13, Concern about paying debts; a Confederate soldier's letter home to Lincoln County
Camp Trousand [Trousdale] Tenn December the 13 1861
Dear sister I again seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well as common only a bad cole [sic] tho [sic] that is a common thing hear I have not mutch [sic] to rite [sic] you[.] I want you when [you] get that Jones money to pay it out and take reciptes [sic] for it and sell my pork and beef and pay off all my debts and what else remaines [sic] of my property after my debts is all paid keep it and if I never get home again it shall be yours I will draw of all my debts and who I owe them too one note to Port and Byers for seventy dollars one to Narl Henderson for $80.00 one to E. Green for $13.00 one to John Fleming for $8.00 and a store account to John Rawls I dont no [sic] the exact sum and some little black smith accou[sic]nts to M W Williams William Gregory and unkle [sic] Harve Bledsoe[.] That is all I can think of at present I that is a nuff [sic] about a hundred and ninety nine dollars I will send something relative to how I am satestfied [sic] har [sic] I am not so well satestfied [sic] as if I were at home but I will hold up my had and have my fun with the rest of the boys give my love to Ma and Pa and all the rest and receive a full shear to your self I must close by saying rite [sic] to me every chance nothing more at present but remaines [sic] your most affectionate brother
L B Smith to
Sarah A Smith
Smith Family Letters. [1]
13, Correspondence from Col. J. G. Parkhurst to Military Governor Andrew Johnson relative to the arrest of prominent citizens in Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro May 13 1862
To Gov. A Johnson
I have arrested all the person named[2]. Shall I send them to Nashville or hold them here. [sic] If sent to nashville [sic] I hope they will not be released on bonds. Bonds wont [sic] preserve life nor stop this rebellion. I also hope the two old Heads[3] you have from this city will be forwarded to a Colder [sic] Climate [.]
J. G. Parkhurst
Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 5, p. 387.
13, Provost-Marshal's requirement for passes for civilians to ride the E T &G railroad
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE, OFFICE PROVOST MARSHAL,
Knoxville, Tenn., May 13, 1862.
J. H. HUFF, Depot Agent, Red Clay, Ga.:
Citizens of your State wishing to visit any station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad south of this place can do so upon your written certificate of their loyalty to the Confederate Government.
W. M. CHURCHWELL, Col. and Provost-Marshal.
OR, Ser. II, Vol. 2, p. 1426.
13, Resolutions from the State Union Convention
Nashville, Tenn. July 13 1863 [sic]
Gov Johnson
I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of the resolutions reported by a Committee and adopted by the Convention or Meeting of Union men recently assembled in this City.
Very respy Your Obt Servt
Horace H. Harrison Secretary [sic]
RESOLUTIONS
July 3, 6, 1863
Resolved that all laws ordinances and resolutions passed by the Legislature of Tennessee since April 12, 1861, intended to affect constitutional changes in the government of the State and to Separate it from the Federal Union, are unauthorized, the work of usurpation, and therefore void.
Resolved that in view of these circumstances and the condition of the State resulting from such pretended legislation, it is of vital importance to the people to elect a Legislature to meet at the capitol, on the 1st Monday of Oct next or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Resolved that as the overthrow by treason of the civil powers of the State has demanded the exercise of the power granted to the Federal Government to guarantee to every State a republican form of government – that this convention Cordially approves the action of the President in the appointment of Andrew Johnson Military Governor of Tennessee. [sic]
Resolved that we request Gov Andrew Johnson to issue writs of Election, and appoint such agents as may be nescessary [sic] to hold Elections for members of the Legislature on the 1st Thursday in August next or as soon thereafter as may be expedient, and that he provide Such [sic] agents with the means of carrying out the purpose, [sic] of such appointment.
Resolved that we fully approve the course of policy of Gov Johnson as Military Governor of the State and pledge to him our hearty co-operation and support, in whatever measures may be requisite for the restoration of Tennessee and her people to their Civil and Federal relations[.]
Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 288-289.
13, "…our worst enemy or the one that I fear most is sickness…."
Prospect Tennessee April 13 1864
Dear Father
I take my pen & paper to write to you again. I am still in the enjoyment of good health& hope that this may find you all the same. We are still here but it is probable that we shall move in some direction before long appearances at least indicate as much. One thing our veteran soldiers have been called out to drill the orders are that we shall drill 6 hours a day so as to perfect us in the drill immediately & target shooting one hour each day for the recruits. Another thing they are making fortifications here. One large block house here is nearly finished& I understand that they are going to build another one a short distance from here across the river. So that one hundred men with the aid of these fortifications can withstand as much as one thousand without them. It is the prevailing opinion that when they are completed that we shall leave here for more active service. There is also great activity commenced on the railroad that runs through here. a short time since there was not more than one train each day Now there is as many as six each way to carry provisions & stores ammunition etc. to the army south it is likely that the spring campaign will soon be opened vigorous[ly] very soon. It is about time to do something or the heat of the season will be stronger than either of the contending parties &compel them to lay inactive till another fall. There are some days now that were it as warm north you would say this will make the corn grow. We dont know as much here about the operations of the army as you do where you get the regular papers at the north, but we know more about a soldiers life I am not disappointed I have not had to suffer half the inconvenience yet that I expected to or may even have to do in future but our worst enemy or the one that I fear most is sickness & as long as I can avoid that why all right. There has been a noted rebel guerilla caught not far from here called Moore he has played about these parts considerable robbing army wagons plundering killing etc. since we came here he gobbled up two of our boys who had got outside the picket line in search of a cow that belonged to the regimental hospital but they gave him the slip & got back to camp here again There has been some deserters come to our camp from the rebel army they give a deplorable account of the condition of the rebel army say that they were pressed into it etc. but no reliance can be put upon them I think that the government are too easy upon those rebels that are not in arms against them. I don't believe that there is one good rebel or union citizen in Giles Co Ten but they are allowed to come within the lines with passes which the got from the regimental officers signed by the Colonel we have quiet a chance to find out their principal when we go on picket truly many of them have lost their last cow & pig & would just as soon shoot a picket as not but they ought to swing too it makes some of the boys curse & swear those them round with their butternut-colored clothes & brass buttons as near rebel uniform as they dare come & durst not pull a trigger on them. I have had but one letter from you & I dont know why I dont get more I want to hear at least once a week or oftener & another thing I want some postage stamps I have to borrow & it will soon run out on that score. I must say that H. J. Smith is promoted to first Lieutenant-I conclude Direct the same as before
Charles B Senior to all at Home
Senior Correspondence.
[1] As cited in: http://freepages.geneaology.rootsweb.com.
[2] The dozen prominent citizens arrested were: G. T. Henderson, John E. Dromgoole, John A. Crockett, William A. Ransom, L.M. Maney [owner of Oakland Mansion and plantation], John Childress, Dr. King, F.C. Mosby; Dr. R. S. Wendel, James M. Avent, Dr. William T. Baskette, and Thomas Robinson. See Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 5, p. 387. fn. 1.
[3] Most likely Murfreesboro banker William Ledbetter and ex-Congressman Charles Ready who were taken to the state penitentiary in Nashville on May 1, 1862. See Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 5, p. 387, fn. 2.
James B. Jones, Jr.
Public Historian
Tennessee Historical Commission
2941 Lebanon Road
Nashville, TN 37214
(615)-532-1550 x115
(615)-532-1549 FAX
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