Tuesday, May 21, 2013

5/21/2013 Tennessee Civil War Notes

21, "Tennessee."

All hail, beautiful and brave daughter of the South! With open hands and loving hearts we welcome you! No oath is needed to prove to us your fidelity and affection. The achievements of your gallant volunteers in every field when you country called you, are your witnesses! Those fields have been reddened with your blood and determined by your glory! Tennessee – the Volunteer State – the native land of heroes, the burial ground of Jackson – can never be false to her friends and brethern [sic]!

Many of her friends looked to her with abting [sic] faith and faltering hearts. Our confidence never failed. Our convictions the unbroken faith of all Mississippi have been confirmed! Prophecy has become history. The Pleiad which some though had gone forever, has re-appeared. If it vanished for a moment – if a cloud was drawn over it that concealed it glorious beams have now emerged with additional splendor, and sheds it light upon the azure field of the "Confederate Flag." Tennessee! Our fate, our affections are the same. Mississippi has not an echo that does not repeat your name! She has not a heart that does not say "God bless you!"

Vicksburg Sun.

Clarksville Chronicle, May 24, 1861

 

21, Confederate Correspondence Relative to the Organization of the Provost Marshal's Office in East Tennessee.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF EAST TENN., OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL, May 21, 1862.

J. F. BELTON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:

Herewith I respectfully submit the organization[1] of the department of provost-marshal for East Tennessee. It is nearly though not entirely complete. There are some more private police needed who will be employed as the right men can be selected. The operation of the law in this department seems to be working as well as could be excepted when the deep rooted disaffection is considered. Many are returning from Kentucky and many more expected to return, arrangements having been made by their friends to bring them. By this time the fact of the suspension of the conscript bill in East Tennessee is in the camp of the enemy in readable from which must work advantageously and tend to demoralize the enemy. Inclosed in [sic] card[2] sent into their camp. I respectfully desire that the rank (if any) and the pay of each be fixed and also to be instructed by whom the officers, employees and expenses of the department are to be paid.

[W. M. CHURCHWELL, Col. and Provost-Marshal.]

OR, Ser. II, Vol. 3, p. 876.

 

 

21, Major-General S. B. Buckner's concerns about conscription and the civil condition of East Tennessee

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE, Knoxville, May 21, 1863.

Gen. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Gen., Richmond, Va.:

SIR: The civil condition of East Tennessee is a subject of solicitude with me. Under the pressure of the enforcement of the conscript act several thousand of the young men of East Tennessee fled the territory and entered the ranks of the Federal Army. Large numbers of others, to avoid the conscription, have fled from their homes and are lurking in the mountains, the woods, and the caves. They are chiefly men of families, who desire to avoid all military service in either army and yet wish to remain near their families. Many of these men, rendered desperate by their situation, are infesting the roads, waylaying the conscript officers, and, urged alike by necessity and a spirit of revenge and bitterness, are stealing horses and destroying the cattle, hogs, and products within their reach. Occasionally their depredations extend to the destruction of barns and house and injury to corps within their reach. The civil arm is paralyzed; the bitterness of faction is intense. The enforcement of order by the military arm, however we may seek to restrain its enemies, will often be attended by instances of unnecessary severity, giving room for the charge of persecution. In whatever light we view it, the question is surrounded by difficulties that have doubtless attracted oftentimes the attention of the President. After considering the question as fully as my time will permit, I am convinced that the following policy would be the best solution to the difficult problem:

First. To exempt from conscription for a certain period--say six or eight months--such fugitives as within a limited time will return to the cultivation of their fields, and will lead a life of quiet and obedience to the laws. The effect of this would be to disperse or weaken the bands which are scattered through the mountains, to cultivate and gather a more abundant crop, and to put an end to the molestation of the highways and the destruction and stealing of animals.

Second. To such as refuse to avail themselves of these privileges a severe policy should be pursued when practicable. They should be considered as alien enemies in armed opposition to the Government, and when captured regarded as prisoners of war and to be exchanged as such. In very flagrant cases a more severe policy might be pursued, but in most cases it would seem needless to try the offenders before a civil court, on account of the difficulty of obtaining two witnesses to the same overt act. To do so would be equivalent to releasing them in our midst, to renew their former course of depredations.

Third. With a view to local defense against such depredations I am encouraging, with some prospect of success, the formation of volunteer companies for local defense, under the act of October 13, 1862. As the people are generally unarmed, their arms having been taken for other purposes by the State authorities, I propose, with your concurrence, issuing to these organizations the squirrel and shot guns now in the arsenal here. In an emergency these companies may add somewhat to the security of the bridge defenses.

I will thank you to lay these views before the War Department. The question is a most delicate one and very difficult of solution; but I think a temporary exemption would gradually bring back these fugitives to the quiet cultivation of their fields--the best service which they can render the Government.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. B. BUCKNER, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg. Department.

OR, Ser. IV, Vol. 2, pp. 563-564.

 

21, "Read this to them and If [sic] I live to get home safe and sound they may dread me and my navy." Lieutenant A. J. Lacy's letter home to his parents in Jackson County

Springhill Maury Co [sic] Tenn [sic] April the 21st 1863 [sic]

My dear Father and Mother,

I am once more permitted to take my pin [sic] in hand to drop you a few lines to inform you that I am reasonably well at the present. Hoping that if these lines arrives [sic] safely to your hand that they will find you all enjoying the best of health.

I havent [sic] much important news to write to you. There is 7 briggades [sic] of Cavalry [sic] here at the present. We are in Gen Armstrongs [sic] briggade. [sic] Gen [sic] Forest has been promoted to Major Gen. Gen Vandorn [sic] is also a major general. There is a large force at Franklin now of the Fedderals [sic]. I was on picket the 18tt 19th and 20th of this inst. The 18th they came out about 500 Yanks and fired on us. Run our advance picket back 1 mi. About that time Major Forest [sic] came up [and] took 15 men and we went and run [sic] them back. When we got in sight of them they was [sic] all formed in a line of battle. Wee [sic] fired on their pickets. They began to fall back. We followed them 2 mil [sic] and we halted and put our pickets on a gain [sic].

Wee [sic] are expecting an engagement evry [sic]; day here. We have to keep 2 days rashens [sic] on hands [sic] on that account. We are a doing [sic] harder drilling now than we ever have and have strictter [sic] orders in general. A man cant [sic] go out of camps without a pass signed by the major genn [sic].

We had a general review the other day. All 7 briggades [sic] was [sic] there on the field and all the batteries. All the gen [sic] marched around us and 2 brass bands of musick [sic] marching after them. It was a beautiful sight. It was 10 or 15 thousand cavalry all together. It was a great sight. Our independence is verry [sic] costly to us but if I live untill [sic] it is gained and return home once more I think that I will see a great deal of pleasure with my friends by no Union man need not expect my friendship for I would as live [sic] shoot one as look at him for Torys [sic] I despise. Read this to them and If [sic] I live to get home safe and sound they may, dread me and my navy.

I will change the subject. If you can get Drapers [sic] buttons for me do so and then if that coat you have had made for me is grey lanes [sic] put them on it and send them to me if you can right off. Do the best you can.

Well Elisabeth [sic] I thought I would right [sic] you a letter but I have got some business to attend to so I cant [sic] have the chance I would like to see and that fine large boy [sic]. You must excuse me for I have to close. Tell mother that I want her to write to me again and you and Father [sic]. Also write often. My friends give my best respects to all my friends if such there be. Give my best respects to M W [sic] Cummins, Uncle Joseph Grimsley, Capt Matheny. You can tell Capt Mathene that I can give LEM [sic] great praise for he is as find a boy as can be found. Tell my friends that I want them to right [sic] to me and that is all the pleasure that I can see while off here in a distant land. I will close by asscribing [sic] our names as friends now and forever. Your most obedient and best friend

Lacy Correspondence.

 



[1] Not found.

[2] Not found.


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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