Monday, June 3, 2013

6/4/2013 TN Civil War Notes

4, 1861 Montvale Springs Resort Opens

Montvale Springs, Near Knoxville, East Tennessee, Is Now Open!

This resort, for health or pleasure seekers, as its name indicates, is located in a sequestered valley, almost enclosed by mountain spurs of the Alleghany, known as the Chilhowee, and rise up on every side, and embosom a valley which cannot be contemplated by the lover of nature without much enjoyment.

Of the beneficial effects of this water on cases of Dyspepsia, Chronic Liver Complaint,

And diseases most common in southern latitudes, no more certain and effective remedy exists.

The Hotel accommodations consist of a large and commodious building, with spacious Piazzas on each story, running the entire length of the building, and numerous Gothic Cottages,All tastefully arranged on the lawn in front of the main Hotel, and accessible to both Spring and Hotel.

The lawn is handsomely covered with grass, and beautifully shaded with majestic forest trees. No Watering place presents more attractions than Montvale, and the proprietors respectfully invite the attention of those who seek a retreat in summer, either for health or pleasure.

Visitors will go to Knoxville, and thence 24 miles by stage, which connects with the trains.

Watt, Lanier & Co., Exchange Hotel, Montgomery, Alabama.

Daily Constitutionalist [AUGUSTA, GA], June 4, 1861.[1]

 

 

 

4, "A Nuisance."

While we will ever advocate that among the most wholesome sports that youth and manhood can indulge in that swimming is far superior to all the rest, we maintain that with a proper regard for the rights of others, that there are some localities not altogether suited to its use. For instance, of late we have heard many complaints from ladies, whom business or pleasure compels to cross the river from the upper wharf Ferry, that they are frequently shocked by the sight of a man or half-grown boy squirming around in the water in the neighborhood of the Ferry crossing like a Mississippi cat-fish. If the guilty parties do not seek some more secluded spot to bathe, they will probably find its indulgence, in day time, conducive to trouble. We respectfully refer the subject to the City Marshal for further consideration, and earnestly ask his attention to the matter, that this nuisance may be speedily and effectually halted.

Citizens of Edgefield.

Nashville Daily Union, June 4, 1862

 

 

4, Skirmish at Snow Hill, near Liberty

JUNE 4, 1863.-Skirmish at Snow Hill, Tenn.

Report of Col. J. R. Butler, Third Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate).

HDQRS. HARRISON'S CAVALRY BRIGADE, Smithville, June 5, 1863.

GEN.: Your dispatch of yesterday is at hand, written, I presume, before mine advising of the attack made on me at Liberty at 4 p. m. yesterday was received, as no mention is made of its receipt. The enemy have made no further demonstration since the attack yesterday; but finding them in heavy force, with artillery, and trying to flank my position, I deemed it advisable to fall back to this place last night, and await orders. My scout, 130 strong, under Capt. [R. W.] Hooks, attacked the enemy at Black's Shop yesterday at daylight, and drove their pickets into their breastworks at that place, and found two infantry brigades in line to receive them. They also had artillery. After a brisk skirmish my scout retired. We found no pickets at Bone's Ford. The pickets whom I feared were captured yesterday have come in; also my forage and commissary details, with the exception of about 55 men. Four wagons are also still out, two of which, I regret to say, were captured at Alexandria.

The enemy advanced upon Liberty and Alexandria simultaneously yesterday, coming on the Murfreesborough and Auburn pike. My scout on that road had returned to camp but a short time before the attack was made. Another small scout saw the enemy as they passed a few miles from the forks of the pike, and reports them in heavy force, marching by fours at a rapid trot. They were mostly mounted infantry, and had a large wagon train loaded; also twelve pieces of artillery in the rear. My scouts report the enemy having no pickets this side of Stone's River, and learned from citizens that they had drawn their pickets much closer in toward Murfreesborough. I have sent out three scouts this morning toward Liberty and Alexandria, to ascertain the movements of the enemy.

Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

J. R. BUTLER, Col., Cmdg. Harrison's Cavalry Brigade.

Maj.-Gen. WHEELER, Cmdg. Army Corps, McMinnville.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 23, pt. I, p. 358.

 

 

 

4, "…the evils of slavery are apparent and more horrible to me than ever; but believe me, to-day the white man is the greatest sufferer." A Northerner's Observations on the Effects of Emancipation in Tennessee

EAST TENNESSEE.

We commend the following extract from a letter from East Tennessee, published in the N. Y. Evening Post, to our correspondent who argues that the Constitution is all right as it now stands, so far as it's prohibition of slavery is concerned. The writer of the letter is doubtless is concerned. The writer of the letter is doubtless right in saying that the only chance for the slave is in the despair which an amendment of and Constitution would produce. Slaveholders, at least, the great mass of them, will never favor emancipation if they can avoid it.-And when forced upon them the present generation, as has been the case in the British West India Islands, will thwart  the operations of freedom forced upon them in all the ways they can. But with the Constitution unamended, as slavery has existed under it for three-fourths of a century and all the decisions of the courts for that period; and the administration of the Government having proceeded upon its lawfulness, how can emancipation ever be carried into full operation.

Murfreesboro', May 3, 1864.

"It is not always true, coelum non animum. I doubt if any one can cross the Ohio river for the first time without being very much changed in all his views. For myself, I find so many things different, and much worse than I had supposed, that the evils of Southern society no longer hold the same relative position in my mind or interest.

"The condition of the blacks is worse than I had imagined; but I never began to understand the condition of the whites. The generally low standard of knowledge' the intellectual stagnation among even the most advanced; the narrow sphere of thought and conservatism in which my own associates move; the ignorance in the middle classes of the ordinary democratic ideas of progress; the absence of any thought of any thought of right to opportunity on the part of those who need it most; the deplorable darkness of the lower whites, are to me evils so new and appalling that I no longer burn with indignation at the wrongs of the negro, without being calmed and sickened by the universal degradation. My Northern blood boils oftener at the contemptuous tone of the privileged classed towards the underprivileged than at the unquestioned domination of color; and when I see a white man without property, education or hope, I feel that if I could but inspire him with a conviction of his rights, I should be kindling a fire which would burn in him, perhaps, longer than in me. No one who has not seen it can understand the depths of debasement in which the underprivileged whites are steeped. Do not suppose that I am less anti-slavery: the evils of slavery are apparent and more horrible to me than ever; but believe me, to-day the white man is the greatest sufferer.

"If you have any influence at Washington use it to promote an amendment of the Constitution-nothing less can save this State. There is but little loyalty here. Regret for the war became unsuccessful, and a wish to return to former avocations in peace, are the most favorable feelings. An earnest desire to retain their slaves, t keep them together until peace returns, and an abiding faith that the State will never consent to the abolition of slavery, are the strongest incentives of the masters.- They will not hire their slaves themselves; they prefer to sit in solitary destitution. They will not consent to others hiring them they prefer to see a general embarrassment of all parties, and predict with pleasure the hoped-for failure of the new experiment. They will do nothing recognizing that the negro is entitled to anything.

"The only chance for the State is in the despair which an amendment to the Constitution would produce. Once let them see that Slavery is impossible, that no power within or without can re-establish it-be their negroes ever so willing, or the system ever so beneficial-and the masters will give up the contest in despair. Their children and grand-children may then become industrious men, and their posterity will raise the State to the proper place to which its natural resources entitle it-but from this generation nothing is to be expected.

"Therefore, if you can do anything to promote the amendment of the Constitution, do so; and your success will, in my opinion, accomplish more for mankind, without regard to color, than any effort in any other direction."

Evening Post.

Vermont Chronicle, June 4, 1864. [2]

 

 

 



[1] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.

[2] TSL&A, 19th CN.


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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