18, Editorial anxieties in Memphis about food supply and clothing for Tennessee's soldiers
We desire to call the attention of planters to the importance of an early subscription in flour and corn-meal for the use of our army. The Confederate Government purchases in May last an immense quantity of flour, and stored it as this place, but the supply is now nearly exhausted. Unless the planters of West Tennessee, North Alabama, and Mississippi, come forward and subscribe flour and meal, taking Confederate bonds in payment, our brave boys in the field will soon be without read. Let each planter indicate to the Commissary Department at this place, by mail or through his commission merchant, what quantity he is willing to sell to the Government for their bonds, and let them send it forward immediately. There are five mills in operation here capable of grinding _____ [sic] bushels daily, to which the planters can send their bushels daily, to which the planters can send their wheat and have it ground and barreled, ready for transportation. The near approach of the autumnal season, and the almost certainty of the continuance of the war, suggest not only the propriety but the necessity of supplying our troops in the field with warm clothing and warm covering. It will not probably be within the power of the Government to do this, and much necessarily depends upon individual effort. On this subject the following suggestions of the West Tennessee Whig are the most feasible and practicable we have seen:-
The supply of blankets in store is exhausted, and the possibility of supply from the North is cut off by the rigid non-intercourse of the war, while the blockading of our seaports cuts us off from all hopes of a reasonable supply by importation. How, then, it may be asked, are the wants of our soldiers to be supplies: It can only be done by every family giving up a portion of the blankets they have for family use, to the soldiers, and supplying the deficiency thus created by making "comforts" out of cotton for their own use. These comforts do well enough for persons in comfortable houses at home when they are not exposed to the weather, and our people are expected to make use of them, and send their blankets to the soldiers. There is no time to be lost in doing it either. Before many are aware of it, the cool nights of early autumn will be upon them, and what they do for the comfort of the soldiers, they must do quickly.
Memphis Appeal, July 18, 1861.[1]
18, "They planted a cannon before the door, and quartered three hundred men at and around the house." Federal depredations in Macon county environs
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The following letter, which we copy from the Atlanta Confederacy, describes the outrageous career of the Lincoln invaders of Tennessee, and gives us ground to hope that the people of that region are becoming thoroughly united and aroused to a sense of their danger. Against such merciless, unprincipled marauders and plunderers, the people should arise en masse, nor cease to fight them with all their power until they have either annihilated them or driven from their soil:
In the Mountains near Nickajack
Macon county, June 18
The Yankees have routed me from home, stealing my provisions, clothing, &c., and taking four horses and one negro (the rest faithful) I have been compelled to put my family in a place of security and provide for their welfare, as I am ordered by the Secretary of War to report at once to Gen. Beauregard. The Yankees have been travelling back and forth from Stevenson [AL] towards Chattanooga in large force, in an apparently undecided manner, robbing and destroying as they go. It is reported they are crossing at Alley's Ferry, which, however, is doubtful – Our forces are ready for their advent, come where they will.
The Yankees robbed of us nearly everything they could take – crockery, knives and forks, silver cups, all the tin and stove fixtures, ornaments, watch, and may highly prized articles – heirlooms from our revered parents. My gun (I saved my Minie musket,) my clothing, all our towels, some bed clothing, ear-rings belonging to a servant, and a pair of pants belonging to a negro man, which they put on the spot. They planted a cannon before the door, and quartered three hundred men at and around the house. – They have taken horses &c., from Union men also, putting their horses in wheat fields, and stealing and killing cattle, &c. They took many prominent citizens prisoners, dragging them about with them for several days and released some on parole, to appear at Huntsville on the 4th of July – taking others to Columbia, Tenn., to try as "rebels and traitors." They were to do their best to ruin and produce as much mischief as possible. They seem to have full license from their officers, and the officers say they must take provisions to sustain them, as transportation is too high and difficult.
Union sentiments are fast disappearing before a stern desire for revenge. When our men get into their country, as we believe the will, vengeance will be taken. We have lost all our brotherly love and Christian charity, and desire to be avenged on the scoundrels and their nation. Our troops here desire to come in contact with them, and nothing but superior officers detain them here.
Daily Morning News (Savannah, GA), June 24, 1862.[2]
18, A Maury County Confederate's confrontation with a Confederate guerrilla – a dispute about the oath of allegiance
After leaving Mooresville we was acosted [sic] by a southern soldier guerrilla who stopt [sic] me & asked my name I give it to him & asked his name he refused at first letting it saying he understood I was persuading Pickens to take the oath of alegiance [sic] to get his property I denied it said I did not persuade him anyway but told him that others was doing so who had taken the oth [sic] that was then & had been good Southern men he made some threats about the Gurillas [sic] taking my property. I demanded his name I got out of my bugy [sic] & told him I would know it, he then told me his name was Lowrey & that he was glad that he had had an explanation that he would inform the gurillas [sic] which he had on doubt would be satisfactory to them & him we then parted I saw on the way [to] Overtons [sic] Fleming's son who also told me the gurillas [sic] were ensensed [sic] at me for telling Pickens that I did or what they way told I had said to Pickins & he appeared satisfyed [sic] & said he had to believed it.
Diary of Nimrod Porter, July 18, 1863
18, "KILLED"
On Monday night last (18th), complaint was made to Lieut. Douglass that John Kirk, an employee in Dr. Chambers' Vernerial [sic] Hospital, had struck a negro woman named Kate Martin over the head with a spade, cutting her severely. The officer sent a soldier from the 13th United States Infantry, along with special policeman Augustus Teenan, 5th Iowa cavalry, to arrest Kirk. Hearing that the guard were after him, he took a horse from the stable near the hospital, and afterwards borrowing a pistol, attempted to make his escape. The guard overtook him, however, and ordered him under arrest, when he drew a pistol and commenced firing at the guard. The soldier advanced upon him, wrenched the pistol from his hand, pulled him off the horse, and placed him under arrest. Kirk then stooped down and picked up a rock with which to strike the guard, when the latter levelled [sic] his musket and fired, the ball taking effect in Kirk's heart, and from the effects of which he died instantly. This occurred on the Charlotte pike, near the trestle-work, between 10 and 11 o'clock at night.
The guard, we understand, was not to blame in the matter, acting in the first place in the most forbearing manner, and not disposed to fire upon him until forbearance ceased to be a virtue.
Nashville Daily Press, July 20 1864.
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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