28, "Need of Vigilance."
The frequency of conflagrations, of late, among Government steamboats, warehouses, provision and forage depots, all of vast importance to the welfare and sustenance of our armies, admonish us forcibly of the need of greatly increased watchfulness in guarding such property from the approach of incendiaries. It is highly probable that there is an organization of incendiaries, in the interest of the rebel Government, extending along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and in all the cities of the North where there are government depots of supplies or manufactories for the army, whose object is to use the torch in any way that will cripple and retard the operations of our armies. There are thousands of rebels from the South roaming at large over the Northern States, and scores of desperadoes who would readily attempt to burn down a shop, factory, or steamboat in the service of the Government for fifty dollars. The rebels could make no use of their money so damaging to us, as to employ a force of incendiaries to destroy Government vessels and work-shops, and it is quite reasonable to believe that they are aware of the fact. If a good steamboat can be destroyed, or a locomotive and car shop, or any army wagon shop, or a depot filled with corn and hay for cavalry, artillery, and transportation horses, or any establishment of equal value and importance connected with military operations, can be burned, delaying the movements or our troops and robbing the Government of millions of dollars, the achievement is a God-send to the rebels. We think therefore that no time should be lost in placing a strong and thorough guard at every place where there is reason to apprehend the application of the torch. Incendiarism would be a tremendous weapon in the hands of desperate men, and the Government should watch out for their movements.
Nashville Daily Times and True Union, July 28, 1864.
28, Major-General Milroy's Security Order for Nashville and Environs
Major Gen. Milroy, in Tennessee, has issued an order, that guards shall only be placed at the houses and farms of those unquestioned loyalty residing in the city of Nashville and vicinity.
The Ripley Bee, July 28, 1864. [1]
28, Private Elam's Petition for Release from Prison
Military Prison, Nashville, Tenn.
July 28, 1864
To His Excellency, Andrew Johnson
Brig. Genl. & Mil. Gov. State of Tennessee
Sir: I have been confined to this place for more than five weeks and have had no charges preferred against me, that I am aware of, the circumstances of the casse are as follows: I belong to Capt. Hambright's Co. "A." 10th. Regt. Tenn. Vol. Cav'y, having been detailed with several others to proceed to this place with some deserters, belonging to the 9th Tenn., after starting back to Springfield, my horse having lost a shoe, became so lame as to be unable to carry me any further and seeing a horse in a pasture by the roadside, I took him, inquired who he belonged to, was told, where I belonged, and that the horse would be set back to the owner in two days, which I was preparing to do, as there was a detail coming to town that day, when I understood that there was a detail from Genl. Rousseau's Head Quarters, with orders to arrest me. I came to town with detail, brought two letters from Springfield, one from Lt. Martin of My Company, and the other from Mr. Holman, to Genl Rousseau, but as he was not at this office, I could not see him[.] if I had, I do not think that I would have been confined. I have now been in the service for the last fourteen Years[.] as this is the first offence of the kind, that I have ever been guilty of, I would be everlastingly obliged, if you would be so kind as to see Genl. Rousseau, and have me released and sent to my Company, and I promise in the future to conduct myself as a soldier should do, if I had any dishonest intentions, I would not have let my Company officers seen the horse, being fully aware that they would not in any instance, have countenanced me, or any of the other men in the Company in stealing horses, but as that the owner got his horse I wish you would release me.
I am, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
Thomas J. Elam,
Prvt. Co. "A." 10th Regt Tenn Cav'y
Stationed at Springfeld [sic] Tenn
PAJ, Vol. 7, p. 54.
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