14, "To the Owners of Guns"
There are today hundreds of guns, embracing all sorts in the possession of people in and around Nashville. The State is threatened with invasion by a strong hostile army, richly and abundantly provided with the most formidable weapons of warfare. Under the late call of the Governor, thousands of our gallant citizens are enlisting to drive back the coming hordes of despoilers, but the State has no arms to place in their hands, and is thus forced to the necessity of appealing to such persons as are fortunate enough to have guns in their possession, to give, loan, or sell them for the use of our unarmed soldiery. [emphasis added] What patriot who owns a gun, and is not actively in the service of his country, can reasonably turn a deaf ear to this appeal? The State call earnestly upon her children, who are not soldiers, to come in this season of danger and trial to the help of those who only need arms to render them as a wall of fire in the pathway of the invading horde. Who that is able, is not willing to make this trifling sacrifice in behalf of the common defence. [sic] Let every man worthy [of] the glorious name of Tennesseean, [sic] promptly respond to the call of our Governor for arms, and in less than two weeks there will be at the disposal of our authorities enough good guns to arm every man in the service. If you have a gun, reader, no matter what kind, no matter who fine or how indifferent, give it now to the cause of your bleeding company. It will not do to delay, it will not do to wait on others, it will not do to depend on shipments of arms from Europe. The emergency is upon us, -- the war cloud resting upon our very heads. We must depend upon ourselves, and what we do, must be done NOW. [sic]
Nashville Daily Gazette, November 14, 1861.
14, A plea to Military Governor Johnson "on behalf of poor orphans"
Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 14, 1863
His Excellency Andrew Johnson
Mil. Gov. of Tennessee
My dear Sir -- Knowing your charitable disposition, and your universal kindness to the poor and those in distress, I write you without other apology on a subject which I know you will consider of vital importance -- it is on behalf of poor orphans. There are in this City several Orphan children, and other who have lost their mothers, and whose fathers belong to the Army of the Union. These fathers have no means of providing for the care of their children, and many of them are running about our streets, destitute and without friend or relative to look after them. The Rev. Father Kelly, proposes to organize a Society among the Catholics of Nashville for the support and education of these orphans, and a number of us have resolved to apply to you for aid. All we want from you is a temporary home in which to place them, and we will do the rest. It has been suggested that perhaps you could give us permission to occupy the residence of Maj. Hyman, northwest from the Capitol, or some other building. If you can aid us, my dear Governor, I am sure you will do so, and you Catholic fellow citizens will feel themselves under lasting obligations to you, and the orphans will ever pray for you and bless you.
I have called to see you several times, but never found you at leisure & my time is too fully occupied to wait long. If you will be kind enough to send me a line, I will take great pleasure in waiting upon you at any time, and explain more fully our objects and plans, and furnish you whatever information I am possessed of.
Believe me, Sir, with great respect,
Your humble servant,
E. E. Jones
Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 476-477.
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