30, 1861 - Execution of Henry Fry and Jacob M. Henchie
Disposing of the Traitors-The Knoxville Register, of December 1st, says:
"Greenville, Nov. 30-5:15 P. M.
"Just forty minutes ago Henry Fry and Jacob W. Henchie were hung at this place, dead, DEAD, DEAD, for bridge burning. It was done by military authority.
H. G. Robertson.
Col. Leadbetter, a firm and determined officer, is in command, we believe, of the military post at Greeneville. We presume the prisoners were tried by a drumhead court martial. Fry, it will be remembered, as the captain of the Lincolnite company who fired upon our troops a could of months since, killing one, and subsequently making his escape. We have reason to believe that hereafter all who ware caught in arms against the Confederate Government, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, or otherwise inciting rebellion, will be summarily dealt with.
Daily Picayune, December 4, 1861. [1]
30, 1862 - Cupid and Confederate conscription confusion near Knoxville
MALICIOUS CONDUCT OF MAJOR RUCKER.
Some days ago Major Rucker was in conversation with a fair, fat and forty buxom widow of an adjoining county where by accident she mentioned the age of one of her admirers, saying that he was not quite thirty-nine. The Major made a mental note of the fact, and soon departed. He went straightway in pursuit of this juvenile admirer of the attractive widow, whom he had before learned was a little more than forty years of age. When he arrested Mr. Johnson, Rucker stated that he regretted to inform him that he was under the painful necessity of conscripting him. "I have learned," said Rucker, "from Widow _____ that you are only thirty-nine' she says that you told her so, and I feel it my duty to take you down to Col. Blake."
"Oh! ah! yes," said Mr. Johnson, "in fact sir, to tell you the truth, sir, I did lie just a little to the Widow _____ I wanted, yes-I wanted to get married-you understand, don't you Major."
"I don't understand anything about it," said Rucker, "you must go with me."
Mr. Johnson's knees smote one another, and in tremulous accents, he besought Major Rucker to permit him to send for the old family Bible. This was agreed to. In the mean time Rucker and his new levy proceeded to Col. Blake's Head Quarters. By the time they reached Knoxville, Rucker became satisfied that his follower was not less than three score years and ten. The Widower's hair dye was washed away, his false teeth had been removed, his form was bent by the immense pressure of mental anxiety.
Col. Blake wished to know why this antediluvian had been brought to him; but so complete had been the metamorphosis of the gay widower, that even Rucker blushed when he looked upon him.
The Family Bible came, and there it was written in the faded scrawl of Mr. Johnson's grand mother "Silus Jonsing baun in Bunkum, Nawth Calliny; Anny Domminy 1783!!" [sic]
Knoxville Daily Register, November 30, 1862.
30, 1863 - GENERAL ORDERS, No. 162, relative to illegal sale of Federal uniforms in Memphis
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 162, HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tennessee, November 30, 1863.
Merchants doing business in the city of Memphis....having supplied improper and unauthorized persons with military clothing, to the prejudice and detriment of the service, and it being impossible otherwise to control or regulate the matter-
It is therefore ordered, that all merchants in the city of Memphis not having permission from these headquarters to keep and sell military clothing of the patterns authorized by army regulations, shall immediately ship their stocks north of the lines of the Department of the Tennessee.
The following named merchants are reported to have stocks of military clothing on hand, and not having the necessary authority to trade in the same from these headquarters, will without delay conform to this order: Samter & Lepstadt, 310 Main street; Scheadzki & Co., 302 Main street; Kahn & Co., 268 Main street; I. Schwob, 264 Main street; Loeb & Brother, 260 Main street; M. Skaller & Co., 556 Main street; Fuld, Brother & Co., 217 Main street; Loeb & Co., 251 Main street; S. & L.S. Hellman, 2765 Main street; H. Newmark, 317 Main street; G. F. Morris & Co., 332 Main street; Mass & Co., 21 Shelby street; Stow & Schapsky, Gayoso House; I. Mayer & Co., 23 Front Row; Krouse & Co., 24 Front Row.
Military clothing, shoulder-straps, &c., not made according to the provisions of, and in strict conformity with, Article LI, Revised Army Regulations, will not be permitted to be offered for sale within this command.
The attention of merchants and of all commanders is called to Generals Orders No. 36, dated March 24, 1863, from these headquarters.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 31, pt. III, pp 289-290.
30, 1864 A McMinnville Confederate Woman's Impressions of the Battle of Franklin
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....Wednesday [30th] was a golden day....I was out in the yard the greater portion of the day--and set out some hyacinths and tulips. While at our pleasant work on this pleasant day--I would pause every now and then to listen to a dull shudder in the air, which we so well knew to be distant cannon. It reminded me so forcibly of the day when the battle of Stone's River was fought--Tho' [sic] that was just one month later, and the day tho' [sic] bright was not so warm. There was a fresher breeze on that day too and the cannonading sounded much louder. Towards evening on Wednesday the guns seemed to redouble their efforts, but the sound was different. Instead of being a shudder in the air, the reports came like a thick--falling thud--Mollie had come home that day and we listed to the guns with hearts filled with varied emotions. Hope and fear, joy and sadness swayed us by turns. Towards nightfall all was quiet....
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War Journal of Lucy Virginia French, entry for December 3, 1864.
James B. Jones, Jr.
Public Historian
Tennessee Historical Commission
2941 Lebanon Road
Nashville, TN 37214
(615)-532-1550 x115
(615)-532-1549 FAX