February 13 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

13, "Street Miseries."

We are glad to know that the street miseries we spoke of a few days ago are to be diminished. General Veatch this morning issues an order, in which he expressly prohibit riding and driving on the sidewalk of the city, and fast riding and driving on the streets, and he does so expressly on the ground that such conduct is an annoyance to the people. In issuing this order, Gen. Veatch had done the citizens, and especially the ladies, a great kindness in issuing this order; we take pleasure in saying that since his presence in this city, Gen. Veatch has shown a kind thoughtfulness for the convenience and welfare of the citizens of Memphis, in these unfortunate times he is necessarily subjected to much importunity, but with as patience that does honor to his temper, he makes himself master of the business brought before him, and with a discretion honorable to his judgment, he renders his decision which never fails to obtain approbation for its justice. Memphis is fortunate in having a gentleman of his character had qualifications occupying the important position he fills. The prohibition against running hacks after twelve o'clock at night is also removed by this order of Gen. Veatch.

Memphis Bulletin, March 5, 1863.

 

 

13, Col. Fielding Hurst [First Regt. West Tennessee (U.S.) Cavalry] extorts tribute from the city of Jackson and the lynching of an informant

* * * *

....in a few days, last Saturday 2 weeks ago [February 13], I believe, Col. Fielding Hearst [sic] [sic] with about o­ne hundred men in full tilt taking o­ne & all as much by supprise [sic] as ever a people was supprised. [sic] I had been out at home to feed my hogs, had come in, turned my horse in the lot, came in & sat down when by they went. We caught a glimpse of my horse & before I knew it, he went as good many have gone, stolen [sic]. I had my old partnership horse & bay horse. Good Smith had been keeping for a year also in town, sliped [sic] them the back yard & him them as well as I could behind the cedars. 'Twas near night. They left town after dark & camped next morning at Mr. Bond's 3 miles out of town. I got out next morning & took the 2 horses to the river bottom & tied them in the cane before they got back town. [sic] During the day (Sunday) these fellow went down into the bottom & brought out some mules & o­ne good mare, but did not succeed in finding mine.

Col. Hearst [sic] called for some of the most prominent citizens and announced to them that Five thousand dollars had to raised or the town would be burned. They concluded it would be better to raise the money than to have the town sacked. No doubt but Hearst [sic] would have turned his soldiers loose upon the town if he had not burned it. Some burning would have occurred any how. These men are capable of the most brutal conduct and were ripe for the word. They money could not be raised upon that day. Twenty of the citizens obliged to raise the amt [sic] in 5 days. o­n Friday following Hearst [sic] came in with an escort, his regiment camped at Bob Chester's 2 miles south of town. The pretext for raising this money was simply this -- last summer when Hatch with a large force, Hearst [sic] among them,, the time a small fight took place between Hatch and parts of Col. Forrest's & Biffle's regiments, the stores were broken open and a general pillage [took place]. Among the sufferes [sic] was a Mrs. Newman. She had a millenary establishment. Mrs. N. went to Memphis & judgment was given against Hearst's [sic] Regmt & the pay of the Regt stoped [sic] for 3 months to pay the amount I suppose. Judgement [sic] was given for five thousand dollars & something over. Hearst [sic] said here that if his regmt [sic] did not do it and collects the damage off the citizens of Jackson. Comment is unnecessary. No damage was done beyond taking horses and mules.

Mr. John Campbell had difficulty with some of them and struck o­ne with a stick & choked a Lieut. His house was fired in 3 rooms, furniture smashed up. Owing to a capt [sic] coming up with a squad of men, the house was saved.

They gave Mr. Bond an old horse for forage &c. Mr. Bond told them that he did not want any citizen's horse. Col. Hearst [sic] told him that the horse had been in this regiment 6 months & no citizen had right to him. The next morning or when the came to town, o­ne of Mr. Campbell's daughters applied for their old buggy taken the day before. She was told that they had left him out at the man's house where they camped the night before and it proved to be Mr. C's [sic] horse.

I understand a part of Lexington and Brownsville were burned by this same crowd. They destroyed a large quantity of fencing over the river & set the woods o­n fire besides burning it when camped, pillaged houses & robed [sic] citizens. Frequently citizens are killed by them when they resist these outrages. Hearst's [sic] command was made up principally in McNairy & Henderson counties, some from Hardeman & Carrol sic counties in the Western District. I saw ma man & his son with them who formerly lived here in Jackson, a gambler named Waters. His son, named Tom, also saw a man o­nce Sheriff of McNairy Co. named Alridge.

* * * * 

Old Jessie, a negro [sic] belonging to the estate of Mr. James Caruthres [sic] was called out of his house a few nights since, marched down to the river, shot & thrown in, by whom I have no idea. He was seen to talk for 2 or 3 hours with Hearst's [sic] men when here & very likely was in the habit of reporting to the Yankees. Those who did the thing knew enough to cause them to resort to such an extreme measure. Knowing nothing about it, I can neither justify or censure them. -- Peace alone can put an end to the awful state of affairs now casting a gloom over the land. Waste and ruin are plainly visible o­n every hand.

Robert H. Cartmell Diary, February 21, 1864.