Friday, October 10, 2014

10.10.2014 Tennessee Civil War Notes

        10, Impressed Bradley county horses returned to rightful owners

HERE'S YOUR MULE.

Mr. Editor: The brilliant feat of capturing horses and tories in Bradley county. East Tennessee, performed by the "Ocmulgees,"[1] and spoken of by your correspondent Ybdiwh [sic] does not seem to have resulted in as much credit to them as Ybdihw imagined. A few days after the impressments, the owners of the horses captured went to Knoxville, and presented their case to Major General Sam. Jones, who wrote to Major Goode expressing strong disapprobation at the impressments, and said, that he hoped Major Goode would investigate the matter and have the horses restored to their proper owners at once, as such impressments was in conflict with the sequestration laws and a disgrace to the service-whereupon Major G_____ ordered the horsed to be given up immediately. It was truly amusing to see the Ocmulgees "hand over" the contrabands with the innocent expression: "Here's Yer Mule."

Macon Daily Telegraph, October 10, 1862.

        10, Confederate Shoe Contract, Greeneville

Agreement made and entered into this 10th day of October between McDonnel McGaughy & Co. and Jas Kirk & John A. McGaughy the said Kirk & J. McGaughey agrees  on their part to make 20 pr of Mens Shoes per week for J McDowell McGaughy & of such sizes and quantities as they may need and as are required of them in a contract they have now on hand with Maj. James Glover quarter Master for the Confederate States of America. The said McDowell McGaughey on their part agree to pay the said Kirk & McGaughey toe same prices they are now paying for same quality of shoes in their shop in Greeneville, or same prices they may be paying at any time during their contract with the said Government said Kirk & E. McGaughy are to receive the shoes or leather at the shop of McDowell, McGaughy & Co. and return the shoes once every week. So long as the Contract may continue between S. McDowell McGaughey & Co. And said Maj. Jas. Clover & it is understood that if McDowell McGaughy  should not have sufficient leather to supply their own shop & E. Kirk McGaughy the said McDowell McGaughy & Co. are not to be held responsible for damages-witness our hands

Jonn McGaughy

McDowell & McGaughey

Kirk & McGauphey

Copy of original document courtesy of Ms. B. R. Robinson, descendant [2]

 

 

        10, Reflections upon the Army of Tennessee's situation and the visit of President Jefferson C. Davis, an excerpt from the diary of Brigadier-General William W. Mackall, Chief of Staff, Army of Tennessee

The President, three aides including Custus Lee, Colonel Preston Johnston and General Pemberton arrived last evening....I heard yesterday that Longstreet has signed the petition for the removal of Bragg, and if he has not, at all events he is talking about him in a way to destroy all his usefulness. Bragg is in fine humor today, evidently thinking he has the President on his side, but Mr. Davis is as wiley as a serpent and Bragg as yet to discover whether he is as harmless as a dove....

The President is riding around the lines this morning and the troops are hurrahing, which I am glad of for the common good. I am satisfied that Bragg cannot usefully command this army and that I can do no good, for if Mr. D. sustains him, he will be too elated to listen to reason. I do not know a single contented general in this army, a very sad fact is the presence of the enemy. I do not believe that Mr. Davis could do as much good by sending ten thousand men to this army as by putting Lee or Johnston here, and I do not think he can do anything by mischief by putting any other. If Longstreet, this will be very acceptable to the corps, but all the others will say: "We don't know him, and we know that Bragg is careful of us, doesn't fight unless he has a good chance, and he has never been beaten exactly, and this he has beaten Rosencrants [sic] badly."

Diary of William W. Mackall, October 10, 1863.[3]

 

 

        14, Informing on Shelbyville's Pro-Confederate Women

A LIST OF DISLOYAL LADIES OF SHELBYVILLE

Tullahoma Tenn Oct 14/64

Maj Genl Milroy

Sir, the government of the United States of America should know and understand its enemies whether male or female. And treason should be made odious in both alike, I am not making war upon "innocent" women; every brave man loves and respects the name of woman, but when she stoops from the high position that beautifies the character of a true woman and seeks alike, with traitors of the male gender, to undermine and sweep away the best government of earth she forfeits her claim to that high regard and becomes the most corrupt and debased of the whole human family. I repeat that I love the very name of woman, but when she unsexes herself she is a fit subject for anything. It is to them in great measure, that this country, so beautifully adapted to higher scenes and more noble purposes is made one vast scene of carnage and blood. And have they repented? No! They are doubly distilled in their phanaticism [sic]. And shall they remain here among the people they so much despise to annoy the loyal people and give information to traitors? We cannot believe it just and we are aware that it is your purpose to reward patriotism and punish treason. These rebel women express a desire to go south or for the return of the gents of their complexion, and surely they should at least have one portion of their wish granted them, the portion that leads their minds and carcasses southward. Who says no? Not he that is tinctured with loyalty. The following is a list of applicants for a journey south and by all means they should not be disappointed in their lofty expectation. MRS. WALLACE of Shelbyville whose husband is a refugee from justice now in the south. She is a most notorious rebel and has sold off all her furniture & etc and is trying to sell her place and go south. Her daughter and son rejoiced greatly when Blackwell made his raid in Shelbyville. And I think Miss Cunningham and her mother merits [sic] a passport from a letter she wrote which by the way fell into your hands. Her brother is in the rebel army and his father is in the south. Nor would I forget to mention the daughters of Robt Matthews, who hugged and kissed the rebel Gen. Robinson when he and Williams came through Shelbyville and rejoiced when Genl Robinson told them that he was the man who killed Co. Eiford of the 2nd Ky. Their father is in the south and claims that he was the first man who proposed to break up the Charleston Convention in 1860. Blackwell's wife should also be sent south for her health. There is also a Mrs Fuqua (wife of John Fuqua) who prays that blessings may once more fall upon the rebels. She would not be allowed to "risk one eye" and her husband should be allowed the same privilege. Miss Felicia Whitthorn and her sister, Mrs Thomas, (whose husband is in the south) both shed many tears because they can not get to the promised land. They merit a glance. And I must not forget Mrs. Mary Wooten whose husband is in the South. She wished the earth might open and swallow up the Union army and all of the Union people and also that Blackwell might catch and hang every Union man who was lying out from home. Lee Dalton, Baley Blessing, E.M. Patterson and Pattersons [sic] wife saw four rebels ride up to Mrs. Wootons [sic] house during Forrests [sic] raid and talk with her half an hour and when they left they went immediately to get the news and she swore that she had seen no one. She sends letters and gets letters from the rebel army almost every week.

Who merits a trip south more than Mary Wooton? She is a splendid spy for the rebels and should be sent south. Next comes a Mr Watson (whose given name I do not know) and his wife and daughters who reported John A. Moore in escaping north to prevent the conscription and said John A. Moore a peaceable old man 64 years of age and his son Moses Moore 16 years of age were arrested and sent to Murfreesboro and imprisoned and badly treated for many days. They should not have the honor of living one moment more among loyal people. And justice to humanity and the interest of government requires that they be sent to Brownlow's next Depot to the infernal regions. Other names could be mentioned but time will not admit.

I am respectfully KD.

Michael Bradley, With Fire and Blood, pp. 82-85. [4]

 



[1] An Indian tribe once located in Central Georgia. In this case the word is most likely an allusion to the Cherokee who were in the Confederate service.

[2] This document was made available by Mr. Fred Prouty, Executive Director of the Tennessee Wars' Commission, Nashville, TN.

[3]As cited in, Voices of the Civil War: Chattanooga (Time-Life Books: Alexandria, VA, nd) p.24. [Hereinafter: Diary of William W. Mackall.]

[4] Michael R. Bradley, With Blood & Fire: Life Behind Union Lines in Middle Tennessee, 1863-65, (Burd Street Press: Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 2003). As cited from Provost Marshal's records. [Hereinafter cited as: Fire & Blood.]


James B. Jones, Jr.

Public Historian

Tennessee Historical Commission

2941 Lebanon Road

Nashville, TN  37214

(615)-770-1090 ext. 123456

(615)-532-1549  FAX

 

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