Wednesday, September 14, 2011

September 14 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

14, "High Rents" in Confederate Knoxville

In view of the times, the war, and the suspension of business, tenants are required to pay too high rents in this city, and its surroundings, and there should at once be a reduction. The laboring classes, dependent upon their daily labor for money to meet their unavoidable expenses, cannot make enough to pay the high rents demanded of them, these dull and trying times. The impossibility of making collections -- the utter impossibility of getting new and additional stocks of goods, forbid that merchants should be required to pay their former high rents. And all things considered, men renting dwelling houses should not be charged, as heretofore two and three hundred dollars for ordinary dwellings. The owners of property should have a meeting, and agree upon a reduction in rents. To exact extravagant rents, and take the advantage of men's necessities, at this time, is swindling under a pretense of renting out property!
Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, September 14, 1861.

 

 

14, "Coffee! Coffee!! Coffee!!!"
In these days of blockades, when coffee is scarce, prices high, and in many places none to be had at any price, many substitutes are tried.
I am glad to have it in my power to recommend a substitute which is so nearly like the genuine article as to satisfy the most delicate taste and deceive the oldest coffee drinkers. It is as follows:
Take the common Red Garden Beet [sic], pulled fresh from the ground, wash clean, cut into small squares the size of as coffee grain or a little larger, toast till thoroughly parched, but not burned, transfer to the mill and grind. -- The mill should be clean. Put from one pint to one and a half, to a gallon of water, and settle within an egg as in common coffee, make and bring to the table hot -- with nice, fresh cream [sic] (not milk) and sugar. I will defy you or anybody else to tell the difference between it and the best Java.
I drank this substitute at the hospitable mansion of Col. Wm. D.W. Weaver, of Greensboro' [GA], and who has adopted it from his recollection of the war of 1812, when his mother used it. I would say in connection that much depends on the skill of the coffee maker. Some people cannot make good coffee out of the best article. I have tried the above and know that it will satisfy the public if properly used.
W.C. Bass, Greensboro, Ga., Aug. 29th, 1861
Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, September 14, 1861.

 

Thought Police in Confederate Knoxville
Arrest of John B. Brownlow
As the eldest of our two sons has been arrested and held as a prisoner, for several days and nights together, in the Military Camp near this city, and as this occurrence has been trumpeted abroad, and published in various Southern papers, for our benefit [sic], we will give the whole case just as it is.  We have a small office, in our yard, a considerable variety of books, which have been accumulating for a quarter of a century.  A Mr. Reed [sic], stopped into the office, where he found our son reading.  He forthwith asked, "what are you reading?" Our son replied, "THE IMPENDING CRISIS OF THE SOUTH" by Helper. Reed then insisted upon borrowing the book, which John B. Brownlow loaned to him to peruse, upon his promise to return it soon.  Mr. Reed took the book home, and upon exhibiting it, was arrested, and brought into camps as a prisoner. Mr. Reed stated to the authorities arresting him, that he borrowed the booked of JOHN B. BROWNLOW, and thereupon he was arrested.  He stated, and stated correctly, that the book was the property of W. G. MCADOO, Esq., of whom we had borrowed it. The prisoners were, very properly, as we think, turned over to the Confederate Court, being held by JUDGE HUMPHREYS, and o­n Saturday [7th], they were discharged.  Mr. Reed took the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, and J. B. Brownlow was dismissed without any ceremony or conditions whatever. It was found upon inquiry, that W. B. REESE, Jr., a paymaster in the Confederate Army owned the same work, and was accustomed to lend it to particular friends.  Mr. McAdoo is also a Secessionist.  Beside there being nothing in the thing, and the prominent Secessionists owning what few copies of the work are here, the court could but discharge the prisoners.  We should not now allude to it, but for the fact, that it will be published far and wide, that our family are circulating incendiary documents. Nay, smuggling the, through the blockade by the box full! And not o­ne paper in ten that circulates the slander, will have the magnanimity to correct it.
We own Helper's first book, written in favor of slavery and of the South [sic], and published after his return from California.  Having stolen some money from his employer in North Carolina [sic], he turned abolitionist – escaped to the North – and there published his "IMPENDING CRISIS," a mischievous work, but nevertheless of ability. Desiring to read him after his change [sic] and his thieving exploits in a store [sic], we borrowed it. It is a work, which, together with its Author, he have, o­n more occasions than o­ne, through the columns of our paper, denounced as infamous [sic]. We regard Tom Paine's Age of Reason as infamous sick, but o­n account of its talents and style, we have perused it.
We own "Uncle Tom's Cabin," the joint production of Harriet Beecher Stowe, her husband, and he brother Henry Ward Beecher. It is an infamous compound of falsehood, and we have so represented it to the public, o­n more occasions than o­ne.  We have directed our family not to lend it to any o­ne, as we have no desire to go before the Confederate authorities.  We also own copy of the Constitution of the United States [sic], and the Declaration of American Independence [sic], and as they are both incendiary documents [sic], we have charged the members of our family not to lend them out! Last, but not least, we have in our family, five copies of the Holy Bible, the ancient Book of God, but as they will be found to be incendiary [sic] books, upon examination, we have directed that none of them be loaned out. That old-fashioned book calls upon all men to be subject to the Government under which they live, and declares that "whosoever resisteth the Governance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation!" This antediluvian [sic] doctrine might do to preach to the Rebels in the Garden of Eden – to the Egyptians who tried to force the passage of the Red Sea – or to the murders of Christ, who perished in the siege at Jerusalem – but to preach in 1861, a man will be denounced as a sumbissionist! [sic]
Here we might close this article, but we choose to copy from the Nashville Gazette, o­ne of the many dispatches going the rounds of Southern papers:
Arrest of Brownlow. – We received the following dispatch last nigh:
Knoxville, Sept. 4
To Editor Daily Gazette:
Brownlow and son arrested to-day by order of General Zollicoffer.
Lieut. J. K, McCall
Gen. Zollicoffer has ordered no arrest of us, but o­n the contrary, upon learning o­n the authority of Military men, that certain troops stationed here, had threatened to demolish out office and dwelling, he promptly ordered all troops within their lines through their officers; and dispatched as many as two hundred armed troops to town to guard our property, patrol the town, and close all liquor shops.  His conduct is spoken of in the highest terms by gentlemen of all classes, save o­nly a few cowardly citizens [sic], and assassins [sic], who desire the troops stationed here, to take up their old personal quarrels [sic], and commit outrages [sic] which they have the black hearts [sic] to prompt, but not the personal courage [sic] to execute. Union men and others feel, that under the command of GEN ZOLLICOFFER, their persons and property will be protected from mob violence. And in no spirit of flattery, we can say that he acts with dignity, promptness and impartiality,
Brownlow's Whig and Independent Journal, September 14, 1861.

 

14, Letter from John Bachman to his wife Rachel Bachmen in Sullivan County
Knoxville Sept 14 1863. [sic]
Dear wife, I have an opportunity of writing a few lines by Mr. Patton . I am well except my ancle[.] [I]t is better[.] the [sic] doctor said it will be some time before it is well[.] I forgot to write you about my Boots[.] the morning I left you I lond [sic] them to Roly Chace Esq. and I have gott [sic] his old Shoes[.] Pleas [sic] send Lafayett [sic] over with my best Shoes if you can get them in time[.] take care of the children[.] Kiss little Ann for me[.] I think that you had abetter take Mandy & Elen [sic] from School til I get home[.] if [sic] you have an opertuity [sic] write me how you are getting along and how the boys is do [sic]
I have no more paper[.] send [sic] 1 or 2 shets to rite [sic] on
Your most affectionate
John Bachman
Pleas [sic] send $75 dollars [sic] in Tennessee money
P.S. pleas send $75 dollars [sic] in Tennessee bank nots [sic] to Richard Jobe Soes that he wants his wife to get Willilam Perry[,] John Depue and David Hunt to vouch for him and send it down by Willilam Munix[.] copy [sic] this and send to Mrs. Jobe.
WPA Civil War Records, Vol. 1, p. 128.

 

14, "The Enemy."
Yes the enemy is upon us; are even here now marching up our streets in solid columns, garrisoning our fortifications and throwing a guard into each farm and many of our houses; binding with chains not easily to be broken, a large potion of the residents, both citizens and soldiers; binding with chains not easily to be broken, a large portion of the residents, both citizens and soldiers; slaughtering without remorse, the old and young; the strong mat at arms and the feeble woman; even the little child does not escape his power. Lawrence is invaded at our very doors. Yes, more than invaded, in awful distress, in panic, in these consequences death.
But, strange to say, no long roll is beating, no warning voice is heard, no strong men march out to meet the foe, and drive him from our midst; men walk along with hands in pockets whistling snatches from some gay opera, women spend their time in the social visit and friendly chat, till the destroyer is upon their own homes; no one cares no one even deigns to notice till his [sic] house is struck. It reminds one of the madness of the Babylonian sitting at Bellshazzar's feast, while the Great One had written "Mene, mene, Tekil, Upharsin," on the wall. It is worse with us, for the enemy was but thundering at their gates; he is in our very midst. Are we mad or only drunken?
Let us examine the array of the foemen. Terrible indeed, under the banner of their invincible King Death, they are bound to conquer wherever they can gain admittance.
Old "Malaria" leas the van, and has thrown out a strong body of skirmishers along the river banks, who have constructed powerful and complete shell-places from the material found in such abundance there -- drying mud of the river, decaying vegetables, and dead animals, both great and small. It has also been stated, on the authority of our best scouts, that a company has similarly entrenched itself at the reservoir, and have turned their weapons on us most effectually. A large force has been guarding the N.&C.R.R., but I am told, that this has been removed, and thrown out as skirmishers on the suburbs of the city.
The main command is under the control of Maj. Gen. Fever, whose headquarters are at Barracks No. 1. His brigade commands may be found: Typhoid on the Public Square; Typhus, Water street; Variola, Smoky Row; Pyemia and Gangrene, at the vacant lost near Hospital No. 14, and back of the depot; from whence they are ready to send their emissaries at the shortest notice.
That patrolling streets and guarding of private houses devolves on Brig. Gen. Dysentery, whose agents are abroad every where, only waiting for a pretext to enter every house and home. And where they do enter, woe to those found within. They have an eagle eye on every camp and ;hospital, and no day passes but some unwary victims fall by their hands. It is even said that they are watching the market and improving every chance to put poison in all that is sold there; and where shall we turn that we may; not see an enemy surrounding us?
Who is responsible for this? Yes, I repeat, in God's name show us the man, if he be high or low, civil or military.
It is useless to try to equivocate, when no persons can pass up Church street, on the sidewalk, buy the barracks, without holding his breath -- when even old boatmen are sickened by the horrid stench of the river -- when the streets are the filthiest of any in the world, Constantinople not excepted -- when men will beg the privilege of standing all night by the windows of our military prison, and rather than wait for a legal discharge, although they have the necessary papers in their pockets, stake and lose their lives in attempting to run the guard. No paltry excuse will answer to stave off public investigation.
Dose this work belong to our military or municipal authorities? Let the responsible parties see to it. If they do not the people will see to them.
A former communication of mine was so unfortunate as to raise the ire of the Louisville Journal, and a bitter tirade of personalities came down on our defenseless head; but my duties in the field left me no time to answer it. I stated only facts, which are, every one of them capable of proof by parties whose integrity is undoubted.
I have not had any desire to place Col. Mundy in [a] false position. An order, published in the Same paper, admits "gross abuses" ] had crept into the "pass system" and provides for their removal. His subordinates have not, perhaps, always been the best in the army, and recent investigations of the great army police brings to light enough to place the load of guilt some where [sic] else, but on one who seems to be a gentleman and a soldier. In regard to the writer, if it is necessary, I can give to the world the history of the Murfreesboro' contract; the fawning and going down on the marrow bones, with the whole history of various transactions in this department, and their fate, which will account for the reason that the name of "Grainger" has no angelic sweetness to his ear. I do this simply as a compliment to his sharpness, of which quality he justly considers the writer destitute. But as for entering into a wordy war with him, he must excuse me, for long since I formed a resolution (for the safety of my clothing) never to trouble with a tarred stick.
SCALPEL.
Nashville Daily Press, September 14, 18

 


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