23, Letter Alleging a Conspiracy to Furnish Arms and Munitions to East Tennessee Unionists
Correspondence of the Louisville Courier.
Arms and Munitions of War-Aid and Comfort in the Tories of East Tennessee-The Conspiracy.
Nicholasville, Ky., July 23
Editors Louisville Courier: For two weeks past quantities of munitions of war and provisions have been passing through this place purporting to be for Cumberland Gap. By minute inquiry I learned that several wagon loads of parched coffee passed through en route for the Gap. In addition to this, arms in abundance have been transported to that section of the State. The Southern Rights party, though not informed of their movements, have great reason to believe these guns and provisions are encouraged by the Union men of this State for the Tories of East Tennessee. I write this note in order to enable you to give information of the proceedings of the Union party of the States. If you think it advisable to give the citizens of Tennessee any information of the present movements you can do so on my authority, and also on that of many other reliable men.
The breezes whisper that the troops from Newport Barracks are to accompany the arms to their destination. Volunteering has been going here, for the same purpose.
Daily Columbus Enquirer, July 31, 1861.
23, Orders relative to use of Negroes in Federal army hospital in Jackson, Tennessee
Excerpt from SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 142. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Corinth, July 23, 1862.
* * * *
V. The general hospital at Jackson will be allowed to retain such amount of black labor as the surgeon in charge may decide as being absolutely necessary to perform such menial service as should not be put upon soldiers. In getting this kind of labor such persons will be taken as are free by act of Congress if possible, and if not they will be hired from owners at a reasonable rate of compensation, to be fixed by council of administration, and should owners object they will be pressed into service and not returned or paid for until proof of loyalty is shown.
Proper diet will be procured from the surrounding country for the sick, to be paid for at reasonable rates, fixed by council of administration, if acceded to by the citizens; if not acceded to by them, by forced contribution. This order is made applicable to all general hospitals within this district outside of the loyal States.
By command of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 17, pt. II, p. 115.
23, "News and Rumors at Clarksville."
From the Clarksville Bulletin, July 18.
A scout consisting of the 28th mounted infantry and the 8th Kentucky cavalry, in command of Captains Whipp and Benson, returned from across the Cumberland yesterday afternoon. They scoured the country on Yellow Creek about Charlotte. They were fired upon four different times, and many exciting chases occurred. Henson's command of guerrillas is moving at large, and were chased twice by Capt. Whipp. Two companies of the 4th Tennessee Rebel cavalry, of Forrest's command, more on Yellow Creek and about Charlotte collecting forage. Several guns and four prisoners were captured. The prisoners were Lieut. J. M. Dodson, W. J. Nesbet and L.S. Nichols, of the 10th Tennessee Rebel cavalry, and W. H. Hunt, formerly a rebel soldier who belonged to Woodward's regiment. He took the oath of allegiance and gave bond, in the Provost office in Clarksville, last March. He is charged with violating his oath and bond, by waging guerrilla warfare and being connected with a band of horse thieves. He stole a horse from Doctor Johnson, of Christina country, a few days ago. He is also accused of making threats against Union men. He will be tried by the Military Commission.
G. W. Doulin, a member of Woodward's command, came into Clarksville on Tuesday [14th]. He was dressed in citizens' clothes, and represented himself as a citizen. He applied at the Provost Marshal's office for permission to visit Hall in prison in prison, who was captured by Boones' scouts, and who is an Orderly Sergeant in Woodward's command. Being refused permission to visit the jail, he then pledged his worth that Hall was no Confederate soldier, but a good and peaceable citizen. He vouched for his character, wanted to on his bond for his good behavior, or be responsible for his appearance on trial, if he were only released from prison. He labored earnestly in the cause, but without effect. He was suspicioned [sic] by the Provost Marshal as not being what he represented himself to be. Shortly afterward, he was recognized on the street by Lieut. Sharp, as a prisoner that had twice escaped from him. He was immediately arrested, when it was ascertained that he was a Confederate soldier of Woodward's band. Being found within our lines in citizen's dress, and representing himself to be a loyal citizen, makes him appear in the character of a spy, and for this offence he will be tried before the commission.
We learn that Jack Henson had a public sale, near Cumberland City, on Wednesday last [15th]. The sale consisted of stolen good and broken down horses. Several country stores, in the last ten days, have been sacked by Benson, or men connected with his command. The pillage has been indiscriminate: no opinions or rights were respected -- the mind appeared to be solely bent on plunder. On Wednesday [15th], the band was collected at Cumberland City, and the spoils of the plunderers were offered for sale. We do not know whether many bidders were found for the stolen property, or not, but presume there were, as the citizens of the neighborhood of Cumberland City are of such a lawless character, that they would glory in upholding and maintaining the rights of a guerrilla band. And they would eagerly receive the spoils plundered from citizens, who would oppose an opinion of theirs, or raise a voice in favor of law and order and justice. Without doubt, many of the citizens of that neighborhood are connected directly or indirectly with these thieving guerrilla bands.
Nashville Dispatch, July 23, 1863.
23, The "Greenback" Standard, Retrieval of Bank Notes, and the Liquidation the Indebtedness of the Bank of Tennessee
The Tennessee Banks.
We have understood, says the Nashville Dispatch that the Supervisor of Banks, General Sam Milligan,[1] of Greene county, will enter upon the discharge of his duties under the Bank Code during the present or coming week and that it is his intention to exact as faithful a compliance with the provisions of the Bank Code and the acts amendatory thereof as circumstances will at present justify. We feel warranted in saying that one object he will labor to accomplish will be to bring up the notes of the banks doing business in this State to the "greenback" standard. He regards it a duty he owes to the people of Tennessee, who hold largely of the issue our banks, to require the banks to make their issues as good as that which the Government has made a legal tender.
Another matter that will engage the especial attention of the Supervisor of Banks will be the looking after and gathering up such of the assets of the Band of Tennessee as may be within reach. There is a large amount of debts due to the Bank being scattered over the State, much of which, by proper attention, may be secured. The evidences of these debts have been carried beyond the limits of the State; but where it can be ascertained that a party owes the Bank, the laws of Tennessee provide amply for enforcing its collection. The Bank holds a very considerable amount of real estate in various parts of the State, which he proposes to take possession of. The greater portion of this real estate, is improved and very valuable, and may be disposed of upon very advantageous terms. From these two items a fund may be realized which will go a long way toward liquidating the indebtedness of the State.
Chattanooga Daily Gazette, July 23, 1864. [2]
[1] Milligan was a politician from Greene county where he practiced law beginning in the 1840s. He served in the 24th, 25th, and 26th General Assemblies representing Greene and Washington counties. He was a Democrat. He served in the Mexican was as a major in the Quartermaster Corps. He was a delegate to the Democratic Nation Convention of Charleston and Baltimore of 1860, and a member of the Peace Conference at Washington. He was offered ambassadorships by Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, but declined to accept. Milligan was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court, 1864-1868 when he resigned to take a judgeship of the Court of Claims in Washington, D. C.. He died on April 7, 1874. Robert McBride and Dan M. Robison, eds., Biographical Dictionary of the Tennessee General Assembly, Vol. I, 1796-1861, (Nashville: Tennessee State Library and Archives and the Tennessee Historical Commission), p. 522. The rank of General was more than likely honorific or had to do with a position with the militia.
[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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