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.