November 10 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

10, SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 75, relative to the jurisdiction and authority of the chief of the secret police in East Tennessee
SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 75. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE OHIO,
November 10, 1863.
I. R. A. Crawford, of Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee, is hereby appointed chief of secret police in East Tennessee. He is fully empowered to employ under his command and order as many men as he may deem necessary for said service, and at such pay as their service may be worth in his estimation.
He is empowered to make requisitions for clothing, horses, equipments, arms, and ammunition, as well as all other necessaries that said service may require, and the same shall be furnished accordingly.
He is fully empowered to arrest and hold for examination all persons who may in anywise be in complicity with the enemy, or any person or persons suspected guilty of treasonable or disloyal conduct toward the Government and laws of the United States; also to seize from all such persons such property as he may deem necessary for the good of the service.
He is fully empowered and strictly enjoined, with the men subject to his order and command, to closely watch the movements of the enemy, and to immediately report the same to these headquarters, and to use every available means in his power to prevent any surprise of our forces by the enemy.
He is fully empowered to employ and send agents into the lines of the enemy for the purpose of finding out the strength, movements, and designs of the enemy, and to report the same to these headquarters.
He is artillery to make his headquarters at such points as may be, in his judgment, most advantageous to said service, and to give orders upon the Government for such supplies as may be needed, and the same shall be paid.
All requisitions for money for any purpose necessary for this service must be made to the major-general commanding this department.
* * * *
By command of Maj.-Gen. Burnside:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. III, pp. 111-112.

 

 

 

10, Social change, recruiting Negro soldiers in Murfreesboro, an excerpt from the diary of John C. Spence
An order is out for recruiting negro [sic] soldiers at this place, and put them in [a] camp of instruction. Although the Yankees profess not to press them into service, they operate about this way -- o­n Sunday evening a file of soldiers repair to the church door and stand as the negro [sic] men come out. They take them in possession, put them in confinement and any other they see about the streets.
They are taken through an examination, such as will make soldiers are retained, the others are let off. They want devilish looking and able bodied negros [sic] for this purpose.
When a sufficient number is obtained, [they] are put in squads under drill by some qualified Dutchman.
Passing o­ne morning by o­ne of the churches or barracks, a squad was being drilled by a Dutch officer, who cold not speak english [sic] plainer than he should, is marching the negros [sic] up and down the room. Say to them, ["]Marsh! lep-lep (meaning left foot) [sic]. No! te odder foot! -- lep! lep! to odder fot you po tam fool! If you tont lep when I tells you, Ill prake mine sword over you tam wolly head! Halt! Marsh! Now, lep! lep! gis see! You got de odder foot. Take tat mit your tam nonsense ["] (strikes him with the side of his sword). [sic]
Such is about the start with them at first. In a short time they get in the way of keeping the step in marching and manouvering [sic]. To every appearance make a pretty good Yankee soldier when they are dressed in the "Loyal" blue, but whether they can be made to stand powder and led is another question. Should not be willing to trust a chance with them, to go through difficulty. [sic]
Now and then [I] hear some of the younger [black] chaps talking among themselves. ["]Bill! Im quine to jine the rigiment next week! What you quine to do in the rigiment? Quine to fite de Reb. Sesesh!["] [sic]
They appear as impudent and as confident of what they will do in the army as many of the "Old Veterans," as the Yankees call the old soldiers that has [sic] been serving some time.
At this time there are a greater number of negros [sic] coming within the lines than usual, men, women and children. Almost every vacant house is filled to overflowing, seeking their freedom. The fact is the owners generally [are] more disposed to get clear of them, have become so trifling that they wont [sic] do any thing [sic] at home but eat and sit about, seeming to have lost all energy, if they had any.
Tis hoped the Yankees will get their satisfaction of them before they get through with their phylanthopie [sic] feelings for the negro [sic].
There are many now getting rather tired. They say the negros [sic] are a lazy indolent set of creatures and wont [sic] work without some o­ne [sic] after them, driving, but why they continue to persist in their freedom is an enigma. They are not willing they shall be allowed to go in their section of [the] country to live [sic]. The fact is they have poor people enough, already there. If they come here themselves to live, their wages will of course, be cut down by having so many more to contend with for employment.
Their argument now is with slavery. In this land a poor white man would have no chance to live. They are not willing to put themselves o­n an equality with the negro [sic] as a slave. Where can be the difference? When they are in competition in labour, both of them working for the most they can get, possibly at a less rate than if o­ne was in the usual servitude.
Spence, Diary, pp. 113-114.