Friday, March 7, 2014

3/7/14 Tennessee Civil War Notes

7, Abolitionist attempts to divest the South of the territory acquired by the Mexican War

Who Won the Battles and Purchased the Territories.—The abolitionists are endeavoring to deprive the South of all the territory acquired by the Mexican war, yet the records show that this very territory was won by southern blood and treasure. While fourteen slave States furnished 45,630 volunteers, the free States and Territories furnished but 23,654. The disparity is marked, considered from any point of view, but especially so in regard to the relative population of the two sections. The figures, we may add, are derived from executive document No. 63, of the first session of the thirtieth Congress.

Memphis Daily Appeal, March 7, 1861.

 

 

7, Roseate Northern Predictions of Renewed Commerce with Tennessee

The Opening of Trade with the South.

The capture of Fort Donelson, coupled with the occupation of Nashville by out troops, has resulted in the opening of trade between the whole of the section which it is the centre-a section abounding in cotton and tobacco. Already $100,000 worth have been sent down the Cumberland to New York. The opening of the Tennessee, still further south in the same State, lays open the trade of North Alabama and the river counties of Mississippi. And soon Memphis will fall into the hands of the Union troops, and then the whole State will be accessible to Northern trade. Memphis formerly shipped some three or four thousands of the adjoining hundred thousand bales of cotton yearly; for it is the outlet of a very fertile and extensive district of [the] country. This and other products formerly went down the Mississippi to New Orleans. They will now ascent that river, to be conveyed by railroad to New York. Along the Atlantic seaboard the same process is going forward, and soon there will be an abundance of cotton for the se of the Northern States Threats are made in the rebel Congress and elsewhere to burn the cotton and tobacco which are likely to fall into the hands of the Union troops. But we suspect the owners will not surrender their chances to get cash for the article food the worthless promise of indemnification for the loss by the bogus confederacy. In many instances, too, towns and districts will be surprised by our advancing legions before the more violent secessionists can have time to apply the torch. The revival of Southern grade in consequence of the progress of our armies will be a great benefit North and South, but particularly to the South whose products were of little of no value because, there was no market for them, while at the same time the people had to pay fabulous prices for shoes, salt and other necessaries of life. Their sufferings in consequence were very great. This state of things is put an end to by the victories at Mill Springs, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, resulting, as they do, in the restoration of the whole of the magnificent State of Tennessee and of the adjoining States to the free trade and commerce of the Union.

New York Herald, March 7, 1862. [1]

 

 

 7, A Confederate boot ballad

From the Knoxville Register.

Confederate Boots: A Ballad

Respectfully inscribed to Messr's. McGlohon, Van Gilder and Rogers in grateful acknowledgment of a magnificent pair of boots.

By Rev. Joseph Cross, D. D., Chaplain to Gen. Donelson's Brigade.

A song for Van Gilder! a song for McGlohon!

And Rogers the melody suits!

A song for the builder, bestower, and so on,

Of my bonny Confederate Boots.

Wet footed no longer, I am glad I have got 'em—

No logic this statement confutes;

But the straps should be stronger, and smoother the bottoms,*

Of my bonny Confederate Boots.

I can wade through the water, and break through the briar,

In the van of our martial pursuits

I can march in the mortar, and fight in the fire,

With my bonny Confederate Boots.

Without saddle or wheels, I will follow your foes,

Overtaking the fugitive brutes;

And I'll stamp with the heels, and I'll kick with the toes,*

Of my bonny Confederate Boots.

The envy of office, the rush after riches,

No churl to this Chaplain imputes;

But O for a coat, and a new pair of breeches,

With my bonny Confederate Boots.

Here ends my ambition--my militant wants—

(And who the position disputes?)

With Freedom's fruition, a whole pair of pants,

And a bonny new coat, with my Boots.

*I broke the straps in pulling them on, and the pegs pricked the soles in my socks.

Headquarters Dep. E. Tenn., March 2, 1862.

Southern Confederacy [Atlanta, Georgia], March 7, 1863.[2]

 

 

 7, "To the stranger there can be no more interesting place to visit; to the citizen, none more useful; for here he may see how degraded human nature may be elevated to the dignity of refined art, and made useful and even ornamental to society." A visit to the State Penitentiary

The Penitentiary.

The duties of an Editor are varied, and as he is required to know a little, at least, of everything, he must move around among all kinds of people, visit all kinds of places, study all manner of men and things, and mix and stir about generally and promiscuously. He meets, in the course of a day, hundreds of friends, each of whom desires to know the latest news, and some spread before him all their grievances, make known their joys and sorrows, and expect the Editor to weep and rejoice, as they incline, and to be posted in all things on which they choose to question him. To maintain among his friends a goodly reputation, which is not all "bubble," for

A good name, in man or woman,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls,

The Editor must be constantly on the move, with eyes and ears open, ever ready to give or to receive. Hence we find the Editor at all times in all manner of places (and not unfrequently a tight one)—the Jail, the Church, the Penitentiary and the Prayer-meeting, the Workhouse and the Sunday School, the courtroom and the Ball-room, Theatres and Concerts, the mansion of the rich, the hovel of the poor; he converses alike freely with the peer and the peasant, rich and poor, old and young, male and female, virtuous and degraded, white and black, and "the damned injun"—all expect the Editor to hold converse with them, and if he expects to keep pace with the times he must do it.

Yesterday we paid a visit to the Penitentiary—the home of penitents, a house of correction for evil-doers, and a home of industry for all its inmates. This institution is under the superintendence of Mr. James Cavert [?], assisted by Mr. A. W. Pyle as Deputy, R. H. Cameron as Treasury Clerk, W. W. Berry as Auditing Clerk, and guards, keepers, instructors, etc. A hasty walk through the institution is only provocative of a desire to see more, but the practiced eye can see a heap in an hour, in passing through the store-rooms, kitchens, barber-shop and bake-house, washrooms and work-shops, forges and furniture rooms, saddlery and sale rooms, machinery and mahogany, toys and toilettes—all neat, well regulated; order, industry, and quiet prevailing. To the stranger there can be no more interesting place to visit; to the citizen, none more useful; for here he may see how degraded human nature may be elevated to the dignity of refined art, and made useful and even ornamental to society. Among the articles there manufactured by the prisoners, and on sale, are beautifully carved bedsteads, and toilette bureaus, water tanks of magnificent proportions, and buckets of all descriptions, whisky barrels and beds (not whisky beds), crutches and cradles, chairs of all descriptions, parlor and toilette stands and tables, and looking-glasses and checker-boards, tooth-picks and pick-axes, boxes and chests, churns and carriages, Express wagons and all other kinds of wagons, harness and boots and shoes, tin-ware and trinkets—in short, of all things useful there is an infinite variety, and of the ornamental there are many curiosities, which excite alike our wonder and surprise. To attempt a description of the many articles which attracted our attention would be a waste of words—we can only advise all who have the time, to visit the place, and if anything is wanted by the visitors, from a doll cradle to a wedding bedstead, from a pair of shoes to a set of harness, from a toy wagon to a gun carriage, order it, and depend upon it you will not regret the price paid. And before you leave, take a toy and drop a shinplaster in the tobacco bank. You will find the keeper affable, and everybody civil.

Nashville Dispatch, March 7, 1863.

 


 7, General Orders, No. 10, forbidding impressment of Negroes in Nashville

Headquarters District of Nashville

Nashville, Tenn., March 7, 1864

Brig.-Gen L. Thomas, Adjt. General United States, having revoked his order authorizing the impressment of negroes [sic] into the army, such impressments are no longer legal, and if made will be revoked and the facts reported to these Headquarters, buy the military authorities. Work hands on plantations within the District having been almost exhausted by impressment, and the running away of such hands-often leaving large families of helpless women and children without the means of support-no impressment of slaves will hereafter be made for any purpose without imperative necessity, and by order of the Post Commanders.

II. The loyal, law-abiding people of the District, including those who have, in good faith, taken the "Amnesty Oath," are invited to rebuild their fences and restock their farms, and grow crops, with the assurance that they will hereafter be protected in the possession of all their property, and which will not be appropriated for the public use, unless by competent authority, and not then without fair compensation being paid to the owner therfor.

III. Good and efficient soldiers are found at the post of duty. Generally, the worthless and inefficient straggle and roam over the country, away from their commands, marauding and robbing. Such straggling marauders will hereafter be arrested and punished, and every soldier absent from his command, unless on duty, without the written permission of the officer commanding the Post or Station, will be deemed a straggler and punished accordingly.

By command of Maj.-Gen Rousseau

Nashville Daily Gazette, March 18, 1864.

 

 

        7, Arrest of two Confederate spies

HDQRS. DEFENSES NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD, Tullahoma, March 7, 1865.

Maj. Gen. G. H. THOMAS:

I have here in arrest two noted rebel women, Mrs. Dolly Battle and Miss Sallie Battle, who reside ten miles from Nashville, but came all the way to Wartrace, on horseback, two days ago, to recoffin [sic] and bury the body of Trummel, alias Van Houghton, who was killed at that place on the night of the 21st ultimo, while engaged, with nine other guerrillas, in robbing the telegraph office and stores. The daguerreotypes of these two she rebels [sic] were found on the body of this robber thief after he was killed, with letters from them showing great intimacy. They boast that they are rebels and have never taken the oath. Their father is an officer in the rebel army; their brother Bob is a guerrilla. This family have [sic] been spies and harborers of rebels and guerrillas since the beginning of the war. Their mother, as I was well informed last summer, boasts that they have done more good for the Confederate cause than a regiment of soldiers. I respectfully ask permission to send these two south of our lines.

R. H. MILROY, Maj.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, p. 856.

 

NASHVILLE, TENN., March 8, 1865.

Maj. Gen. R. H. MILROY, Tullahoma:

Did the Battles boast to you that they had never taken the oath of allegiance to the United States? The mere fact of their desire to bury their friend decently is not an act of disloyalty. The evidence which you report, however, creates a suspicion that they may have been taking advantage of their position as women and become the colleagues and associates of guerrillas-the most diabolical of all political criminals. If such be clearly the fact they must be sent beyond our lines.[3]

GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Army, Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, p. 862.

 



[1] As cited in PQCW.

[2] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.

[3] There is no indication in the OR as to whether or not these two women were sent south of Federal lines. However, the Battle women were noted for their strong support for the Confederacy. For example, Fannie Battle, sister to Sallie and daughter to Dolly, had been arrested for spying earlier in April 1863.


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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