page 49) puts the force with which Longstreet left Chattanooga “to go against Burnside at about fifteen thousand troops, besides Wheeler’s cavalry, five thousand men.” For Longstreet’s mind as to the situation, see Appendix, Note R.

[35] NOTE.--“Near one of the batteries, when the wind would lift the smoke a little, we could distinguish a pair of (high) boots that resembled Burnside’s boots, and judging from an occasional glimpse of an old soft felt hat which seemed to be nearly above them, we knew that somewhere between the two, our commander had his headquarters established.--WILL. H. BREARLEY.”

[36] Charles F. Walcott’s History of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers states the Union troops at six thousand, and their losses twenty-six killed, one hundred and sixty-six wounded and fifty-seven missing. The Rebellion Record, Vol. VIII, gives the rebel loss as one thousand killed and wounded.

[37] See Appendix: Note S.

[38] Appendix: Note T.

[39] Major Burrage, of the 36th Massachusetts Regiment.

[40] Dr. Jackson, of Pennsylvania.

[41] Mr. Robt. H. Armstrong’s, over one mile west of Fort Sanders.

[42] Wm. Todd in “History of Seventy-ninth Highlanders, N. Y. Volunteers,” says that the Second Michigan was a part of the reinforcement, (page 383.) Chas. F. Walcott in “History of Twenty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers,” page 289, states that the garrison was reinforced by five companies Twenty-ninth Massachusetts, two companies Twentieth Michigan and a brigade of the Twenty-third corps.

[43] The boast among the besiegers had been that they “had got Mr. Burnside and his pet corps into a trap.”

[44] A fact. An intelligent eye witness of the scene, who served in the United States Army and numerous battles of the period, affirms that he never witnessed such a spectacle of human slaughter.

[45] Capt. Poe says in his report, four killed and eleven wounded.

[46] NOTE.--At a reception given Gen. Burnside, January, 1864, at Boston, by the Second Massachusetts Infantry, the General in the course of his speech, told how he asked a rebel prisoner four or five days after the attack on Fort Sanders why Gen. Longstreet did not make a second one. “Well,” said the prisoner “General, I will tell you. Our men just swear that they are never going into that slaughter pen again, and when they won’t go, the ball won’t roll.”

(See Chas. F. Walcott’s History of the Twenty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers.)

[47] NOTE.--One of them relates: “Whenever any of us could get off duty, we would stroll over to where the teamsters were feeding their mules; should the teamsters be gone, the mules invariably lost their rations. Frequently the kernels of corn that the mules and horses could not help losing, were picked up out of the dirt and eaten by the nearly famished troops.”

[48] Appendix: Note U.

[49] See Atlantic Monthly, for July, 1866.

[50] See Appendix: Note V.

[51] Bishop Otey was at first in the troubles of 1860-’61, a decided Union man, but when actual hostilities began, he espoused the cause of “the South.” Upon the occupation of Memphis by the United States forces, Gen. Sherman showed him kind and valuable attentions.

[52] Rev. Joseph H. Martin.

[53] Judge Daniel Breck.

[54] Soon after, for gallant conduct, made a Brigadier General.

[55] Capt. William Rule.

[56] See Appendix: Note W.

[57] See Appendix: Note X.

[58] See Appendix: Note Y.

[59] After the siege of Knoxville, soldiers of Burnside’s army had only half rations of bread. Sergeant White, in his Diary, Walcott’s History 21st Massachusetts Regiment, says: “I have to-day seen soldiers scrambling after corn in the ear, as though it was the greatest of luxuries. We parch it. Officers eat it, as well as privates. Well, its all for the Union and we are driving the rebels to the wall, thank God!” A committee of citizens requested Gen. Foster to send the people out of the country, rather than the U. S. army should evacuate it.

[60] NOTE.--“To which,” say the Commissioners, “he might have added, and with more truth than Francis the First at the battle of Pavia, ‘save honor.’”

[61] Hon. Horace Maynard.

[62] See Appendix: Note Z.

[63] Aubrey de Vere.

[64] In a pamphlet, entitled “Recollections of the East Tennessee Campaign,” by Will H. Brearley, Company E, 17th Michigan Volunteers. Detroit.

[65] “The Nashville (Tenn.) Union.”

[66] Haun, and the two Harmons, father and son, executed at Knoxville.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added, when a predominant preference was found in the original book.

Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

Pg 14: ‘Bridge Burning’ replaced by ‘Bridge-burning’. Pg 15: the page number for Chapter XIX was missing; ‘316’ inserted. Pg 42: ‘Sumpter’s disaster’ replaced by ‘Sumter’s disaster’. Pg 72: ‘beleagured dwelling’ replaced by ‘beleaguered dwelling’. Pg 79: ‘Fort Sumpter’ replaced by ‘Fort Sumter’. Pg 80: ‘a dissaffected State’ replaced by ‘a disaffected State’. Pg 121: ‘battle of Manasses’ replaced by ‘battle of Manassas’. Pg 139: ‘Benjamin, Sceretary’ replaced by ‘Benjamin, Secretary’. Pg 161: ‘the two refgees’ replaced by ‘the two refugees’. Pg 174: ‘Its fullfilment’ replaced by ‘Its fulfillment’. Pg 208: ‘department o’ replaced by ‘department of’. Pg 225: ‘Tennesee River’ replaced by ‘Tennessee River’. Pg 281: ‘led them them to’ replaced by ‘led them to’. Pg 325: ‘from the the U. S.’ replaced by ‘from the U. S.’. Pg 338: ‘non-combattant’ replaced by ‘non-combatant’. Pg 373: ‘Artillery Volunters’ replaced by ‘Artillery Volunteers’. Pg 377: ‘immediaiely posted’ replaced by ‘immediately posted’. Pg 398: ‘railways ln East’ replaced by ‘railways in East’.