Saturday, November 9, 2013

11/9/2013 Tennessee Civil War Notes

        9, Old Abe's U. F. O. spotted over Knoxville

The Knoxville Register, of the 10th, has the following:

Yesterday afternoon a balloon was seen, by a number of persons, passing over this city, coming from the direction of a little North of West, and continuing its course South of East. Some of those who saw if declare that a car attached to it containing men. Conjecture was rife as to whence this strange visitant came. We think it probable that some of Old Abe's scouts have been up reconnoitering in Kentucky, and struck a current in the storm of yesterday, which carried them Southward. If the land anywhere in Dixie they will probably get more information of our strength and resources than they bargained for.

The Daily Dispatch, November 21, 1861. [1]

                                                                    

 

9, An Account of a Roane county Secessionist's Conversion to Unionism

Hanging a Disunionist in Tennessee with a Grape Vine.

Parson Brownlow's paper, of Knoxville, Tenn., says:

A fellow recently passed through Roane county, talking Disunion talk, and cutting up considerably, as we have been told. The Union men laid hold of him with a grape vine, and so choked him that he had like not to have recovered. They made him take an oath to support the Constitution and fight for the General Government, as well as to talk in the future on the side of the Union!

Daily Cleveland Herald, January 11, 1861.[2]

 

 

9, "There was a bum passed in about 4 ft of my back. It blowed me as it passed." Lieutenant A. J. Lacy, Eighth Tennessee cavalry, writes a letter home

State of Tennessee, Davidson Co [sic]

November 9th 62 [sic]

Dear Father & Mother

This morning I seat myself to drop you a few lines. I have nothing strange to write to you. They have reinforced at Nashville with 14 regiments 8 batterries [sic]. Wee [sic] had another fight November the 5th.[3] Our engagement lasted about 3 hours. We had 8 pieces of artillery & several Regts [sic] of cavalry. Our co [sic] got 2 fellers [sic] wounded. Their names was H G Beasley got wounded in the thigh. [sic] Our first duty surgeant [sic] Thomas Smith got wounded in the left arm.

Wee [sic] charged the infantry and artillery but they make the bullets whistle so that we could not get to them. They threw some bums [sic] among us. There was a bum [sic] passed in about 4 ft [sic] of my back. It blowed [sic] as it passed. I must close for the present [sic]. Write to me my friends. I have not herd [sic] from home since I left.

A J Lacy to Wm Lacy [sic]

Lacy Correspondence.

 

 

        9, An excerpt from the hospital journal of Kate Cumming in Chattanooga

Mrs. W. is recovering.

Had a visit a few evenings ago from Mrs. Newsom. She has charge of a new hospital that is opened in the Crutchfield House; it is called the "Board" in honor of the medical director of this army.

I had a letter yesterday from a Mrs. Young, in Charleston. She is going to send me a box, which is much needed. She writes very encouragingly of the safety of Charleston. General Beauregard is in command there. I know the enemy dread to meet him.

Cumming, A Journal of Hospital Life, p. 51.

 

 

        9, William G. Brownlow Assistant Special Treasury Agent and East Tennessee Trade Regulations

East Tennessee Trade Regulations.

W. G. Brownlow, Assistant Special Treasury Agent for the District of East Tennessee, after consulting with General Burnside, has resolved upon Knoxville as the only post, for the present, to be furnished with goods, wares and merchandise. Samuel R. Rogers has been appointed local agent at Knoxville, who will grant all permits for bringing goods into that city from the loyal States, and without his permit they will not be allowed to pass any Custom-house where they may be purchased. And all goods brought into Knoxville hereafter without the permit of a Surveyor of Customs, based upon the permit of the local agent there, will be seized and turned over to the Assistant Special Agent of the Treasury Department for confiscation. The previous permits granted y the military authorities are good, and will be respected by the Treasury officers. Merchants opening goods there can only retail, and are not allowed by the Treasury Regulations to wholesale to parties to be sold again in other towns and neighborhoods; and every merchant selling a bill of goods is required to keep a book and enter the day, date, name, and amount of the bill, subject at all times to the inspection of the officers of the Treasury Department. Every bill of goods exceeding $5 must go before the local agent and be permitted by him, for which fee of 20 cents must be paid. Family supplies may be purchased by parties living in other counties within our lines to any reasonable extent, and one man or woman can purchase for and represent three families beside his or her own, taking an oath before the local agent Colonel Rogers that they are for family supplies for the parties named, and that they are not intended to be smuggled through the lines to persons in rebellion against the Government.

The aids to the revenue for East Tennessee are John C. Childs, James H. Henry, James M. Henderson, and William Homer, who will look after abandoned rebel property, and seize upon all goods brought there without authority, as wall as all goods attempted to be smuggled into that city or out of it into the rebel lines. They will also seize upon the goods of sutlers found selling goods to citizens, as they have no right to do so. Sutlers have authority to sell to their regiments as much as $2,500 per month without paying the Government assessment, and a wholesale trade can be carried on among sutlers, they buying of the post sutler there, who may be appointed by the military authorities. Cotton shippers for Knoxville must pay five cents on the pound as a Government assessment or war tax and tobacco must pay at the rate of two dollars per hogshead, before either can escape the vigilance of the Treasury officers. Disloyal persons cannot ship cotton or tobacco, or bring goods into that market. Nor can Union men do either, Mr. Brownlow says, who do not approve the war policy of the Government, and adds: "If this 'Lincoln despotism' be not acceptable to gentlemen, they can retire from business, or fall back into Jeff Davis's bogus Government, where they will find 'free trade and sailors' rights.'"

Louisville Daily Journal, November 9, 1863. [4]

 

 

 



[1] As cited in PQCW.

[2] TSL&A, 19th CN.

[3] See November 5, 1862, Action at Nashville.

[4] As cited in PQCW.


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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