8, Concerns expressed to Jefferson Davis that defense of Cumberland Gap by General Felix Zollicoffer not adequate to prevent Federal invasion of East Tennessee via Jamestown, Fentress County
KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 8, 1861.
His Excellency President DAVIS:
DEAR SIR: Many friends here have urged me to address your excellency this note. Heretofore I have declined to do so, on account of the extreme delicacy I feel in suggesting anything to the Government in regard to which it is to be presumed they are fully informed. What I have to say is in regard to Gen. Zollicoffer's perilous position at Cumberland Gap, and the danger of invasion by the Lincoln forces of East Tennessee by way of Jamestown, Fentress County, Tennessee.
It is thought here, by all who are acquainted with things in East Tennessee, that re-enforcements, if practicable, ought to be sent forthwith. It is, I fear, a grand mistake to suppose the Union party in East Tennessee has lost its hostility to the Confederacy. At the election day before yesterday, with perfect unanimity, that party refused to cast a vote for men who had been its late leaders, because they were running for seats in the Confederate Congress; and if a force shall be thrown into East Tennessee or on the line, which now seems probable, and which Gen. Zollicoffer is unable to defeat, the flames of rebellion will flash throughout East Tennessee, the railroad will be destroyed, the bridges burned, and other calamities not necessary to mention will follow. I regard the state of affairs, from all the information I possess, as perilous.
Would it be consistent with the interest of the public service elsewhere and the security of the army on the Potomac to send Col. Vaughn's regiment, and indeed the brigade of which his regiment is one, to re-enforce Gen. Zollicoffer? If not, could there be any other troops sent to East Tennessee from any other quarter?
Any volunteers that might be raised here would be wholly inefficient for want of arms.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
LANDON C. HAYNES.
OR. Ser. I, Vol. 4, pp. 549-530.
8, 1862 - Advertisements for Confederate conscription substitutes in Knoxville
$1500 for a substitute-Any one not liable to conscription and fit for military duty can get Fifteen Hundred Dollars to go as a substitute, but applying at this office.
Substitutes Wanted – The Undersigned will give Fifteen Hundred Dollars for a substitute who is in every way qualified, if one will present himself within ten days. Apply at Co. B, 29th Mississippi Regiment, Gen. Chalmers Brigade, Withers Division, for J. M. H.
Knoxville Daily Register, November 8, 1862.
8, 1862 - Guaranteed exemption from Confederate conscription for iron workers in Washington county
Laborers Wanted at the Embreville Iron Works, in Washington county, E. Tennessee, whose liberal wages will be given to axemen, teamsters, laborers and others engaged in making iron for the Government. The persons thus employed will not be subject to conscription.
Duf Green.
Knoxville Daily Register, November 8, 1862.
November 8, 1863 - "…they have taken nearly every thing…." An Iogu-Ferry Tennessee mother's lament
* * * *
We had company inspection at 9 o'clock A. M. in the afternoon N. Fancer Brother James McDanaiel & myself took a walk out in the country we went into a house not far from camp and found a woman sitting by the fiar [sic] with a child of about a year old on hir [sic] lap & some 3 or 4 larger ones around the fiar on our entering she scarely [sic] looked up and at first only dryly replyed [sic] to any questions that were put to hir [sic] She seemed as if she had been crying and hir [sic] heart was yet fule [sic] and prevented from giving utterance to what she wanted to say but after a short time the cloud of regret was moved from hir [sic] minde and she commenced to talk more freely. She told us that hir [sic] husband had been in our army for 18 months, and that since our army has come here they have taken nearly every thing she had. They have killed hir [sic] few hog and taken the little corn she had for hirself [sic] ad family and has left hir [sic] without any cow and dar [sic] not turn her out for fear she would be killed now she has nothing left to feed hir [sic] on and it trubles [sic] hir [sic] to know what to do when we left the house went and got some straw and brought it home for our bed.
John Hill Fergusson Diary, Book 3.
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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