July 9 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

9, Excitement in Travisville and Fentress County; a letter to U. S. Senator Andrew Johnson
Travisville Tenn July 9th 1861
Hon Andrew Johnson
Sir
Our whole country was thrown in to intense excitement yesterday by the arrival among us of some 300 Volunteers from East. [sic] Tenn [sic] for the purpose they say of making all the Union men leave of swearing them to support the Jeff Davis Confederacy but they have not attempted to do either the on or the other yet and just so soon as they do attempt it we are determined to defend ourselves the best we can [.] we can whip double the number that is here but we donot [sic] intend to make the fairest attact [sic] [.] we have no arms except our Country rifles and shot guns which we intend ueing [sic] they they should make any attempt to drive out the union men of Fentress County. if [sic] we can get help we are determined not to submit to them, and if we can not get it a great many of us will have to leave for Kentucky until the government can send us aid[.] I see in the papers that you are making arrangements for arms and men for the defence [sic] of East. [sic] Tenn. Fentress County is determined to stand with East Tenn [sic] in any event. I can refer you to the Hon. Horace Maynard as to responsibility for myself [.] if [sic] you can make time to drop me a line please do so and directed your letters to me at Albany Ky[.]
I Remain your Obedient Servant
C. B. V. Ryan
PAJ, Vol. 4, pp. 553-554.
[On September 29, 1861, the very first military engagement in Tennessee between organized Union and Confederate troops occurred at Travisville. It was a Union victory, known as the Affair at Travisville.]

  

9, General S. B. Buckner complains to the Confederate Secretary of War about the shortage of arms in Confederate East Tennessee
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE, Knoxville, July 9, 1863.
Hon. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
SIR: I replied two days since to your telegram  relative to a forward movement. With a view to a more complete understanding, and also to procure arms long since promised by the Ordnance Department, but which have not yet been sent to me, I send Maj. J. Stoddard Johnston, of my staff, to confer with you. A large portion of my cavalry are most indifferently armed. They cannot render efficient service in their present condition. I have to request that you will give such orders as will secure the immediate forwarding of the necessary arms. Maj. Johnston will give you more in detail than I can furnish in a letter the general plans which I propose--plans which of course may be modified by the development of facts in relation to the enemy. I will remark that if a forward movement is designed from East Tennessee the column should be as strong and as well organized as the Government can make it. The troops of this department are raw. They are the residuum left after taking the best troops under Gen. Kirby Smith to the Army of Tennessee. They have not yet passed the ordeal of fire and consequently should be mingled with veteran troops to give them stability under fire. If, therefore, it be designed for me to advance, I would respectfully suggest that Wharton's small brigade from Gen. Jones' force be added temporarily to Presto's command, and that as many brigades as Gen. Bragg can spare be added to my division. With the small force likely to be placed at my disposal I do not expect to hold Kentucky, but if I can start with 10,000 infantry, and Morgan's cavalry, now in Kentucky, be ordered to report to me, I can certainly occupy until the autumn as many as 20,000 or 30,000 of the enemy in Kentucky. The effect would be a powerful diversion in favor of the other armies. It is for the War Department to judge of its expediency.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 S. B. BUCKNER, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 52, pt. II, pp. 506-597.

 

9, "Concerning Dogs."
In another column is an order from Lieut. Col. Harris, relative to dogs. The owners of canines are required to have them muzzled immediately, in default of which they will be subject on conviction before the Recorder, to a fine of not less than five nor more than fifty dollars for the first offense, and five dollars for each hour thereafter that the order may be violated.
The police are required to have all dogs running at large within the city, and not carefully muzzled, killed and removed at the expense of the city.
In view of the fact that a number of mad dogs have been running about of late, this is an important order, and should be strictly observed.
Memphis Bulletin, July 9, 1864.