Page images
PDF
EPUB

Hunter's Reasons for
Rejecting it.

"There are many more objections quite as pow. erful and obvious, which might be urged againt ratifying this agreement-its address to all peaceably

Hunter wrote to Price, November 7th, in- | act of Congress, and who, it forming him that, as General commanding, would be claimed, are therehe (Hunter) would in no manner recognize fore not legitimately conthe above agreement or any of its provisions, nected with the armies in the field.' implied or specified-that he would neither publish nor allow the issue of the "joint proclamation," purporting to have been sign- disposed citizens of the State of Missouri,' fairly aled, &c., &c. This nullification of one of Fre-lowing the inference to be drawn that citizens of the mont's most important acts, Hunter justified United States (the loyal and true men of Missouri) in the following terms addressed to the War are not included in its benefits. Office:

"It would be, in my judgHunter's Reasons for ment, impolitic in the highest Rejecting it. degree to have ratified General Fremont's negotiations, for the following, among many other, obvious reasons:

"The second stipulation, if acceded to, would render the enforcement of martial law in Missouri, or any part of it, impossible, and would give absolute liberty to the propagandists of treason through

out the length and breadth of the State.

"The third stipulation, confining operations exclusively to armies in the field,' would practically annul the confiscation act passed during the last session of Congress, and would furnish perfect immunity to those disbanded soldiers of Price's command, who have now returned to their homes, but with the intention and under a pledge of rejoining the rebel forces whenever called upon; and lastly, "Because the fourth stipulation would blot out of existence the loyal men of the Missouri Home Guard, who have not, it is alleged,been recognized by

"In fact, the agreement would seem to me, if ratl. fied, a concession of all the principles for which the rebel leaders are contending, and a practical liberation, for use in other and more immediately import. ant localities, of all their forces now kept employed in this portion of the State."

What with the President's suspension of Fremont's manumission proclamation-with Hunter's suspension of Fremont's campaign, and his repudiation of the "treaty" with Price-with Halleck's order banishing all runaway slaves from his lines - Fremont's procedure in Missouri must be pronounced a gigantic failure. Yet, the historian will have to write, that, in all important respects, the Administration had to conform to Fremont's ideas ere one year was past. Fremont's errors would, thence, appear to have been in anticipating the Administrationerrors of construction rather than errors of fact.

CHAPTER IV

THE KEN

ITS ABSURD PROCEED

OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY UP TO THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRING.
FORCES IN THE FIELD. THE EAST TENNESSEE MOVEMENT.
BRIDGES BURNED. PERSECUTION OF UNIONISTS.
TUCKY "PROVISIONAL" CONVENTION.
INGS. KENTUCKY'S QUOTA OF TROOPS. THE DEPARTMENT OF
CAIRO. BATTLE OF MUNFORDSVILLE.
MARSHALL'S BRIGADE.

[blocks in formation]

ROUT OF HUMPHREY ZOLLICOFFER'S SECOND ADVANCE.

The Location of
Forces.

The Location of
Forces.

THE disposition of forces | position, which extends in Kentucky made by Gen- from Bowling Green on his eral W. T. Sherman, during left through the centre in his brief command in the Department of the Barren county to his right recently at BurksCumberland, were such as the exigency seem- ville. The Union armies are advancing slowly ed to require. The rebels had the vantage but surely. General Crittenden has had his ground. Not until after November 15th, did | headquarters at Morgantown, in Butler county, Buckner retire to the south side of Green with such gallant spirits as Colonels Jackson, river and draw in his lines toward Bowling McHenry and Burbridge. General McCook Green. The battle of Wild Cat (Oct. 20th) will soon be at Munfordsville, on the Green gave General Schoepff such a position as soon river, at which point he can cross whenever compelled the evacuation of Barboursville-it is desirable, and General Schopff is clearing Zollicoffer retiring in much discomfiture to- away the rebels who have recently ravaged wards Cumberland Gap, at which point he | the valley of the Cumberland." This well inknew the Federals were aiming. The Louis-dicates the line of advance. The entire arville Journal of Nov. 6th, said: "The dispo-rangement was made with reference to forcsition of the three divisions of our Union ing every rebel battalion from Kentucky soil, troops may be briefly stated: General Crit- leaving to Grant the work of dealing with tenden commands the Western division, Gen- General Polk and the Columbus defenses. eral McCook the centre, and General Thomas This extension of the lines, however, required the Eastern, while General Sherman super- a force equivalent to the strength of three vises the whole. In the West Colonel Bur- armies, since the Confederates, by a rapid bridge has advanced as far as Woodbury, at concentration, might fall upon any one of the confluence of the Big Barren with Green the divisions to its destruction, should it river, about fifteen miles on the left flank of prove weak. Sherman bent all his energies Buckner's position at Bowling Green. In the to the single point of securing his positions centre our troops have gone beyond Nolin, —a labor that cost him his command, excitand taken position at Bacon Creek, which is ing, as it did, so many personal and public not more than six or seven miles from Mun-antagonisms, as to render the presence of fordsville, on the Green river. The Western another director necessary. The story of division has received orders to march from Sherman's Kentucky campaign illustrates Mount Vernon, the intended route being one of the features of the Union campaigns through Pulaski towards Cumberland, from which accounts for many a sin of omission whence Staunton has just fallen back. Thus and commission-the bickerings and rivalour troops are converging upon the enemy's ries among officers amounting to absolute

The Advance on
East Tennessee.

The Union Uprising in East Tennessee.

ruin of many a weil ordered step. That | long had been secretly orSherman fully comprehended the work in ganized and when informhand, it took but a few months to demon- ed of the approach of the strate; and the abandonment of his well con- Federal army, they prepared to strike for ceived advance into East Tennessee will stand their deliverance. Late in October Captains as one of the most melancholy and inexcusa- Fry and Carter, refugees from Tennessee, but ble shortcomings of the entire struggle. then in the Union advance column, passed in That the rebels were disguise over the mountains and conferred keenly alive to the danger with leading citizens at a secret gathering of an advance into East held near Knoxville. Over one hundred perTennessee, appeared as well in the tone of sons were present, most of them being well their press as in their great efforts to stay the known and influential men. The messenprogress of Schopff and Nelson. The Rich-gers represented that Zollicoffer would be asmond journals were loud in their demands sailed and driven from Cumberland Gapfor assistance against the enemy in that quar-❘ that, in order to prevent his rapid reenforceter, and early in November had the pleasure of announcing that General Sidney A. Johnston would direct, in person, the campaign against Thomas. Nelson's sudden dash at Prestonburg [Nov. 5–7] and the rapid retreat up the Big Sandy river of the rebel General, John S. Williams-the repulse of the latter near Piketon and his retreat to Pound Gap -gave the Confederates every reason for alarm, since all that portion of Western Virginia south of the Great Kenawha river was then open for the Union advance in that direction. A Richmond paper of November 14th, said:

[ocr errors]

No government can afford to let such a population as this be overrun, or to lose a district from which so many of its best soldiers are supplied. Intrinsically important as Southwestern Virginia is to the Government, from the qualities of its people, it is even more important from its geographical position. If that country be given up, and East Tennessee be in consequence lost, the empire of the South is cut in twain, and we become a fragmentary organization, fighting in scattered and segregated localities for a cause which can no longer boast the important attribute of geographical unity."

So Sherman appeared to think. He evidently proposed to make a strong demonstration in that direction. Nelson's advanee completely banished the invaders from Eastern Kentucky, leaving his column at liberty to move against Pound Gap, or to co-operate in the movement for the relief and release of East Tennessee.

The people of the section of the Confederacy lying around Knoxville were aroused to a state of mingled hope and enthusiasm at the promise of early relief. The Unionists

ment, it would be necessary to burn bridges on the railways leading south and east of Knoxville-that their destruction being complete, the Federal forces would soon so occupy the State, or that portion of it represented at the Greenville Convention [see pages 296-98] as to free it from Confederate rule. Acting upon these representations the Unionists decided upon arrangements for the work in hand. Parties were organized, numbering from fifteen to twenty-five resolute men each. Properly provided with combustibles, they proceeded, with great caution, to the several bridges chosen for destruction. On the night of November 10th, between the hours of ten and eleven, the air was lit by the glare of the conflagration of four heavy railway structures. The work was admirably managed— the firing being simultaneous, and the destruction perfect. The bridges rendered useless were: that over Hiwasse river at Charleston, on the East Tennessee and Georgia railroad; that over Lick creek and the work spanning the Holston river at Union--both on the East Tennessee and Virginia road; two trustles crossing the Chickamingo creek eight miles from Chattanooga, on the Western and Atlantic road. The telegraph lines also were destroyed between Knoxville and Chattanooga, and Knoxville and Bristol. Captain Fry superintended the burning of Lick creek bridge. That work was guarded by six soldiers, who were overpowered but were released after taking the oath of alle giance to the United States, swearing by the Bible-a copy of which was carried along for that very service. Of course the rebels broke

REBEL PERSECUTIONS

IN EAST

TENNESSEE.

419

their oath upon release. They hastened to give the alarm, and, by their evidence, six of the Unionists were apprehended, thrown into dungeons and two of them hung. Captain Fry escaped to Kentucky, but not to lead the Federal advance over the mountains. The Federal forces had deflected toward the east instead of pressing in to Tennessee.

The Union Uprising in East Tennessee.

This daring act greatly excited the Confederate authorities. For a few days the most lively apprehensions existed in regard to conspiracies, uprisings and rebellion; but, when it was seen that nothing further than bridge burning occurred, and rebel troops were thrown rapidly into that section, assurance took the place of fear. The rivets in the manacles placed on Union wrists were tightened, and, as their helplessness became more apparent, so the cruelty of their tormentors increased, until few men were strong hearted enough to avow a love for the old Union. The Memphis Appeal of November 10th, wrote:

This insurrection, however, while comparatively harmless from its being premature, gives evidence of a deep laid plot among a few of the most reckless traitors of that region to resist the sovereign voice of the people of the State by force of arms, so soon as they have hope of assistance from the Lincoln despotism. It is fortunate that it has occurred at the present time, when we are fully able to put a lasting quietus upon it, from which no appliances of future Federal aid will ever be able to resuscitate. We now have an open foe to conquer, who is rendered impotent by the very disclosure of his hostility-and not less so by his isolation."

Truly said. The "foe" was rendered impotent by his isolation, and his very helplessness was but a prelude to punishments at which human nature revolts.* But what baseness directed the paragraph! "To resist the sovereign voice of the people"! The journalist who uttered the libel falsified because he dare not do otherwise. The entire Confederate cause was built upon just such departures from honor and truth. The “ ereign voice of the people," as declared in the last election then held in East Tennessee,

SOV

*See Parson Brownlow's book for details of the sufferings experienced by the few who would not recant their loyalty. His statements are confirmed by much official and personai testimony.

Rebel Persecutions.

was, on the question of socession or no secession, thirty-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-two for the Union-being a majority of over eighteen thousand votes against secession. That was the "voice of the people," expressed even in the face of Confederate muskets. It is well the record exists, to live as a blasting witness against those ministers of misrule who desecrated the name of American by their crimes in Tennessee.

The act was premature. It resulted disastrously, in calling down upon loyalists the full rigor of Confederate law and filling that section with rebel troops to such a number as rendered the Federal advance one of peril. It aroused Governor Harris to renewed vigilance in the cause of persecution. Under the guise of a call for arms to fit troops for the field, he issued a proclamation (Nov. 12th) by which East Tennesseeans were very generally disarmed and rendered all the more helpless. November 14th he issued another proclamation calling out the militia to the number of thirty thousand "to repel the invader," ordering the conscripts to be ready for marching orders by the 25th of November. Under this order about twelve thousand men were placed in the Confederate ranks-temporarily as they supposed, but permanently as the Confederate leaders deIt was not the only instance during signed. the war where the militia of the Southern States were impressed after having once been put in the field.

The spirit of Confederate mercy was made public in proclamations as well as in acts of violence, which spared no citizen of loyal sentiments. One Daniel Leadbetter, "Colonel Commanding" at Greenville and vicinity, issued a manifesto, December 4th, from which we quote:

[ocr errors][merged small]

The Russolville Scces. sion Convention.

ment will be transported to the military prison at | claiming revolution; proTuscaloosa, and be confined there during the war. viding for a "Sovereignty Bridge burners and destroyers of railroad tracks Convention," to be held at are excepted from among those pardonable. They Russelville Nov. 18th; recommending the orwill be tried by drum-head court-martial and beganization of County Guards, to be placed in the service of and to be paid by the Confederate

hung on the spot."

This, though done by authority of General Government; pledging resistance to all FedeCarroll, commanding at Knoxville, was simral and State taxes for the prosecution of the ply in accordance with the wishes of the war; appointing a committee, composed of Confederate War Department. Secretary Robert McKee, John C. Breckenridge, HumJudas P. Benjamin, being asked what dispo-phrey Marshall, George W. Ewing, H. W. sition should be made of the bridge burners,

answered: "All such as can be identified as having been engaged in bridge burning, are to be tried summarily by drum-head courtmartial, and, if found guilty, executed on the spot. It would be well to leave their bodies hanging in the vicinity of the burnt bridges." This was the spirit of Confederate humanity towards citizens of the South whose loyalty to the Union led them to take up arms in its

defense.

The Russelville Secession Convention.

at

The "Conference" Russelville, Kentucky, October 28th, claims notice at this point. It was composed of a number of leading secessionists and disloyal persons professing to "represent" forty counties. Its

sessions continued through two days, with closed doors, and resulted in the passage of resolutions reciting the unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the State Legislature; pro

Hensie for bridge burning. Fry was brother to Captain Fry, already referred to. The bodies were hung from the limb of a tree close to the railway track, that persons in passing might strike them with canes and switches. They hung there for four

days before burial, as suggested by the Confederate Secretary of War. This reign of terror continued for many months. When Jefferson Davis called General McNeil, of Missouri, to account for hanging seven "guerrillas" who, besides numerous outrages, had murdered an inoffensive old citizen in a cold-blooded manner-no one would have inferred that the indignant President had commissioned the prosecutors of the Unionists to their bloody work. No one reading his celebrated black flag" proclamation of December 23d, 1862, would have supposed that the Confederate Law Giver had, from the very beginning, sanctioned the most heartless and bloody usage of every loyal Union man found in his dominions. He and his emissaries showed no mercy to

[ocr errors]

any Southern man guilty of repudiating the Confed

erate flag.

Bruce, George P. Hodge, William Preston, George W. Johnson, Blanton Duncan and P. B. Thompson, to carry out the wishes of the Conference.

tion" met at the designated time and proThe "Sovereign Convenceeded to the inauguration of a Provisional Government, passing an ordinance of secession, and adopting a plan of government. This plan contemplated the election, by the Convention, of a Governor and ten Councillors. These persons were clothed with abso lute power-making all laws, appointing all State officers, making treaties, controlling army and navy, &c., &c. They also elected to the Confederate Congress. They were to the Senators and Representatives to be sent provide "by law" for the election of the Representatives, but as the "Council" was law, it "elected" them and "appointed" the Senators. Bowling Green was to become the temporary capital.

This rather laughable legislation fully illustrates the supreme authority assumed by the self-constituted directors of affairs in the South. The Conventions, as we have already shown, sat in permanent sessions, overriding State Legislatures and enacting laws at their will. In not one single instance-save in that of South Carolina-were the Conventions elected by the people for any other purpose than to consider what was best to be done. If "co-operation" was resolved upon, the Conventions were to draft ordinances of secession, to be submitted to the people for ratification. But, with the sublime effrontery which characterized all the preliminary stages of the revolution, the Conventions, once in power, defied all other power, and became supreme: they controlled the destinics of the States. Creating a whirlwind, they rode on the storm, sedulously augment

« PreviousContinue »