APRIL 1864

April 1, 1864

APRIL 1864

April 1, 1864 - April 2, 1864 - Federal Reconnaissance and scouts about Bull's Gap, Straw-berry Plains and Morristown

KNOXVILLE, April 2, 1864.

Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN:

Gen. Stoneman reached Bull's Gap, and his cavalry is scouting beyond that place. The enemy have all gone beyond Jonesborough and probably beyond the Watauga. Scouts report that Longstreet's main force is moving to East Vir-ginia, only about 3,500 men, mostly cavalry, being left to protect the salt-works. I will know the facts in a few days. Longstreet was with his troops at Bull's Gap while I was at Morristown last week, he having returned from Vir-ginia. Upon learning we were advancing he also brought back a division of infantry, which was then en route for Virginia. The rebels have destroyed the bridge beyond Bull's Gap and Greeneville, and have carried off the telegraph wire, but have not injured the track as far as learned. I will occupy Bull's Gap with infantry, and scout the country above with cavalry, but will not injure the railroad until I get further instructions from you. I will have all preparations made to carry out your plans.

J. M. SCHOFIELD, Maj.-Gen.

LOUDON, April 2, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Strawberry Plains, April 2, 1864.

Brig. Gen. T. J. Wood, Commanding Third Division, Fourth Army Corps:

GENERAL: Gen. Stoneman went yesterday with a division on a reconnais-sance to Morristown. To-day he is at Bull's Gap, and possibly beyond. The result of his movement will determine whether any other force may be required to complete what is to be done on that line. No news from below.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK April 1864 —

April 2, 1864

J. D. COX, Brigadier-Gen., Chief of Staff.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, pp. 225-226.

April 2, 1864 - Major-General William T. Sherman's criticism of "Parson" William G. Brownlow's Knoxville Independent Whig and Rebel Ventilator and other papers

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, April 2, 1864.

Gen. SCHOFIELD, Knoxville:

Your dispatch is received, and is very satisfactory. I will telegraph its substance to Washington.

The Cincinnati papers of the 1st contain dispatches announcing that Buell is to supersede you. There is no truth in this. The report seems to have originated at Chattanooga, and I have telegraphed to Thomas to punish the operator.

The papers also contain a message from Knoxville giving my movements, and gives a message from Parson Brownlow to the effect that the rebels will cer-tainly invade Kentucky by Pound Gap. Tell Parson Brownlow that he must leave military matters to us, and that he must not chronicle my movements or those of any military body. If he confines his efforts to his own sphere of action he will do himself more credit and his country more good.

W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 226.

April 2, 1864 - Confederate cavalry reconnaissance and demonstration near Ducktown, Spring Place, Charleston and Cleveland

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Office Chief Com. Sub., Chattanooga, Tenn., April 12, 1864.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, Tenn., May 2, 1864.

COL.: I have the honor to report the operations of my command for the month of April as follows, viz.,:

On the 2d instant a force of rebels, said to be 1,500 strong, made a demonstra-tion in the direction of Cleveland and Charleston, E. Tenn., approaching to within 8 miles of Cleveland, when they divided into parties; one going out in the direction of Ducktown, through the mountains, the other remaining and falling back toward Dalton on the appearance of a force of our cavalry sent out from Cleveland in command of Col. LaGrange, of the First Wisconsin. A scout, who arrived at Cleveland on the 3d, reported that the above movement on the part of the enemy was for the purpose of covering the approach of a force from Longstreet's army which was on its way to re-enforce Johnston by

— April 1864 TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION

April 2, 1864

way of Murphy, N. C. This was afterward ascertained to be Martin's division of cavalry.

~ ~ ~

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 18.

LOUDON, April 2, 1864.

Maj.-Gen. SCHOFIELD:

Gen. Stanley reports that a large force rebel cavalry was seen 8 miles east of Cleveland this morning at sunrise moving in the direction of Charleston. The commanding officer at that post is on the alert.

G. GRANGER, Maj.-Gen.


CHATTANOOGA, April 3, 1864—9 p. m.

Maj.-Gen. SHERMAN, Nashville:

Your dispatch of yesterday received. Will watch Johnston as close as possible, but shall only feel perfectly safe when I can get my troops back from East Ten-nessee. My outposts report no movements of the enemy, except a reconnais-sance on the Spring Place and Cleveland road yesterday, which resulted in nothing.

GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Volunteers.


April 2, 1864 - East Tennessee

East Tennesseeby Clara von Moschzisker.

Air-"Maryland, my Maryland!"Still faithful, 'mid the faithless found,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!From mountain side to river bound,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!Thy noblest slaughtered in their youth, Thine old men dying for the truth,Thy daughters brave, spite woe and ruth,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!Shall BURNSIDE'S valor prove in vain,East Tennessee, East Tennessee?To break for aye thy tyrant's chain,East Tennessee, East Tennessee?


April 2, 1864

Though Richmond's prisons hold our sons,Columbia's jails our tortured onesWith grief for thee our breast o'errunsEast Tennessee, East Tennessee!Shall we in plenteous ease repose,East Tennessee, East Tennessee?While thou art fainting 'neath thy woes,East Tennessee, East Tennessee?Thy happy homes now desolate,Thy sons pursued with savage hate,E'er in thine arms, thrice glorious State,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!Our hands, our hearts, our swords are thineEast Tennessee, East Tennessee!We give not water for thy wine,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!Forbid it God, that we whom HeavenHas blessings with our sorrows given,Should let thee from our side be riven,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!Bear on, brave heart, the dawn is near,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!When clouds and darkness disappear,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!E'en now, from mountain top and tree,Floats forth the banner of the free,Bright signal of thy loyalty,East Tennessee, East Tennessee!

Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1864

Brownlow's Whig and Independent Journal and Rebel Ventilator, April 2, 1864

April 2, 1864 - The Soldier's Dream

The Soldier's DreamBy Crammond Kennedy, Chaplain 79th High-

landers (New York Volunteers)Though the thunder of battle had pealed to the skies,Yet the stars from the azure were peeping,And the moon was besw'lring the white-tented plain,Where the hosts of the Union were sleeping.To a war-weary soldier a vision appears—A battalion of Angels that rally,With the glory of sunset at rest on their wings,To keep guard o'er his own native valley.And he thinks of his home, and he feels it is safe,


April 2, 1864

For he knows that the Angels are wary,And that God sent them down in their armor to watchO'er his mother, and children, and Mary.Ah, soldier, thy dream was the shadow of truth:The Redeemer by whom thou'rt forgiven,Came down I thy slumbers to show how wellThe belov'd are guarded by heaven.

Brownlow's Whig and Independent Journal and Rebel Ventilator, April 2,1864.

April 2, 1864 - Scouts on the Pigeon Roost, Holly Ford and Hernando roads near Memphis

HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., April 2, 1864.

Col. FIELDING HURST, Commanding Sixth Tennessee Cavalry:

COLONEL: Leave 100 mounted men to patrol the Pigeon Roost, Holly Ford, and Hernando roads. Have the patrols start at different hours by day or night, so as to give information of the movements of any force which may come near the place. The First Mississippi will also be left here for the purpose of scout-ing south and southeast.

You will move with the balance of your effective force at 1 o'clock to Raleigh, taking with you one day's forage and all the rations and ammunition the men can carry. The teams which take out the forage can be sent back to camp to-night. One regiment of infantry will be at the crossing of the Wolf, near Raleigh.

Instruct the officer left in command of the 100 men to be vigilant and active.

By order of Brig. Gen. B. H. Grierson:


April 2, 1864 - A version of the Oath of Allegiance for Confederate desertersNOTE 1

I do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of States thereunder and that I will in like manner abide by and faith-fully support all acts of Congress passed during the existing rebellion, with ref-erence to slaves, so long and so far as not yet released, modified, or held void by Congress or by decision of the Supreme Court, and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion, having reference to slaves so long and so far as not mod-ified or declared void by the decision of the Supreme Court. So help me God.

Memphis Bulletin, April 2, 1864.


April 2, 1864

NOTE 1: This oath was apparently part of GENERAL ORDERS NO. 10 of December 12, 1863, made in Chattanooga by Major-General U. S. Grant. It was not re-printed in the OR, but is found in GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 11 as pub-lished in the Memphis Bulletin April 2, 1864.

April 2, 1864 - "The Railroad Bridge;" a Civil War traffic jam in Nashville

We have heard frequent complaints from all sorts of people concerning the delays to which they are subjected by keeping the bridge open unnecessarily. Yesterday we determined to watch the bridge for a short time. At ten minutes before one o'clock P. M., a solitary steamer might have been seen coming down the river [G. P. R. James].The weary bridge keeper did undoubtedly see her, for immediately the draw began to move, and the flags to wave, and the passen-gers to halt and look frightfully hungry, wearing a diabolical smile, and the wagons and other we-hickles began to collect on either side. The streamer aforesaid steamed herself down to the workhouse dock, came to the left about face, hailed some one on a coal barge, and hove to for 30 1/2 seconds, when the Captain and Pilot applied their thumbs to the tips of their noses, "smile" to the health of the bridge keeper, rank the bell, and steamed back again. Up and up she goes, one hundred anxious eyes following after her, until she reaches the water-works, and there she rests from her labors. The crowd of people increase, and the line of wagons grows longer and longer, and the locomotive becomes tired, and whistles, and blows, and puffs and sweats, but still the unfeeling Captain refuses to allow his boat to go through the bridge. Anxious inquiries are made as to when the boat is going to come down, but none are there to answer. On this side of the river, Front and Locust streets are crowded with all sorts of vehicles, on the other side are a train of cars waiting to cross, a train of government wagons stretching from the bridge back as far as the eye can reach, and numerous mules, horses, and things. At length, at eight minutes before two, the bridge man smells a huge mice, and the draws begins to move, slowly but steadily until she is in he proper place, when the multitude rush over, and the locomotive follows. When the wagons got over we cannot say, probably in an hour or so.

Now for a few questions" Would it not be well for the bridge keeper, for open-ing the bridge, to ascertain whether or not a boat wishes to pass through?

Might not the bridge be closed as soon as a boat passes, without waiting half a day to ascertain if some other boat desires to pass?

If a hack is worth a dollar and a quarter an hour, how much is a half mile train of Uncle Sam's wagons worth during the same period of time?

If fifty or one hundred wagons, with their attendants, are kept waiting one hour every day, how many dollars does Uncle Sam lose every month by these unnecessary delays?


April 2, 1864

We paws for a replay.

Nashville Dispatch, April 2, 1864.

April 2, 1864 - Beulah banished to Memphis; Bell Edmondson's dog

April, Saturday 2, 1864

Ever memorable and (to me ) sad day. I was awakened this morning by the pitious howl of poor Fosco-as I feared when Beulah left the room, they all killed seven sheep last night. Uncle Elum knocked Fosco in the head, Beulah ran to my room, thereby saving her life-Father sent for her, and then came for her-but oh! he knew not what he asked-to give my dog-my best friend-my Beu-lah, who had so often defended me in danger, my only protector in the dead hour of night-to drive her from my side, to be murdered. I would as soon thought of kneeling myself on the block, as to see my best friend. Father posi-tively forbid my takeing her off-I hope God will forgive me for the disobedi-ence, but I was obliged to do it. Mary Robinson and Joe Smith took her to Memphis in the buggy to Ed and Rhoda. I know they will love her-none of them sympathise or appreciate the sorrow it gave me to part with poor Beulah. Old Wright's drunken son has been prowling all over the place tonight, shot Ben's dog, Edmondson's battery both white and black started after him, met him in the lane, he cocked his gun and flourished it-cowardly dog, sneaked off after that. Laura, Tip and I all alone, oh! my poor, poor Beulah, how can I do without you-

Diary of Belle EdmondsonNOTE 1

NOTE 1: As cited in: http://docsouth.unc.edu.

April 2, 1864 - African-American Exodus in Northern Middle Tennessee

A lady recently from her home in Middle Tennessee, north of Nashville and near the Kentucky line, informs the [Chattanooga] Rebel that the whole coun-try has been almost entirely denuded of servants. The male negroes have been taken into the army, and the females have been permitted to go where they please. In the great majority of white families the ladies are compelled, by the scarcity of laborers, to do their own house work. The country is under the strictest military rule surveillance, and so far as outward appearances go, the people are completely subjugated. But in their hearts and feelings, they are as true as steel to the cause of Southern independence, and hope and pray for the coming of the Confederate armies to relieve them from their insolent oppres-sors.

Memphis Appeal [Atlanta, Georgia], April 2, 1864.NOTE 1

NOTE 1: As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.


April 2, 1864

April 2, 1864 - The Nashville Catholic Orphan Asylum's Ball

The Orphan's Ball

The lady managers of the fair now being held for the benefit of the Orphans, respectfully inform their friends and the public that they will give a

Grand Ball

In the Hall of Representatives,

at the Capitol, on Monday Night,

April 4th, for the same benevolent object.

Refreshments served at all hours.

Tickets, admitting a Gentleman and Ladies, Two Dollars each, will be sold at the Fair.

Ladies' Fair for the Benefit of the Catholic Orphan Asylum.

The ladies of Nashville respectfully inform their friends and the public that the Fair for the benefit of the Catholic Orphan Asylum will open at the McKendree Church (kindly tendered for this purpose by the Rev. Dr. Baldwin, the Trustees, and the military authorities) on Monday evening, the 28th of March, and con-tinue open every night during the week. The ladies solicit public patronage in this truly charitable work.

Refreshments will be served on each evening.

A full Brass Band will be in attendance, and every means used to make visitors happy.

Tickets, 25 cents each.

Nashville Daily Union, April 2, 1864.NOTE 1


April 2, 1864 - April 4, 1864 - Reconnaissance, Powder Springs' Gap to Rogersville & Bull's Gap

APRIL 2-4, 1864.-Reconnaissances from Powder Springs Gap toward Rogers-ville and Bull's Gap, Tenn.

Report of Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood, U. S. Army, commanding Third Divi-sion, Fourth Army Corps.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Powder Springs Gap, April 3, 1864—3 p. m.

GEN.: Both of my reconnaissances have returned. Col. Anderson, with six reg-iments of infantry and a detachment of cavalry, was sent up this valley with instructions when he reached the forks of the road above Rutledge (one road


April 3, 1864

leads up the valley, the other across the Holston toward Bull's Gap, &c.) to leave a regiment there; to send three regiments of infantry and a part of the cavalry up the valley to Bean's Station, and two regiments and the remainder of the cavalry to the Holston. These instructions were carried out. The citizens informed him that the cavalry had left Rogersville early last week, and they all concurred in the opinion that Longstreet's forces had been withdrawn toward Virginia. Col. Anderson talked with a Mr. Smith, a well-known Union man above Rutledge, who told him he believed Longstreet's forces had or were leaving the State, because all the rebel citizens believed it and were much depressed about it. Col. Kneeler was sent with three regiments of infantry up Clinch Valley. He went up the valley to a point opposite and north of Bean's Station. He saw no enemy. He was informed that the companies of Home Guards which he encountered there on his former reconnaissance had joined the cavalry at Rogersville, and left with it. The citizens told him the cavalry left Rogersville last Tuesday, and the reported destination was Georgia. He could obtain no definite information in regard to Longstreet's movements. The party which I started to Cumberland Gap on Thursday last [March 31st] has just returned. . . The party passed through Tazewell going and returning, but saw no enemy. Col.'s Anderson and Kneeler report the roads they marched over as execrable.

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

TH. J. WOOD, Brig.-Gen. of Volunteers, Cmdg.

POWDER SPRINGS GAP, April 4, 1864—9 p. m.

GEN.: Your note of this day evidently, though dated April 5, is just received. My reconnaissance returned this afternoon, having been absent three days Col. Anderson was sent up this valley with order to divide his command beyond Rutledge, sending a portion of it toward Rogersville and the remainder to the Holston, on the road leading to Bull's Gap, Greeneville, &c. All the citizens informed him the rebel cavalry had left Rogersville, and all concurred in the opinion that Longstreet's forces had fallen back, and, as they supposed, with the intention of leaving the State. A Mr. Smith, a well-known Union man above Rutledge, told Col. Anderson he believed this was the case, because all the rebel citizens believe it to be over the Watauga. He further said it was gen-erally understood Longstreet's forces had been withdrawn to Bristol.

~ ~ ~

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

TH. J. WOOD, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 656-657.

April 3, 1864 - Skirmish at Cypress Swamp

No circumstantial reports filed.


April 3, 1864

April 3, 1864 - Skirmish near Raleigh

Report of Col. George E. Waring, jr., Fourth Missouri Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, of skirmish near Raleigh, April 3, 1864.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, CAVALRY DIVISION, Raleigh, Tenn., April 3, 1864.

CAPT.: In obedience to the orders of Brig.-Gen. Grierson, my command marched from this place at 8 a. m. to-day, on the road to Oakland and Somer-ville.

My advance guard, Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, learned from citizens and negroes that the enemy was stationed in heavy force in the swamps between Leak's and Oakland, also that from 3,000 or 5,000 rebels under Neely and McCulloch were encamped from 3 to 6 miles east of Oakland on the Som-erville road. They were said to have orders to check every attempt of ours to advance toward Bolivar. At Leak's the advance came upon the picket of the enemy, and almost immediately a skirmish ensued. As nearly as I can judge there were from 500 to 700 of the enemy actually engaged. The Seventh Indi-ana Cavalry at once re-enforced the advance guard, making with the Nine-teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry almost 350 men. The enemy very soon retired in such a manner as to seem to invite us to follow into the swamp, which lay immediately in front of our position. Our flanking parties had discovered a very large supporting force of the enemy. The whole number of rebel troops seen by us could not have been less than 1,500, and was probably 2,000. This seemed to confirm the testimony of the people along the road, and as my instructions were not to bring on a general engagement with a superior force. I did not take the Second New Jersey Cavalry into action, but retired slowly and without confusion, notifying the supporting columns on my flanks of my action. I arrived at this place at 7.30 o'clock this evening, leaving a strong picket at Union Depot.

My loss was 1 man killed and 3 wounded. Both dead and wounded were brought off the field. Capt. Wenick, Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, is miss-ing; whether he was killed or captured, or whether, as is not unlikely, he made his escape in the woods, I am not able to say. The troops of my command behaved with coolness and bravery. My thanks are especially due to Lieut.-Col. Hess, commanding Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Maj. Beck, commanding detachment Seventh Indiana Cavalry, for the skill and judgment with which they conducted the skirmish.


GEO. E. WARING, JR., Col. Fourth Missouri Cavalry, Cmdg.

PS. It is believed that we killed 6 of the enemy on the ground.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 582-583.


April 3, 1864

April 3, 1864 - U. S. N. gunboats begin patrolling Tennessee River from Sandy to Duck River

CAIRO, April 4, 1864.

Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Nashville, Tenn.:

Your communications to Gen. Hurlbut and Gen. Veatch went forward promptly by dispatch-boat. Gun-boats were sent up the Tennessee yesterday to watch the crossing from Sandy to Duck River.

M. BRAYMAN, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.


April 3, 1864 - Federal scouts from Athens to Ducktown environs and construction of earthen fortifications at Athens

HDQRS. ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS,

Athens, Tenn., April 3, 1864.

Gen. WAGNER:

SIR: Immediately upon the receipt of information of the approach of the enemy, I sent out citizen scouts upon all the roads leading to this place. At 4 a. m. I received from hand of scout sent to Columbus the following message:

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH INDIANA CAVALRY,

Columbus, Tenn., April 2, 1864.

COMMANDER U. S. FORCES,

Athens, Tenn.:

SIR: Your scout, F. A. Cameron, has just arrived, and I send the following information: The rebels, some 500 strong, approached to within 12 miles of this place on the Ducktown road, but I am satisfied that they have fallen back, in all probability by the Connesauga River. Colonel LaGrange, commanding Second Cavalry Brigade, is on the opposite side of the river with some 1,400 men. All is safe at present.

G. H. PURDY, Maj., Commanding Regiment.

Scouts reported to me all right, and are reporting now. All pronounced every-thing quiet.

I impressed yesterday and to-day all the negroes in town and put them at work upon the fortification; ran a line considerably shorter than the one laid out, and at night had constructed of logs, brush, and dirt a very respectable fortification. The work as now built is smaller than the one planned, but is large enough. The line laid out for me was 1,687 feet in length—a very long line for the force likely to be here. I shall keep at work and will make a strong redoubt.

Respectfully,


April 3, 1864

ARBA N. WATERMAN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post.


April 3, 1864 - April 5 - Operations near Covington, Somerville, Morning Sun [a.k.a."Ris-ing Sun"], Fisherville, destruction of ferries on the old and new Raleigh Roads and scout on Covington Road

Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, operations April 3-5.

RALEIGH, TENN., April 4, 1864.

COL.: Yesterday morning I sent Col. Waring from this point on the main Som-erville road to proceed as far as practicable. I sent Col. Hurst through Shelby and Wythe Depots to look well to the crossing of the Loosahatchie. One battal-ion of the Sixth Tennessee was left at this point with Col. Brumback with orders to scout north on the Covington road.

With Col. Hepburn's command I proceeded toward Macon via Fisherville. When in the vicinity of Fisherville I received courier from Col. Waring with word that he was fighting a considerable force between Morning Sun and Leake's. I moved from Fisherville north to the Somerville road at Leake's, hop-ing to come in on the flank or rear of the enemy. Arriving here we found that Col. Waring had been briskly engaged, and had dropped back toward Morning Sun. The enemy also had fallen back toward Somerville, leaving a strong picket at Leake's, which my advance charged and drove back on the main force, which was strongly posted behind Spring Creek. From all information the enemy were over 2,000 strong, and the officer in charge of the advance so reported them.

Not hearing from Col. Hurst at this point, and Col. Waring having dropped back to Morning Sun, I deemed it beast to join him at that point, where I expected to remain for the night, but not finding forage I moved to this place and sent to Memphis for the needful. I shall to-day send out expeditions and watch their movements closely. A picket of 25 men was found at one of the crossings of Loosahatchie.

I inclose Col. Waring's report. A most significant fact is that there is no travel upon the roads, nor has there been for three days.


B. H. GRIERSON, Brig.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 581.

NORTH OF WOLF RIVER, NEAR RALEIGH, April 5, 1864—11.30 a. m.

GEN.: Your dispatch just received. The enemy made an attempt on our pickets last night on the Somerville road, and lost 1 man killed. I started a force toward


April 3, 1864

the enemy before daylight this morning. They have just returned and report the enemy to have moved east in the night.

From a lady, who lives 12 miles this side of Purdy, and who came in last night, I learn that Forrest had sent his prisoners, trains, and plunder south via Poca-hontas. With his main force disencumbered he moved south via Saulsbury, throwing out sufficient force to check any advance from this direction. She reports that it is his intention to attack Memphis, in which he expects to be joined by forces from below. If he fails in this, it is my opinion that he will move north again to Jackson, with a view of fulfilling his original intention of crossing the Tennessee. I sent Lieut.-Col. Hepburn this morning with his force via White's Station to the Pigeon Roost road, to scout to Olive Branch. I have destroyed the ferries at the crossings on the old and new Raleigh roads, and at the crossing of the Macon and Memphis road. I will move with Waring and Hurst via Mount Pleasant toward Hudsonville. The infantry will return to Memphis to-night. This lady reports that a portion of Forrest's command had a fight with a force between Purdy and the Tennessee River. She is the wife of a lieutenant in the Sixth Tennessee.

Respectfully,

B. H. GRIERSON, Brig.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. II, p. 582.

HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., April 4, 1864.

Brig. Gen. R. P. BUCKLAND, Cmdg. District of Memphis:

GEN.: It is necessary that great caution should be exercised in relation to the approaches to Memphis.

The enemy in very considerable force are near Rising Sun. It would be very like their tactics to cross the Wolf suddenly near Moscow or at Germantown and move upon the City. To prevent any sudden dashes the picket guards must be strong and the officers cautioned to activity. The mounted men will be thrown well forward and cross patrols from road to road kept up especially at night. It would be well for you to examine the camps personally and ascertain whether or not they can be protected easily from sudden attack by a light entrenchment. I assure you that I consider great vigilance necessary, and I urge upon you that all officers and men be held to strict attention to their duties and to the order enjoining them to be at their posts and in camp.

Your obedient servant,

S. A. HURLBUT, Maj.-Gen.



April 4, 1864

April 4, 1864 - Military Governor Andrew Johnson's Proclamation relative to County Elec-tions in Tennessee

State of Tennessee,

Executive Department,

Nashville, April 4, 1864.

WHEREAS, In several counties of the State, and in many districts, from vari-ous causes no election was held on the 5th of March last, for county and district officers. In all such instances where counties have failed to hold said elections, upon application to me. Suitable persons will be appointed to hold the same; and in all cases were districts have failed to elect, or the officers elected to qualify, the respective county courts will order elections at such times as the same can be conveniently held. And in both cases said elections will be held in pursuance of my proclamation of the 29 [26] the of January, 1864. In all cases, where questions arise as to the capacity of the party elected to hold, either from any of the disqualifications mentioned by law, or of failure to comply with said proclamation in the election, or by reason of sail person's known and continued disloyalty to the Government of the United States, the questions are referred to the county courts of the county, who will hear and determine the same, and shall enter the same, if the person if sound to be disqualified, upon the records of the office requiring a commission by law.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed, at the Department at Nashville, this 5th day of April, 1864.

Andrew Johnson.

By the Governor:

Edward H. East, Secretary of State

Memphis Bulletin, April 13, 1864. NOTE 1

NOTE 1: See also: Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 658-659.

April 5, 1864 - Loyal East Tennessee Unionists to be given surplus U. S. Army draft animals for farm work, excerpt from Special Orders No. 96

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 96. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Knoxville, Tenn., April 5, 1864.

~ ~ ~

IX. All animals which are unserviceable and cannot be recruited in a reason-able time, viz.,: such as are ordinarily sold by the quartermaster's department, will hereafter be loaned to loyal citizens of East Tennessee, to be fed and used by them until called for by the chief quartermaster of the department. No citi-zen will be allowed to have a greater number of animals than required for his


April 5, 1864

own use, or will any be allowed to persons residing where the animals would be exposed to captured. Proper receipts, of a form to be prescribed by the chief quartermaster, will be taken in each case.

Hereafter no animals will be sold by the quartermaster's department in East Tennessee.

~ ~ ~

By command of Maj.-Gen. Schofield:


April 5, 1864 - "Provost Order No. 71."

Office of Provost Marshal

Nashville, Tenn., April 5th, 1864

[EXTRACT. ]

VIII. The frequency with which horses and mules are stolen in the vicinity of this post by marauding soldiers and vagrant negroes calls for the most stringent measures for the most stringent measures for the suppression of the crime.

Soldiers are hired to fight, and not to trade horses and mules. The offering of a horse or mule for sale by a soldier is in itself an offence, and is prima facie evi-dence of his having come in possession of it by felonious means; and any citi-zen purchasing it becomes an accomplice of his guilt.

Any soldier selling or offering for sale a horse or mule, or any citizen purchas-ing the same of a soldier, will be arrested and punished.

No negro will be permitted to sell of offer for sale any horse or mule without a special permit from this office, on proof of ownership, and any citizen purchas-ing a horse or mule from any negro without such permit will be arrested and punished.

The patrols will be instructed to arrest all soldiers found riding or having in their possession horses mules not branded with the Government brand.

By command of Brig. Gen. R. S. Granger

John W. Horner, Lieut. Col. 18th Mich. V. I., and Prov. Mar.

Nashville Daily Times and True Union, July 28, 1864.

April 5, 1864 - A visit to Hospital No. 8 in Nashville by Elvira J. Powers

~ ~ ~

The Masonic Hall and First Presbyterian Church constitute Hospital, No. 8. We visited that on Tuesday [April 5, 1864].


April 5, 1864

As we enter the Hall, past the guard, we find a broad flight of stairs before us, and while ascending, perceive this caution inscribed upon the wall in ever-green.

"Remember you are in a hospital and make no noise." Up this flight, and other cautions meet us, such as "No smoking here"—"Keep away from the wall," &c. We here pause at a door, and are introduced to the matron who is fortu-nately just now going through the wards. It is Miss J—tt, of Ann Arbor, Michi-gan.

Ascending another broad flight, and asking in the meantime of her duties, she throws open the door of the linen-room where are two clerks, and says:

"This department comprises all the work assigned to me-whatever else I do is Voluntary and gratuitous. But today," she adds laughingly, "it would be diffi-cult to define my duties. I think I might properly be called 'Commandant of the Black Squad," or 'Chief of the Dirty Brigade;" and she explained by saying that he had seven negro women and two men, subject to her orders, who were cleaning the building. She next throws open the door of a ward which contains but a few patients, and has a smoky appearance. She tells us, they are fumigat-ing it, having had some cases of small pox, most of which have been sent to the proper Hospital.

We pass to another, where she tell us, previous to entering, is one very sick boy. He is of a slight form, only fifteen, and with delicate girlish features. His disease is typhoid fever, from the effects of which he is now quite deaf. As we approach, he says to her faintly,

"Sit down here, mother, on the side of my bed."

She does so, when he asks her to "bend her head down so he can tell her some-thing." This she does, when he says, quite loud, but with difficulty'—"There's some money under my pillow, I want you to get it, and buy me some dried peaches."

"I don't want your money," she says, "but you shall have the peaches if I can get them," and she writes a note and dispatches to the sanitary rooms for them. "This boy always calls me mother," she says, "and the first day he was brought here, he sent his nurse to ask if I would come up and kiss him. He has always been his mother's pet, and I now correspond with her on his account."

His fever is very high, and we pass our cold hand soothingly over his forehead and essay to speak words of cheer, and we turn to leave, he looks up leadingly and says:

"Can you kiss me?"

"Yes, indeed, I can-am glad to do so," and we press our own to his burning lips and receive his feverish, unpleasant breath, not a disagreeable task though, for all, when we remember that he is the pet of his mother, who misses him so very much, and who may never look on her boys again.


April 5, 1864

Of one-a middle-age, despondent looking man we ask cheerily how he is to-day.

"About the same," he replies coldly, but with a look which is the index of a though like this:

"Oh, you don't care for us or our comfort,—you are well, and have friends, and home, probably near you, and you cannot appreciated our suffering, and only come here to satisfy an idle curiosity."

He does not say this, but he thinks it, and we read the thought into the voice, manner, and countenance. We determine to convince him of his mistake, if possible, not withstanding he looks as he prefers we should walk along and leave him alone.

"Were you wounded?" we ask.

"No-sick," was his short gruff answer.

"Your disease was fever was'nt it?" we persist,—"your countenance looks like it,"

"Yes, fever and pneumonia," he replies in the same cold, but despairing tone.

"Ah-but you're getting better now."

"Don't know about it-reckon not."

"Well, how is it about getting letters from home?"

His countenance, voice and manner undergo a sudden change now, and his eyes overrun with tears, as the simple words "Letters from home."

And he raises his hand to his mouth, to conceal its quivering, he tells us with tremulous voice that he has sent three letter to his wife and can get no answer. She has left the place where they used to live, and he does not know certainly where to direct. We ask who we can write to, to find out, and learn that a sister would know. We take the probable address of the wife, and that of the sister, and after some farther conversation leave him looking quite like another man as we promise to write to each in the evening. (Subsequently, we learned that he received a reply to both, and was comparatively cheerful and very grateful.)

Down stairs, and we enter a ward on the first floor. Here is a thing sallow vis-age, the owner of which piteously asks if we "have any oranges." "No," but we provide means, by which he can purchase.

I'm from North Carolina," he says, "I hid in the woods and mountains and lived on roots and berries for weeks, before I could get away."

In reply to our query as to whether he would like a letter written home, he informs us that his wife and father arrived in town only a few days ago.

"Then you have seen them," we say.

"Yes, they both visit me, but my wife comes oftenest."


April 5, 1864

Just now, his nurse, a young man who should know better, interrupts him by telling us that "it isn't so, and his family are all in North Carolina."

"That's just the way," said the sick man, turning to me with a flushed and angry look, "that they're talking to me all the time, and trying to make everybody think I'm crazy. I reckon I know whether I've seem my wife or not!"

"Of course you do," we say quietingly; "does she bring you anything nice to eat?" and we add that we wish she would come while we were there, so we could see her.

"Well, she don't bring me much to eat," he says in a weak, hollow voice, but earnestly, "she don't understand fixin' up things nice for sick folks, and then she's weakly like, but she does all she can, for she's a right smart gude heart. She doesn't fix up, and look like you folks do, you know," he added, "for she sort o' torn to pieces like by this war."

"Yes, we can understand it."

Upon inquiring about this man a few moments after of the Ward-Master, we find that his is really a monomaniac upon the subject, persisting in the declara-tion that his wife and father visit him often though no one sees them.

"He can't live," said the Ward-Master, "he has lost all heart and is worn out. The chance of a Southerner to live after going to a hospital is not over a fourth as good as for one of our Northern boys. They can do more fighting with less food while in the field, but when the excitement is over they lose heart and die."

We find upon several subsequent visits that is growing weaker, and at the last when his countenance indicates that death is near, we are thankful that he is still comforted by these imaginary visits from father and wife.

We crossed the street and entered the First Presbyterian Church, which consti-tutes a good part of the hospital. This place is notable for the promulgation of secession sentiments from its pulpit in other days. A specimen of the style was given here a short time before the entrance of our troops, by Profr. Elliot of the Seminary, who in a prayer besought the Almighty that he would "prosper the arms of the Confederates and bring to naught the plans of the Federals, that very hill-top, plain and valley around Nashville should be white with the bones of the hated Yankees! "

After hearing that is doubly a pleasure, in company of Miss J., another “North-ern vandal,” to make the walls of the old church echo to the words of "The Star Spangled Banner," with an accompaniment from the organ; and it would have done any loyal head good to see how much pleasure it gave to the sick and wounded soldiers.

Powers, Pencillings, pp 14-19.


April 5, 1864

April 5, 1864 - First Lieutenant Robert Cruikshank, 123rd New York Infantry Regiment, letter home to his wife Mary

Camp 123rd Regt., N. Y. S. V.

Elk River, Tenn.,

April 5, 1864.

Dear Wife,-

I must write short letters now as our summer's work has begun. We are under marching orders and are getting ready as fast as possible, and yet we may not move for a month. It takes a long time to plan and get ready to move such an army. Every man, every company, every regiment, every brigade and every corps in this great army must be looked after to see if they are all present and provided for and it takes time to do it. After we start all the officers have all they can do to keep things in order.

Henry J. Cleveland did not get his furlough to go home as I had anticipated. None but the sick will be allowed to be absent.

Kiss Ella for me.

Love to all friends.

R. Cruikshank.

Robert Cruikshank Letters.

April 5, 1864 - "A DISORDERLY HOUSE AND AN UNFORTUNATE HOSTAGE."

Jane, a [illegible] colored African female was up before his Honor, yesterday morning, to answer to the charge of keeping a noisy domicile. Jane lives in a notoriously bad neighborhood on Beal street. She takes in washing, and it so happened, that certain parties of conflicting color, and conflicting sex, met at her residence the other evening to patronize her, but so far forgot their errand as to engage in a noisy jollification which drew an officer to the spot who spot-ted Jane and returned for her the next morning, when she very suddenly found herself before his Honor, and was found guilty by his Honor of allowing the peace to be disturbed by certain ones upon her premises, and the premises in the case being substantiated, she was find an X exactly.


April 5, 1864 - "A Strange Freak of a Sick Man."

A certain gentleman who resides on Poplar street, and who has been confined to his bed for several days past with a severe fever-being partially deranged by the same—last evening, being left alone by his nurse, arose from his bed, passed out of his door, and proceeded as far as Main street, when he was stopped by a guard and conducted back to his residence, having nothing hut his


April 5, 1864

undergarments upon his body. Upon being asked by the guard where he was going, his very ready response was that "his wife and children had gone down to the river and he was going out on the levee to look after them." Had he not been stopped, wonderment can scarcely guess where he would have wandered, directed as he was by the fancies of a fevered brain.

Memphis Bulletin, April 5, 1864

April 5, 1864 - "Olympic Theater."

As is usual with us, we paid this, our favorite piece of amusement, a visit last evening, and were very much pleased with Mr. Tom Cony in his rendition of "Dumb Man," and also Mrs. Frank Graham as "Jane Wilton," together with Mr. That. P. Varney, as "Edward Wilton" an outcast and wanderer in the touching drama of the Dumb Man of Manchester. The afterpiece was one of the many which could never fail to bring forth a laugh from the most sober of persons; in this Mr. Varney rendered the "Persecuted Dutchman" to perfection. To-night the laughable melodrama of Jack Robinson and His Monkey will be presented for the benefit of many who failed to witness it last week.

Memphis Bulletin, April 5, 1864

April 6, 1864 - General Orders No. 6 regarding regulation of railroads by U. S. Army issued

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 6. HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 6, 1864.

To enable the military railroads running from Nashville to supply more fully the Armies in the field, the following regulations will hereafter be observed:

I. No citizen nor any private freight whatever will be transported by the rail-roads, save as hereinafter provided.

II. Officers traveling under orders or on leave of absence, sick or furloughed soldiers departing from or returning to the orders of post commanders, of Brig. Gen. Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee, or of the commanding officer of either of the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, or the Ten-nessee, or of the Military Division of the Mississippi. Bodies of troops will not be transported by railroads when it is possible for them to march, except upon the order of the commanding officer of some one of the military departments above named. Civil employes of the various staff departments will be trans-ported on the order of the senior and supervising quartermaster Department of the Cumberland, at Nashville, Tenn., or of the commanding officer of either of the military departments above named. Employes of the railroads will be trans-ported on the order of the superintendent or chief engineer of the railroads.

III. No citizens will be allowed to travel on the railroads at all, except on the permit of the commanding officer of one of the three military departments or of the Military Division of the Mississippi, and when their transportation will not


April 6, 1864

prevent that of any army supplies, of which the proper officer of the quarter-master's department will be the judge.

IV. Express companies will be allowed one car per day each way, on each mili-tary road, to carry small parcels for soldiers and officers. One car per day more on each road for sutlers' goods and officers' stores may be allowed by the senior and supervising quartermaster at Nashville, at his discretion; these cars to be furnished by the express companies and attached to the passenger trains. When a sufficient surplus of stores has been accumulated at the front, the senior and supervising quartermaster aforesaid may increase this allowance, but not before.

V. Stores exclusively for officers' messes, in very limited quantities, after due inspection by the inspecting officer at Nashville, Tenn., of sutler's goods, and all private stores, shipped to the front, will be passed free on the several roads, on the order of the senior and supervising quartermaster Department of the Cumberland, at Nashville, Tenn.

VI. Horses, cattle, or other live-stock will not be transported by railroad, except on the written order of the commanding general of the military division or of one of the military departments.

VII. Trains on their return trips will be allowed to bring up private freight, when the shipment thereof does no interfere with the full working of the roads, of which the senior and supervising quartermaster at Nashville will be the judge.

VIII. Provost-marshals have nothing to do with transportation by railroads. Their passes merely mean that the bearer can go from one point to another named in their pass, but not necessarily by rail. The railroads are purely for army purposes.

IX. When the rolling-stock of the railroads in increased, or when a due accu-mulation of stores has been made at the front, increased facilities may be extended to passengers and private freight, of which due notice will be given. Until that time citizens and sutlers must use wagons.

X. Until the railroad is relieved, all military posts within 35 miles of Nashville and 20 miles of Stevenson, Bridgeport, Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Loudon must haul-their stores by wagons.

XI. The general manager of the railroads, and his duly appointed agents and conductors, will control the trains and will be authorized to call on every pas-senger for his orders for transportation by railroad, that they may be returned to the general manager or superintendent. The military guard will enforce good order, and sustain the agents and conductors of the roads in their rightful authority, but will report any mismanagement or neglect of duty through their officers to these headquarters.


April 6, 1864

XII. Until other arrangements are perfected, commanding officers, on the request of the railroad managers, will furnish details for providing wood or water at such points as may be necessary to supply the trains.

By command of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman:

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, pp. 279-280. NOTE 1

NOTE 1: See also: Nashville Dispatch, April 12, 1864.

April 6, 1864 - "Spies and guerrillas, murderers under the assumed title of Confederate sol-diers, deserters on leave, should be hung quick. . . " Major-General Will-iam T. Sherman on execution of death sentence by field commanders

NASHVILLE, TENN., April 6, 1864.

Col. JOSEPH HOLT, Judge-Advocate-Gen., Washington:

SIR: I wrote you from Memphis some time ago asking your specific instruc-tions as to the power of a commander of an army in the field to approve and execute the sentence of death. I have not yet time nor the means to examine the question, but the law of Congress approved December 24, 1861, on page 490 of the Volume Military Laws, 1776-1863, gives division and even brigade commanders power to order general courts-martial and to approve and execute sentences, save in cases of death and dismissal of a commissioned officer, which requires the approval of the general commanding the army in the field. I have always constructed that as final, and to substitute the said commander in place of the President of the United States in the cases enumerated in the Sixty-third and Eighty-ninth Articles of the old Articles of War.

The question arises daily, and I expect to execute a good many spies and guer-rillas under that law without bothering the President. Too many spies and vil-lains escape us in the time consumed by trial, review, and remission to Washington, and we all know that it is very hard for the President to hang spies, even after conviction, when a troop of friends follow the sentence with earnest and ex parte appeals.

Spies and guerrillas, murderers under the assumed title of Confederate sol-diers, deserters on leave, should be hung quick, of course after a trial, for the number of escapes made easy by the changes on guard during the long time consumed by trial and reference have made that class of men bold and danger-ous, and our own scouts and detachments have so little faith in the punishment of known desperadoes that a habit is growing of "losing prisoners in the swamp," the meaning of which you know. This horrible attendant of war origi-nated in the practice of our enemies, and I have seen it chuckled over in their public journals; but our own men are quick to learn, and unless a legal punish-ment can be devised you will soon be relieved of all such cases. I believe that the veriest demon should have a hearing and trial, but punishment should be prompt, yea speedy, or it loses its efficacy.


April 6, 1864

I believe the laws I have quoted give the commander of an army in the field lawful power to try by court-martial, approve and execute the sentence, and I believe the law to be right and humane to society. If wrong I should be cor-rected at once. Forty or fifty-executions now would in the next twelve months save a thousand lives.



OR, Ser. II, Vol. 7, pp. 18-19.

April 6, 1864 - Federal authorization for loyal civilians to purchase and keep arms in Pulaski environs

PULASKI, TENN., April 6, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. C. PARROTT, Cmdg., Prospect, Tenn.:

COL.: The general commanding hereby authorizes you to grant permission to loyal citizens in your vicinity to purchase and keep arms for defense against robbers. You must satisfy yourself fully that the applicants for permission of this kind are men to be trusted, and in no case grant them the favor where a doubt exists. In the permission given make them responsible for the proper use and safety of the arms.

By order of Brig. Gen. T. W. Sweeny, commanding:


April 6, 1864 - Confederate conscription in Jackson

Charles Hogett was out a little while this evening. He said Forrest was still in town, conscripting. . .

Robert H. Cartmell Diary.

April 6, 1864 - Protection of refugee families in Edgefield by the 13th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry

Head Quarters 13th Wis. Vet. Vol. Infantry

Hon. Andrew Johnson

Mil. Gov. of Tennessee:

I have the honor to state that there are a number of refugee families residing in this village-nearly all of whom are in very destituted circumstances-who are threatened by persons claiming to own the premises occupied by them-(or to be the agents of such claimants)-with forcible ejection from their homes. In many cases this would be a great calamity to these people, as it is quite impos-sible for them to procure other houses. An increased demand for residences


April 6, 1864

and the consequent advance of rents, are the causes of this onslaught upon these poor people.

I made enquiries at the different military Head Quarters in town yesterday & was informed that you had jurisdiction in these matters. I called at your office but did not see you. I, however, had a conversation with Col. Johnson on the subject, and requested him to say to you that I would gladly execute your orders for the protection of these families, for I beg to assure you that they need protection and the Government owes it to them for their unswerving loyalty.

I shall not allow any of them to be ejected-except by civil process-without your orders or other competent military authority; and I will cheerfully investigate and report upon any of these cases which you may think proper to refer to me.

~ ~ ~

Wm. P. Lyon, Col. Comdg. Regt.

You will please excuse me for addressing you direct, as I have not the name of your Adjt. Gen.

W. P. L.

In connection with the enclosed general statement, I wish to call your attention to two particular cases.

A house formerly used as a Hospital by our troops is occupied by two families. They found the building empty & moved in it. One of these families named Jenkins in unable to go by reason of the serious illness of one of its members. Jenkins is an Employee of the Govt. The other is a family from Jasper, Tenn. The mother recently died. The step-father named Beck, said to be a drunken, worthless vagabond, has abandoned them entirely. There remains an old grand-mother who is bed-ridden—a young woman, Miss Tipton, & two young chil-dren, all dependant upon Miss. T. for support. She is a person of more than ordinary intelligence, and it making earnest exertions to support the family thus left upon her hands.

Both these families have been notified that unless they get out of the house immediately they will be put into the street. This comes from some person in town who says he owns the premises.

I respectfully request you to make an order that these families be allowed to remain where they are until further orders.

There is no injustice in this. The relation of landlord & tenant does not exist between the parties. They (the occupants) have not admitted the title of the claimant-and the civil courts are open to him-if he is really entitled to posses-sion.

Wm. P. Lyon, &c.

Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 662-663.NOTE 1


April 6, 1864

NOTE 1: Apparently there is no record of any response or outcome to this refugee di-lemma.

April 6, 1864 - "Important Notice." Last notice to remove public health nuisances in Nash-ville

We are informed on authority that the mountains of dirt, ashes, filth, or what not, piled up in front of sundry houses, must be removed immediately at the expense of the owner or occupant of the house from whence it was exhumed, or the officers of the city government will indict the occupants for creating a nuisance. General Granger says he never contemplated having huge nuisances removed at the expense of Uncle Sam. We have warned you in time, reader; so look out for a notice to appear, and answer, etc., if your mud-piles are not removed this morning.


April 6, 1864 - Entertaining some of Forrest's men at the Edmondson home in Shelby County

April, Wednesday 6, 1864

Laura awakened me this morning with the news that Beulah was at my door-oh! it seems there is always something to trouble me. Father allowed her to be chained, and so far has not killed her. We were very much surprised this morn-ing by the arrival of five of Forrest's men-Eddie & Elb leading the advance, while Capt. Jim Barber, Capt. Farrell & Mr. John Kirk brought up the rear-oh! I was so happy, we have spent a delightful day, have taken it time about stand-ing Picket, with the horses hid in the woods-Geo. Anderson came running up, had just had a nice race with the Yankees-in a little while Joanna & Nannie came from town with the news the Yanks were camping on Horn Lake creek tonight, having heard Forrest had a good many of his men in here on leave-they will have to be right smart if they get our five, with the assistance of Edmond-son's battery for Pickets-We all sat up very late, I left them in the Parlor-tis so much happiness to see so many of our Rebel friends-oh! I am happy, yet miser-able, my heart is never free from pain, have mercy upon me, oh! my savior, guide and give me happiness-

Diary of Belle Edmondson

April 6, 1864 - Artillery practice and Civil Engineering in Civil War Chattanooga; An Excerpt from the Letter of Captain Gershom M. Barber to his wife

Head Quarters O. V. S. S

Chattanooga Tennessee April 6, 1864

My Dear Wife


April 6, 1864

. . . I have got leave from General Thomas to practice at target shooting and as soon as I can get targets prepared shall commence it. The batteries here are practicing almost every day and make it seem like old times when we were in a state of Siege. Then the screeching of shells and the quick explosions were things of concern and holly expected. Now all is quiet and orderly as a northern town until the hour for practice arises when the booming of cannon guns [illeg-ible] and the explosion of shells against the opposite hills where the targets are placed [illegible] what seldom may expect if they should ever be so fool hardy as to make an attack on Chattanooga. Yesterday I took a stroll around town and saw the vast stone houses being erected here. General Thomas doesn't intend to go backward evidently. When complete the works now placed for storing sup-plies will cover not less than two acres of ground and all good war horses of the rail road trucks and by the leave the rebs won't know the place where they return the depot here has finally rebuilt and the railroad complete and tracks run to the steamboat landing and the avenues. . . and aqueducts are being graded and mcadamised the swamps drained and every thing to render it one of the most delightful places in the world when the town is rebuilt (or rather built) I predict that in less than one year Chattanooga will have a population ten times as large as it ever had and a large population from the north as permanent settlers. If the government puts the land and residence of rebels on sale a tide of population will set in that will make it a seemed Chicago. . .

~ ~ ~

Barber Correspondence.

April 6, 1864 - Andrew Johnson's approbation for the pace of reconstruction and emanici-pation in Tennessee

Nashville, April 6th 1864

Rev W. G. Brownlow

Knoxville, Tennessee,

Upon what day does the Knoxville-Greeneville Convention assemble.

The meeting at Shelbyville went off well—Indications on the part of the peo-ple, were decided for a Conventiion and emancipation. They are for Settling the Slavery question now, an Setting it finely—Can I do any good by being at your Convention[?]

Andrew Johnson, Mil Gov

Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, p. 663.

April 6, 1864 - April 16, 1864 - Brigadier-General J. B. Cox takes care of refugees

BULL'S GAP, April 6, 1864.

Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Knoxville:


April 7, 1864

The party of women and children arrived from Knoxville this evening. Lick Creek continues unfordable, and supposing my report on his subject last night might result in their being detained for a few days I sent back a flag of truce, which came this morning, without mention of our purpose of sending this party through. There is no village here and but one house, and this arrival of 40 women and children is rather embarrassing. I hope, however, to keep them from suffering till to-morrow, and if the creek does not fall, must send them back as far as Russellville. The party is much larger than I expected.

~ ~ ~

J. D. COX, Brig. Gen., Cmdg. Third Div., Twenty-third Army Corps.



Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Knoxville:

. . . The flag-of-truce party sent to Greenville has got back to Lick Creek, and will be here to-night. The rebel families which came up to-day will have to wait till to-morrow, as my ambulances all went with the other party. The party stopped at Greeneville for the smaller detachment to go forward to Jonesbor-ough with the letter for Gen. Ransom and return. This was contrary to my intention, and has caused two days' delay.

J. D. COX, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Third Division.

OR, Ser. I., Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 315.


Maj.-Gen. SCHOFIELD, Knoxville:

The rebel families and surgeons last sent beyond our lines are still at Blue Springs, and do not get any transportation from the enemy. They apply for rations, and also to be sent to Greeneville. The roads are bad, and the former trips were hard on our teams, but I think they should either go back to Knox-ville or farther to the front. Have you any instructions?

J. D. COX, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, P. 377.

April 7, 1864 - Longstreet ordered to begin retreat from East Tennessee to Virginia

RICHMOND, VA., April 7, 1864. Gen. J. LONGSTREET, Bristol, Tenn.:

GEN.: The President directs that you move with that part of your corps proper now in the Department of East Tennessee (that is, McLaw's and Field's divi-sions, and one battalion of artillery, that lately commanded by Col. Alexander) to Charlottesville, Va. Arrived there, you will report to Gen. R. E. Lee. The infantry should first move by rail. If the means of transportation will permit, the artillery, its carriages, harness, &c., will go in the same manner; otherwise,


April 7, 1864

it will march. Should the artillery go by rail, the artillery horses will be sent on the dirt road. Only such field transportation will be taken as is allowed for a campaign in the Army of Northern Virginia. Please see Gen. Lee's special orders, indorsed. The excess in the Department of East Tennessee above that amount will be promptly put in motion for the gap in the Piedmont Railroad, between Danville, Va., and Greensborough, N. C., to assist in providing neces-sary subsistence supplies for both your own corps and the troops who remain with Gen. Buckner in the Department of East Tennessee.

Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Gen.


April 7, 1864 - Entry in Alice Williamson's diary, Sumner County

Another (rebel) soldier was shot yesterday. The Yankees went to jail and brought him while a citizen was standing near. He said the soldier was very poorly clad but his countenance was that of a gentleman. When the guard brought his horse to him (a broken down one from the camp) he asked what they were going to do with them. On being told to "Mount that horse and say no more. . . " he did so remarking that he supposed they were going to shoot him. They took him to the river to shoot him but finding some gentlemen there-Mr. H. & M. they said they had gone in a hornet's nest to shoot and went some-where else. When they carry them out to shoot them they given a worn out horse and tell them if they can escape they may; they say "have fine fun chas-ing the boy with fresh horses" I am sorry I did not commence my journal when old Payne first came; he was worse then than now.

Williamson Diary

April 7, 1864 - "A Warning to Thieving Soldiers"

A case has just been investigated by courts martial, in which Peter Cunning-ham, bugler of Co. D, 14th U. S. cavalry was tried on the charge of robbery, found guilty, and sentenced to drummed through the camp of the 2d cavalry division with a placard attached to his back, with the word "Robber" written thereon, with a ball and chain attached to his left leg, for the period of six months, and forfeit all pay and allowances now due him from the United States until the expiration of the term of his sentence.



April 7, 1864

April 7, 1864 - "The Police and Sanitary Regulation of the City;" the fight for public health in Nashville

The citizens of Nashville are thoroughly puzzled to understand their duties with regard to the sanitary regulation of the city. On the 22d ult., an order was issued by Gen. Granger, from which we extract as follows:

Capt. W. D. Chamberlain, 29th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, is announced as Chief of the Police of this city.

He will rigidly enforce all police and sanitary regulations issued or to be issued.

He is authorized, in the discharge of his duties, to search all premises, alleys, outhouses, or yards, and to give any orders or directions concerning the clean-ing or keeping of the same; and any orders or directions so given, will be con-sidered as coming from these Headquarters.

Citizens and occupants of Government buildings will be held responsible that all obstructions are removed from and the pavements in front of their houses swept clean by 9 a. m.

No merchandise, boxes, coal, wood or obstruction of any kind will be allowed to remain on the pavements, but will be taken in immediately on delivery.

No dirt or rubbish of any kind will be deposited in he alleys or aback yards. The sweepings, slops, and refuse will be collected in barrels, and the barrels placed in the street at such stated times as shall be hereinafter designated for each street, to be taken away by the Government wagons.

As soon as the streets are thoroughly scraped, they will be sprinkled daily by Government water-carts.

As citizens are not taxed to support this-undoubtedly for the cleanliness and health of the city-it is expected that they will perform their share of the work promptly and thoroughly.

Any violation of this order or of any orders or directions given by Captain Chamberlain, will be punished with a fine of five dollars, to be collected forth-with by the City Provost Marshal on the report of the Chief of Police.

On the 28th ult. Chief of Police Chamberlain issued an order from which we quote as follows:

In accordance with Special Order No. 76, dated March 22d, it is hereby ordered:

I. That occupants of stores, restaurants and dwelling houses, will be required to clean their yards and cellars, and have the offal removed, within forty-eight hours from the date of this order. No garbage or dirt of any kind will be allowed to accumulate on any premises within the city limits.


April 7, 1864

II. All dirt to be removed in barrels and boxes from the backs yards and alleys by the persons occupying the same. No rubbish will be allowed to remain more than twenty-four hours without being removed.

III. Offal, the accumulation or restaurants, must be removed by the occupants each day (Sundays excepted) before 10 A. M. All ashes and rubbish will be set in barrels on the sidewalks before 10 A. M., each day.

Everybody seems to have construed these orders to require them to place the rubbish and ashes from their cellars, back yards and alleys in barrels and boxes on the streets in front of their premises, from whence they would be removed in Government wagons. They have complied with what they understood the orders to require of them, and now the municipal authorities quietly tell them that if they do not remove this rubbish the will be indicted for creating a nui-sance. The law is plan and explicit upon this point, and the citizens must remove the rubbish in from of their premises forthwith or take the conse-quences.

For permitting merchandise, boxes, coal, wood, or obstructions of any kind to remain on the pavements, the military police will collect a fine of five dollars from the offender. The same offenses are punishable by the city authorities as follows:

"That hereafter no person or persons shall hand or suspend any sign, show-bill, or show-board, or set or place any goods, wares or merchandise, or any other obstruction, in front of any house, store or other building upon the Public Square, or any street, lane or alley in this city, under a penalty of not less than ten nor more than forty-five dollars for each and every offense, and the further sum of five dollars for each day the said sign, show-bill, show-board, or goods, wares, and merchandise, or other obstruction, remain in violation of this act.["]

As it now stands, both penalties may be enforced, and so may double penalties be imposed in a number of cases.

An order was issued from the military headquarters and a short time since, and is still in force, we believe, requiring the citizens to scrape up the mud and dust into piles or heaps to the middle of streets in front of their premises, when the same would be removed by Government, are taxed for this purpose.

It strikes us that these conflicts might be avoided by having one set of authori-ties to enforce police and sanitary regulations in the city. The policy adopted by Gen. Hurlbut in Memphis is the right one. In a speech to the City Council of that city on the 17th ult., he gave them to understand that if they did not clean the city and take measures to improve its sanitary condition, he would stop their collection of taxes and do the work himself.



April 8, 1864

April 8, 1864 - Flanking movement and/or scout initiated, from Memphis, skirting the Cold-water and thence by LaGrange to Bolivar


Brig. Gen. B. H. GRIERSON, Cmdg. Cavalry Division, Sixteenth Corps:

GEN.: Under orders from Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, you will proceed with your entire available cavalry force skirting the Coldwater and thence by LaGrange to Bolivar.

You have seen Gen. Sherman's orders. The line from here to Hatchie via Boli-var is to be held by your cavalry. You will move all disposable cavalry before daylight, sweeping round by LaGrange to Bolivar. Let go of Memphis, and give yourself no concern about it. Operate on the flanks and rear of the enemy and open communication with Veatch at and west of Purdy. Rally on them, or here if too strong for you, and press the matter home.

Yours,



April 8, 1864 - Destruction of Confederate bridge over the Wolf River five miles from Mem-phis

MEMPHIS, TENN., April 9, 1864.

Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Cmdg. Mil. Div. of the Mississippi, Nashville, Tenn.:

On yesterday I destroyed a bridge erected by the rebels to cross Wolf 5 miles from town. They have abandoned the idea of coming in here. Forrest's train and artillery are reported moving up via Saulsbury. He means to cross Tennes-see in force and should be looked for about Big Sandy.

Cairo should have a full regiment and another for Columbus. S. D. Lee is reported to have chief command of expedition in your rear.



April 8, 1864 - Estimate for number of troops to protect N&cRR

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, April 8, 1864.

Statement of the number of troops necessary to protect the bridges on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, posted in block-houses at the following


April 8, 1864

points, with garrisons at Murfreesborough, Tullahoma Stevenson, and Bridge-port:

No. Locality. Troops

1 Mill Creek No. 1 30



4 Hurricane Creek (one-half mile north of La Vergne) 30

5 Bridge near Smyrna 30

6 Stewart's Creek 30

7 Overall's Creek 30

8 Stone's River(Fortress Rosecrans) 150

9 Stone's River(3 miles south of Murfreesborough) 40

10 Bell Buckle Creek 20

11 Creek one-half mile north of Wartrace 10

12 Wartrace Creek 30

13 Garrison's Fork 50

14 Duck River 40

15 Norman's Creek (Normandy) 30

16 [Block-house should be erected, I think, between Normandy and Poor Man's Creek, though none is projected by the engineers.]

[30]

17 Poor Man's Creek (one-half mile south of Tullahoma [Should be block-house between Poor Man's Creek and Taylor's Creek. The road through a forest. All trains stop for wood and is the worst place for guerrillas on the

whole road, and the distance is too great from Poor Man's Creek to Elk River to admit of patrolling the road with safety.]

18 [Taylor's Creek (Water Tank) only water between Decherd and Tullahoma. Not projected by engineers]

[30]

19 Elk River 60

20 Boiling Fork of Elk River (Cowan) 30

21 Trestle (1 mile north of Tantalon 10

22 Trestle (one-quarter mile north of Tantalon) 10


April 8, 1864

~ ~ ~

Total troops, 1,460, omitting garrison at Bridgeport. The above are projected by the engineers, with the exception of those noted in red ink [inserted in brackets], which are result of my own observation.

North of Gen. Slocum's old the troops stationed as follows:

Fosterville, two companies Twenty-third Missouri.

23 Bridge and station (Tantalon) 20

24 Crow Creek (south of Tantalon) 20

25 . . . do 20

26 . . . do 20

27 . . . do 20

28 Crow Creek (south of Anderson) 20

29 Dry trestle (south of Anderson) 10

30 Crow Creek (south of Anderson) 30

31 . . . do 30

32 Swamp trestle 20

33 Crow Creek 30

34 Crow Creek (three-quarters of a mile from Stevenson 20

35 Creek (1 mile east from Stevenson) 20

36 Widow's Creek 20

37 Tennessee River, main bridge, Bridgeport . . .

38 Tennessee River, east bridge, Bridgeport 100

39 Dry trestle 20

40 Nickajack Creek (one-quarter of a mile west of Shellmound 30

41 Creek (one-eighth mile east of Shellmound 30

42 Dry trestle (Narrows) 30

43 Running Water (one-half mile west of Whiteside's) 80

44 Lookout Creek 30

45 Chattanooga Creek 30

No. Locality. Troops


April 8, 1864

Between Fosterville and Christiana, one company Twenty-third Missouri.

Christiana, three companies and headquarters Twenty-third Missouri.

Between Christiana and Stone's River, one company Twenty-third Missouri.

Murfreesborough, One hundred and fifteenth Ohio, Thirty-first Wisconsin, 384 convalescents.

At Stone's River, two companies Twenty-third Missouri Volunteers.

Overall's Creek, 5 miles from Murfreesborough, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

Stewart's Creek, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

Smyrna, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

Antioch, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

La Vergne, five companies Eighty-fifth Indiana. Thirty-third Indiana at present on furlough.

Stockade No. 2, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

Stockade No. 1, one company Eighty-fifth Indiana.

The following is the proposed arrangement of troops along the line from Nash-ville down:

Three batteries in forts at Nashville, already in position. This in addition to the infantry.

The Twenty-third Missouri is to be ordered to McMinnville to relieve the Eigh-teenth Michigan, which regiment will then join its brigade.

Col. Coburn's brigade to join its division. Three companies of artillery to be assigned to Murfreesborough. The convalescents to be armed with muskets.

Gen. Rousseau to man the block-houses from Nashville to Murfreesborough.

Two regiments at Murfreesborough, and in block-houses as far as Tullahoma.

Tullahoma, one regiment.

Stevenson, one regiment.

Bridgeport, two regiments proposed, although I should think it requires 3,000 men on both sides of river, and three batteries.


WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brig.-Gen. and Chief of Staff.

NOTE No. 1.-When I passed up on Wednesday, March 20, the timber for these block-house was prepared and upon the grounds with few exceptions. In the cases of the latter I could not learn that any work had been done upon them as yet. It will probably take until the 16th instant to complete them.


April 8, 1864

NOTE No. 2.-The block-houses as far south as Anderson are in about the same state of forwardness as those north of that point. Thence to Bridgeport they are probably completed by this time.


April 8, 1864 - GENERAL ORDERS, No. 7 relative to relations between officers and men in Federal Army in Middle Tennessee

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 7. HDQRS. SECOND DIV., 16TH ARMY CORPS, Pulaski, Tenn., April 8, 1864.

The general commanding regrets that the state of discipline in this command has become so loose as to compel him to publish a general order on the subject. No officer having the good of the service at heart can fail to see the pernicious effect of a too free social intercourse between officers and men. All officers are therefore strictly forbidden to associate on terms of equality with enlisted men. This applies especially to officers messing, playing at games of any descrip-tion, or visiting with their men, as also permitting them to visit their quarters except upon business, which is to be done in the proper manner. In a general sense this order will make it the duty of officers to require respectful and cour-teous treatment from enlisted men on all occasions. Whenever company offic-ers or officers connected with regiments or batteries are guilty of violating this order it shall be the duty of regimental commanders to place such officer or officers in arrest, and prefer the proper charges against the same without delay, and any regimental commander neglecting to do this will be placed in arrest by his brigade commander and the charge of neglect of duty preferred against him.

This order applies to staff officers who may have enlisted men directly under their charge, and any violation of this order will subject them to the same pen-alty as above prescribed, the general commanding division and commanders of brigades being the proper officers to execute the same.

Officers of the inspector-general's department are charged with the responsibil-ity of seeing this order properly executed, and will report without favor any officer who violates its requirements.

This order will be read to each regiment and battery composing this command at the evening parade following its receipt.

By order of Brig. Gen. T. W. Sweeny, commanding


April 8, 1864 - Major-General Nathan Bedford Forrest unveils his strategy for his West Ten-nessee raid

[CONFIDENTIAL. ] HDQRS. FIRST DIV., FORREST'S CAV. DEPT.,

Jackson, Tenn., April 8, 1864.


April 8, 1864

Col. J. J. NEELY, Cmdg. Brigade, near Whitesville, Tenn.:

COL.: The brigadier-general commanding directs that you move on Sunday morning next with your entire brigade (excepting the Seventh Tennessee Cav-alry) and Crews' battalion to the vicinity of Raleigh, and make every prepara-tion as if to build a bridge across Wolf River at that place. You will also send a portion of your command on the Big Creek and Moscow road as if intending to cross the river at those places, the object being to impress the enemy with the belief that Gen. Forrest is moving to attack Memphis. You will make no secret of you movement and pretended object. After maneuvering for two or three days you fall back in the direction of Brownsville. Your command will move with five days' cooked rations.

Your movement is intended to co-operate with one to be made by Gen. Forrest on Fort Pillow, and he desires that it should be made promptly and that the demonstration should be as heavy as possible. When you retire you will (if you are not followed by the enemy) deploy your command in every direction, with orders to arrest, and bring to you at Brownsville all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and all officers and soldiers absent from their commands without proper authority. You will also send out proper offices to impress horses to mount your dismounted men, in accordance with the inclosed instructionsNOTE 1 from Gen. Forrest. A strong rear guard will be held together to protect you scattered men. If the enemy press you in force, you will keep together enough men to elude them.

Col. Duckworth will be ordered to move to Randolph via Covington, and will return and meet you in Brownsville.

The brigadier-general commanding will go to Brownsville to-morrow; he will accompany the movement on Fort Pillow.

The contents of this letter, so far as it relates to the movements of Gen. Forrest, are strictly confidential.


W. A. GOODMAN, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


NOTE 1: Not found.

April 8, 1864 - Comparison of Confederate and Federal occupation of Robert H. Cartmell's farm

. . . a portion of Forrest's regiment is encamped in [the] woods lot since 12 (o'clock ) today. Some of the officers [are] occupying our vacant room. I have so much soldiers I would like to get a quit claim. True[,] Rebels do not act as the Yankees, but there are bad men in all armies & they kill hogs & the like.

Robert H. Cartmell Diary.


April 8, 1864

April 8, 1864 - A Plea for Charitable Aid for the Refugee Asylum in Civil War Nashville

"Distress and Destitution;"

In one of his sermons on Charity, "Father Jones"NOTE 1 laid it down as a rule, and demonstrated it as a fixed fact, that Charity knows no distinction of per-sons; no question of nativity or creed; no question of politics or even of moral-ity will deter the humane man from bestowing his charity upon the needy, no matter who or what the person is, where he came from, or what caused his pov-erty. We are expressly commanded to love our enemies, and to do good to them that hate us; how much more, then, should we love those whom Providence has placed among us, destitute of home and friends. These remarks are prompted by a visit yesterday, to the Shelby Medical College, now occupied as an asy-lum for destitute refugees. When we say destitute we mean all that can be con-veyed by that word, in its broadest sense; for here we found mothers of large families destitute of all earthly goods, except a scanty covering of their naked-ness; destitute of relatives and friends, except their helpless children and a few sympathizing ladies and gentlemen who aid in administering to their immedi-ate necessities. No man, possessed of human feeling, could pass through the numerous apartments of that building, without felling a deep compassion for the poor unfortunates, and gladly contributing [to]ward to their relief.

We have no idea of the number of inmates of this asylum, but we judge no less than one hundred and fifty, of whom not less than one half are sick, and many will never leave their beds alive. One poor woman arrived there four weeks ago with six children, of whom three are now in their graves, two others are dangerously sick, and the other is just able to move about. Another has lost four out of six, another two out of four, and scarcely a family there whose members may be called health. One beautiful blue-eye boy, with hectic cough, and blush on his sunken cheek, is rapidly sinking, while his brother, sad and suffering, is reclining on a pillow on the same bed. A little girl has just been "laid out," and the stretcher is brought in the room, on which to carry her to the dead house preparatory to being buried. What was once a stalwart young East Tennessee boy, perhaps nineteen years old, is not stretched upon his bed, wasted to a skeleton, unable to articulate, or even by sign, except in the expres-sion of his languid eye, to make known his wants to his fond mother, who still hopes to save one child from the general wreck. Much more did we see, dear reader, to melt the human heart, but we have not the time to write it down.

The inmates are not confined to East Tennesseeans, as many suppose; there are among them many families from Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, and some from Middle Tennessee, who have lost all their earthly possessions in this war. Some of their husbands and sons have been killed in the Federal and some in the Confederate service. But this is not matter of consequence now; we desire to impress upon the minds of our citizens, as well as the military author-ities, the fact that we have among us a large number of destitute fellow being, who need food and raiment, and suitable accommodations, especially for the


April 9, 1864

sick. Their numbers are increasing daily, while the means are diminishing. Although the building they at present occupy might answer for a transient shel-ter for families in health, it is in no way suited for a hospital. Of this fact, those having it in charge are well aware, and are exerting themselves to provide other accommodations.

We now ask the public to lend a generous aid in this charity; bestow freely of what you have, remembering that where much is given, much is required; and if you have but little, of that which you have give freely, and Almighty God will reward your charity.

Contributions may be sent to Jos. S. Fowler, Esq., at the Controller's office in the capitol, who will cheerfully impart to visitors any information concerning the institution.


NOTE 1: The nom de plume found under numerous moralizing editorials printed in the Nashville Dispatch in 1864.

April 9, 1864 - Scout and skirmish near Raleigh

HDQRS. SEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY, Near Memphis, April 9, 1864.

COL.: I have the honor to submit to you the following report of the result of the scout under my command to-day:

I was ordered by you to leave this camp with a force of 100 men at 3.30 o'clock this morning, but on account of the tardiness of the detail from the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which made a part of the force, I was unable to leave camp until about 4.30 o'clock. I proceeded to Wolf River on the Randolph road, crossed my command on the ferry, and sent, as per order, 25 men, under command of Capt. Roberts, on the Randolph road to the Loosahatchie River with instructions to cross the river, if possible, and advance on the other side about 2 miles and return.

With the remaining 75 men I proceeded toward Raleigh, a distance of 9 miles from the ferry. Four miles on this side of Raleigh my command was fired into by a squad of 15 or 20 rebels, upon which we charged, mortally wounding 1, and in a very effective way dispersing the others. About 2 miles farther we were fired into again by 3 men, who I suppose were standing picket. We returned the fire, and they ran into the woods. Here I learned from a citizen who had just come from Raleigh that there were about 100 rebels in the town. I moved my command rapidly on, and about three-fourths of a mile from town I ordered a charge into the place in order, if possible, to surprise the enemy and capture a portion of them. Upon arriving at Raleigh I soon learned that the enemy had all left about half an hour before our arrival except 10, who seemed to be moving out as rear guard to the command. We fired upon them, and cap-tured 2, one, I think, a lieutenant. We learned here that there was a force of


April 9, 1864

about 500 at Union Depot, about 3 miles from Raleigh. We had 1 horse killed at this place. We also killed 1 of the enemy's horses and captured another.

I learned, but perhaps not reliably, that Col. Barteau was in command at Union Depot. I also learned that Maj. McDonald had a force of about 200, about 3 miles northwest of Raleigh. There is, I am convinced, no large force anywhere near Raleigh. I remained about half an hour in the place, and then returned to the ferry on Wolf River and waited for the return of Capt. Roberts from the Loosahatchie River. The captain soon returned, and reported that he had crossed the ferry at the above-named river and proceeded several miles on the other side; that he saw no enemy at all. I then recrossed the Wolf River, and arrived in camp about 1 p. m.

The road to Raleigh on which I went is small, and almost entirely through the woods; some swampy.

No casualties in my command except as above mentioned.

I am, colonel, yours, most obediently,

JOHN C. FEBLES, Maj. Seventh Indiana Cavalry, Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 584-585.

April 9, 1864 - Communication relative to Federal security patrols and need to restrict passes for civilians drawing army rations in Cleveland environs

HDQRS. 1ST CAV. DIV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Cleveland, Tenn., April 9, 1864.

Brig. Gen. WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Department of the Cum-berland:

I have the honor to report all quiet. My scouting parties are sent out daily on all the roads leading from this point. They find the enemy's pickets at the same positions as previously reported. I have inaugurated a system of patrolling at all hours of the day and night, by which I am persuaded a band of spies and mail carriers from the enemy will be either captured or broken up. I would respectfully suggest that the post commander be instructed to exercise more strictness in granting passes to citizens, as I am induced to believe that infor-mation is obtained by the enemy through persons who pass through here.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

EDWARD M. MCCOOK, Col., Cmdg. Division.

[First indorsement.]

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, April 19, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Gen. J. B. Steedman, commanding post of Chatta-nooga, for his information and guidance.


April 10, 1864

By command of Maj.-Gen. Thomas:

WM. McMICHAEL, Maj. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

[Second indorsement.]

HDQRS. POST, Chattanooga, April 20, 1864.

Respectfully returned to department headquarters.

No passes are given to citizens by the post provost-marshal except to those who come in to draw rations and are known to be loyal.

JAMES B. STEEDMAN, Brig.-Gen., U. S. Army, Cmdg.


April 10, 1864 - Skirmish at Cypress Swamp


April 10, 1864 - Major-General Nathan Bedford Forrest's situation report

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY DEPARTMENT, Jackson, Tenn., April 10, 1864.

Lieut. Col. THOMAS M. JACK, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:

COL.: I have the honor to state that Capt. Oliver has reported to these head-quarters with orders to thoroughly inspect my command, and regret very much that the position and the duties of the troops render it totally impossible for him to do so. In order to watch the enemy in all directions the command is much scattered, and heavy scouting as well as frequent moves are rendered unavoid-able my scarcity of forage, preventing concentration at any one point, and no report or inspection can take place until I can draw in the regiments on outpost duty and get return also from that portion of my command stationed on the Tal-lahatchie and those with my wagon trains at Aberdeen.

I expect in the course of ten or twelve days to move back into North Missis-sippi and expect to take out with me at least 2,000 more troops, conscripts and deserters included; if not moved upon by the enemy in that time will probably get out with even a greater number. Will then have my command together and full reports and thorough will be made. I have four regiments in Southern Ken-tucky, with orders as they move back to bring with them every man they can get hold of between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Governor Harris is at Paris with a detachment of men who are performing the same duty. Bell's bri-gade, of Buford's division, is posted from Bolivar around by Raleigh, with orders to take up and send to Jackson every one subject to military duty and all absentees from the army. Would be glad if the lieutenant-general commanding would give me instructions as to what disposition to make of them; only those will be received in the cavalry who are well mounted. Old commands will be,


April 10, 1864

as far as practicable, filled up; the balance will be forwarded or held as you may direct.

The enrollment of men between the ages of seventeen and eighteen and forty-five and fifty years of age is in my opinion of doubtful policy (at least for the present) in this section, as according to law, they are held to duty only in the State and could only be removed temporarily from the State. Will carry out, however, as far as practicable, any orders the lieutenant-general may give in regard to this or other measures deemed necessary to secure the enrollment or conscription in West Tennessee or North Mississippi.

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

N. B. FORREST, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.


April 10, 1864 - Forrest announces plans to move on Fort Pillow

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, Jackson, Tenn., April 10, 1864.

Maj.-Gen. LEE, Cmdg. Cavalry:

GEN.:. . . I move to-morrow on Fort Pillow with two brigades, the force at that point being 300 whites and 600 negroes. Grierson is reported moving being 300 whites and 600 negroes. Grierson is reported moving up the State line road from Memphis, and I would suggest that you look well to that quarter. Col. Neely, commanding Richardson's brigade, is near Raleigh and east of Wolf River. I will return to this point by the 15th.

I am, general, with respect, your obedient servant,



April 10, 1864 - David Crockett "Tinker Dave" BeatyNOTE 1 requests supplies from Military Governor Andrew Johnson

•See June 3, 1862--Conditions in northwest Tennessee

Fentress County, April 10th, 1864

Gov. Johnson-

Sir; Necessity forces me to address you this note. . . I have held this county with a small band, without the aid of state or government. . . I must have some assistance from some source, & knowing as I do that you are the head of state, I ask you to do something for me. . . We need something here that will answer insted-of for bred & the fact is we must have it, or starvation will appear among us soon-families are today suffering for the want of bread, & this sec-tion is unable to farnish enough of that. Our stock I gon, or unable to do service. . . our only means of releaf is in apply to you & be assured we have


April 10, 1864

great confidence. My plan to furnish this country is to get you to send some-thing up the river to the nearest point, Mill Springs I suppose-corn, flour, crackers, or anteing that will sustain life. To prevent women, &children from starving something of this character must be brought into the country.-I will make the best distribution of them possible.

One other thing I desire to mention, I have written. . . asking for pay. . . We have never drawn any, & now we need it. Can you do anything for us[?] I think I am enti[t]led to pay or I would not ask,-& if you do not of cours you will not attempt to get it or put me in any way so that I can draw it. Write to me, & let me know whether you can do any thing for me or not.

Capt. David Beity

Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 666-667.

NOTE 1: In early 1862 David Crockett "Tinker Dave" Beaty, a Fentress County na-tive, had formed a Union partisan company known as Dave Beaty's Inde-pendent Scouts, U. S. A., which countered the guerrilla activities of Champ Ferguson. in Fentress and Overton Counties. It is not known how or if Gov-ernor Johnson responded Beaty's request. Nevertheless, the guerrilla war in the Upper Cumberland continued, producing long-lasting and hard feelings after the war. For example, fourteen years after the end of the war the com-peting entourages of the Beaty and Ferguson bands opened up old wounds. Two of Beaty's followers were indicted for the wartime murder of one Bak-er, a Ferguson partisan, along with Clabe Beaty, "Tinker" Dave's son. The three were taken to Nashville to have their plea for a writ of habeas corpus heard. In the meantime Ferguson's followers heard of the upcoming legal proceedings and determined to stop them. On the day of the hearing Bowles and Threel were being brought out of the Nashville jail when men claiming to be Cumberland County sheriff's deputies "arrested" Clabe Beaty. They took him on horseback and in buggies in a roundabout route through the southern part of Middle Tennessee, into northern Alabama, and over the Cumberland Plateau to avoid the United States marshals looking for them and their prisoner. In Cumberland County, Beaty was arraigned before a Crossville justice of the peace on the murder charge for which Threel had Bowles had been accused. Soon a mob gathered near the Crossville jail, headed by a Cumberland County deputy sheriff who claimed to have seem Beaty kill Baker fourteen years earlier. Seeing he was in jeopardy, Beaty waved examination and offered to give bail. Pistols were drawn, and the throng threatened Beaty's life. He ran out the back door of the jail and fled into the surrounding woods, where he was followed and protected by his guards. A bondsman made up his bond, which was signed in the woods. From this relative safety, Beaty slipped back into Crossville to get some food and narrowly escaped with his life. He took to the woods, found a guide, and made his way across the plateau to Jamestown. Beaty was de-scribed as a "brave, determined sort of man but says this last beats every-thing in his war experience." The hearing for Bowles and Threel was


April 10, 1864

rescheduled for April 22, but there was a mass trial of moonshiners that day. The outcome of the entire matter is not know. Knoxville Daily Chronicle, April 10, 1879, as cited in: James B. Jones, Jr., Every Day in Tennessee His-tory, (John F. Blair: Winston-Salem, NC, 1996), p. 72.

April 10, 1864 - Depression, a psychological cost of war; an excerpt from the Belle Edmond-son diary

April, Sunday 10, 1864

Oh! what a relief to the weary, aching brain, when there seems naught for which to live; when this beautiful earth holds no joy; when the glorious sun-sets, with their rose tinted clouds have no beauty; when our lifes barks seem drifting ceaselessly on, and we are powerless for good or ill-oh! what a relief to lie down, and closing our eyes, forget it all. To feel that at least while we slum-ber the scorpion-sting of memory is robbed of it's poison,-the goading, burning lash of human thought stayed,-and then comes a day, glareing again,-and so it goes on to the bitter end. We are all alike in this wicked human world. Let us strive as we will to soar above it, at last it all comes back to us-human hearts full of passion, love, and beauty-full of sin, sorrow, and suffering; the world overflowing with good and ill. Sometimes in life our value is appreciated, and we can claim true, affectionate, friends,-meet with lofty, generous souls, whose very beings thrill with instinctive love for the whole human race; but mostly we are not understood until the flowers and shadowy, green grass bloom and fade above us, and we lie mute below. Such is my life, how long it must be, no matter, God in his own good time will brighten my life. . .


April 10, 1864 - Changes in Chattanooga


Chattanooga April 10th 1864

My Dear HL

. . . Permanente fortifications are being constructed here of the most formida-ble kind. Murfreesboro was nothing in comparison. In fact we are building a military city a regular fortress. The town is being paved. Water works in pro-cess of construction such a bridge over the Tennesse river as Southerners here have never saw is more than half complete. A grand military road through Mc Adaused has been a structure around Lookout Mountain the rail road built to all the important parts of the town and depots are warehouses are constructed at the most magnificent scale. The rebels would never know the place. I look for a great rush of population from the north as soon as it is open for settle-ment. Chattanooga is destined to be settled by northerners and to be one of the largest cities on the continent. Nations never combined more beauties and con-veniences in one locality. . .


April 10, 1864

~ ~ ~


April 10, 1864 - ". . . you cannot have an adequate idea unless you would or Could Visite the Sufferers in the wretched war." Report on the progress of the Board of Claims in McMinnville

McMinnville April 10/64

His Excellency Andrew Johnson

Sir, the Board of Claims now in Session have disposed of Some 25. or 30 Claims; the inquiry is frequently made by my clients, when will these accounts be paid? Has any appropriation been made by Congress to meet these demands? They further inquire if any Scrip or Voucher will be issued?

It is obvious why the above Interrogatories are made. The class of claims the Court is daily passing are for Qr Master and Commissary Supplies, Corn, wheat, Rye, oats Hay and Fodder. Such are the articles necessarily used by the army and for which our people are presenting their claims. 1st Qr Master Sup-plies; 2nd Commissary Supplies, leaving all other damages done to private property to be considered.

The waste and distruction of property of the discription above refered to, you cannot have an adequate idea unless you would or Could Visite the Sufferers in the wretched war.The country around us, Say all the adjoining countries are coming in filing claims for, Horses, corn & forage, with the hope that the Gov-ernment would relieve them to the extent of what may be allowed them even in many cases, it will not be compensation for all the citizens have lost, for this reason, many articles are not subject to be accounted for as necessary Supplies for an army, but such losses is incident to the occupation of the country in all wars[.]

If you have the information desired by my clients will you advise me of the fact by the earliest opportunity?

Should there be no fund dedicated by law, to discharge these claims, can you induce the government to issue Certificate of Scrip, that can be made available to the claimants, in these cases and Stead of money. The great majority of these claimants have been reduced to want, they have neither, corn, forage nor horses to take up a crop this year[.] Such destitution I never expected to See in Tenn, all the Horses and Valuable mules have been, taken by the armies that have alternately occupied this place, in process of depletion that has been going on now nearly 3 years, until this country & Surrounding counties are completely exhausted.

Col. Gilbert commanding at this Post, is President of the Board and is discharg-ing his duties, promptly and intelligently and Satisfactorily, I hope to the Gov-ernment & Citizens. He is acceptable to our people & quite energetic and with all popular. I think he ought to be retained here as his administration has


April 11, 1864

resulted so far, in restoring Security and tranquility to this Section of the coun-try[.]

Respy yr obt svt

J. P. Thompson

Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, pp. 668-669.

April 11, 1864 - GENERAL ORDERS, No. 47, relative to agricultural pursuits and depreda-tions

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 47. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Knoxville, Tenn., April 11, 1864.

The loyal citizens of East Tennessee will be encouraged to cultivate their farms, and will be protected by the troops as far as practicable. Unserviceable horses and mules will be loaned to the loyal farmers, in accordance with instructions heretofore given to the chief quartermaster, to be recruited and used until they shall be required for the military service. All destruction of buildings, fences, or other property of loyal citizens, is strictly prohibited.

Hereafter, until further orders, forage and provisions will not be taken from the loyal citizens of East Tennessee except by purchase, with the free consent of the owners. Public animals will not be foraged upon inclosed fields, except in cases of necessity, when just compensation will be made for the forage con-sumed.

Cmdg. officers will be held responsible for any violation of this order by the officers or men under their command. When unauthorized seizures or unneces-sary damage to private property shall be reported to these headquarters, the pay of the officers and men implicated will be stopped until full restitution shall be made and the guilty parties brought to justice.

By command of Maj.-Gen. Schofield


April 11, 1864 - Murder in Gallatin, excerpt from the Diary of Alice Williamson

April 11th Another man was shot today at the race track the yankee women went to see this one shot too; they say Capt. Wicklen is the one to work the prisoners and they intend to go and see them all shot.

Diary of Alice Williamson

April 11, 1864 - An interesting patient in Ward 3, Hospital 8, Nashville

While in ward 3. . . I was beckoned to, from a sick bed, whose occupant wished me to come and "rejoice with him." Upon going there he assured me with a mysterious air, that he "isn't going to tell everybody, but as I was a par-


April 11, 1864

ticular friend of his, and he had always thought right smart of me, he would tell me something surprising."

Upon expressing my willingness to be surprised, he confidently and joyfully assured me that though very few people knew it, yet he was "The veritable man who killed Jeff. Davis, President of the Confederate States!"

He waited a moment to note the effect upon me of this pleasing intelligence, when I quietly told him I didn't know before that Jeff. Davis was dead, but that if he was, and he was the one who killed him, they ought to give him a dis-charge and let him go home, as he has dome his share of the work. Then he joyfully assured me, that "they have promised to do so, and that his papers are to be made out to-morrow." But more serious thoughts came to me then, for I saw written on his countenance, in unmistakable characters, the signature of the Death angel, marking his chosen, and through I knew not how soon his papers would be made out, was certain that before long they would be, and that he would receive a full and free discharge from all earthly toil and battle the Great Medical Director of us all!

Powers, Pencillings, p. 27.

April 11, 1864 - "I expect I will be next." Smugglers sent beyond Federal lines; Belle Edmondson fears banishment

April, Monday 11, 1864

Helen, Father, the children and myself spent the day alone, the rest all in Mem-phis. Joanna came home, succeeded in getting Father's permit for supplies, brought no late news. Miss Perdue & Noble banished, leave tomorrow. I expect I will be next. I was so happy to hear Miss Em is expected today, my future plans depend upon her advice. Tate & Nannie staid in M. all night. Col. Over-ton came to see us today, just up from Dixie,-everybody hopeful and confident of a bright day soon. Mr. McMahon, 2d. Mo Cav came this eve. I was so disa-pointed about letting his things go-though he seemed perfectly satisfied, as he had replenished his wardrobe from Yankee Prison in Grierson's raids, he has been quite sick, is now on his way to Camp at Jackson, Tenn-he has his fine horse again. God grant him a safe journey, for he is a splendid Soldier. Gen. Armstrong with his brigade at Water Valley moving up-Ah! God is just, and I feel that we have not suffered in vain. We humbly pray for a cessation of this horrible war, oh! give us our independence & peace-We all sat in the parlor right late, Mr. Mc went further below. Tip & Laura both sleep, poor Beulah, I wonder where she is-


April 11, 1864 - Orders to vaccinate soldiers in Carthage

Orders 1st Tenn. Mounted Infty, March 1864-April 1864 Carthage


April 12, 1864

Special Order No. 15

Headquarters 1st Tenn. Mtr Infty

Carthage Tenn. Apl. 11th, 1864

Each and every one of the several Co. Commanders will examine & report to the officer of the Regt. Surgeon, all men who have scabs on them produced by vaccination.

They will also report to the Post surgeon all men who have not been well vac-cinated for the purpose of being vaccinated.

This order must be complied with immediately

By order of

A. E. Gannett, Lt. Col. Comdg Regt.

Order Book 1st Tenn. Mounted Infty (U. S.)NOTE 1

NOTE 1: Order Book 1st Tenn. Mounted Infty, March 1864-April 1864 Carthage. This source is found in materials related to Battery Knob, near Carthage, on file at the Tennessee Historical Commission, electrostatic copy.

April 12, 1864 - Skirmish at Pleasant Hill Landing


April 12, 1864 - Orders to reinforce Fort Pillow

HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., April 12, 1864—7 p. m.

GEN.: You will send with all possible dispatch a good regiment, with four days' rations and full supply of ammunition, to re-enforce Fort Pillow. They will embark at the earliest moment on the steamer Glendale, or such other boat as may be furnished by the quartermaster's department.

Promptness is all important.


HDQRS. DISTRICT OF MEMPHIS, Memphis, Tenn., April 12, 1864.

Col. I. G. KAPPNER:

SIR: You will send with all possible dispatch the Fifty-fifth United States [col-ored], with four days' rations, or as much as they can carry in their haversacks, to re-enforce Fort Pillow. The men will take 40 rounds of ammunition in car-tridge-boxes, and you will send 100 rounds extra on wagons to the boat. They will embark at the earliest moment on the steamer Glendale, or such other boat as may be furnished by quartermaster's department. Promptness is all impor-tant.


April 12, 1864

By order of Brig.-Gen. Buckland:

ALF. G. TUTHER, Capt. and Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 12, 1864 - Capture of Fort PillowNOTE 1

JACKSON, TENN., April 15, 1864.

GEN.: I attacked Fort Pillow on the morning of the 12th instant with a part of Bell's and McCulloch's brigades, numbering 1,500, under Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers. After a short fight drove the enemy, 700 strong, into the fort under the cover of their gun-boats. Demanded a surrender, which was declined by Maj. L. F. Booth, commanding U. S. forces. I stormed the fort, and after a con-test of thirty minutes captured the entire garrison, killing 500 and taking 200 horses and a large amount of quartermaster's stores. The officers in the fort were killed, including Maj. Booth. I sustained a loss of 20 killed and 60 wounded. Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut. Col. Wiley M. Reed while leading the Fifth Mississippi. Over 100 citizens who had fled to the fort to escape conscription ran into the river and were drowned. The Confederate flag now floats over the fort.

N. B. FORREST, Maj.-Gen.

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, Jackson, Tenn., April 15, 1864.

Colonel.:~ ~ ~

Have dispatched by telegraph of the capture of Fort Pillow.

Arrived there on the morning of the 12th and attacked the place with a portion of McCulloch's and Bell's brigades numbering about 1,500 men, and after a sharp contest captured the garrison and all of its stores. A demand was made for the surrender, which was refused. The victory was complete, and the loss of the enemy will never be known from the fact that large numbers ran into the river and were shot and drowned. The force was composed of about 500 negroes and 200 white soldiers (Tennessee Tories). The river was dyed with the blood of the slaughtered for 200 yards. There was in the fort a large number of citizens who had fled there to escape the conscript law. Moist of these ran into the river and were drowned.

The approximate loss was upward of 500 killed, but few of the officers escap-ing.

It is hoped that these facts will demonstrate to the Northern people that negro soldiers cannot cope with Southerners. We still hold the fort.

~ ~ ~

I am, colonel, with respect, your obedient servant,


April 12, 1864


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 609-611.

"The slaughter was awful. . . Their fort turned out to be a great slaughter pen. . . human blood stood about inn pools and brains could have been gath-ered up in any quantity. I with several other tried to stop the butchery, and at one time had partially succeed, but Gen. Forrest ordered them shot down like dogs, and the carnage continued. Finally our men became sick of blood and the firing ceased."

Letter of Sergeant Achilles V. Clark.NOTE 2

Camp Near Brownsville, April 15, 1864.

My Dear Darling Wife:

We are ordered to Alabama some where in the neighborhood of Tuscaloosa. Am very much surprised at the order but must obey-I suppose the Yanks are making a raid into that State & we are to check it-

We are just [back] from Fort Pillow which fort we attacked on Tuesday the 13th. 1864NOTE 3 &carried by storm. It was garrisoned by 400 white men & 400 negroes & out of the 800 only 168 are now living.NOTE 4 So you can now guess how terrible was the slaughter. It was decidedly the most horrible sight that I have ever witnessed-

They refused to surrender-which increased our men & if General Forrest had not have run between our men & the Yanks & his Pistol and sabre drawn not a man would have been spared-we took about a hundred & 25 white men & about 45 negroes the rest of the 800 are numbered with the dead-they sure heaped upon each other 3 days-NOTE 5

After the fight they commenced to plunder the town[.]NOTE 6The men fire[d] new new stores full of goods[.] I got nothin except what the boys gave me which was a new hat-a pair of the finest boots you ever saw-a pair of pants-2 shirts-2 ladies collars & 2 pair of shoes too large for anybody & 2 bolts of seailand domestic all of which I thought I would send home to you. But this order knocks it all in the head. Will have to give them all away for my horses can't possibly pack them-Am very much disappointed at not being able to send them home particualrerly the domestic. ChapNOTE 7 is dressed as fine as any man you ever saw—says that he believes he will like the army a great deal bet-ter than he thought he would-Has new boots and new hats and new coats & breeches & is perfectly delighted-He says to tell Sythe that he thinks a great deal of her and that she must not marry until he comes home—sends his love to all at home & is better satisfied than he has ever been. I think that our loss in killed & wounded will not amount to over 80 or 90—the loss of Bells Brig. is 37-five killed & 32 wounded-among the killed was Rueben Burrow-a son of Uncle Reuben. A better soldier never lived or died. He died on the parapet of


April 12, 1864

the fort-was prepared to die & expressed a perfect willingness to leave this world-I would give worlds if I owned them-not a soldier who know him but wepted at the sad news of his death-I am writing by candle light and my eyes are so sore that it was nearly impossible for me to see the paper much less the lines. Tell Wayne that I have got his pistol that he lost at Okalona & will deliver it to him when he brings my mare & not before.

Nothing more but to remain your devoted husband,

S. H. Caldwell

W. P. A. Civil War Records, Vol. 4, p. 61.

An excerpt from the account of Dr. Charles Fitch, a surgeon with the U. S. Army at Fort Pillow likewise indicates a massacre took place.

. . . every man seemed to be crying for Quarters[,] the Rebs paying no attention to their cries except to reply if you Damn scoundrels surrender, fall into line, there were over 20 who fell into one line, near the edge of the River, when there was a volley fired into them bringing them all down but two, theses men were all holding up their hands pleading for quarters. I had started to get into this line, and was within fifteen or twenty feet of the lower end of the line, when they were fired into. The two that were not killed swam out into Coal Creek, and got behind a log, there were several shots fired at them behind the log, killing one of them, the other one remained there until 9 o['clock] when he came out, he was my steward[.] his name is George, he belongs to the 7th Kan-sas Cavalry, he and myself were standing together among the wounded sol-diers, they were encircled, as it were, with red flags stationed around them[.] I think they were all killed except two, the most of them were chopped to pieces with Sabres; the two there [who] were not killed belonged to the 6th U. S. Heavy Artillery A. D., one was a Captain[,] the other was a Lieut. I do not know their names. I saw them on the 13th among the Prisoners in the Rebel Camp and shook hands with them, the Captain was wounded on the side of his head, a scalp wound, the Lieut. had a severe wound in his left fore arm. I formed lock step with a Rebel Soldier who was leading a horse up the Bluff. I inquired who was in command? a soldier replied Genl[.] Forrest. I asked where is he? he pointed to Forrest saying that is him sighting the Parrot Gun on the Gun boat, the breech of the gun was not over forty feet from me. I sprang instantly to Forrest addressing him, are you Genl. Forrest? He replied yes sir, What do you want? I told him I was the Surgeon of the Post, and asked protec-tion from him that was due a prisoner. He said, you are Surgeon of a Damn Nigger Regiment. I replied, I was not. You are a Damn Tenn. Yankee then. I told him I was from Iowa. Forrest said what in hell are you doing down here for? I have a great mind to have you killed for being down here. He then said if the North west had staid at home the war would have been over long ago, then turning to a Soldier told him to take charge of me and see that I was not harmed. For which I thanked him. I was taken to the south side of the Breast works, where I was guarded until about 10 Oclock P. M. while here I saw them kill every negro that made his appearance dressed in Federal uniform. I had not


April 12, 1864

been blessed with a Guard but a few moments, before White soldiers as they gained the bluff, and seeing a Guard with me, rushed to him claiming protec-tion[.] In a short time there was a Guard detailed under the command of a Lieut. and placed over us. It was but a short time before some drunken Rebel soldiers came up and fired in among the Prisoners with their Revolvers, wounding some four or five. General Chalmers riding up and seeing such con-duct, ordered a strong Guard, the Guard to be mounted in double file, forming a hollow square around us, after which we were not molested. About 5 Oclock the Rebs commenced burying our dead, and continued until near 10 Oclock in the night. The dead were placed mostly in the Entrenchments on the south side of the Breastworks. Major Booth [the slain commander of the fort] and some of the other Officers were buried in separate graves, close up to the Entrench-ment. I saw them place Major Booth in the grave. A Rebel soldier had taken off his uniform, and was parading around with it on. . . About 10 Oclock P. M. the Prisoners we[re] marched out, East from the River some three miles. We passed close by the Hospitals, they were still standing. On arriving in Camp the Rebs built good fires for us and gave us plenty to eat. On the morning of the 13th about sunrise the brought us our breakfasts, after we had eaten it, we were formed into line, and our names token. There were 101 prisoners. . . twenty. . . wounded. . .

Dr. Fitch's Report on the Fort Pillow MassacreNOTE 8The January 1, 1865 account of the battle from the point of view of one of the defenders of Fort Pil-low, Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 14th Tennessee Cavalry, Mack J. Leaming told how:

Hardly a nucleus of the command remained after the vengeance of the rebel soldiery had been wreaked upon the brave but overpowered defenders of our flag. For ten long hours they held out against overwhelming numbers of the enemy, all the while sending death and destruction into their ranks, and repel-ling with terrible slaughter their repeated charges. With every temporary advantage thus obtained, cheer after cheer was sent up by the brave 'boys in blue' as they beheld with infinite delight the rebel horde recoiling in confusion before their well directed fire. Finally, at about four o'clock, the enemy through a violation of his flag of truce, succeeded in overpowering the garrison and compelling it to surrender. Up to this juncture only three of our officer who participated in the fight had fallen, but after the blood-thirsty barbarity of the rebels had been dealt out to their unarmed and helpless prisoners, only three of our officers were found to be alive. . .

~ ~ ~

Report of the Adjutant General, pp. 646-647.

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., June 20, 1864.

Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adjt. Gen., U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:


April 12, 1864

COL.: I have the honor to inclose copies of correspondence between Maj.-Gen. Forrest and myself. As it pertains to the treatment of colored troops, I beg to request that the attention of the Secretary of War be specially called to it.

It gives me pleasure to state that the conduct of the colored troops on the occa-sion of the late fight was of the most gallant character.

I am, colonel, your obedient servant,

C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.

[Inclosure No. 1]

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, In the Field, June 14, 1864.

[Maj. Gen. C. C. WASHBURN:]

GEN.:~ ~ ~

There is a matter also to which I desire to call your attention. . . It has been reported to me that all the negro troops stationed in Memphis took an oath on their knees, in the presence of Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut and other officers of your army, to avenge Fort Pillow, and that they would show my troops no quarter.

~ ~ ~

In all my operations since the war began I have conducted the war on civilized principles, and desire still to do so, but it is due to my command that they should know the position they occupy and the policy you intend to pursue. I therefore respectfully ask whether my men now in your hands are treated as other Confederate prisoners; also, the course intended to be pursued in regard to those who may thereafter fall into your hands.

~ ~ ~


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 587-588.

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,

Memphis, Tenn., June 19, 1864. Maj. Gen. N. B. FORREST,

Cmdg. Confederate Forces:

GEN.: ~ ~ ~

You say in your letter that it has been reported to you "that all the negro troops stationed at Memphis took an oath on their knees, in the presence of Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut and other officers of our army, to avenge Fort Pillow, and that they would show your troops no quarter." I believe that it is true that the colored troops did take such an oath, but not in the presence of Gen. Hurlbut. From what I can learn, this act of theirs was not influenced by any white officer, but was the result of their own sense of what was due to themselves and their fol-lows, who had been mercilessly slaughtered. . .


April 12, 1864

~ ~ ~

I am left in doubt by your letter as to the course you and the Confederate Gov-ernment intend to pursue hereafter in regard to colored troops, and I beg you to advise me with as little delay as possible as to your intention. . . If you intend to treat such of them as fall into your hands as prisoners of war, please so state. If you do not so intend, but contemplate either their slaughter or their return to slavery, please state that, so that we may have no misunderstanding hereafter. If the former is your intention, I shall receive the announcement with pleasure, and shall explain the fact to the colored troops at once, and desire that they recall the oath that they have taken. If the latter is the case, then let the oath stand, and upon those who have aroused this spirit by their atrocities, and upon the Government and the people who sanction it, be the consequences.

~ ~ ~

C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 588-589.

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, Tupelo, June 25 [23], 1864.

Maj. Gen. C. C. WASHBURN, Cmdg. U. S. Forces, Memphis:

GEN.:~ ~ ~

I regard your letter as discourteous to the commanding officer of this depart-ment, and grossly insulting to myself. You seek by implied threats to intimidate him, and assume the privilege of denouncing me as a murderer and as guilty of the wholesale slaughter of the garrison at Fort Pillow, and found your asser-tions upon the ex parte testimony of your fiends, the enemies of myself and country.

I shall not enter into the discussion, therefore, of any of the questions involved. . .

~ ~ ~

I regard captured negroes as I do other captured property and not as captured soldiers, but as to how regarded by my Government and the disposition which has been and will hereafter be made of them, I respectfully refer you through the proper channel to the authorities at Richmond It is not the policy nor the interest of the South to destroy the negro-on the contrary, to preserve and pro-tect him-and all who have surrendered to us have received kind and humane treatment.

Since the war began I have captured many thousand Federal prisoners, and they, including the survivors of the Fort Pillow massacre (black and white), are living witnesses of the fact that with my knowledge or consent, or by my order, not one of them has ever been insulted or in any way maltreated.

~ ~ ~



April 12, 1864

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, In the Field, June 23, 1864.

Maj. Gen. C. C. WASHBURN, Cmdg. U. S. Forces, Memphis, Tenn.:

GEN.:~ ~ ~

. . . You ask me to state whether "I contemplate either their slaughter or their return to slavery." I answer that I slaughter no man except in open warfare, and that my prisoners, both white and black, are turned over to my Government to be dealt with as it may direct. My Government is in possession of all the facts as regards my Official conduct and the operations of my command since I entered the service, and if you desire a proper discussion and decision, I refer you again to the President of the Confederate States.

~ ~ ~

. . . The negroes have our sympathy, and so far as consistent with safety [we] will spare them at the expense of those who are alone responsible for the inau-guration of a worse than savage warfare.

Now, in conclusion, I demand a plain, unqualified answer to two questions, and then I have done with further correspondence with you on this subject. This matter must be settled. In battle and on the battle-field, do you intend to slaughter my men who fall into your hands?

~ ~ ~


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 590-593.NOTE 9

Elois Bevel's deposition relative to the massacre at Fort Pillow:NOTE 10

CAIRO, ILL., April 23, 1864.

Elois Bevel, being duly sworn, deposes and says:

I am a citizen of Osceola, Ark. I was driven from my home by guerrillas. I arrived at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the night of the 11th of April, 1864. I was at Fort Pillow during the engagement between the rebel forces under Forrest and Chalmers and the United States garrison at that place on the 12th of April instant, 1864. About sunup the alarm of rebels being in the fort was received at Maj. Booth's headquarters. I took a position where I could see all that was done by the rebel and United States forces. Deponent further saith: I saw the contra-band camps in flames at different points; could see the skirmishers of the rebels. Signals were given by Capt. Bradford to Capt. Marshall, of the Navy, commanding gun-boat No. 1, which was in sight of the fort which was done by Capt. Marshall. About one hour alter sunrise brisk skirmishing began. The bul-lets from rebel infantry caused me to move from where I was and take position behind a large stump near the fort where. I could better see the rebels who swarmed the bluff. The rebels were here so near the gun-boat that the crew under Capt. Marshall had to close their ports and use their small-arms. At 1 p. m. the firing on both sides ceased; a flag of truce was sent from the rebel lines


April 12, 1864

to demand an unconditional surrender. While the flag of truce was approaching three fort I saw a battery of artillery moved to a better position by the rebels, and saw their sharpshooters approaching the fort from another quarter. At 2 o'clock the fight began again; about fifteen or twenty minutes after I saw a charge made by about 2,000 on the breast-works, and near it on the bluff. Sharp fighting took place inside the fort of about five minutes' duration. I saw their bayonets and swords. I saw the Union soldiers, black and white, slaugh-tered asking for quarter; heard their screams for quarter, to which the rebels paid no attention. About 100 left the fort and ran down the bank of the bluff to the river, pursued by the rebels, who surrounded them. In about twenty minutes every one of them, as far as I could see, was shot down by the rebels without mercy. I left at this time, getting on the gun-boat. On Thursday, the 14th of April, I met Capt. Farris, of Forrest's command, about 6 miles from Fort Pil-low, at Plum Point; his soldiers said they were hunting for negroes. I asked him if they took any prisoners at Fort Pillow. He said they took some of the Thir-teenth Tennessee, who surrendered, but no others.

ELOIS BEVEL.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 520.

An excerpt from a letter by Bryan McAlister,NOTE 11 at Meridian Mississippi, provides more information relative to Nathan Bedford Forrest and the Fort Pil-low Massacre.

"Before the large chimney-place of a small cabin-room, surrounded by a group of Confederate officers and men, the room dimly lighted by a small tallow can-dle, I first saw Lieutenant-General N. B. Forrest, commanding a corps of cav-alry in the rebel army. Forrest is a man of fine appearance, about six feet in height, having dark, piercing hazel eyes, carefully trimmed mustache, and chin-whiskers dark as night, finely cut-features, and iron-grey hair. His form is lithe, plainly indicating great physical power and activity. He was neatly dressed in citizen's clothes of some gray mixture—the only indication of mili-tary service being the usual number of small staff-buttons on his vest. I should have marked him as a prominent man had I seen him on Broadway; and when I was told that he was the 'Forrest of Fort Pillow," I devoted my whole attention to him, and give you the result of our conversation. My first impression of the man was rather favorable than otherwise. Except a home guard of some hun-dred Federal soldier, more than half a mile away, I was, with the exception of another person, the only Yankee in the room, and being dressed in citizen's clothes, was never suspected, except by the landlord.

'"General,' said I, 'I little expected to be seated by this fire with you.'

'"Why so?'"

"' Well, because your name has been in the mouth of every person for a long time.'


April 12, 1864

"'Yes,' said he, displaying the finest set of teeth that I think I have every seen; 'I have waked up the Yankees everywhere, lately.'

"'Now that you have time, General, do you think you will ever put upon paper the true account of the Fort Pillow affair?'

"'Well,' said he, 'the Yankees ought to know. They sent down their best men to investigate the affair.'

"'But are to believe their report, General?'

"'Yes, if we are to believe anything a nigger says. When I went into the war, I meant to fight. Fighting means killing. I have lost twenty-nine horses in the war, and have killed a man each time. The other day I was a horse ahead; [?] but at Selma they surrounded me, and I killed two, jumped my horse over a one-horse wagon, and got away.'

"I began to think I had some idea of the man at last. He continues"

"'My Provost-Marshall's book will show that I have taken thirty-one thousand prisoners during the war. At Fort Pillow I sent in a flag of truce, and demanded an unconditional surrender, or I would not answer for my men.NOTE 12 This they refused. I sent them another note, giving them one hour to determine. This they refused. I could see, on the river, boats loaded with [Federal] troops. They sent back, asking for an hour more. I gave them twenty minutes. I sat on my horse during the whole time.

"'The fort was filled with niggers and deserters from our army;-men who lived side by side with my men. I waited five minutes after the time, and then blew my bugle for the charge. In twenty minutes my men were over the works, and the firing had ceased. The citizens and Yankees had broken in the heads of whiskey and lager-beer barrels, and were all drunk. They kept up firing all the time, as they sent down the hill [toward the Mississippi river]. Hundreds of them rushed to the river, and tried to swim to the gunboats, and my men shot them down. The Mississippi River was red with their blood for three hundred yards. During all this, their flag was still flying, and I rushed over the works and cut the halyards, and let it down, and stopped the fight. Many of the Yan-kees were in tents in front, and they were in their way, as they concealed my men and some of them set them on fire. [?] If any were burned to death, it was in those tents.

"'They have a living witness in Captain Young, their quartermaster, who is still alive; and I will leave it to any prisoner I have ever taken if I have not treated them well.' 'You have made some rapid marches, General,' said I. 'Yes,' said he, 'I have five thousand men that can whip any ten thousand in the world.'

~ ~ ~

Forrest is a thorough bravo-a desperate man in every respect. He was a negro-trader before the war, and in 'personal affairs,' as he calls them, had killed sev-eral men. . .

~ ~ ~


April 12, 1864

Any one hearing him talk would call him a braggadocio. As for myself, I would believe one half he said, and only dispute with him with my finger upon the trigger of my pistol. . .

~ ~ ~

Anecdotes, pp. 451-452.

An excerpt from Brigadier-General James R. Chalmers address to his troops on April 20, 1864, after their West Tennessee Raid, which included the attack on Fort Pillow:

". . . the lion-hearted McCulloch, with his 'fighting brigade' of Missourians, Texans, and Mississippians, nobly assisted by Col. Bell, with his gallant bri-gade of Tennesseeans . . . stormed the works at Fort Pillow. . . and taught the mongrel garrison of blacks and renegades a lesson long to be remembered."

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. I, p. 623.

NOTE 1: This event is also widely known also as the "Fort Pillow Massacre." It is list-ed as "Massacre, Fort Pillow," in Dyer's Battle Index for Tennessee. Many ardent devotees of Nathan Bedford Forrest disavow the assertion that there was a massacre at all, claiming instead that either Forrest was not there at the time, and so did not order such a bloodbath, or that if there was such an incident it was because otherwise disciplined soldiers became irrational af-ter the fight due to presence of negro soldiers and so vented their frustrations on the Federal soldiers that surrendered. Major-General Forrest's reports re-garding the fight at Fort Pillow indicate a massacre occurred, although he never used the word.

NOTE 2: As cited in: James B. Jones, Jr., Every Day In Tennessee History, (Winston Salem: John F. Blair, 1996), p. 75. It may be that this Rebel cavalryman was exaggerating to impress his sisters, but when taken in conjunction with the preponderance of evidence collected by Federal investigators it tends to strongly and independently verify the reality that a massacre did take place at Fort Pillow."Remember Fort Pillow" would become a Republican Party slogan to rally the Negro vote during reconstruction in Tennessee.

NOTE 3: Surgeon Caldwell was obviously mistaken. It was April 12.

NOTE 4: Thus, according to Caldwell's figures, 79 % of the Federal forces (or about 8 out of every 10 men) were killed. This figure tends to corroborate the no-tion that a massacre did take place, regardless of whether or not Forrest ac-tually ordered it.

NOTE 5: Apparently Caldwell meant it took three days to gather the bodies and bury them in a mass grave.

NOTE 6: There is little information about the "town" of Fort Pillow. It was most likely


April 12, 1864

a temporary community of sutlers, refugees and camp followers composed of frame structures. It was very likely not a town in any usual sense of the word.

NOTE 7: Not identified.

NOTE 8: John Cimprich and Robert C. Mainfort, "Dr. Fitch's Report on the Fort Pil-low Massacre," Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Vol. XLIV No. 1 (Spring, 1985), pp. 27-39.

NOTE 9: See also: Report No. 65, House of Representatives, Thirty-eighth Congress, first session; and reports of Capt. Alexander M. Pennock, U. S. Navy, in An-nual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December 5, 1864.

NOTE 10: Their are a total of thirteen reports relating directly to the Fort Pillow mas-sacre, found in the OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 502-623.

NOTE 11: The identity of Bryan McAllister has not been established, but from his ref-erence to "Broadway" he was from New York City and may have been a newspaper correspondent.

NOTE 12: Thus, by his own admission, Forrest either could not, would not or was not in control of his men.

April 12, 1864 - Report on Federal fortifications at Columbia

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF NASHVILLE, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF FOR-TIFICATIONS, Nashville, Tenn., April 12, 1864.

Capt. WILLIAMS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

CAPT.: Pursuant to order receive from Maj.-Gen. Rousseau, I visited Colum-bia, Tenn., to examine the fortifications at that place. They consist of two small circular, or nearly so, breast-works thrown up, one within the other, on the top of a step, conical hill, which overlooked the town and country for miles; they are small affairs, and would be of little avail against a spirited attack. More-over, they do not protect the town, though they might prevent the enemy from holding it. In the work there is a small magazine, entirely too small to hold the ammunition kept on hand. I saw a considerable quantity of ammunition piled up on the ground and covered with tarpaulins, the magazine being entirely filled, on which account I was unable to examine thoroughly, but it appeared to be dry. There were four howitzers in the works. There is no water to be had inside the works nor are there any tanks or other means of keeping it on hand. If it is deemed advisable to construct any fortifications at Columbia I think it would be best to built a small redoubt on the hill already occupied and to put the main work on the hill close to the railroad depot, which affords a place to


April 12, 1864

build store-houses and to cover them from attack, besides being close to the railroad depot.

I am having a plan of the works at Franklin, Tenn., made out by an assistant engineer; when finished I shall send you a copy. I visited Franklin, and found the principal work, Fort Granger, in a dilapidated condition; no attempt appears to have been made to keep it in proper order or repair. The magazines are very damp and entirely unfit to store ammunition. I noticed green mold on the ceil-ing. All the heavy guns are being remounted, and I understand it is the inten-tion to keep two field pieces in the fort. I rode on the locomotive during my trip for the purpose of observing what work had been done on the block-houses now being built on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad. They were in an unfin-ished condition, and I should judge they were three-fourths done; the most of the work remaining to be done is to put on the roofs. I have sent a copy of this report to Capt. William E. Merrill, chief engineer Department of the Cumber-land, so that he may give his opinion and instructions relative to putting up works at Columbia, should Gen. Rousseau desire it to be done. I expect to visit McMinnville, Tenn., this week, if I find I can do so without detriment to the engineer department at Nashville, Tenn.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

JAMES R. WILLETT, First Lieut. Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Inspector Fortifications District of Nashville.




Elk River, Tenn.,

April 12, 1864.

Dear Wife,-

Last Sabbath and the Sabbath before we had preaching by Mr. Ver of Argyle, N. Y., almost like one from home. He will be with us three weeks longer if we do not move.

We are yet under marching orders. General Hooker is in command of our Corps. General Slocum has been assigned to the command of another.

How do the people like the last call for men? I am not afraid of being drafted into the service. I should not like the name of being a conscript. I came into the service in the right time. Some here say I have a lucky star. I call it a Provi-dence.


April 12, 1864

I received a letter from Mrs. Hawley saying that Salem ladies had sent a box to the Company in my care. I hope it will come before we move. I shall write her when it arrives.

With love,

R. Cruikshank.


April 12, 1864 - A Gruesome Discovery in Day's Creek, Shelby County

April, Tuesday 12, 1864

. . . we heard there was a Yankee Negro Soldier dead on Day's Creek, so Bettie, Kate, Robert and Mary & myself started in search. We found him, and it was an awful sight, he was in the Water in full uniform, his napsack on the bank of the creek, oh! I would give anything if I had not seen it. . .


April 12, 1864 - Skirmish at Pleasant Hill Landing


April 13, 1864 - Major-General Sherman's solution for refugee problem and newspaper reporters

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 13, 1864.

Gen. SCHOFIELD, Knoxville, Tenn.:

You can get rid of all citizens in your department by ordering them to enlist or go away. All passes are made void by fraud or crime. You can apply these prin-ciples without my using names. I will write to John Sherman on the matter you ask. Try and get rid of those newspaper reporters; they will detect and publish our movements in time for Joe Johnston to guess at our plans.



April 13, 1864 - Skirmish at Mink Springs, near Cleveland

APRIL 13, 1864.-Skirmish at Mink Springs, near Cleveland, Tenn.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding bri-gade.

No. 2.-Capt. James M. Comstock, First Wisconsin Cavalry.


April 13, 1864

No. 1.

Report of Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding bri-gade.

CLEVELAND, TENN., April 13 1864.

I have the honor to report that this morning at daylight the enemy, about 800 strong, surrounded and attacked our outpost at Mink Springs at crossing of Ducktown and Federal roads, capturing-two of whom were wounded. Capt. Smith, topographical engineer of Gen. Johnson's staff, was captured with his papers. No blame attached to the conduct of men. I have sent an adequate force in pursuit, and hope to overtake the enemy.

EDWARD M. McCOOK, Col., Cmdg.

CLEVELAND, TENN., April 13, 1864.

There was an omission in dispatch sent this morning. One commissioned officer and 18 men were captured, 2 of whom were wounded.

EDWARD M. McCOOK.

No. 2.

Report of Capt. James M. Comstock, First Wisconsin Cavalry.

CAMP FIRST WISCONSIN CAVALRY, Cleveland, East Tenn., April 15, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that I was stationed on outpost duty on the Cleveland and Ducktown road, 6 miles from Cleveland, on the morning of the 12th of April, 1864, with 2 commissioned officers and 100 men. I sent Lieut. Caldwell, in command of 25 men, all of the First Wisconsin Cavalry, to relieve an outpost picket 4 miles beyond on the same road.

On the morning of the 13th instant, at daybreak, I was informed through the citizens that a large body of the enemy's cavalry, probably 1,500 strong, was advancing in the direction of the outpost, 4 miles beyond me. I immediately dispatched a party in the direction of the picket, and ascertained that they had been attacked at daylight on all sides by largely superior numbers; that after resisting a short time, in which 1 rebel was report killed and 1 wounded, the lieutenant and 19 men, with arms, horses, and equipments, were captured; 2 of the latter were wounded. Six men escaped, losing all of their horses and equip-ments and a portion of their arms.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. COMSTOCK, Capt. First Wisconsin Cavalry, Cmdg. Outpost.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 668-669.


April 13, 1864

April 13, 1864 - Increased Federal cavalry patrols ordered north of Loosahatchie and between the Loosahatchie and the Wolf Rivers


Brig. Gen. B. H. GRIERSON, Cmdg. Cavalry Division, Sixteenth Corps:

GEN.: You have probably heard that Fort Pillow has been captured. . .

The cavalry patrols on all roads must be kept strong and well out, and a strong detachment should sweep up on the north side of Loosahatchie and in the space between Loosahatchie and Wolf. The construction of bridges should be watched, and every precaution taken against surprise.

Your cavalry must be kept up to its full strength by the use of all horses fit for service. Officers must be kept with their men, and men must not be allowed to race their horses in the manner they are now doing. If no other way can be devised, men will not be allowed to leave the camp on horseback to visit the city except on duty and in charge of an officer.



April 13, 1864 - Federal cavalry reconnaissance ordered between Memphis and the Wolf River

HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., April 13, 1864.

Col. GEORGE E. WARING, Cmdg. First Brigade Cavalry:

COL.: Information has been received that there are several hundred of the enemy on this side of Wolf River, at what point is not known.

The general commanding directs that you send out about 200 men to scour the country well between this point and the Wolf, and to examine closely the river at all points to see that the enemy are not preparing crossings. They should look well on toward the crossing on the Macon and Memphis road.


S. L. WOODWARD, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 13, 1864 - J. G. M. Ramsey to President Davis relative to conditions in East Tennessee and sales of Confederate bonds to confederate citizens and soldiers

DEPOSITORY OF CONFEDERATE STATES, Now at Atlanta, Ga., April 13, 1864.

Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, President Confederate States of America:


April 13, 1864

SIR: The importance of the subject of this letter will, I know, lead you to excuse me for bringing it to the attention of the Executive and his Cabinet. I was authorized by the honorable Secretary of the Treasury to repair from this place around to Jonesborough, Bristol, and other adjacent points in East Ten-nessee and there to give members of the Army and our citizens generally an opportunity to fund their Treasury issues. I executed the mission promptly and with great pleasure. All holders there were loud in expressions of thanks to Mr. Memminger for this act of considerate kindness to them on his part. My pres-ence in East Tennessee gave me a good opportunity of realizing the real condi-tion of things in that ill-fated and unfortunate country. Its evacuation last August by Gen. Buckner was a miserable military blunder, which time cannot soon repair. Its abandonment on a more recent occasion, though perhaps less inexcusable under the circumstances, is accompanied with evils scarcely to be realized or exaggerated. As the army of Longstreet fell back toward Virginia those of our southern citizens who had the means of doing so fell back too, and many of them will be able to find shelter and subsistence elsewhere. But my heart bleeds to have witnessed the condition of the families of our soldiers and our poorer people of true Southern proclivities. What will become of them? They are unprotected and without supplies-a prey to the rapacity, the cruelty, and the revenges of the unrelenting and malicious Union men of that country, to say nothing of the hostilities of the Yankees. A citizen there told me that if it were not for the fish in Chucky River many of them must starve. In its retreat the army swept the country of all its supplies. With the recuperative energy that characterizes that Scotch-Irish population, many of our farmers had endeav-ored to repair the desolation made before the reoccupancy of the country by Longstreet, were rebuilding their fences, &c., and doing other spring work on their plantations preparatory to planting some corn. Now, since our forces are withdrawn, the horses stolen, their fences burned the second and the third time, and no prospect of further protection from the pillaging enemy, the heart sick-ens at the contemplation of the spring and summer before them. No Egypt is at hand to which these virtuous, patriotic, and indigent people can repair to pro-cure bread. They must not be left there to suffering and starvation. As the sol-diery of Tennessee are standing like a bulwark of defense against the invasion of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, leaving their desolated homes and destitute families to the benignant care of the Government, will you listen to an appeal from one of their countrymen, an exile himself, and houseless and homeless, too, when, he suggests to the Confederate authorities to order at once the purchase or the impressment in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia of a supply of corn, the establishment immediately of a store-house or houses on our lines, and the authorized invitation to loyal destitute families to come there and be fed at least till harvest."Fas est ab hoste doceri."NOTE 1 The exe-crable enemy are before us in this labor of love and humanity. Maynard has been sent to Memphis, Brownlow to Nashville, Netherland to Louisville, oth-ers (Nelson, I believe) to Cincinnati, and Everett to Boston to solicit benefac-tions for the oppressed Union people of East Tennessee. And can it be possible that even greater efforts than these should not be inaugurated and carried into


April 13, 1864

speedy consummation for such a class of our people as the families of our loyal East Tennessee soldiers and citizens? The President will excuse me for repeat-ing what I have heretofore often said to him, that there is not in this wide Con-federacy a single spot where genuine loyalty to your Government, self-sacrifice and self-denial, an elevated patriotism, or a holier chivalry exist to the same extent and to a higher intensity. There is no such people-none truer to their friends, their principles, or our cause. None have suffered more for their devotion to their country, its rights, or its honor. None have such malignant and implacable enemies amongst their own wicked and revengeful neighbors. And the Government, if it cannot give us further protection at home, can at least give bread to the families whose natural protectors and guardians are fighting for the defense of other communities not more patriotic or more worthy of its care. May I suggest that Spring Place, Ga., and Zollicoffer, or Bristol, Tenn., should be points at which these supplies should be deposited? The agent for the procurement and distribution of this corn should be selected with great care and caution. The unhallowed greed of gain has become a passion so general and all-absorbing that some will seek it for the purpose of speculating on the very charities of the Government by placing it in the hands of the unworthy or the disloyal. I cannot at this time suggest the names of the most suitable. Let them be not tinctured with the slightest suspicion of Unionism or the stain of peculation or money-making. I am done. I do not speak in my own name. Were it otherwise proper or necessary every Tennessee refugee in Georgia would sign this. To call a meeting of my co-refugees to memorialize you would be to expose to the enemy the nakedness of the land.

I therefore sign it alone, and am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. G. M. RAMSEY.


Respectfully referred by direction of the President to the honorable Secretary of War for perusal, &c.

BURTON N. HARRISON, Private Secretary.


APRIL 27, 1864.

Whatever sympathy is felt for the evils depicted, the powers of this Department do not enable us to administer relief in the manner suggested.

J. A. S., Secretary.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 52, pt. II, pp. 655-656.

NOTE 1: "It is right to learn even from an enemy."


April 13, 1864

April 13, 1864 - Elvira Powers' first day of duty as a lady nurse at the Small Pox Hospital, Nashville

Entered upon my duties to-day, as lady nurse of two divisions of tents at Small Pox Hospital.

Not obliged to come here, but have accepted this most disagreeable place, as there are so few who are willing to take it. Expect to be quite confined to the place; and the hope of doing good in a position which otherwise would be vacant, is the inducement.

The Hospital is about a mile out from the city, and near Camp Cumberland. It consists of tents in the rear of a fine, large mansion which was deserted by its rebel owner. In these tents are about 800 patients-including convalescents, con-trabands, soldiers and citizens. Everything seems done for their comfort which can well be, with the scarcity of help. Cleanliness and ventilation are duly attended to; but the unsightly, swollen faces, blotched with eruption, or pre-senting an entire scab, and the offensive odor, require some strength of nerve in those who minister to their necessities. There are six physicians each in charge of a division. Those in which I am assigned to duty are in charge of Drs. R. & C. There is but one lady nurse here, a side from the wives of three surgeons,-Mrs. B., the nurse, went with me through the tents, introduced me to the patients and explained my duties.

Powers, Pencillings, p. 42.

April 13, 1864 - Riding with Yankees in McMinnville

. . . It was on the 21st of last April that the "Wilder raid" took us by storm at home, but on Wednesday, the 13th [1864], a still wilder raid overwhelmed us here—a woman's raid. Col. Gilbert, Commander of [the] Post at McM, came up, whether on military business or not—no one knows—he had an escort of some 30 men and 5 girls, of the "Union element" of McM. . . what in the name of common sense and common decency, the mothers of those girls could be thinking of?. . . I don't see how those girls could help seeing that their conduct seemed to us very improper-and I should not wonder if they visit it on us some-time. The P's condemned the affair and thro them the raid will get hold of our opinion. Well, I can't help it. I did feel horrified—and I would tell Mrs. Arm-strong any time, if necessary, that I considered it a great impropriety—that I was sorry to see the girls in it-and sorrier still that she allowed it. . .

War Journal of Lucy Virginia French, entry for April 17, 1864.

April 13, 1864 - April 14, 1864 - Anti-guerrilla mission to Sale Creek NOTE 1

Head Quarters O. V. S. S.

Chattanooga Tennessee


ca. April 13, 1864

April 15 1864

My Dear HL

I have received no letters since my last although it is Friday and I owe you an apology for not writing as usual on Wednesday [13] evening. The reason is that on Wednesday I got an order from head quarters to send two companies up the river about 40 miles to the mouth of Sale creek to protect the people from guer-rillas and I was hurried to get them off. They left on Thursday [14]. I sent my company and Capt Barton under command of Capt. Barton. I applied for per-mission to go with my own company but was told that I was on post duty at Head Quarters and could not be spared. . . There is nothing new here. Troops are being sent to the front continuously and everything dictates action work soon. The Atlanta [fight] has not come to head. . .


NOTE 1: Not referenced in Dyers' Battle Index for Tennessee or in the OR.

ca. April 13, 1864 - April 15, 1864 - Scout from Jackson to Dresden to Columbus, Kentucky

HDQRS. OF THE POST, Columbus, Ky., April 15, 1864.

Capt. J. H. ODLIN, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Cairo, Ill.:

CAPT.: I have a scout just in from Jackson, Dresden, and that line, and I have every reason to believe his reports reliable. He was employed by Gen. Smith and Col. Waring. He reports as follows: Gen. Forrest has two divisions-First Division, 3,400 strong, which is concentrated at Jackson, Tenn.; Second Divi-sion, 2,000 strong, concentrated at Dresden; 1,000 under Duckworth, from Jackson's command. Forrest said that a large force of our troops had landed at Pittsburg Landing, and that he was going to drive them back and across into North Alabama. The Second Division is said to be about to cross at the mouth of the Big Sandy into Middle Tennessee. My scout thinks their object is to get behind Chattanooga, somewhere about Winchester. Col. Aaron Forrest, brother of the general, died at Jackson on Thursday night last. Gen.'s Fitzhugh [Stephan D.?] Lee and Jackson, with 9,000 men, are reported near Memphis. I shall try and rebuild the telegraph between us to-morrow. All the small squads are ordered to join their commands immediately at Dresden, under Gen. Buford, who is on his march there.

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

WM. HUDSON LAWRENCE, Col., Cmdg. Post.


April 14, 1864 - U. S. N. gunboat reconnaissance, Memphis to Fort Pillow



April 14, 1864


Lieut.-Commander PATTERSON, U. S. N., Cmdg. Naval Station, Memphis, Tenn.:

DEAR SIR: It is important that the rebel actual state of affairs at Fort Pillow should be ascertained. The best means for doing this is by reconnaissance made by the gun-boats.

I am of opinion that the enemy will not remain long, and will be much obliged if you will direct such movements on the part of the gun-boats as will ascertain the fact of occupation or abandonment.

Very truly, your obedient servant,



April 14, 1864 - Federal cavalry scout sent to Greene County to apprehend Confederate guerrillas

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS, Bull's Gap, Tenn., April 14, 1864.

Capt. G. F. HERRIOTT, Cmdg. Left Wing, Third Indiana Cavalry:

SIR: You will send out a scouting party of about 100 men, under the guidance of Col. Fry and Capt. Reynolds, for the purpose of thoroughly scouting the upper end of Greene County, and, if it be possible, to capture the rebel despera-does under Reynolds, who infest that county. The party of guides will be at your camp at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and your detachment will leave on their arrival. Should you prefer doing so, you can take the detachment yourself, in which case you will notify these headquarters who is left in command of your camp.

By command of Brig.-Gen. Cox:

ED. D. SAUNDERS, Capt. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 14, 1864 - One Federal Brigadier-General's initial report on the Fort Pillow Massacre

HDQRS. U. S. COLORED TROOPS IN TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., April 14, 1864.

Hon. E. B. WASHBURNE, Washington, D. C.:

MY DEAR SIR: Before this letter reaches you you will have learned of the capture of Fort Pillow and of the slaughter of our troops after the place was captured. This is the most infernal outrage that has been committed since the war began. Three weeks ago I sent up four companies of colored troops to that


April 14, 1864

place under Maj. Booth, a most brave and efficient [officer], who took com-mand of the post. Forrest and Chalmers, with about 3,000 devils, attacked the place on the 12th at 9 a. m. and succeeded after three assaults, and when both Maj. and Maj. Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, had been killed, in capturing the place at 4 p. m. We had, all, less 500 effective men, and one-third of whom were colored.

The colored troops fought with desperation throughout. After the capture our colored men were literally butchered. Chalmers was present and saw it all. Out of over 300 colored men, not 25 were taken prisoners, and they may have been killed long before this.

There is a great deal of excitement in town consequence of this affair, espe-cially among our colored troops. If this is to be the game of the enemy they will soon learn that it is one at which two can play.

The Government will no doubt take cognizance of this matter immediately and take such measures as will prevent a recurrence.

It is reported that Forrest will move on this place in a few days. I do not believe it. I am hurried and can write no more to-day. I am feeling dreadfully over the fate of my brave officers and men. Like all others, I feel that the blood of these heroes must be avenged. Forrest will probably try to get out of West Tennessee as soon as he can. We have re-enforcements coming in, and we shall soon be on his track.

In haste, sincerely, your friend,

[A. L. ] CHETLAIN, Brig.-Gen.


April 14, 1864 - Juvenile delinquency in occupied Nashville

"Recorder's Court."~ ~ ~

Twelve boys, arrested by the military on Thursday [14th], were then called up, charged with disorderly conduct and vagrancy. The following are their names: William Taylor, of Baltimore, John Ryan, of Washington, D. C., arrived here three days ago with the eleventh army corps. Jas. McClusky, of New York, came here a few days ago, with the 14th Michigan; Jno. Burns and Joseph Merker, of Louisville, who say they have been driving teams; Charles Henry Anderson, of Philadelphia, who came here with the 15th Pennsylvania cavalry; Hugh Muray, of Michigan; Louis Evans, of Philadelphia; Thomas Moran, Charley Talman, and Edward Wade, of Nashville; and Tom Watts, of nowhere in particular. These boys vary in age from eight or nine perhaps to sixteen, and are about as hard a looking dozen as can well be picked up anywhere. Mr. Cliff, a Government watchman at the Chattanooga depot, deposed that [the] defendants were all the time idling about the depot, day and night. They had taken wagon bodies and fixed up a house to sleep in; they had been in the


April 14, 1864

neighborhood for several weeks-perhaps months. On Thursday they were very troublesome, and witness ordered them away; defendants laughed at him, and he went for the guard, when they began pelting him with mud. Witness has seen them eating on the streets; does not know where they belong. Two or three other witnesses were examined, one of whom said the boys generally slept in wagons [in the] back of the camp; he had caught several of them stealing, and identified four of those present as among the guilty parties. All of them were ordered to the work-house for future disposition. What will be done with them we cannot say, but we would suggest that all who do not belong to Nashville be sent home, consigned to the Mayor or Chief of Police of the town whence the came, who will no doubt see that they are properly disposed of. With regard to our own boys, it is difficult to suggest any plan of reformation under existing circumstances; but we present this as another evidence of the necessity of a house of correction for juveniles. Some of the bad boys of Nashville have very respectable parents, whose hearts are nearly broken in consequence of the dis-grace brought upon them by the conduct of their children, who are grown beyond the control of their parents, and roam the city a large, night and day. Something must be done to reform these boys, and that very speedily, or we shall be overrun with burglars, and thieves, and incendiaries, or our own rais-ing. A lodgment in the work-house for a day or two is no punishment to most of them. They fare better there than when sleeping in wagons or in depot sheds. Try them in the dungeon for forty-eight hours with nothing to eat but bread and water; it may serve at least a temporary check upon their wicked life.

~ ~ ~


April 14, 1864 - Public health workers in Nashville

THE SHOVEL BRIGADE was out in forceNOTE 1 yesterday, and went through their manoeuvres with remarkable accuracy, considering the short time they have been on duty. They also marched well, particularly at noon and at 6 P. M. The ebony hammer brigade are drilled daily on Capitol Hill, by Capts. Dodd and Patterson, reviewed semi-occasionally by Gen. Wright. These forces are intended to operate principally against Small Pox and Pneumonia, two desper-ate enemies of mankind generally.


NOTE 1: The "brigade" was most likely engaged in the task of scraping the streets.

April 14, 1864 - Elvira Powers' second day at Small Pox Hospital

A woman and boy died in my division last night. The woman left a little child, eighteen months old, which is inconsolable. The father, a soldier, wishes to take the child away, but was not permitted to do so or to see it, for fear of con-


April 14, 1864

tagion. It is to be kept to see if the child has the disease. [It did not, and had no scar from vaccination, such queer freaks the disease takes.]

The boy, an Alabamian, told me yesterday he was getting better. He had been sent here with measles, recovered from those, but the small pox did not break out. He died easy, and said he was "going to Heaven." I write his people to-day, via Fortress Monroe.NOTE 1 His name was G. B. Allen, of Rockford, Cousa Co., Alabama. One man died yesterday, to whose people I have written to-day. Another died to-day. The mortality here is great said one patient to me:

"People die mighty easy here."

I asked in what way, he meant.

"Oh," he replied, "they'll be mighty peart-like, one minute, an' the next you know, they're dead!"

This is true, and I find so many who were sent here with measles, recover from those, and die of small pox. Sixty cases of measles were sent to this hospital in one month, as I learn from the lips of the surgeon in charge himself, Dr. F. These are sent by the several physicians of Nashville. The fact itself speaks volumes, but to stay here and see its effects day after day in the poor victims of such ignorance, impress one with a sense of the importance by the medical fac-ulty of distinguishing between the two diseases."

Powers, Pencillings, pp. 42-43.

NOTE 1: A Confederate Prisoner of War exchange point in Virginia.

April 14, 1864 - Belle Edmondson's prayer for the Confederate States of America

April, Thursday 14, 1864

. . . God grant we may humbly receive the blessings which have brightened our little Confederacy, drive this wicked band from our Sunny land, give us liberty and peace-oh! make us a Christian nation-we have suffered, yet we deserved thy punishment, we humbly crave thy pardon, and beseech thy blessings-The night spent as usual with me, sit in the Parlor with Father a short while after Tea.


April 14, 1864 - News from East Tennessee

The Bristol Gazette of the 14th instant says that cars, under a flag of truce, have been running for some days past as low as Greenville, Tennessee They bring up citizens who refuse to take the Yankee oath—among them the fami-


April 15, 1864

lies of Dr. Ramsay and Col. Crozier, of Knoxville—and take down all who are hungering and thirsting for it.

Savannah [Georgia] Republican, April 22, 1864.NOTE 1


April 15, 1864 - Skirmish near Greeneville

APRIL 15, 1864.-Skirmish near Greeneville, Tenn.

Report of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio.

KNOXVILLE, TENN., April 16, 1864.

The Third Indiana Cavalry, reconnoitering beyond Greeneville yesterday, sur-prised a party of rebel cavalry, killed 10 and captured 15, inclosing their leader, Reynolds. Nothing new relative to the movements of the enemy.


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 669.

April 15, 1864 - Report of prisoners of war and deserters received and disposed of, oaths administered to citizens, and sales and issues of rations to citizens during the month of March, 1864.

Prisoners of war: Chattanooga Nashville Total

Captured:

Officers 4 7 11

Men 34 100 134

.

Aggregate 8 107 145

Disposed of:

Officers 11 11

Men 134 134

Aggregate 145 145

Deserters:

Received 612 41 653


April 15, 1864

Respectfully submitted.

J. G. PARKHURST, Col. Ninth Michigan Vol. Inf. and Provost-Marshal-Gen.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Statement of the number of rations issued to destitute citizens, in the Depart-ment of the Cumberland, during the month of March, 1864.

Paroled on oath 612 41 653

Oaths administered to citizens:

Allegiance 531 6,320 6,851

Amnesty 394 394

Aggregate 925 6,320 7,245

Rations:

Sales:

Families 601 601

Persons 3,729 3,729

Issues:

Families 1,561 1,561

Persons 9,958 9,958

Total:

Families 2,162 2,162

Persons 13,687 13,687

Rations

Nashville, Tenn 40,000

Chattanooga, Tenn. (issued half-rations)

106,138

Stevenson, Ala. 5,330

Murfreesborough, Tenn. 6,912

Clarksville, Tenn. 412

Prisoners of war: Chattanooga Nashville Total


April 15, 1864

J. C. READ, Capt. and Acting Chief Commissary of Subsistence.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 17-18.

April 15, 1864 - Col. John M. Hughs deceives Federal command in Sparta; one woman's observations about the war on the Cumberland Plateau

. . . Col. Hughs sent [word] into Sparta that he was coming in to take the oath and bring his whole command, but he did it just to fool the Yankees. I say (I think) he acted the fool; the Yankees stayed several days longer than they would have done. Of course they will never put any confidence in what he says again. He thinks he is so smart. It will take hard knocking to knock the conceit out of him. I do not think the people are faring any better in some instances since the Yanks left than they did before, but it won't do to say. For some peo-ple would knock my head off in a minute. I can see as "fur into a grindstone" as any one else, I guess. . .

Diary of Amanda McDowell.

Calhoun, Tenn. 1,906

Gallatin, Tenn. (none issued.)

First Cavalry Division, Department of the Cumber-

land

340

Lookout Valley, Tenn. 14,314

Whiteside's, Tenn. 8,854

Shellmound, Tenn. 5,469

Bridgeport, Ala. 5,726

Fourth Army Corps, Depart-ment of the Cumberland

6,100

Twelfth Army Corps, Depart-ment of the Cumberland

130

Tyner's Station, Tenn. 18,500

Graysville, Ga. 400

Rossville, Ga. 11,302

Ringgold, Ga. 1,206

Total. 233,039

Rations


April 15, 1864

April 15, 1864 - Bushwhackers perpetrate murder in Sumner County, in the Goodlettsville environs

"Murder"

On Friday night [15th], the house of Mr. Zebulon P. Cantrell, in Sumner county, about two miles east of Goodlettsville, was attacked by three robbers, and the good old gentleman, while lying on his bed, was shot and instantly killed. The fatal ball came through the window, the villains not daring to face an honest man whose hairs had become frosted by the winters of three score and ten years. Master Richard Cantrell, hearing the shot, leaped from his bed, and from the window fired three shots toward the assassins, when the fled, and have not since been heard from.

Blood, though it sleep for a time, yet never dies

The gods on murderers fix revengeful eyes

Mr. Cantrell was nearly seventy years of age. He was for a long time a mer-chant of this city [Nashville], in connection with his brother, the late Stephen Cantrell, under the firm and style of S. & Z. P. Cantrell. They will be remem-bered by the old citizens as occupying the old frame warehouse on the corner of Cherry and Deaderick streets, and afterwards the brick warehouse nearly opposite the wire bridge. For more than 80 years past he has been a citizen of Sumner county. He preserved his integrity as a merchant, and in all the rela-tions of life, as husband, father, brother, friend, and citizen, he was faithful and honorable. He sleeps in his grave without a blemish on his good name.


April 15, 1864 - "Greene County Auxiliary Relief Association."

In compliance with the recommendation of the "East Tennessee Relief Associ-ation," recently addressed to the citizens of the various counties of East Ten-nessee, to form auxiliary associations, a portion of the citizens of Greene county met at Galbraith's store, in the city of Knoxville, on the 15th inst. For the purpose of organizing an auxiliary association for the relief of the destitute loyal citizens of said county.

Gen. Sam. Milligan was called to the chair, and A. Galbraith was requested to act as secretary.

The object of the meeting being fully explained and understood.

On motion of Mr. James W. Harold was unanimously chosen President, and W. B. Rankin, Vice President, and James A. Galbraith as Secretary and Treasurer of the Greene county Auxiliary Relief Association.

Geo. Jones, Sr., Geo. M. Spencer, E. B. Miller, J. G. Wilson, and Dr. Wm. West, were appointed Executive Committee, three of whom shall be a quorum to transact business.


April 16, 1864

Mr. H. B. Baker was appointed as receiving, forwarding and disbursing agent subject to the order of said Committee.

Upon motion the meeting adjourned to meet upon the call of the President, or any five members of the Association.

J. W. Harold, PresidentJ. A. Galbraith, Sec &. Treas.

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator, April 30, 1864

April 16, 1864 - Skirmish at Rheatown


April 16, 1864 - Federal solution to problem of Confederate refugees in Blue Springs



The rebel families and surgeons last sent beyond our lines are still at Blue Springs, and do not get any transportation from the enemy. They apply for rations, and also to be sent to Greeneville. The roads are bad, and the former trips were hard on our teams, but I think they should either go back to Knox-ville or farther to the front. Have you any instructions?



Brig.-Gen. COX, Bull's Gap:

The enemy should furnish transportation for persons sent through the lines from the point where the railroad cannot be used; at all events do not send them to Greeneville until the roads are in better condition. You will have to feed them while they remain with you.



April 16, 1864 - "Sales of Real Estate."

There is a good deal of real estate changing hands in the city at present. Those who have a superabundance of greenbacks are investing quite freely. The fol-lowing sales have been negotiated through the agency office of Messrs. Nelson & Murfree within the last two days:

Store house, No. 3, on the Public Square, 18 by 90 feet, sold to Mr. A. V. S. Lindsley for &13,500.

A small dwelling house on Summer street, a few doors North of Broad, belonging to Mr. M. S. Combs, sold to MR. George Mullins for $3,000.


April 16, 1864

A small frame dwelling house on the West side of College street, in the eighth ward, lot 35, by 138 feet, belonging to Mr. John Lumsden, sold to Mr. James Hughes for $1,500.

A brick dwelling on Cherry street, in the third ward, lot 32 1/2 by 165 feet, belonging to Mrs. R. A. V. Handy of Philadelphia, and others, sold for $75,00.

WE have heard of a number of transactions in real estate in the county, but are not sufficiently posted, nor are we authorized, to give the particulars. There is a greater degree of activity in the real estate market than has been exhibited since the commencement of the war.

The brick dwelling of Jos. R. Ryan, Esq., corner of Gay and Spruce streets, 4th ward, sold to James Hughes.


April 16, 1864 - May 4, 1864 - Social change in Columbia, reaction to the establishment of freedmen's schools

Nimrod Porter Diary, April 16, 1864.

. . . greate excitement about the negro schools in Town. . .


. . . [Mayor] Andrews, W. J. Andrews, Wiley George, Jno. Latta, Jack Porter, St. Ledger White all in gard house for whipping the negro teacher (Cap Jordan). . .


. . . The Mair & others still in the gard house. Great many contraband negroes leaving their masters.


The Grand Jury has found true bills agt the citizens Andrews :& others for whipping a negro by the aldermen the military won't give up the prisoners.

Nimrod Porter Diary, May 4, 1864.

April 17, 1864 - Report on the Knoxville Fugitive Slave Case

"The Fugitive Slave Case at Knoxville—Schofield Frees the Boys."

Correspondence of the New York Tribune.

Knoxville, Tenn., April 2, 1864. The Fugitive Slave case, to which I briefly referred in a previous letter, has had a happy termination-at least, for some of the parties concerned. The whole affair may be summed up this: The boy "Jim," 13 years old, seized, ironed, stripped of clothing and flagellated on the naked flesh half an hour by two strong men (loyal) total weight avoirdupois


April 17, 1864

360 pounds; ordered by Gen. Schofield to be freed from is late masters' control and placed under the protection of the United States Government.

His brother "Bob," who rescued "Jim" from his confinement and ill-treatment aforesaid, at the risk of his life and under the nose of the guards, being twice fired at by the overseer, and afterward captured and locked up, also to be freed and placed under Government protection.

"Quincy," a black boy, about the same age and size of the first-named, kid-napped out of Hospital No. 4, Dr. Griswold's, under cover of a dark night, and afterward placed under guard at the house of his late master, also made free and protected.

Having carefully weighed and examined all the facts in the case, and satisfied himself of the illegal and violent course pursued by the claimant and his over-seer in the capture of treatment of his alleged property, Gen Schofield made an order, of which the following in a copy:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. KNOXVILLE, Tenn, March 28, 1864.-Brig. Gen. S. P. Carter, Provost Marshal General, East Ten-nessee:-The Major-General Commanding directs that you release Mr. Elias Smith's servant Bob from confinement, upon Mr. Smith's giving security that Bob will keep the peace.

The General also directs that you give protection papers to the colored persons Bob and Jim, declaring them free from the control of their late master, Mr. Wil-liam Heiskell, of Knoxville, and under the protection of the United States Gov-ernment.

I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully you obedient servant

J. A. Campbell, Maj. and A. A. G.

In obedience to the foregoing, Gen. Carter yesterday dispatched the same guard who had been ordered to, and who did arrest Bob, to bring all three of the boys to his office. Here papers were made out and duly signed, a copy being handed to each person; the following is a copy of Bob's paper, the other two only differing in the name inserted:

PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE, EAST TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 1, 1864.-By direction of the Major General commanding the Department of the Ohio, the mulatto boy, "Bob Heiskell," is hereby declared free from the control of his late master, William Heiskell, of Knoxville, Tenn., and is placed under the protection of the United State Government.

S. P. Carter, Brig. Gen and P. M. G. East Tenn.


April 17, 1864 - Fortifications, Fires and Foiled Prisoner of War Escape in Chattanooga



April 18, 1864

Chattanooga Tennessee. April 17 1864

My Dear H. L.

. . . All is quiet here. Work is going on rapidly on the fortifications. Chatta-nooga will be impregnable It could not now be taken with the whole southern confederacy we think. There have been several large fires in town lately, which I think indicates the presence of spies and incendiaries. Yesterday apart of the largest block in the town was burned. It was the intention no doubt to burn the military prison which was in the block and the only one saved on that side of the fire. The plan was for the prisoners to escape in the melee but it did not work and the building was saved. . .

~ ~ ~


April 18, 1864 - Libation poetry from Nashville

Whiskey is not, by official sanction, sold to civilians and officers only, ad lib. On the strength of this fact, our muse, awaking with our body this morning to the reality of a genuine Bourbon cocktail, inspires us with the following:

Liquid Lyricby Uno Hoo.

Time was when ailing topers couldBut to their ails add ale;A combination most extremeAnd always sure to fail.But now, ambrosia's once more loose,And Whiskey being free(Though quite restricted in its use)It ends are plain to see.This prescience is no witches gift;"Extremes will often meet;"Thus saith the ancient proverb, andOld proverbs can't be beat.Thus, once the whiskey market bound,Showed up the wond'rous sightOf all men loose and aleing hard:'Tis now reversed-they're tight.Thus is it, by the inverse rule,In men both black and white,When whiskey's tight, mankind is loose;But when 'tis loose, they're tight.

Nashville Daily Press, April 18, 1864.

April 18, 1864 - Mr. Harvey's day in Nashville Recorder's Court

Recorders. Court.


April 19, 1864

* * * *

Mr. Harvey appeared as witness against a female, and disappeared as counsel for himself. He said he had been in Nashville twelve years—was a citizen here, and by permission of the court would plead his own cause, and does it straight up. He acknowledged that he was not a saint, or an angel, nor was he perfect any more than most men; "but that man [pointing to witness for the prosecu-tion] is a victories to sell whisky as any man, and I ken prove it. I am a ruined man, I am, and voted for—for—I voted for everyman now in this court"—seal-ing the assertion by a powerful blow with his fist upon the table. He was just rising to the highest pitch of eloquence, when the court requested him to be seated; but it required the united exertions of two of three Marshals to induce him to close his argument so abruptly. He considered himself snubbed—decid-edly. Fine and costs, $45.

* * * *


April 18, 1864 - April 20, 1864 - Expedition, Burkesville, Kentucky to Obey's River, Tennes-see

APRIL 18-20, 1864.-Expedition from Burkesville, Ky., to Obey's River, Tenn.

Report of Col. James W. Weatherford, Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

BURKESVILLE, April 20, 1864. Capt. Watson just returned; captured 8 pris-oners; had fight at Obey's River; Hughs scattered his men; killed and wounded some of them; have one that murdered one of my men (Neil Creelsboro) in October last.

J. W. WEATHERFORD, Col. Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 671.

April 19, 1864 - Skirmish, Waterhouse's Mill

•See April 20, 1864--Skirmish, Waterhouse's Mill

April 19, 1864 - Skirmish at Boiling Springs


April 19, 1864 - Federal scouts from Cleveland and Red Clay

HDQRS. 1ST CAV., DIV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Cleveland, April 19, 1864

Brig.-Gen. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland:


April 19, 1864

GEN.: I have the honor to report all quiet in our front. One party of scouts went down to Waterhouse's this morning. The rebel scouts had been there last night. The report in the neighborhood is that it is the intention of the rebels to encamp a regiment of cavalry at King's Bridge. Three of our scouts, who went out dis-mounted, brought in 2 prisoners, who gave their names as A. D. Gamble of the Twenty-second Georgia, and A. J. Reagan, of the Sixtieth Georgia Regt. They were taken about 20 miles from here, in that State, near their homes, where they claim to have been sent too recover from wounds. I sent them to Maj.-Gen. Howard.

Another party of scouts went about 5 miles below Red Clay. They saw nothing of the enemy, but stopped at the house of a woman who had been visited on Sunday by her husband and son, both of the rebel army. She says that they hold her that the rebels were evacuating Dalton; that there were only 5,000 or 6,000 troops there, and that their army was moving in the direction of Richmond.




April 19, 1864 - Confederate spies in Graysville [Rhea County] environs

GRAYSVILLE, April 20, 1864

Brig.-Gen. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:

A scoutNOTE 1 sent out last night fell in with some of the faithfulNOTE 2 in my vicinity. They are ostensibly Union, but gave him in his assumed character of rebel spy all the information they possessed as to my troops, position, &c., as to which they were well informed.

He found where one of Johnston's spies, Taylor, by name, had passed the previ-ous night, who had gone on to Chattanooga, Tenn. This spy told the citizen that Johnston was concentrating all his troops in this front. Taylor is now in the neighborhood of Mission Ridge, where there is a citizen who visits town and brings news and papers to him. The spies have a regular trail between Rossville and this place. Nothing new in front.

R. W. JOHNSON, Brig.-Gen.


NOTE 1: In this case the scout was a solitary individual, not a detachment of cavalry. Many references to "scouts" in the OR have similar if not identical mean-ings.

NOTE 2: Confederate sympathizers


April 19, 1864

April 19, 1864 - "Mechanics and Refugees."

The depots, on Sunday, were crowded with refugees, and mechanics, the former from below, and the latter from above, and their destination respec-tively North and South. Several families of refugees, with an almost unlimited number of flax-haired children, left in the train for Louisville yesterday morn-ing.


April 19, 1864 - Elopement and Cuckoldry in Nashville

"Sloped and Eloped"

Dame Rumor says that before the "snaik man sloped," a former Lieutenant in the Federal army eloped with the wife of a friend, leaving the disconsolate hus-band and interesting children to take care of themselves. What the said Lieu-tenant has done, or intends to do, with his own wife, the good dame is not advised, but promises developments in due course.


April 19, 1864 - "Robbery and Arson"

We are informed that the same gang who murdered the venerable Z. P. Cantrell on Friday night, afterward burned the house of Isaac W. Moore, in the same neighborhood, and robbed and wounded a man named Granville Moore. Con-siderable alarm exists in the neighborhood, as it is not known who will be the next victim of these thieving, murdering fiends in human shape.




Elk River, Tenn.,

April 19, 1864.

Dear Mary,-

This part of the army has not moved yet. Men who have been absent from their commands are joining them again. Heavy trains of supplies are passing on to the front every day. I expect Captain Culver soon and Lieutenant Beattie is in the department now,- I think at Chattanooga. He came on with new recruits. The Colonel is going to try and keep him here. I hope one of them at least will get here before we move so that I will have help.


ca. April 19, 1864

Out of thirty line officers there are only thirteen present,- less than half. At present there are two companies commanded by second lieutenants, four by first lieutenants and four by captains. Of the first sergeants who left Salem with us, ten in number, one has been promoted to quartermaster, four to first lieuten-ants and four to second lieutenants. Only one remains first sergeant. The ser-geant-major has been promoted to second lieutenant. One second sergeant has been promoted to second lieutenant and one corporal has been promoted to second lieutenant.

We have lost only two line officers by death, Lieutenant John C Corbett of Company C, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., and Captain Norman F. Weer of Company E at Gettysburg, Pa. You see there have been many changes since we left Salem. What they will be in the future cannot be told by,

Your affectionate husband,

R. Cruikshank.


ca. April 19, 1864 - Skirmish at Obey's River

•See April 18, 1864-April 20, 1864-Expedition, Burkesville, Kentucky toObey's River, Tennessee

April 20, 1864 - Skirmish at Boiling Springs


April 20, 1864 - Skirmish, Waterhouse's Mill

APRIL 19-20, 1864.-Skirmishes at Waterhouse's Mill and Boiling Springs, Tenn.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland.

No. 2.-Col. Oscar H. La. Grange, First Wisconsin Cavalry, commanding Sec-ond Brigade.

No. 1.

Report of Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland.

HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Cleveland, Tenn., April 20, 1864.

GEN.: I have the honor to report that Lieut. Hill, of my staff, with 15 men, attacked and routed 27 of the First Tennessee (rebel) Cavalry near Water-house's, wounding 2 and taking 1 prisoner. Last evening about 8 o'clock a small party of our scouts had a skirmish with about 20 of the enemy at Boiling


April 20, 1864

Springs, about 5 miles above Spring Place, on Charleston and Spring Place road. They drove the rebels back and killed 2 of their horses. My pickets report all quiet in their front.



OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 672.

No. 2.

Report of Col. Oscar H. LaGrange, First Wisconsin Cavalry, commanding Sec-ond Brigade.

CLEVELAND, TENN., April 22, 1864.

CAPT.: I respectfully report that the scouting party detailed from Second Bri-gade on 21st proceeded to Waterhouse's Mill, where it remained until 1 o'clock this morning, when it was equally divided, one party under Lieut.-Col. Stewart proceeding directly down the Spring Place road, and the other crossing into the old Federal road and describing an arc, intersecting the Cleveland and Spring Place road at a point 29 miles from Cleveland, equidistant from Boiling Springs and Spring Place, and behind the camp of a scouting party of 32 rebels. A mistake in regard to the distance to be traveled by the second party pre-vented the junction agreed upon, and Lieut.-Col. Stewart, attacking directly in front at daylight, notwithstanding the disadvantageous circumstances, captured a captain, a lieutenant, and 12 men without loss. The peculiarly favorable posi-tion of the enemy renders this trifling success creditable to himself and his men.

~ ~ ~


O. H. LAGRANGE, Col., Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, pp. 672-673.

April 20, 1864 - "Larnin's only for rich folks." Elvira Powers' visit to the Refugee Home in Nashville

Visited the Refugee Home. . . this P. M. . . As I entered one room, a woman was bustling about in a great passion, and picking up a few personal rags, while ordering her son to get up and they would find a place to stay where shouldn't be "set to do niggar's work!"

She was a healthy, strong woman, and had been repeatedly requested to make her own and son's bed, and assist in sweeping or cooking for the numerous inmates. Indeed, I think she had received a gentle hint that it might be as well to see that her son and herself have clean linen as often as once in two or three weeks, and that the use of a comb occasionally would not detract from personal appearance. But she had her own peculiar ideas, obtained from living under the


April 20, 1864

domination of a peculiar institution, and didn't fancy being dictated to in the delicate matter of her personelle.

Upon entering what is called the lecture-room we saw several families and parts of families, which had within two hours arrived on the trains from Ala-bama or Georgia.

I found that some of these snuff-dipping, clay-colored, greasy and uncombed ladies "from Alabam and Gorgee," are as expert marksmen as any of our north-ern exquisites, as the deposit the "terbaker" juice most beautifully into and around any knot-hole or crack in the floor, and while they are at a distance of several feet. Its wonderful how they do it-I am afraid I should never be able to learn.

We approach one woman who is standing by a rough board bunk, upon and around which are several children overcome by the fatigue of travelling. She, unlike the generality, is neatly dressed in a clean dark calico and sunbonnet, and wears a cheerful and intelligent look. She informs us that these are all her children-six of them, that her husband is in the Union army, only a few miles out, that he had sent for to come here, and she expects to see him in a few days. She cannot write, for she hasn't been to school a day in her life, and she says:—

"An' that thar's suthin' you people hev' up north, thet we don't. Poor folks that, hev' a chance to give thar children some larnin'; but them that owns plantations down our way don't give poor folks a chance. Larnin's only for rich folks. But my children shan't grow up to not know no more nor that father nor thar mother, ef I kin' help it. Ef this war don't close so's to make it better for poor folks down har, we'll go north. Thar's a woman what kin' write," she adds with an admiring glance to the other side of the room, "an' she's writin' a letter for me to my husband."

We glance that way, and see a youngish woman, whose entire clothing evi-dently consists of one garment, a dress which is colored with some kind of bark. She sits in conscious superiority, scarcely deigning to notice up, as we approach, while he is carefully managing the writing with one eye, while her head is turned half way from it, so that the ashes or coal, from the long pipe between her lips, may not fall upon the paper. Her air and manner are evidently intended to be regal, for isn't she the woman "what kin' write!"

At a little distance sat a hale, broad-shouldered, stalwart men, who looked as if her were able to do the work of half a dozen common men, who inquired of us, where "Hio was-if 'twas in Illinois"-and whether if he went to either of those placed he would be "pressed into the service." In reply, we informed the gentle-man that "Ohio was not in Illinois," but if he went to either, he would probably have to stand his chance of being drafted, together with other good loyalists-with the physicians, lawyers, editors, and ministers. He did not reply to that, but his look spoke eloquently.

"For a lodge in some vast wilderness,—

Some boundless contiguity of shade"


ca. April 20, 1864

Where war and draft not come."

Miss Ada M., the Matron of the Refugee Home, was, in our room this eve, and said that she was yesterday preparing some sewing for some young Misses, who were conversing earnestly about the Yankees. Finding their ideas rather erroneous with regard to that class of people, she made a remark to the effect that she was one herself.

"Why, you aint a Yankee?" exclaimed a Miss of fifteen dropping her work in bland astonishment.

"Yes, indeed, I am," was the reply.

"Why," said the girl, with remarkably large eyes, "I've allays hearn tell that the Yankees has horns, and one eye in the middle of their foreheads!


April 20, 1864 - Federal reconnaissance, Mossy Creek to Dandridge

MOSSY CREEK, April 20, 1864.

Maj.-Gen. SCHOFIELD:

Two companies of cavalry reported to me. One left this morning with the reconnaissance to Dandridge, which will be pushed from here toward Sevier-ville as far as safety and rations will permit. From all the information I can gather, no ford of Holston between Strawberry Plains and Morristown is practi-cable.

H. M. JUDAH, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Division.


ca. April 20, 1864 - Capture of thieves in Greene County

A few days ago that most efficient of the Federal scouts, Capt. Reynolds, in command of about fifty picked men, visited Greene county for the purpose of breaking up a nest of twenty-five thieves and murderers under the command of a villain by the name of Reynolds who have been for months robbing Union hoses and killing Union citizens. They were an independent organization, and had done as much real and hellish work as any equal number of assassins in the rebel service. Our troops came upon them in the waters of Lick Creek, some ten or twelve miles from Greeneville, and killed ten, and captured the remain-ing fifteen with their infamous leader included, bringing them all to this city and the leader of the gang in irons. We think our soldiers are to blame for mak-ing prisoners of any of them-they ought all to have been executed on the spot.



April 20, 1864

April 20, 1864 - April 21, 1864 - Belle Edmondson learns she is to be banished beyond Fed-eral lines

April, Wednesday 20, 1864

Tate and I arrived in Memphis quite early, put the horse up, then walked up street together, met Nannie and Anna Perkins. Nannie gave me two letters, one from St. Louis to Mrs. Welch, an exile in LaGrange, Ga. one from New York from a stranger, asking assistance to through me to communicate with Mrs. Van Hook at Selma, Ala-I received a letter from Maj. Price at Selma, by Mrs. Flaherty. I dined with Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Kirk-went round for Hat after din-ner, she went with me to see Capt. Woodward, to know what I must do in regard to an order which I heard was issued for my arrest-he advised me to keep very quiet until he could see the Provost Marshall and learn something in regard to it. I came to Mrs. Facklen's, although she has a house full of Yankees boarding with her-they seem to be very gentlemanly, Dr. Irwin and Dr. Som-mers, the latter has his family, Wife and two children-We spent a pleasant evening at Chess &c. Mrs. Facklen has been very fortunate in her selection of boarders-

~ ~ ~

April, Thursday 21, 1864

I went round according to appointment, met Capt. Woodward at 11 o'clock. Col. Patterson went with me. Capt. W. had not seen the Provost Marshall, he went as soon as I left, came round to Mrs. Facklen's after dinner, and brought bad news. . . he could not treat me as the order read-it was issued from old Hurlbut, I was to be arrested and carried to Alton [Ohio] on first Boat that passed-for carrying letters through the lines, and smugling, and aiding the Rebelion in every way in my power-he sent me word I must not think of attending Jennie Eave's wedding, or go out of doors at all, he would be com-pelled to arrest me if it came to him Officially, but as my Father was a Royal Arch Mason, and I a Mason, he would take no steps, if I would be quiet. Mrs. Facklen, Mr. & Mrs. Goodwyn, Mr. Leach and Dr. Irwin all went to the wed-ding-I staid at home, and spent the evening with Mrs. Summers, and the Dr. They were very pleasant, and not the least bitter in their feeling towards the South, ah! but they are Yankees, I can't forget it when with them.


April 21, 1864 - Entry in Alice Williamson's Diary, Sumner County

"All quiet in Gallatin to-day." Old Payne and all the rest are mad about the Fort Pillow affair. This vengeance will be taken out on the citizens of G. in a few days.

Williamson Diary


April 22, 1864

April 21, 1864 - April 22, 1864 - Federal scout and skirmish between Spring Place and Boil-ing Spring

HDQRS. FIRST CAV. DIV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Cleveland, April 22, 1864

Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Chattanooga:

GEN.: I have the honor to report all quiet in our front. There are rumors that the enemy in small parties have been seen near the railroad in the neighbor-hood of Charleston and Athens. Col. LaGrange has returned with a scouting party of 300 men sent out yesterday, having captured 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, and 12 men, forming part of one of the enemy's outposts without loss. This occurred at a point 29 miles distant from Cleveland, half way between Spring Place and Boiling Spring. Col. LaGrange reports from information obtained by the way that the enemy's cavalry force, now small, but soon to be considerably augmented, is at Tunnel Hill.





No arrests have been made yet on account of the "butcher at Fort Pillow." Don't be uneasy gentlemen you time will come soon.

Williamson Diary

April 22, 1864 - Skirmish on Duck River


April 22, 1864 - Confederate reconnaissance near Cleveland

CLEVELAND, TENN., April 22, 1864

Col. J. B. DORR, Cmdg. First Brigade:

The colonel commanding directs me to say that from information received at these headquarters it is evident that the enemy are making a reconnaissance in the direction of Cleveland, caused probably by the reconnaissance of Col. LaGrange. He directs that you cause the pickets on the Spring Place road, with the posts thrown out therefrom, to be strengthened by an additional detail of 40 men, to be relieved or ordered in the morning, should nothing occur to make it necessary to continue the re-enforcement. They will be instructed to exercise the utmost vigilance, and at 3 a. m. they will start patrols out on the Spring Place road and also on the Dalton road so as to prevent the possibility of sur-prise.


April 22, 1864

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

ROBERT LE ROY, Capt. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 22, 1864 - Federal pursuit of guerrillas, Columbus across the Hiwassee

HDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Columbus, Tenn., April 22, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WAGNER:

GEN.: I have the honor to report "all quiet" on the Hiwassee, except some little excitement caused by rather bold and frequent stealing of mules by persons supposed to be connected with guerrillas from below. I learn also from refu-gees in to-day that in the vicinity of Ducktown the people were expecting a raid to-day or to-morrow by a force of about 100, under command of a certain notorious Dr. Young. I don't get reliable information of any particular evidence of the movement further than the expectations of the people there. Among the refugees in to-day was a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and shrewdness, and apparently better posted up in matters pertaining to the rebel army than any one I have before met with. His statement is that the nominal force of Johnston's army, as shown by the muster-rolls last month, was, 42,000 all told, but constantly diminishing by desertion, sickness, &c. I desire instruc-tions whether to continue my report direct to you, and where. I have reported daily, but get no answer whether my dispatches reach you.

Your obedient servant,

JASON MARSH, Col., Cmdg. Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers.

8 O'CLOCK A. M.

P. S. -I am just in receipt of reliable information that a squad of rebel cavalry, 50 or 60, are dashing through 5 miles above me, making for my picket station at Savannah. I have dispatched two companies in pursuit.

J. M.

HDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS,

Columbus, Tenn., April 22, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WAGNER:

GEN.: As I stated in my dispatch of this morning, I sent two companies in the quickest possible time to the point where the rebel cavalry seemed, by their inquiries, to be making for the purpose of crossing the Hiwassee. On arriving there it was ascertained that they proceeded in that direction as far as Goley's Mill, about 3 1/2 miles from this point, and about the same distance from Savannah, and then struck for the trail over the mountain; judging from their inquiries at different points, I concluded they would make for the crossing


April 22, 1864

called Broad Shoals, about 12 miles, and might not get there before night. As soon as I learned their apparent course, I dispatched 30 men to Broad Shoals, in the hope of intercepting them during the night. As yet (midnight) I have not heard from the expedition. From entirely reliable information, they consisted of 64, divided into two squads, thoroughly armed, but very much jaded out.

The most correct account I can get of their companies is that they come from the direction and within about 4 miles of Riceville; beyond that I have not been able to trace them. The boldness and success of the affair demonstrates the necessity of having more force, and particularly some cavalry, in this vicinity, if it is important to prevent such raids or to have the present command here at all safe. It was their declared intention, before they got to Goley's Mill, to pounce upon my force at Savannah and capture them. I can't think why they changed their purpose, as I can see no reason why they should not have suc-ceeded and got off before I could have rallied any force to stop them. I am sat-isfied that Goley aided them all he could. What shall I do with such men, when I have good reason to suspect them?


JASON MARSH, Col., Cmdg. Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers.

P. S. -I desire instructions whether furloughs are still granted under the order giving 5 per cent. I am told that order has been suspended, but I can find no official notice of it among my papers.

J. M.


April 22, 1864 - Dr. F. Noel Burke appointed Health Officer for Memphis

"Special Orders, No. 99"

By this important document published in another column of our today's issue,NOTE 1 it will be seen that Surgeon F. Noel Burke has been duly appointed Health Officer for the city, and is instructed to proceed immediately to the dis-charge of his duties. All orders and instructions given by him and approved by the commanding officer of the District in regard to the police and sanitary arrangements of the city, will be carried out by all persons, civil and military, and when necessary, enforced by the military authorities. This is an office which has already been too long vacant, and now that it is filed by the appoint-ment of Surgeon Burke, this competent gentleman will doubtless find many duties to perform, which have arisen from past neglect, and rendered more dif-ficult by an over laxity in the municipal regulations heretofore. All the difficul-ties, however, we trust will soon be overcome, and the condition of our city materially improved. Dr. Burke is a gentleman who we deem fully sufficient for the labors of the responsible position to which he has been assigned, and we trust he may be abet in these labors not only by the authorities, but by every


April 22, 1864

good citizen of the community, as it is a matter in which we all have an inter-est.


NOTE 1: Not found, nor is this order found in the OR.

April 22, 1864 - The dust problem in Memphis

"Street Sprinkling"

We have suffered much this spring from dust-it is a nuisance that annoys all, and is damaging to many. Pedestrians are [stifled?] in the streets; storekeepers' goods are injured; the flour barrel and the contents of the ladies' wardrobes alike participate in the too free distribution of real estate. Dust is the portion of the unhappy souls and daughters of men before their time; the proper time is understood to be when "dust to dust" is pronounced over the remains of defunct mortality beside its final resting place. Having often been inquired of upon the subject, we yesterday made some investigations from which we learn that improvements have been made in the machinery at the landing, buy which a liberal supply of water will be on hand at that tank at the foot of Madison street. An agent is now out ascertaining whether the residents in the principal streets will contribute to extend the sphere of street sprinkling, so that the extent to which the dust is to be laid, will depend upon the people paying for the necessary work. The baths at the tank are in full bank, and there is a proba-bility of warm baths being introduced.


April 22, 1864 - Federal relocation of indigent inhabitants at Fayetteville

HDQRS. TWENTIETH CORPS, Lookout Valley, Tenn., April 22, 1864

Brig. Gen. A. S. WILLIAMS, Cmdg. First Division, Twentieth Corps:

GEN.:~ ~ ~

The indigent inhabitants at Fayetteville will be sent to Nashville, and until fur-ther orders the two companies of Tennessee Cavalry will take post at Tracy City and the senior officer be instructed to report by letter to Maj.-Gen. Rous-seau, at Nashville, for further orders.

~ ~ ~

H. W. PERKINS, Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.



April 22, 1864

April 22, 1864 - "Counterfeits."

The city is being flooded with counterfeit $20 Treasury notes. The engraving is pretty well executed, and likely to deceive a casual observer, but by comparing the genuine spurious, the fraud can be easily detected by its general appear-ance; the Goddess of Liberty is somewhat different, and inferior to the genu-ine; some of the figures are badly executed, and the signature is bad, particularly the Business men who are desirous of comparing them may well call upon Sanford & Co., bankers and brokers, College street.


April 22, 1864 - Bigamy in Nashville, a comedy of errors

"Rather Muddled"

Night before last [20th], a lady residing in South Nashville, named Fly, and whose husband has been absent in the Rebel ranks nearly three years, got mar-ried to a private soldier of the Federal army. Yesterday her husband was cap-tured, or deserted, and early in the day he sent an epistle of sweet things to his wife, one of which was that he should take the oath of allegiance and Fly into her arms. But the woman protested against any and all such proceedings, con-tending that she was no longer a Fly. She informed the new partaker of her joys what had transpired, who, thinking there would be a muss, in which an infuri-ated husband might get the best of it, stated his intentions as honorable, and as proof thereof, was willing to cry quits, and forfeit the realization of all his ecstatic anticipations. But the wife gave a groan, and swore fidelity to her new found love, and swore, further that the original Jacob should never again enter her abode. This case promised a rich denouement, and will be a godsend to gossips.


April 22, 1864 - "Military Items."

Twenty-three Federal deserters were forwarded to their regiments this morn-ing.

Geo. Smith, of the 4th U. S. Cavalry, was arrested yesterday and sent to the Penitentiary for forging discharge papers.

Sergeant G. Sanderson, company B, 4th Iowa Infantry, was stabbed in the neck yesterday by a guard at the barracks. The guard will be tried by court martial today.

Three prisoners of war were brought in yesterday, and will be forwarded this morning.

A. M. Bailey, a rebel soldier, charged with murder and highway robbery, is being tried by the Military Commission.


April 22, 1864

W. C. Raylor is released upon bail, to be tried by the Court at Murfreesboro next month.


April 22, 1864 - "Counterfeit Hundreds."

Jacob Hanlon, who keeps a store at No. 4 Market street, a few night's ago sold a pair of shoes to a man named Geo. Kelly, and received in pay a hundred dol-lar bill, which proved to be bogus. He charged but three dollars for the shoes, and therefore gave in change ninety-seven dollars. Hanlon was before the Pro-vost Marshal yesterday, but no Geo. Kelly can be found.


April 23, 1864 - Federal patrols on Spring Place road

•See April 22, 1864--Confederate reconnaissance near Cleveland

April 23, 1864 - Clarification of Federal regulations overseeing travel by rail sought by Major-General George H. Thomas

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, Tenn., April 23, 1864.

Maj.-Gen. SHERMAN, Cmdg. Military Division of the Mississippi, Nashville:

GEN.: Since my telegram to you about going to Nashville I have felt some uncertainty about the propriety of leaving this place for a longer period than one day, for fear something might occur to produce disorder. I wished to see you so as to have a full understanding about our movements, but if you cannot conveniently come down, I can send one of my aides to receive a copy of Gen. Grant's letter to you, if you think it will be prudent to send me one. My only object is to have a clear understanding of what is to be done. Another object for wishing to see you was to have an understanding about the travel on the rail-road. By my arrangements only such persons traveled by rail as seemed to have legitimate business here, and they were required to leave as soon as their busi-ness was finished, and all refugees and deserters were sent to the rear without any trouble. All persons who got permission to travel had to pay their fare, unless traveled under orders from proper authority (military division or some department headquarters). Now persons come on every train, permitted by papers signed by your provost-marshal-general and indorsed by Capt. Crane, the transportation quartermaster for railroad at Nashville. My military conduc-tors have orders to see that no one gets on the cars unless he has proper author-ity. The railroad conductors were required to collect tickets from passengers, and if the passenger had no ticket to collect the regular fare and report daily. The military conductors took up the passes and reported daily to my provost-marshal-general, thus acting as a check on the railroad conductors to prevent


April 23, 1864

them from extorting money from passengers, or permitting improper persons from traveling; for the railroad superintendent, by comparing the checks taken up by his conductors with the papers taken by the military conductors each day, could easily discover if anything improper was done by his conductors. I fre-quently find also that persons who have been refused permission to come here by me, go to your provost-marshal-general, get papers, and come down in defi-ance of my authority. I think after reading my telegrams with this explanation you will understand my idea about the travel on the railroad, which I really believe the best for the interests of the service.

Very respectfully and truly, yours,

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


April 23, 1864 - Federal scout from Cleveland

CLEVELAND, April 23, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff:

Gen. Stanley reports that his scouts have returned. They went as far as Claus' Chapel, 51/2 miles from King's Bridge. No rebels have crossed. Saw no signs of movement. Went on to Spring Place road and no movement there. He cannot account for the rockets.NOTE 1

O. O. HOWARD, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.


NOTE 1: Rockets were used as signaling devices by the Union army.

April 23, 1864 - Federal Major-General C. C. Washburn first situation reports for West Ten-nessee

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., April 23, 1864.

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: I report that I arrived here to-day and assumed command. Nothing special to report, except that a reconnaissance made by Gen. Grierson, which returned last night, reports that Forrest, after running his prisoners and plunder down into Mississippi, had returned with his whole force, about 8,000 strong, and was near Jackson, Tenn.

I have only 1,800 mounted cavalry here, and that very poor, 2,000 infantry, and 3,500 colored troops, entirely too weak, as you see, to move far aggressively, without leaving Memphis at his mercy. I have advised Gen. Grant and Gen.


April 23, 1864

Sherman fully of the situation here. The rebels have repaired the Mobile and Ohio Railroad north as far as Corinth.



HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., April 23, 1864.

Brig. Gen. JOHN A. RAWLINS, Chief of Staff:

SIR: I report that I arrived here and assumed command to-day. All quiet in town, but Brig.-Gen. Grierson, who returned from a scout last night [22d],NOTE 1 reports that Forrest, after sending his prisoners and plunder down into Mississippi, had returned with his whole force and was in the neighbor-hood of Jackson, Tenn. He is reported to have seven brigades, under the fol-lowing-named brigade commanders, viz.,: Gen. Bell, Col. Faulkner, Col. Duckworth, Col. Neely, Gen. Chalmers, Col. Forrest, and Gen. Buford, the last named commanding a division. Forrest's total force is said to be about 8,000 men, all well mounted. In returning into West Tennessee he, of course, means mischief somewhere. I regret that my force here is not sufficient to enable me to move out and assail him. I have only 1,800 very poor cavalry mounted, made up of odds and ends, and about 1,000 dismounted cavalry. The rest of the cavalry force of the Sixteenth Army Corps are at home on furlough; two regi-ments filled to the maximum, the Third Michigan and Seventh Kansas, reached Saint Louis a month ago on their return, and detained there for horses and arms. My whole troops consist of only 2,000 infantry, white, 600 white artil-lery, and 3,500 colored troops. You will readily see that this force will allow me to do little but act on the defensive.

Information deemed entirely reliable by Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut represents that the rebels have repaired the railroad north to Corinth. The road is also said to be in good repair from Corinth west to LaGrange. If this is the case, there can be no difficulty in their massing a large force of infantry in a short time at Corinth or LaGrange. The brigade of Brig.-Gen. Mower, which was ordered by Gen. Sherman up here, is likely to be detained by Gen. Banks for an indefinite period.

The massacre at Fort Pillow turns out to be worse than the news-papers have reported. I am taking measures to ascertain the names of officers in command and the regiments engaged in that affair, hoping that the President will issue a proclamation of outlawry against them. Of one thing you may be certain, that I shall not issue any orders requiring the troops of this command to spare the monsters engaging in a transaction that renders the Sepoy a humane being and Nana-Sahib a clever gentleman. I send up by the same boat that takes this a duplicate to be telegraphed to Gen. Sherman, in regard to the continued pres-ence of Forrest in Tennessee, and of the repair of the railroad to Corinth. While with the force I have here I feel perfectly secure against any mounted force


April 23, 1864

they may bring, I do not feel that I could venture to go in pursuit of Forrest without hazarding the city unless I have more force.

As soon as I learn more about matters, I shall again write you.

I am, general, your obedient servant,



NOTE 1: Grierson's scout most likely covered territory in North Mississippi, but this isn't certain.

April 23, 1864 - Major-General William T. Sherman advocates a policy of no quarter in future cases of Federal soldiers' taking objectives by assault, similar to the Confederate experience at Fort Pillow Massacre

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 23, 1864.

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington:

SIR: Pursuant to your orders two officers are now engaged in taking affidavits and collecting testimony as to the Fort Pillow affair. They are ordered to send you direct a copy of their report and one to me.

I know well the animus of the Southern soldiery, and the truth is they cannot be restrained. The effect will be of course to make the negroes desperate, and when in turn they commit horrid acts of relation we will be relieved of the responsibility. Thus far negroes have been comparatively well behaved, and have not committed the horrid excesses and barbarities which the Southern papers so much dreaded.

I send you herewith my latest newspapers from Atlanta, of the 18th and 19th instant. In them you will find articles of interest and their own accounts of the Fort Pillow affair.NOTE 1

The enemy will contend that a place taken by assault is not entitled to quarter, but this rule would have justified us in an indiscriminate slaughter at Arkansas Post, Fort De Russy, and other places taken by assault. I doubt the wisdom of any fixed rule by our Government, but let soldiers affected make their rules as we progress. We will use own logic against them, as we have from the begin-ning of the war.

The Southern army, which is the Southern people, cares no more for our clamor than the idle wind, but they will heed the slaughter that will follow as the natural consequence of their own inhuman acts.

I am, &c.,


April 23, 1864

W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.


NOTE 1: Not found.

April 23, 1864 - "Eureka Club."

•See November 5, 1863--"Eureka Club."

The Eureka Club, composed principally of amateurs, gave a performance last night at their rooms on Cedar street, which was attended by a select circle of ladies and gentlemen. The piece selected was "Der Muttersegan," ("The Mother's Blessing") after the French of Lemoine. Although the German lan-guage is to us a "sealed book," we were so much pleased with the acting that we remained until the end of the third act. We have rarely witnessed better act-ing, even among professionals. Miss Flora Kunz sang and acted splendidly. Professor Weber presided at the piano with his usual skill and ability, and added greatly to the effectiveness of the songs, with which the piece is inter-spersed, by his correct accompaniments.


April 23, 1864 - Feeding and lodging Confederate soldiers in Carroll County

Within the last few days I have fed and lodged 15 Confederate soldiers. They offered pay in Confederate money. It being of no use to me, I did not receive it. I have furnished and fed soldiers and citizens until at this time I have nothing to spare.

"Younger Diary."



Elk River, Tenn.,

April 23rd, 1864.

Dear Mary,-

I can write but a few lines today. The box that the ladies of Salem sent to the soldiers of Company H has arrived and its contents distributed as requested. By request of the Company I have addressed a letter to Mrs. Hawley thanking her and the ladies for their kindness.

Captain Culver passed through here last evening to New York from Chatta-nooga. He did not stop so I did not see him. You write me, and others hear that Lieutenant Beattie has started to join us. Others say he is in Albany. I do not


April 23, 1864

expect Captain Culver right away so hope that Beattie may come. We shall move in a few days.

With love to all,

R. Cruikshank.


April 23, 1864 - Report of the capture of the Reynolds' guerrilla band at Lick Creek, Greene county

CAPTURE OF A BAND OF THEIVES.

A few days a go, that most efficient of our Federal scouts, Capt. Reynolds, in command of about fifty picked men visited Greene county for the purpose of breaking up a nest of twenty five thieves and murderers, under the command of a villain by the name of Reynolds, who have been for months robbing Union houses and killing Union citizens. They were an independent organization, and had done as much real and hellish work as any equal number of assassins in the rebel service. Our troops came upon them on the workers of Lick Creek, some ten or twelve miles from Greeneville, and killed ten, and captured the remain-ing fifteen with their infamous leader included, bringing them all to this city and the leader of the gang in irons. We think our soldiers are to blame for mak-ing prisoners out of any of them—they ought all to have been executed on the spot.

Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator, April 23, 1864.

April 23, 1864 - Ethnic competition for housing in Nashville

Fort Johnson Nashville Tenn.,

Apl. 23d, 1864

Andrew Johnston sic

Honored Sir,

Necessity compels me to make a few statements of facts and to request your interference in behalf of my family—

I am a citizen of Bradley Co. Tenn., and have in the United states service for more than two years.—

some time in last February my family was compelled to leave home for want of subsistence. I met them at this place Feb. 18th, and have been trying from that time to this to rent a house or room for them to live in but have, as yet, failed to get one—

I find that nearly all of the confiscated, as well as individual houses are occu-pied by contraband negroes, poor white soldiers families are left out of doors, more than once have I tried to rent vacant houses only to receive the assurance


April 23, 1864

from some rebel citizen that they were rented to negroes, this being the case I would most respectfully ask that you grant my family a pass to Charleston Tenn. And the privilege of transporting provisions over the Rail Road to them—my family consists of, my wife and four children, my wifes sister and five children, and my sister (twelve in all)[.] if you will aid me in procuring a house, or pass them back home I will ever hold you in most greatful remem-brance[.]

Most respectfully Sir Your Obdt Servt

James H. Kile

1st Sergt Battery "D" 1st Tenn. Arty

Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 6, p. 684.

April 23, 1864 - Martial provision for blind children in Carthage

Special Orders No. 24

Headquarters 1st Tenn. Mtd. Infty

Carthage, Apl. 23, 1864

Jesse Robinson, your are hereby ordered to take the blind children Mary Cald-well & Hall Cardwell and clothe them & see that they are cared for.

A refusal to do this will subject you to arrest. The negroes belonging to Sarah Cardwell will as soon as it can be made pay the said Robinson for taking care of the Children in produce up to the that time and furnish him supplies still to take care of the children.

By Order of A. E. Gannett, Lt. Col. Comdg. Regt.

Order Book 1st Tenn. Mounted Infty (U. S.)

April 24, 1864 - Scouts in Bull's Gap environs




Manson got off promptly at daybreak this morning. The cavalry are ordered to make 30 miles a day, and the infantry 20. All have five days' rations and for-age. The instructions for their guidance in different contingencies I made out fully as you directed. The news brought in by scouts makes me confident of success for the expedition, there being no rebel force sufficient to meet them this side of Holston.


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, p. 476.


April 24, 1864

April 24, 1864 - Federal situation report relative to status of construction of block-house defenses on the N&CRR from Bell Buckle to Poor Man's creek

HDQRS. SECOND Brig., FIRST DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS, Tullahoma, Tenn., April 24, 1864.

Capt. S. E. PITTMAN, Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Div., Twentieth Army Corps:

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of condition of defenses on line of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad from Bell Buckle bridge to Poor Man's Creek Bridge, inclusive, so far as any changes have been made since last report:

Bell Buckle bridge (1 mile south of Bell Buckle): One small redoubt com-pleted and one block-house nearly completed. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Wartrace bridge (1 mile north of Wartrace): One small fort and one stockade completed and one block-house nearly completed. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Wartrace: No change since last report. Number of day's rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Garrison's Fork bridge (1 mile south of Wartrace): No change since last report. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Duck River bridge: No change since last report. Number of days' rations on hand, 10; number of days' wood and water, 10.

Normandy: Since last report the men at this post have been engaged in banking up and covering the block-house recently constructed by the Michigan Engi-neers. It will require about five days to complete it. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Tullahoma: No change since last report. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.

Poor Man's Creek bridge (1 mile south of Tullahoma): A block-house is being erected at this post. Number of days' rations on hand, 7; number of days' wood and water, 7.


THOS. H. RUGER, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.


April 24, 1864 - ". . . a terible day of excitement. . . " Belle Edmondson's observations at the plight of refugees banished beyond Federal lines

April, Sunday 24, 1864


April 25, 1864

This has been a terible day of excitement, two wagons from Memphis came out and camped in front of our gate all day, the Yanks did not bother them this morning only to take some Whiskey-two Confederate Soldiers were sitting in the Parlor all the time they were here, they did not see them coming in time to run, but fortunately they did not come in the Parlor. Mr. Falls and Miss McKin-ney, Sister of one of the Soldiers, came out to see them, the other Soldier was Mr. Hutchinson. I sent a package of Papers and letters to Mobile by Mr. McKinney, they had not more than rode out of sight when five Yanks came up all drunk, they robbed those people with the wagons of all their money, drank up all the whiskey and treated them shamefully, they had not been gone long before three Confederates, John & William Hildebrand and Ben Henderson came riding up, we told them about it, they rode off full speed, in a little while we heard firing, continued about five minutes, then all quiet. Father and Uncle Elam went down to Dave Hildebrand's after tea, our boys just left all right,-they met the Yanks returning, only four, and they frightened to death almost-no particulars. I am very much afraid, Laura, the Goslins, Tip and I all alone.


April 25, 1864 - Forrest's command conducts conscript sweep and arrests deserters from his command in West Tennessee

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, Jackson, April 25, 1864.

Lieut. Col. THOMAS M. JACK, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:

COL.:. . . My entire command is engaged conscripting and arresting deserters. They are scattered in all directions, but are moving toward this place; will have all concentrated here by the 30th, and will reach Tupelo by the 5th or 6th prox-imo. I shall move myself via Bolivar and Ripley, and nay dispatches for me will meet me on the road.

I would be glad if the cars would run as far above Tupelo as possible, as I have about 30,000 pounds of bacon which I shall carry in wagons to Corinth, and send it down for my command on hand-cars until it meets a train.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, yours, &c.,



April 25, 1864 - Major-General Nathan Bedford Forrest on the "massacre at Fort Pillow"

HDQRS. FORREST'S CAVALRY, Jackson, April 25, 1864.

Lieut.-Gen. POLK, Cmdg. Department:

GEN.:~ ~ ~


April 25, 1864

Much having been said in the Northern press in regard to the massacre at Fort PillowNOTE 1, I shall forward you by next courier copies of all the correspon-dence in regard to the demand for surrender and a statement of all material facts; an extra copy of same will also be sent you, with a request to forward to the President. Capt. Young, the provost-marshal at Fort Pillow, now a prisoner, can corroborate all the facts, as he was the bearer of the enemy's flag of truce, and it would be well to have him taken care of on that account.

I am, general, very respectfully, yours, &c.,



NOTE 1: This appears to be an admission, although a offhanded one, to Forrest's rec-ognizing that a massacre did indeed occur at Fort Pillow. Otherwise he would most likely have used a different phrase, such as "in regard to the cap-ture of Fort Pillow," etc. It could also be that only 13 days after the event the term "Fort Pillow Massacre" was commonly used both in the North and the South to describe the event.

April 25, 1864 - Major-General William T. Sherman further regulates railroad travel

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, April 25, 1864.

Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Cmdg. Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga:

GEN.: I have received your several dispatches and letters touching the check on railroad travel. I have ordered the quartermaster to check the tendency of our military railroads sliding into a public convenience, but to keep it just as he would a train of army wagons. Nobody should travel in the cars save officers and soldiers under orders entitling to transportation. I left him to ease off by sending only such as were caught away from home by the change. I think it will in time come out all right. If we allow conductors to collect money we know they will little by little pick up way-travelers for their own profit. We have not the system of checks that would enable us to detect peculation and fraud. The officers of the Army of the Tennessee have complained bitterly that in all matters pertaining to the railroad they were slighted, and there were some grounds, not intentional on your part, but calculated to raise a prejudice, that after they had come to the relief of the Army of the Cumberland they were denied bread or any facilities from the road. Some even thought you shared this feeling, and had refused them even a passage to or from Nashville.

This resulted from the fact that the conductors and your guards were familiar with your passes, and were not with those of Logan or other commanders of that wing. This made my transportation order manifestly just, putting all department commanders on a just equality.


April 25, 1864

We have increased the daily cars from about 80 to from 130 to 190. If I can get the average to 150 the road will supply us, and make an accumulation. . .

~ ~ ~



April 25, 1864 - Federal destruction of railroad and railroad bridges, Midway Station, Greeneville, Watauga and Lick Creek environs



Have just returned from Midway Station, 8 miles above here. I expect Reilly's brigade to work a mile farther to-night. The work is very thoroughly done as far as we have gone, and I feel confident the enemy will not repair it this sea-son. Reilly will push ahead in the morning. As there was some risk of a dash at this post by way of Rogersville, I ordered back the Eighth Tennessee and left Reilly the remainder. Manson camped last night 2 miles beyond Greeneville. He was to reach Jonesborough and the cavalry the Watauga to-day. There is no evidence of any considerable force this side of Bristol. Some 200 cavalry, reported at Watauga bridge, are all I can hear of.




I have just received your dispatch of this evening, and Capt. Bartlett has explained to me the difficulty about your moving before Manson returns. As I dispatched you this afternoon, I deem it quite desirable for you to march on the 27th. Yet, if Manson has gone to Jonesborough to-day, he cannot get back in time; but your work will be done the more promptly and you will probably yet be in time. Hascall's brigade did not move as at first ordered. Judah's division will move this way to-morrow.




You may continue the work of destruction above Lick Creek until Manson returns; then move your whole division together. Meanwhile send to Knoxville everything which would impede your march. If Manson can destroy the bridges above Greeneville to-day, and get back to the gap by to-morrow night, and the other brigade work all of to-day and to-morrow on the road above the creek, I think the result will be satisfactory, both in point of time and of work done.


April 25, 1864



April 25, 1864 - Belle Edmondson's apprehensions at being forced into exile

April, Monday 25, 1864

. . . Miss Annie Perdue, Sister and Bro. all sent through the lines today, ban-ished. Washburn countermanded Hurlbut's order and sent them by land, instead of River. Miss Annie came over to see us, and get me to go over the creek for her. Father is rather afraid, but I will try it in the morning-though I expect not, Father has just left my room, and says he is afraid for me to go-I am so unhappy about the trouble I have got in-oh! what is to become of me, what is my fate to be-A poor miserable exile.


April 25, 1864 - April 27, 1864 - Expedition from Bull's Gap to Watauga River and skirmish

Report of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio.

KNOXVILLE, April 27, 1864.

I have intelligence from the Watauga expedition. As was anticipated the rebels destroyed the bridge after being driven across it by our cavalry. The river was too high to be forded. Our loss in the fight was 3 killed and 18 wounded; that of the enemy not yet reported. The troops will reach Lick Creek to-night. They have destroyed all the bridges from Bull's Gap to the Watauga and about 20 miles of track. Considering the time allowed them think they have done remarkably well and all that could be desired.


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 686.

Account of Surgeon John W. Lawing, Thomas' (North Carolina) Legion, C. S. Army, on the expedition from Bull's Gap to Watauga River, April 25-27, 1864.

Carter DEPOT, EAST TENNESSEE, April 28, 1864.

EDITOR, WESTERN DEMOCRAT: I desire through your paper to give a brief account of the engagement recently fought at this place. The enemy, about 2,000 strong, consisting of the Third Indiana, the Tenth Michigan Mounted Infantry, and a battalion with two pieces of artillery under Brigadier-General [Mahlon Dickerson] Manson, United States Army, attacked this place on Monday, April 25.

The fight began at 2 o'clock p. m., and with only occasional intervals continued until dark. The resisting force, which consisted of only a portion of Colonel [William Holland] Thomas' Legion, North Carolina Troops, and without artil-


April 26, 1864

lery, under Lieutenant-Colonel James [Robert] Love of North Carolina, met them heroically and repulsed them in a crippled condition. Under cover of the night the enemy removed their wounded and dead and resumed the firing early next morning, but after a short skirmish they retired. A few of our cavalry pur-sued and on their return reported that the enemy had burned a small bridge, torn up a portion of the railroad track, and were still retreating, evidently not intending to renew the attack.

The loss of the enemy, as far as ascertained, was nineteen killed, twenty-seven wounded and three captured. Among their killed was a major and a captain. Our loss was three captured, three very slightly wounded, and one seriously wounded. During this engagement our men displayed a heroism worthy of vet-erans and of the noble cause in which they are engaged.

This victory, though comparatively small, is in keeping with the progress of events which makes our Confederate cause ever plainer to our minds and dearer to our hearts.

John W. Lawing

Surgeon, Thomas' Legion. (Printed in the Charlotte, North Carolina Western Democrat, May 10, 1864.)

SOR, Ser. I, Vol. 6, pp. 236-237.

April 26, 1864 - Education of the freedman; an entry in Alice Williamson's Diary, Sumner County

Weather beautiful. Yanks behaving like human beings with a few exceptions. Today a Yankee officer made his appearance in the school room accompanied by a Northern being whom I supposed to be a man, as he was not a gentleman; he came to look at the church saying that he was president of a school and six of his assistants had just arrived and was going to teach the "freedmen" He says he will have 3 or 400 scholars and will need the largest house in town. What a learned city-or rather yankee nest-this will be. I suppose some of us citizens will get a situation as assistant teacher in the "Freedmens University."

Williamson Diary

April 26, 1864 - GENERAL ORDERS, No. 10 relative to Federal camps of instruction near Nashville and new disciplinary and travel policies

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 10. HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 26, 1864.

I. There will be established, at or near Nashville, one or more camps of instruc-tion, in which will be collected all regiments arriving from the rear which are not assigned to any one of the departments or armies in the field, all detach-ments or individuals who have got astray from their commands, and all conva-lescents discharged from hospitals. These camps will be under the general


April 26, 1864

supervision of the commanding officer of the District of Nashville, who will assign to each a general officer, who will be instructed to organize and equip for service all such regiments and detachments and subject them to a thorough system of instruction in the drill and guard duties.

II. All officers, regiments, and detachments belonging to any of the established departments will, without further orders, be sent with dispatch to their proper posts; but such as are not thus provided for will be held in reserve at Nashville to re-enforce any part of the lines of communication to the front, and subject to orders from these headquarters.

III. Soldiers' homes are merely designed for the accommodation of men in transitu; and when delayed from any cause, the men will be sent to the camp of instruction. Officers and men also in and about Nashville awaiting orders will be sent to the camp of instruction.

IV. Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz is assigned to the command of one of these camps, and will report to Maj.-Gen. Rousseau for further instructions.

V. Patrols will, from time to time, be sent to collect men and officers who are in Nashville without proper authority. All who are not in possession of written orders that warrant their presence in Nashville will be arrested and taken to the camp of instruction, where they will be put on duty till forwarded, under guard or otherwise, to their proper posts.

VI. In time of war leaves of absence can only be granted, and that for limited periods, by commanders of separate armies or departments. Subordinate com-manders cannot send officers or men away without such sanction; and there-fore the numerous shifts of that kind will be treated as void.

VII. Staff departments, on proper requisitions approved by Gen. Rousseau, will issue the provisions, camp and garrison equipage, arms, and accouterments necessary to carry into effect these orders.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman:

R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 26, 1864 - GENERAL ORDERS, No. 6, relative to changes in flag insignia and unit designations for the Army of the Cumberland

•See April 25, 1863--GENERAL ORDERS, No. 91 changes in flag insigniaand unit designations for the Army of the Cumberland

•See August 1, 1863--GENERAL ORDERS, No. 177, prescribing changes inflag designations and creation of the Army of the Cumberland ReserveCorps and its flag designations

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 62 HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, Tenn., April 26, 1864.


April 26, 1864

I. General Orders, No. 91, series of 1863, is hereby rescinded. The flags here-inafter described will be used to designate the headquarters of the department, corps, divisions, and brigades named in this order.

Hdqrs. of the department: The national flag, 5 feet square, embroidered spread eagle in the field, lower part of the eagle resting upon the lower edge of the field, with the stars of the Union arranged above.

Hdqrs. Fourth Army Corps: Silk with yellow fringe, or bunting, red with blue field; size of field 2 feet square, same size as for department headquarters, with gilt or embroidered eagle in the field.

First Division, Fourth Army Corps: The flag of the corps, without fringe or the eagle in the field; size of field the same as the flag of the corps; of bunting with white bar, 3 inches wide, running from right-hand upper corner of field to left-hand lower corner.

Second Division, Fourth Army Corps: The same as for the First Division, with the addition of a white bat, 3 inches wide, running from left-hand upper corner to right-hand lower corner, forming cross with the first.

Third Division, Fourth Army Corps: Same as for Second Division, with a addi-tion of a third white bar, 3 inches wide, running parallel to staff through center of field.

All brigade flags to be forked; distance from staff to angle of the fork, 3 feet; size of flag otherwise, same as for divisions, with same colors, with division bars in the field.

First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, with addition of one white star, midway between center of lower edge of field and lower edge of flag.

Second Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps: The same as for the First Brigade, except that there will be two white stars, arranged equidistant from each other and center of lower edge of field and lower edge of flag, on a line parallel to the staff.

Third Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps: The same as for the First Brigade, except that there will be three white stars, arranged as described for the Second Brigade.

Flags for headquarters of the brigades of the Second and Third Divisions: Same as for the first, with the exception of the distinguishing bars of the divi-sions in the field.

Hdqrs. Fourteenth Army Corps: Silk with yellow fringe, or bunting; same size as for department headquarters; blue with red field; size of field, 2 feet square; gilt or embroidered eagle in field.

Hdqrs. First, Second, and Third Divisions, Fourteenth Army Corps: Blue flags, with red field, with same distinguishing marks as the corresponding divisions of the Fourth Corps.


April 26, 1864

Flags for the headquarters of the brigades of the Fourteenth Army Corps: Same as for the corresponding brigades of the Fourth Corps, with the exception of the colors, which will be those described for the Fourteenth Army Corps.

Hdqrs. Twentieth Army Corps: Blue swallow-tailed flag, white Tunic cross in center, with he numerals "20" in red in center of the cross.

The division flags of this corps will be 6 feet square.

First Division: Red star on white flag.

Second Division: White star on blue flag.

Third Division: Blue star on white flag.

Fourth Division: Green star on red flag.

The flags for the brigades of the respective divisions will be in the shape of an equilateral triangle (each side 6 feet in length), similar in color and device to the division flags.

The flag of the First Brigade will be without border.

That of the Second Brigade have border same color as star, 6 inches wide, down the staff.

That of the Third Brigade a border 6 inches wide all around the flag.

Hdqrs. cavalry command: Red, white, and blue flag, 6 feet by 4; stripes verti-cal, red outermost, with cross sabers yellow, the hilt and point of sabers extend-ing over one-half of red and blue stripes. Staff portable, 14 feet long, and in two joints. Yellow silk fringe around the flag, 4 inches wide.

First Division: White flag, 6 feet by 4, with cross sabers red, figure (1) blue.

First Brigade: White triangle, cross sabers red, figure (1) blue.

Second Brigade: White triangle; blue border on staff, 6 inches wide; cross sabers red; figure (2) blue.

Third Brigade: White triangle; blue border around flag, 4 inches wide; cross sabers red; figure (3) blue.

Second Division: Blue flag, 6 feet by 4; cross sabers white; figure (2) red.

First Brigade: Blue triangle; cross sabers white; figure (1) red.

Second Brigade: Blue triangle; cross sabers white; red border on staff, 6 inches wide; figure (2) red.

Third Brigade: Blue triangle; cross sabers white; red border, 4 inches wide around flag; figure (3) red. Third Division: White flag, 6 feet by 4; cross sabers blue; figure (3) red.

First Brigade: White triangle; cross sabers blue; figure (1) red.

Second Brigade: White triangle; cross sabers blue; red border on staff, 6 inches wide; figure (2) red.


April 26, 1864

Third Brigade: White triangle; cross sabers blue; red border, 4 inches wide, around flag; figure (3) red.

Fourth Division: White flag, 6 feet by 4; cross sabers blue; figure (4) red; yel-low border around flag, 9 inches wide.

First Brigade: White triangle; cross sabers red; figure (1) blue; yellow border around flag, width 4 inches.

Second Brigade: Blue triangle; cross sabers blue; figure (2) red; yellow border around flag, width 4 inches.

Third Brigade: White triangle; cross sabers blue; figure (3) red; yellow border around flag, width 4 inches.

Figures in center of sabers; points of sabers up.

Cross sabers in corps and division flags, 4 1/2 feet long, 3 inches wide; in bri-gade flags, 2 1/2 feet long, 1 1/4 inches wide.

Cavalry headquarters flag will be made of silk; division and brigade, of bunting.

Brigade flags will be 4 feet on staff and 6 feet on sides.

Engineer Brigade: A white and blue flag, blue uppermost and running horizon-tally, 6 feet by 4.

Pioneer Brigade: A blue, white, and blue flag, running vertically; crossed axes in engineer wreath on one side and spread eagle on the other.

Hospital and ambulance flags: Same as prescribed by General Orders, No. 9, current series, War Department.

Subsistence depots and store-houses: A plain light-green flag, 3 feet square.

Quartermaster depots and store-houses: Same flag, with letters "Q. M. D." in white, 1 foot long.

Ordnance department, general headquarters: A bright-green flag, 3 feet square, with two crossed cannon in white, set diagonally in a square of 3 feet, with a circular ribbon of 6 inches wide and 3 feet greatest diameter (or diameter of inner circle 2 feet), with the letters "U. S. Ordnance Department" in black, 4 inches long, on ribbon, and a streamer above flag, 1 foot on staff by 4 feet long, crimson color, with words "Chief of Ordnance" in black, 6 inches long.

Division ordnance: Same flag, with cannon and ribbon, but no streamer.

II. For the purpose of ready recognition of the members of the corps and divi-sions of this army, and to prevent injustice by reports of straggling and miscon-duct through mistakes as to organizations, the following-described badges will be worn by the officers and enlisted men of all the regiments of the corps men-tioned. They will be made either of cloth or metal, after the patterns deposited in the office of the assistant adjutant-general, at department headquarters, and


April 26, 1864

will be securely fastened upon the center of the top of the cap, or upon the left-hand side of the hat when that is worn:

For the Fourth Corps: An equilateral triangle, red for First Division, white for Second Division, blue for Third Division.

For the Fourteenth Corps: An acorn, red for First Division, white for Second Division, and blue for Third Division.

For the Twentieth Corps: A star, as heretofore worn by the Twelfth Corps.

Pioneer Brigade: Crossed hatches, as prescribed by paragraph 1585, Revised Army Regulations, edition of 1863.

The chief quartermaster of the department will furnish the cloth from which to make the badges, upon proper requisitions, and officers of the inspector-gen-eral's department of this army will see that they are worn as directed.

By command of Maj.-Gen. Thomas:

WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 26, 1864 - Skirmish across the Watauga River, above Greeneville and partial destruc-tion of bridge by Confederates and Federals


Gen. SCHOFIELD:

Gen. Manson was 8 miles above Greeneville last night; says he will reach Lick Creek to-night. The enemy were strongly posted at Watauga, but partially destroyed the bridge themselves. River too high to ford. Our troops skirmished across the river but could not accomplish the entire destruction of the bridge. We lost 3 killed and 18 wounded. Manson has destroyed all bridges from Jonesborough to where he is, and fully one-third of the track, as he reports. I send remainder of the Tennessee regiment and part of the One hundred and fourth Ohio by this train, and remainder of the last by next train if the cavalry get here to make some guard for to-night. The One hundredth Ohio is march-ing.

J. D. COX, Brig.-Gen.


April 26, 1864 - Smuggling near Memphis

The Memphis Bulletin of the 26th ult. says: "Notwithstanding the risks run, smuggling from this city through the lines to the enemy is carried on exten-sively. Gen. Grierson's cavalry patrol has, of late been very successful in pick-ing up offenders. On Sunday night, a wagon was met with eight miles out on the Germantown road. Among other matters, was found a barrel, apparently of


April 27, 1864

flour, its principal contents hid among the flour, was forty yards of grey cloth, two bolts of shirting, ten gallons of whisky, a lot of percussion caps, and other articles. The driver offered the boys five hundred dollars in greenbacks for per-mission to go, but the boys knew their duty too well to be bribed, but owing to the darkness and rain, he contrived to escape before the city was reached."

Nashville Dispatch, May 3, 1864.


Sis has just come from Mrs. Lane's: while there she visited the grave of the stranger soldier who was shot Friday. The yankees took his coat and boots off and put him in the grave without coffin or wrappings of any kind.

Williamson Diary

April 27, 1864 - Federal scout from Cleveland

HDQRS. FIRST CAV. DIV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Cleveland, April 27, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff:

GEN.: I have the honor to report all quiet in my front. The scouting party which left here yesterday under command of Col. Dorr, hearing that the picket post which it was intended to surprise had been moved, pushed for Spring Place, which town it entered at 3 o'clock this morning. The enemy left so rap-idly that it was impossible to make but 3 prisoners. Col. Dorr states in his report that the scouting party had developed the fact that the enemy have no forces of any kind east of the Connesauga and north of the Coosawattee, and that, if desirable, his lines of communication from Dalton to Atlanta might be interrupted. They have infantry with their cavalry on the other side of the Con-nesauga.




April 28, 1864 - Initiation of patrols from Decatur, Alabama, to Clifton, Tennessee

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Huntsville, Ala., April 28, 1864.

Brig. Gen. W. Q. GRESHAM, Cmdg. Forces:

GEN.: Disembark your command at Clifton, Tenn., and remain there, watching the operations of Forrest, and endeavor to counteract him should he attempt to cross the Tennessee River and interfere with our communications.


April 28, 1864

Brig. Gen. John D. Stevenson will remain in command of the forces at and in the vicinity of Decatur and along the line of the railroad north to Pulaski. Col.'s Rowett and Murphy will patrol the river around from Decatur via Florence to Clifton and below. You will endeavor to keep in communication with Gen. Stevenson, and advise him of everything important in relation to the move-ments of the enemy which may come to your knowledge.

As soon as you are relieved by another brigade you will push forward and join me via Pulaski and Hunstville. Bring along the cattle if any of them arrive at Huntsville before you leave.

Yours, respectfully,

JAS. B. McPHERSON, Maj.-Gen.


April 28, 1864 - A Federal sham battle in Lookout Valley; an excerpt from George F. Cram's correspondence

Lookout Valley

April 29, 1864

Dear Mother~ ~ ~

Yesterday afternoon we had one of the grandest performances that our regi-ment ever took part in, namely, a division drill and sham fight. The men all went out with thirty rounds of blank cartridges and aiming at the grounds selected for the battle, they were drawn up as follows. The 105th were thrown forward as skirmishers and formed into a double line. At proper intervals behind was the first line of battle consisting of three regiments deployed, extending the line a little over a mile. Behind this line was the second. This was drawn up in column by division, consisting of four regiments. And still behind this line were two regiments at either flank in close column. The artil-lery were posted on the flanks, taking positions on two small hills, covering our grand advance. First the skirmishing commenced by our regiment and con-tinued till we had advanced about three miles and taken possession of every point. Then the enemy were supposed to be found in force, and our regiment were withdrawn and formed in line with the first line of battle. Now the fight commenced in earnest, and with the first line of battle. Now the fight com-menced in earnest, and the quick rapid discharge of musketry soon filled the valley with dense smoke. The artillery firing too was executed beautifully and the booming of the canon echoed from hill to hill and thence to the grim wall of Lookout. Of course, we drove the enemy and took any amount of prisoners, with[out] any loss whatever on our side.

Genls. Thomas, Hooker, Butterfield, Brannan and Whipple were there to wit-ness our movements. Butterfield conducted them.


April 29, 1864

~ ~ ~

Letters of George F. Cram

April 29, 1864 - Skirmish in BerryNOTE 1 County Tennessee


NOTE 1: OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 6. This was most likely Perry County; even so, the OR offers no further clues because there was no circumstantial report submitted for this skirmish which could help better correct the error. Dyer's Battle Index for Tennessee also references a skirmish at Berry County. It is likewise referenced in OR General Index, Vol. I, p. 73. It is, nevertheless, counted in the enumeration.

April 29, 1864 - Spies in McMinnville, excerpt from a letter by John L. Spurlock in Nashville to his wife Lou in McMinnville

Nashville 29th April 1864

Dear Lou,

I had intended to start home in the morning but find myself disappointed. I expected to dispense of some business this morning but the court refused to take it up. . . in consequence of the absence. . . one of the judges. I will leave here next Saturday morning on the omnibus will go on it to Murfreesboro, where I will have to make some other arrangements to get from there up home [i.e. McMinnville]. I do not know how I will do. . . James Robison passed through here a few days ago on his way to Alton, Illinois. He was entrapped by a federal spy who was at McMinnville pretending to be a confederate soldier or something of the kind. I understand there are others involved in & about McMinnville and that was for their arrest have been ____[?]______ this you must not speak of for I do not intend to knowingly or unintentionally be mixed up in any of their difficulties. Tell father to tell Jim to keep his tongue in his teeth. I do not suppose he has any aspirations to do otherwise, but you know the influences that surround him. In addition every artifice is restored to entrap & ensnare by some unworthy [artifice?] [those] who basely seek by that means to curry favor with the federal authorities. By them [strictest construction?] will be place on language immoderately use. I do hope & trust my friends will be prudent, if they are not inevitable ruin awaits them.

~ ~ ~

John L. Spurlock

Bentley Papers, TSLA


April 29, 1864

April 29, 1864 - Skirmish in Shelby county, Dick Davis' guerrillas ambush Federal scouting party at Pigeon Roost crossingNOTE 1

. . . the Gurrilla's ambushed a scouting party of fourteen, at Pigeon Rooste crossing on yesterday, killing the Yankee's three horses-wounding two Yanks and capturing three and one horse, only six out of the crowd got back to Mem-phis-they are very much exasperated-the lines have been closed since, and that may have detained the girls-hurrah! for the Dick Davis and his band-I hope they may break into this thieving band of Yanks roving over the Country-both of Helen's little pups died today-

God bless our armies and give us success—

Diary of Belle Edmondson, April 30, 1864

NOTE 1: This event is not listed in the OR or Dyer's Battle Index for Tennessee.

April 29, 1864 - Special Orders No. 4, Instructions for Provost Marshals in the Department and Army of Tennessee

CIRCULAR, } HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,

No. 3. OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GEN., Huntsville, Ala., April 29, 1864.

In accordance with General Orders, No. 4, headquarters Department and Army of the Tennessee, April, 1864, the following instructions are published for the guidance of provost-marshals:

Provost-marshals in this department will be divided into two classes: First, those serving with troops in the field as provost-marshals of corps and divi-sions; second, those serving at posts or in geographical districts.

The first class are staff officers of the generals commanding their corps and divisions, and accompany the movement of the troops of the several com-mands to which they belong. When in the field their duties are confined princi-pally to the custody and disposition of prisoners of war and citizens suspected of giving information to the enemy or of other crimes, and to the enforcing of order in such towns as the troops may pass through or be encamped near dur-ing the march.

Any property seized by a provost-marshal while on the march, and needed for the use of the army, will at once be turned over to the proper officer entitled to receive the same, as the quartermaster, commissary, ordnance officer, &c., and all other property not belonging to any military department, and which circum-stances render it impracticable to turn over to the Treasury agent, will be destroyed or disposed of as the commanding general may direct.


April 29, 1864

When permanently in camp they are required to enforce the military laws, maintain order in and around their camps, and to perform such other duties of a kindred nature as their commanding officer may direct.

The second class are appointed by the provost-marshal-general, with the approval of the general commanding the department, and will not be consid-ered as upon the staff of the post or district commanders. Their position will not be affected by any change that may occur in such commanders. They will attend to such duties as are usually performed by the magistrates and civil officers of towns, as far as consistent with the military occupation of a place; grant licenses for carrying on such traces and occupations as the post or district commander may decide to establish; maintain order, quiet, and cleanliness; punish those guilty of vice and crime; try all citizens guilty of violation of orders; inflict fines or order imprisonment as the nature of the case may require; decide all cases of dispute as to personal property or question of right arising among citizens; arrest and punish all parties engaged in giving informa-tion to the enemy, in smuggling or carrying on illicit trade of any kind; seize and confiscate all goods belonging to such parties; receive and forward to the proper camps prisoners of war; hold in custody other prisoners awaiting trial; dispose of deserters and refugees in accordance with existing orders; give per-mits to soldiers and citizens to pass from the post, under such restrictions as the post commander or superior headquarters may impose, and enforce such orders as the post or district commander may find it necessary to issue. When prison-ers are arrested whose crimes are punishable by long imprisonment or death their cases will be referred to a military commission for trial.

Provost-marshals will make application to post or district commanders for the necessary officers and men to enable them to perform the duties required of them.

By order of Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson:

JAMES WILSON, Lieut.-Col. and Provost-Marshal-Gen.

Instructions.

Reports will be made on the 15th and last day of each month.

PRISONERS.

Provost-marshal of corps will cause the assistants in their several divisions to make to them true and correct reports of all prisoners of war captured, and to furnish rolls properly made out in alphabetical order, due succession of rank, with company, regiment, when, where, and by whom captured, and in the last column such remarks as may be necessary, stating the disposition made of the prisoners.

These rolls will be made out on the blanks furnished by the Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners. If there are no blanks on hand, then foolscap sheets will be used, opened out and ruled to cover the entire sheets when opened.


April 29, 1864

When it is not practicable to forward the prisoners North, directly to a camp established for rebel prisoners, they will be sent to the nearest post and placed in charge of the local provost-marshal there, who will consolidate all rolls of prisoners and forward the prisoners to the proper camps under charge of a suf-ficient guard. The officer placed in charge of the prisoners in transit to such camps will be furnished with two rolls, one of which will be turned over with his prisoners, and the other, when receipted by the officer in command of the camp, will be returned to the provost-marshal who forwarded the prisoners. A full record will be kept of the prisoners thus turned over, and the receipted roll will then be forwarded direct to the Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners at Washing-ton, D. C., with a letter of transmittal, a copy of which will be kept on file.

Officers in charge of prisoners en route to the camps in the North will receive written instructions as to what is required of them, and they must be particu-larly directed to note all changes that may occur among their prisoners until they are turned over; if any die, are left sick in hospital, or escape, the fact must be noted in the column of remarks opposite their names.

When prisoners of war are forwarded from one post to another, a note will be made on the rolls that accompany them that "no copy has been sent to the Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners," and it shall be the duty of the provost-marshal having them in charge last, previous to sending them to the camp for rebel pris-oners, to forward the rolls to Washington, and he will be held accountable for any omission. A copy of the roll of prisoners as forwarded to the Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners, with the alterations noted on it, will be sent to this office. No other rolls of prisoners will be required here, but in the letter of transmittal accompanying the semi-monthly reports the number of prisoners passing through their offices will be stated.

DESERTERS.

The oath of allegiance will be administrated to all deserters from the rebel army as soon as they have been examined by the commander of the division or detached brigade nearest to place of surrender. They will not be permitted to run at large near the lines, but when practicable will be forwarded North, or may be employed in the rear of our lines in the quartermaster or engineer departments as provided for by Gen. Orders, No. 10, headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, December 12, 1863. Particular attention is called to this order and to General Orders, No. 64, War Department, present series, as covering the whole subject of the disposition to be made of deserters.

Rolls of deserters will be forwarded to this office with the usual semi-monthly reports; in the column of remarks must be stated what disposition was made of the men.

PROPERTY.

A correct report must be made of all property seized, which will be headed, "Semi-monthly report of property seized by———-———-, provost-marshal of—, from the—-day of—-to the—-day of——," and columns as follows:


April 29, 1864

Date, number or quantity, articles, number or marks, weight, from whom seized, why seized, condition, disposition; and the report must be dated at the time of making out the same and signed officially.

All property abandoned, captured, confiscated as belonging to disloyal per-sons, or seized under military orders, which shall come into possession of any provost-marshal, shall be turned over to the agent of the Treasury Department, excepting arms, munitions of war, forage, horses, mules, wagons, beef-cattle, and supplies which are necessary in military operations, which shall be turned over to the proper officers of the ordnance, or of the quartermaster, or of the commissary departments, respectively, for the use of the army.

When the property is turned over it will be invoiced to the officer receiving it and receipts taken in duplicate, one of which will accompany the report as a voucher.

The attention of provost-marshal is especially called to the Treasury regula-tions and to General Orders, No. 88, War Department, March 31, 1863, with the requirements of which they will strictly comply.

FUNDS.

Money received by local provost-marshals for fines, licenses, &c., will be accounted for semi-monthly. The report will be headed, "Report of cash received by————————, provost-marshal of————, from the————day of—————to the—day of—-," and will contain columns headed as follows: Date, from whom received, for what, by whose order, remarks; and in addition a regular cash account will be forwarded. The balance on hand from last accounts will be brought forward. All payments will be accounted for par-ticularly, and duplicated receipts taken for all expenditures, one of which will be forwarded with the account as a voucher. A balance will be struck showing the amount on hand at the date of the report. These balances, when exceeding $100, will be forwarded by local provost-marshals to the district provost-mar-shal, who will, after making up his accounts and reports, forward the balance on hand to the provost-marshal-general Department of the Tennessee by express. When there is no district provost-marshal the reports and balances will be forwarded directly to this office.

All Confederate money captured will be reported and forwarded separately, and a statement will be made of all the circumstances connected with the sei-zure, and if any has been paid out state why or by whose order. Confederate money seized is ordered to be reported and sent to the Adjutant-Gen. of the Army, and provost-marshals will be particular to forward all information refer-ring to such seizure, so the order can be fully complied with at this office.

The necessary expenses of local and district offices will be paid out of the funds collected. Whatever is required for the full and complete working of the office will be obtained, but no unnecessary or lavish expenditure will be allowed.


April 29, 1864

Provost-marshals will use great caution in the employment of detectives. Many abuses have crept into the provost-marshal's department from the employment of worthless and dishonest men. When any such can be convicted of improper conduct, of compromising with persons guilty of violating orders, or conceal-ing or withholding information that may come in their possession, of accepting bribes, or of any other offense, they will be at once arrested and punished by the provost-marshal, or their cases will be brought before a military commis-sion for trial, and they must not be merely sent out of the department, as is too frequently the case.

Citizens must not be employed as clerks when it is possible to obtained enlisted men. If it is absolutely necessary to hire clerks, preference will be given to soldiers honorably discharged from the service.

General Orders, No. 4, headquarters Department of the Tennessee, April 19, 1864, designate what moneys properly belong to the provost-marshal fund.

OATHS.

In administering the oath of allegiance (as embodied in the President's procla-mation of March 26, 1864) to refugees and others, the blanks that have been distributed for that purpose will be used whenever practicable; when such blanks are not on hand, the oath will be written out on the top of a sheet of foolscap, commencing, "We, the undersigned, do solemnly swear," &c., and columns will be ruled, headed date, name, residence; this will be signed by the persons taking the oath, and when the sheet is filled the officer will certify on it that the oath was administered to the parties by him on the date opposite to their names. These lists will be forwarded directly to the Department of State, Washington, with a letter of transmittal.

Persons taking the oath will be furnished with a certificate, and a record will be kept in the office.

A statement of the number of oaths administered will be made to this office at the time of making the usual reports and for the time covered by the reports.

JAMES WILSON, Lieut. Col. and Provost-Marshal-Gen.


April 29, 1864 - Special Orders, No. 120, expulsion of sutlers from the army in the field in East Tennessee

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 120. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,

Knoxville, Tenn., April 29, 1864.

I. Until further orders, no sutlers will be allowed with the troops in the field. Division commanders will see that all sutlers with the army in the field are sent to the rear at once.

~ ~ ~


April 29, 1864

By command of Maj.-Gen. Schofield:

R. MORROW, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.


April 29, 1864 - May 7, 1864 - Investigation of depredations committed against Southern loyalists by Confederate forces in Kingsport, Bristol, Blountsville and Sul-livan County

BRISTOL, TENN., April 29, 1864.

Col. GEO W. BRENT, A. A. G., Hdqrs. Armies of the C. S.:

COL.: From the investigation I have been able to make, I have to report that the complaints of the citizens of Sullivan County, Tenn., contained in the memorial referred to me, are well founded. I am satisfied that the limitations of the impressment law have not been uniformly observed. Supplies needed for the support of the household have been taken; disputed questions have not been referred to the board of arbitrators, required by law. Agricultural opera-tions have been left, signed by forage-masters, commissary sergeants, officers of the line, and sometimes without any indication of the command for which the supplies were taken. In addition to these abuses, robberies by soldiers in small parties have been frequent. In October last, it is stated, a regiment of cav-alry (Peter's Twenty-first Virginia) was mounted in East Tennessee by the indiscriminate license granted by Gen. Williams to seize horses wherever they could be found. No receipts were given, no money paid, and no form of law observed. Gen. A. E. Jackson assured me that he had himself taken from men of this regiment more than 100 horses thus seized, which he recognized as belonging to perfectly loyal Southern men. Gen. William E. Jones, in March, directed his purveying officers to leave there bushels of corn or two and a half of wheat for each member of a family, but his quartermaster informed me that he was satisfied this limitation had not been respected. I have received assur-ances from Gen. William E. Jones, in March, directed his purveying officers to leave three bushels of corn or two and a half of wheat for each member of a family, but his quartermaster informed me that he was satisfied this limitation had not been respected. I have received assurances from Gen. A. E. Jackson, from the chief quartermaster and chief commissary of the department, from the quartermaster and chief commissary of the department, from the quartermaster of Jones' brigade, and from numerous citizens that the country contains a large number of informal receipts of the kind above described. A good many of these I have myself seen. Mr. Mr. Wyndham Robertson declared to me that he knew of numerous cases in which all the safeguards of the impressment law were disregarded. The accompanying documents, marked A and B, will illustrate the various kinds of depredations to which the people something may be done toward paying the debts represented by informal vouchers. I would suggest that as full powers as the law will allow be conferred upon Maj. Glover, chief quartermaster for the liquidation of claims of this character in his department


April 29, 1864

in this quarter, and that similar powers be conferred upon Capt. Shelby, chief commissary at Gen. Buckner's headquarters.

It would seem that cavalry officers might devise some plan of foraging their detachments without subjecting the citizens to the enormous Hardship of col-lecting his money upon irregular vouchers. Their quartermasters might at least be required to follow and take up immediately all such paper. At present the quartermaster of this department is making no impressments. The commissary has impressing agents out, who are provided with money or blank forms receipted and with copies of the impressment law and the orders thereon, which they are instructed strictly to respect.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ARCHER ANDERSON, Lieut. Col., Asst. Adjt. Gen., on Inspector Duty.


HDQRS. ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES, May 6, 1864.

Respectfully submitted to His Excellency the President.

A copy of this report will be sent to Brig. Gen. William E. Jones, commanding department, that a rigid scrutiny may be made and all offenders brought to jus-tice. It is confidently hoped he will not allow a continuance of the lawless and disgraceful transactions.

BRAXTON BRAGG, Gen.


MAY 6, 1864.

It is painful to know that such outrages as those described have been commit-ted by any portion of our Army, the justice and humanity of which has gener-ally been scarcely less conspicuous than their gallantry. It is due to the citizen, to the good soldier, and the fair fame of the Government that these abuses should be visited with such correction as will serve for future warning to evil-doers.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

[Third indorsement.]

MAY 23, 1864.

Respectfully referred to the Adjutant-Gen.

BRAXTON BRAGG.

[Fourth indorsement.]

All that is requisite seems to have been done at Gen. Bragg's headquarters.

CLAY.

[Inclosures.]


April 29, 1864

A.

Memorandum of affidavits in the possession of J. R. Anderson, of Bristol:

Conrad Shirrett declares that 4 milch cows belonging to him were impressed, against his consent and in violation of law, by Maj. John Hockenhull, commis-sary of subsistence. In an indorsement on the papers appears an order from Maj. Latrobe, of Gen. Longstreet's staff, to return the cows, but they were never returned. On the night of April 1, 5 soldiers forcibly took from James Torbit 125 pounds of bacon, 12 pounds of flour, and 6 gallons of molasses. From the same man 2 bay mares were taken by soldier of Peters' regiment of cavalry (Twenty-first Virginia) on the 18th October, 1863.

On the 11th April, 1864, Lieut. C. T. Whitehead, Company G, Sixteenth Geor-gia Battalion of Cavalry, took 12 bushels of corn from James Morton (all he had), during his absence and against his family's cries and protestations, leav-ing the following receipt: "Rec's April 11, 1864, of James Morton, 12 bushels of corn for the use of public animals, Co. G, 16th Ga. Batt'n Cavalry.-Lt. C. T. Whitehead, Comdg. Co. G, 16th Ga. Batt'n Cav'y."

November 8, 2 men, giving their names first as Ross and Roller and then as Thomas Rolliff and James Watmore, and as belonging to the Sixteenth Georgia Battalion Cavalry, forcibly took from Abram Baker 1 gray mare and 1 bay horse. He had but 1 other work animal. Neither money nor receipt was given.

Isaac C. Anderson, sr., declares in a letter that on the 7th April some men from Vaughn's brigade took from him his last ear of corn, by impressment, it is sup-ported. Men from the same brigade stole from him a black mare. Longstreet's men impressed his bull, the only breeding stock he had.

W. H. Litheal makes affidavit that 600 pounds of hay needed for his own stock were impressed by an agent of Capt. H. Kenneworth, Buckner's division. No citizen seems to have been called on.

Mrs. Hannah Thomas makes affidavit that several wagon loads of forage nec-essary for her own stock were impressed without her consent.

Mr. J. R. Anderson states (not on affidavit) that on Monday, 25th April, two men, calling themselves of Ashby's regiment of cavalry, which had just passed, forcibly took from Isaac Sells 1 roan mare and from Andrew Cowan 1 horse. He further states that Benning's brigade, Field's division, encamped on his farm, near Zollicoffer, went off without settling for 10 acres of timber which they had consumed, though they knew they were to move a week before they started.

ARCHER ANDERSON, Lieut. Col., Asst. Adjt. Gen., on Inspection Duty.

B.

HDQRS., Near Kingsport, April 18, 1864.

Maj. T. ROWLAND, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:


April 29, 1864

MAJ.: Three nights ago the house of a highly respectable woman living near Dixon's Ford, above here, was entered and robbed in her presence. The drawers were rifled, her jewelry was taken before her eyes, and she was compelled to give to the thieves her finger-rings. Hearing of it, I ordered and commenced an immediate search and investigation. Very soon I had reason to suspect that Lieut. Gen. Vaughn (and against whom other charges were already pending), was implicated. So soon as the discovered that the investigation would lead to his exposure, he cautiously slipped out to where his horse was, and in a few moments was not to be found. He has deserted and gone. I would have placed him in close arrest before the hour of his escape, but the evidence against him was too uncertain and rather vague to authorize it without further investigation. Two others, however, members of Company G, Fifty-ninth Tennessee Cavalry, who were accomplices in the theft, I have in close arrest and dismounted. One of them, if not both, I am persuaded is an experienced scoundrel, and therefore advise that they be sent at once to prison, or at least to some more secure point than this. Please advise Maj. Toole what to do with them. We have use for their horses here and I will hold them, with you permission, subject to Gen. Ran-som's order. I communicated with Gen. Vaughn fully as to Kedd's breach of arrest and escape. I also sent two men in pursuit of him, but I have little thought of capturing him very soon. He rode an uncommonly fine horse, and is a very shrewd villain.


JAS. W. HUMES, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Detachment Second Brigade.

[Indorsement.]

MAY 7, 1864.

This officer should be dropped from rolls as a deserter.

BRAXTON BRAGG, Gen.

COUNTY COURT, April Term, 1864.

On motion, the chairman of court appointed L. M. King, F. W. Earnest, and Joseph R. Anderson a committee to memorialize Lieut.-Gen. Longstreet, through this court, to grant relief to the citizens of this county from depreda-tions from soldiers, and report immediately to this court.

BLOUNTSVILLE, April 4, 1864. STATE OF TENNESSEE, Sullivan County:

SIR: We, the undersigned citizens of said county, being a committee appointed by the worshipful county court of this county to draft a suitable memorial to you in behalf of the citizens of the county, do most respectfully submit the fol-lowing:

This county has furnished in all about 2,000 troops for the defense of the South and Southern institutions, a large number of whom have left poor families dependent upon the citizens for support, and owing to the present system of impressments and the daily violations of the laws governing the impressment


April 29, 1864

of supplies we are utterly unable conservator of our rights, and in the name of humanity and the cause of Southern independence we appeal to you for pro-tecting and relief. Families are being daily robbed of the supplies absolutely necessary for their support, by officers of the army, claiming to be authorized by you, while a well-organized system of robbery is carried on all over the country day and night, the only authority claimed for which is the terror of the bayonet. If this state of things continues it will not only demoralize an ruin the army, but will force good men to quit the ranks and return to their homes to defend their families against the excesses and outrages of unprincipled men soldiers, who plunder and rob with impunity when we are already reduced to a bare subsistence. Many of the impressments, we think, made by officers are in positive violation of the law of Congress and the orders of Gen. Cooper on the subject. We are willing, as we ever have been, to contribute to the utmost of our ability to a cause so vital to our social and political existence. In consider-ation of these things we therefore most respectfully ask you to protect us against further aggressions of the kind, and prevent the further impressment of supplies so necessary to the support of families of soldiers in the field. The exi-gencies of our situation, should we fail to get that relief which we pray at your hands, will compel us to appeal to the authorities at Richmond.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

L. M. KING, F. W. EARNEST, JOS. R. ANDERSON, Committee.

The foregoing resolutions or memorials being submitted by the committee to the court, the same was unanimously adopted by the court, and it is ordered by the court that David S. Lyon, L. M. King, Joel L. Barker, esq., and Joseph R. Anderson and L. F. Johnson be appointed a committee to present this memorial to Lieut.-Gen. Longstreet and await his answer, and report the same to the court instanter, together with these proceedings.

A true copy of the proceedings of the court, this 4th day of April, 1864.

Attest:

JOHN C. RUTLEDGE, Clerk.

TUESDAY, April 5, 1864.

The court had the following proceedings on the report of Lieut.-Gen. Long-street:

Returned into court the report of the committee, whereupon the court refers this matter to His Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of American, and appoints L. M. King and F. W. earnest, gentlemen and citizens of Sullivan County, to bear these proceedings to Richmond, that His Excellency may grant such relief as the exigencies of the case demand.

STATE OF TENNESSEE, Sullivan County:

I, John C. Rutledge, clerk of the country court for said county, hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the record as will appear in my office.


April 29, 1864

Given under my hand and private seal (having no office seal) at office in Blountsville, this 5th day of April, 1864.

[SEAL. ]

JOHN C. RUTLEDGE, Clerk.


HDQRS., April 5, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded.

The orders in this department require the strictest enforcement of the impress-ment authority. This is rendered absolutely necessary in order that our troops and animals may be partially fed. If we cannot get supplies from the East we must soon be forced to take more than the law allows to avoid starvation.

J. LONGSTREET, Lieut.-Gen., Cmdg.


Gen. Bragg, for attention.

The indorsement of Gen. Longstreet does not touch the complaint of the citi-zens against illegal seizures, robbery, &c.

J. D.

BLOUNTSVILLE, TENN. April 6, 1864.

The committee to whom the worshipful court referred the foregoing memorial would state further (without any intention of boasting) that the citizens of this county on the whole are as loyal as any within the Southern Confederacy, and as such have a right to claim and expect protection from wanton abuses on the part of our own army. They have contributed all their surplus to the use of the C. S. Army, even to a deprivation of their common pursuits in agricultural interests. This county has already paid into the C. S. treasury as war tax upward of $100,000, as will appear from the files in said office. Notwithstanding all this, and much more that could be said in our behalf, the citizens of this county are willing to abide the acts of Congress and Gen. Cooper's instructions on impressments; yet when within the last few days the whole county has been stripped by forage and commissary wagons (in many cases without even a receipt being given), one universal wail of lamentation has to be borne with this memorial in behalf of many families to you for relief. They are to-day dependent upon the C. S. Government for supplies, and it is believed and hoped you will grant them. This county has to-day quarter upon it the whole of Gen. Longstreet's army from its length and breadth, which will of necessity make it a dependency upon the Government before any relief can reach us for the supplies of soldiers and other families. We trust you will not turn a deaf ear to the complaints of a people who still struggle to maintain their loyalty to the C. S. Government.


April 30, 1864

F. W. EARNEST, JOS. R. ANDERSON, L. M. KING.


April 30, 1864 - "Clippings from Brownlow"

We copy the following from Brownlow's Whig of April 30th:~ ~ ~

"Green Flies and Rebels"

Last year, as the citizens report, there were more green flies here than ever appeared in East Tennessee since the first settlement of the country. Cold and backward as the spring is, they are returning by thousands and are to be seen in every house, in every yard and in every street. They came last year to [bless?] the Confederates, as they were in fine condition to produce a crop of maggots. They return this spring under the misapprehension that rebels are holding the country!

Memphis Bulletin, May 14, 1864.

April 30, 1864 - "Reducing the Poor Man's Wages"

There are those in our country who, at all hazards, are resolved on holding on to the negro, and perpetuating slavery, even in the loyal region of East Tennes-see. They know and feel that the people are sick and tired of fighting to perpet-uate slavery in the Cotton States; that not one in ten of all the voters in East Tennessee have any interest in the institution; that they have seen their homes made desolate, and their loved ones slain and cruelly murdered on account of the nigger ; that the spirit that actuated these outrages is showing itself as malignant as ever, under the guise of Unionism, and of upholding the constitu-tion and laws, and finally, the real people see that there will be no peace in the country while the struggle is kept up to hold on to the disturbing element.

Gentlemen, with a view to carry the poor and laboring classes with them, at the ballot-box, to bolster up the institution, take the ground that if the negroes are emancipated, the competition will become so great between the negroes and the laboring classes of the whites, that poor men will have to work for nothing. This is all stuff. The emancipating of negroes will not increase their numbers, but diminish them. They are already here, and as slaves are in competition with white laborers, and really keep down the white man's wages. Emancipate them, and they will cease to be in competition with white laborers. Nay, more, our theory is, that in process of time they will, like the Indian tribes, become extinct.

But it is of no use to argue this question. The institution will be wiped out, and out to be, and that section that clings to it longest will see the most trouble, and the last to get rid of the horrors of war. Men who lend themselves to help bol-


April 30, 1864

ster up slavery now, whether they own any or not, are in their own light, and will prove to be their own tormentors.


April 30, 1864 - "Refugees from the South."

A gentleman at Cleveland, Tennessee, writing to his brother in Cincinnati, says that no man who has been in the service and observed Rebels closely, can avoid the conclusion that many of the refugees who now come within our lines are fugitives, not from the conscription, but from starvation. They hate the [Federal] Government, but love its rations. Even at Nashville there are many of this class, who return no service for their daily food. As a nut for copperheads to crack, we commend to their attention the fact that four or six weeks ago, but of every hundred rations drawn by refugees, ninety-six were drawn by whites and four by negroes ; the latter, to a great extent, support themselves by their labor, Cincinnati Gazette.

The contrabands in this direction must be a superior race to those in Louisiana, for in the interview between the "Christian delegation" from Chicago and Pres-ident Lincoln in 1862, the latter is reported as saying: "General Butler wrote me, a few days since, that he was issuing more rations to the slaves who have rushed to him than to all the white troops under his command. They eat, and that is all."


April 30, 1864 - Elvira Powers remarks on the progress of her contraband students at the refugee farmNOTE 1

The aptness of the pupils, as a whole, is really surprising. Some have learned the alphabet, I am told, in three days, and others in a week.

It is said that all northern people who visit the school, very soon fall a victim to that fearful disease, known by the southern chivalry and northern copperheads, as "niggar on the brain." And I will confess my belief that were I to teach in this school very long, I might become so interested in some of my pupils I should sometimes forget that they were not of the same color as myself, and really believe that God did make of one blood all nations of the earth.

They present every shade of color from the blackest hue to a fairer skin than my own. It is often necessary to find out who the mother is before you know whether the person is white of black. The age [of the student body] varies from four to thirty.

The progress of some is really astonishing. One little black girl of seven years, and with wooly head, can read fluently in the Fourth Reader, and studies pri-mary, geography, and arithmetic, who has been to school but one year. I


April 30, 1864

inquired if any one taught her at home, if she had not learned how to read before that time."Oh, no, I learned my letters when I first came to school, and I live with my aunt Mary, and she can't read. She's no kin to me, and I haven't any kin, but I call her aunt."

Perhaps she never had any, or is related to Topsey, and if questioned farther, might say she "'spects she grew." A boy about twelve, who has been to school but nine months, and who learned his letters in that time, reads in the Third Reader and studies geography. Some are truly polite. The first day of my tak-ing charge of one of the division, a delicate featured, brown-skinned little girl of about nine years came to me and said with the sweetest voice and manner:—

"Lady will you please tell me you name?"

I did so, when she tanked me and said:—

"Miss P_____ can you please hear our Third Reader this morning." It was not an idle question either, for the school is so large that now, while two of the teachers are absent, from illness, some of the classes are each day necessarily neglected. And so eager are the generality of the pupils to learn, that most of them are in two or three reading and spelling classes at the same time.

One might now not only exclaim with Galileo, "The world does move," and we move with it. For though but a little time since the negro dared to say "I think," lest the master might exclaim,—"You think, you black neggar -never you mind about that, Ill do your thinking for you." But would instead, say deferentially, with bent head and hand in his wooly hair, "Wall, massa, I'se been a studyin' about dat dar," is now learning to stand erect and confess that he does think; as well as learn to read and write.

One of the more advanced pupils told me that her father taught her to read and write before it was safe to let anyone know that he did, or that he could himself read.


NOTE 1: Powers had agreed to teach negro children at the "Refugee farm", or the "Eweing farm" on Friday, April 22, 1864. See: Powers, Pencillings, p.58.

April 30, 1864 - A Report on Female Confederates in Knox County.

Four She Devils.

A short time since, in the North-eastern corner of this county, and near the Union county line, the wife of a villian at Camp Chase, two single girls of another family and a rebel Negro woman, dressed themselves in rebel uniform and caps, and visited the house of a Union lady and frightened her all but out of her life, making threats and cutting up generally. This was beautiful conduct for—we will not say ladies -but for females. The authorities must erect a female prison here for all such, and when done, we move that these gallant


April 30, 1864

rebels in breeches must be sent for. The only blunder they committed was in not having with them a negro man instead of a woman!

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator, April 30, 1864

April 30, 1864 - ca. May 5, 1864 - Expedition in West Tennessee to capture Forrest

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., May 2 [Mon-day], 1864.

Brig.-Gen. BRAYMAN, Cmdg. District of Cairo:

GEN.: I wrote you what my plans were some days ago. I have no Official information that the force which I asked to be sent to Crump's Landing was sent; on the contrary I have a dispatch from Gen. Sherman, dated Nashville, April 28, [Thursday] 11.30 a. m., in which he says: "Don't calculate on a force moving inland from Tennessee River now, as we cannot spare it, but rely upon your own command." I sent out my force on Saturday morning [April 30] as I wrote you I should, but the [command] left with the understanding that they were not to have the co-operating force I asked for, and so understanding will not reach Bolivar Sunday [May 1] night as I stated. On the contrary, they may be delayed two or three days [i.e., until May 4 or 5, Wednesday or Thursday] hunting out a force of 2,000 or 3,000 of Forrest's men who are near Oakland, Mason's Station, and Covington, between the Hatchie and Wolf Rivers. Those streams are much swollen, and what men are in there I hope to capture Forrest with most of his force is north of the Hatchie, and it is very much swollen by heavy rains, so it will be impossible for him to cross below Bolivar, and proba-bly not below Crump's Mill. It is very important that the space between Crump's Mill or Bolivar on the Hatchie should be held and Forrest's retreat south cut off until Sturgis can whip out the force south of Hatchie and come up. I hear from officers who have come down from Cairo that on the 28th [Thurs-day] an expedition left there for the Tennessee River in light marching order, and it was understood to be ordered to operate against Forrest.

I suppose these are the troops I asked for. If this be so I fear that they will move out toward the Hatchie, and failing to hear from Sturgis will return. This they should not do. They must wait for Sturgis, and prevent Forrest from escaping. He has ordered all his troops to join him on the 4th May [Wednesday] at Jack-son. If there is danger of them returning before communicating with Sturgis (you will perhaps know the officer's orders who went in command), you will immediately send a dispatch-boat, with a copy of this letter, to the officer in command.

If my information is correct in regard to the present disposition of Forrest's forces, I think we shall punish him badly if I can have this co-operating force from the Tennessee. If this force has gone up the Tennessee for the purpose I now suppose, why was I not informed?

I am, general, your obedient servant,


April 30, 1864


OR, Ser. I, Vol. 39, pt. II, pp. 8-9.

April 30, 1864 - May 9, 1864 - Expedition from Memphis to Ripley Mississippi and skirmish at Bolivar May 2

•See May 2, 1864--Skirmish at Bolivar


APRIL 1864

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