Friday, October 4, 2013

10/4/2013 Tennessee Civil War Notes

4, Confederate Government Convenes a Southeastern Railroad Caucus in Chattanooga

Railroad Convention at Chattanooga.

At a meeting of some of the Southern Railroads, held on the 4th inst., in Chattanooga, were present Dr. Emanuel, Vice President Southern Mississippi Railroad; T. Rigby, Director; Sam. Tate, President M. and C. Railroad; E. D. Frost, Superintendent, Mississippi Central Railroad; Dr. Lewis, Superintendent M. and O. Railroad; R. L. Owen, President Virginia and Tennessee Railroad; C. B. Wallace, President East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad: L. J. Fleming, General Superintendent M. and O. Railroad.

Dr. Emanuel was called to the Chair, and L. J. Fleming appointed Secretary.

Hon. W. S. Ashe, Assistant Quartermaster, explained the object of the government in calling the convention to be, asking the assistance of the railroads in furnishing machinery to assist the East Tennessee roads to transport a large amount of Government freight now accumulated at Knoxville and Bristol; and to adopt a uniform rate for the transportation of Government freight.

On motion, Col. Tate, Wallace and Fleming were appointed a committee to determine a thorough uniform rate for the transportation of Government freight. The committee, after due deliberation, reported the following resolutions:

The committee to whom was referred the subject of Government freight and charges on the same, recommended that the classification be established as follows:

1st Class-Percussion caps, powder and fixed ammunition, 15 cents per 100 pounds per 100 miles.

2nd Class-All other freight shipped for the government, except live stock, hay, bran and the articles enumerated in first class, 20 cents per 100 pounds per 100 miles.

3rd Class-Live stock per car load, $20 per 100 miles

4th Class-Hay and bran per car load $15 per car load, per 100 miles.

For less than a car load of live stock the local rates of each road will be charged. The labor and expense of loading and unloading and the detention of the cars for the same being as much for short as for long distances. Distances less than 100 miles will be charged as 100 miles.

The payments for Government service will be received in the treasury notes, or bonds of the Confederate States.

Sam. Tate,

C. B. Wallace,

L. J. Fleming.

On motion of Mr. Wallace:

Resolved, That regular railroad thorough lists shall accompany each car load, or part of car load of Government receipts, omitting any assessment of rate, and that it devolve upon each road to take its own receipt, separate and apart from such list for the delivery of freight to a connecting road, to be used as a voucher in settlement with the Government and that each road collect its own earnings, and make its own settlement with the Government.

Messrs. Owen, President of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and Wallace, of the Virginia and Tennessee and East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, gave notice that on and after Sunday week next, they will change schedule, so at to give them more time on their roads. Mr. Wallace said he should consume thirteen hours in running his road.

On motion, a committee consisting of Messrs. Tate, Fleming and Frost, were appointed to prepare a schedule.

Resolved, that the prices for Government freight agreed upon by the convention go into effect and after the 15th day of the present month.

Resolved, That the Committee on Schedule be allowed until the 15th inst to confer with connecting roads, not represented in this convention, and report to each road in interest such schedules as may be agreed upon between Richmond and New Orleans.

Resolved, that the Secretary be authorized and instructed to have the proceedings of this convention be published and furnish ten copies to each of the Southern roads.

Resolved, that the thanks of this convention be tendered to the President for the able and satisfactory manner in which he has discharged his duties.[1]

Daily Picayune, October 11, 1861. [2]

 

 

 

4, Skirmish at Middleton

Report of Brig. Gen. Jacob G. Lauman, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of skirmish near Middleton and engagement at Hatchie Bridge.

HDQRS. FIRST Brig., FOURTH DIV., DIST. OF WEST TENN.

CAPT.: I have the honor to report the movements of my brigade since I received the order to march at 3 a. m. on Saturday, October 4:

We left our camp at Bolivar and moved forward on the Corinth road about 23 miles and encamped on the Big Muddy that night. The squadron of cavalry attached to my command, under Maj. Hayes, had a slight skirmish near Middleton, in which one or two were wounded.

* * * *

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

J.G. Lauman Brigadier-General

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 17, pt I, pp. 311-312.

 

 

4, "HIDDEN TREASURES. A LEGEND OF THE IRVING BLOCK."[3]

We have received an original brochure under this head, which contains so much real wit and good versification [sic] that we should like to give it entire did our space permit. We shall, however, make copious extracts.

The poem opens with a description of

 

LIFE IN IRVING PRISON.

 

In the dawn of the morning a shadow there falls

O'er the court and its beauties, from grim prison walls,

And so near are the park and the prison together,

That the shade of the one casts a gloom o'er the other.

But a sad thought it is that when morning is gone

And thus throws his light o'er the beautiful lawn,

Filled with seekers of pleasure, no sunlight there falls,

To lift up the shadow from off those dark walls;

For there in the gloom do the weary ones wait,

And a sentinel o'er is guarding the gate,

And the watch once immured in this ugly domain

Has small chance for his life or his freedom again

Unless as a lawyer, sent angel of pity

Secures the old wretch to his friends and the city

 

Next the poet goes on to describe the incident upon which his "legend" is founded:

 

It chanced on a day that two coveys were caught

And safe to gate of the prison were brought,

Where the watchers are waiting both early and late

To consign fresh arrivals to dungeon and grate.

And the coveys afore said were placed in a cell

To think of their destiny-ever to dwell.

In the gloom of that dreary and ghostly domain,

Where each guest is provided with ball and with chain,

Where sunshine and laughter are visitors never

But ghosts, gloom and shadows are dwellers forever

Two angels of mercy, in lawyers disguise

As they passed through the bastile [sic] with wondering eyes,

Intent on their mission of pity and love

Came over to the two coveys we've mentioned above

And seeing their grief in this helpless  position,

Conferred [with them] on their grievous condition.

 

The remarks of these professional angels follow in a philanthropic strain quite heavenly. Then the poem proceeds:

 

This language, for lawyers so sensibly wise,

Seemed to strike the two coveys with pleasant surprise.

And consulting together a moment [and sighed]

They then to their kind benefactors replied:

 

Far outside the noise and bustle

Of the crowded city's throng,

Where the forest's green leaves rustle,

And the birds pour forth their song,

Far amid the wildwood's pleasures,

In a deep and silent glen,

We have safe unheard of treasures-

Hidden from the sight of men.

Free us from this galling fetter,

Open our prison doors,

(Life than ricers still is better)

Countless treasures shall be yours.

 

The proposition so alluring to the philanthropists is accepted. By application to the proper authorities the rascals are released, and the party proceeded post haste, to search for the concealed treasures. Need we add that the whole thing was a terrible "sell," and that these angels of mercy came back to the city at the close of that sultry day, exhausted with their journey and sorely wounded at heart at being the victims of such a swindle.

Memphis Bulletin, October 4, 1863.

 

 

 

4, "Onanism or Self Abuse"

How many parents have seen the reason of a gifted son go to ruin; have seen him fade away from their homes, their hearts, and their hearths, like a shadow of evening from the hills, and have turned in tears to the tomb to which he has gone down, in the bloom of beauty and the morning of existence, without once suspecting that the darling hope of their declining years was a victim to a solitary habit, which alas, is so common among the young. Let those thus afflicted call on DOCTOR COLEMAN, No. 64 North Cherry street, or address him by letter. Post Office Box 502, Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville Daily Press, October 4, 1864.

 



[1] Major W. S. Ashe, assistant quartermaster, C. S. A., was specially charged with governmental superintendence of railroad transportation. See OR, Ser. I, Vol. 5, p. 875 and Ser. I, Vol. 51, pt. II, p. 215. According to this newspaper account of the meeting, Ashe's request for the assistance of the railroads to supply machinery to help the East Tennessee roads to transport a large quantity of Government freight then accumulated at Knoxville and Bristol was apparently ignored by the railroad executives. Most likely this was because there was no profit in it. Patriotism goes just so far.

[2] Valley of the Shadow.

[3] The Iving Block was the Federal prison in Memphis.


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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