The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-09-20
To Our Friends in East Tennessee.
From ,be IS8xvilIc Wbie.1

Tennessee and 10 remove, as far ms posi-
bic, all causes calculated to irritate our
people. the undersigned on yesterday,
addressed u note to Gen. Zollicoher, now
in command Of this division of the State,
Of which the following is copy:
KNOXVILLE, TESN.,
September 18th, 1861.
GIN +. X. ZoILicorrER, Commanding the
Forces OF E'st Tennessee.
Dear Sr:-We have learned from relia-
bic sources that there is some apprehen-
sion existing in the minds of many per-
sons in this quarter of the State, that the
people of East Tennessee are likely to
break out in open rebellion against the
existing authorities of the State, and inau-
gurate civil war in our midst. We are
surprised that, any such apprehension
should be for amoment cherished, unless
those who entertain.it have been favored
with better sources of information than
we can pretend TO. OF course, our inter-
course and conversations in reference to
the present deplorable troubles in which
we are all involved have been, for the
most part, with that portion OF our citi-
zens known as Union men, and any opi.,-
ion we may express is founded upon our
knowledge of the purposes and intentions
of the people as derived from that source.
We should deplore civil war in our
midst and we believe that we kiit reflect
the feeling OF the UlioI party in East
tennessee IN avowing that sentiment
Vur counsels 10: sorie time past have been
| ior inc !'ace c,nd qiiict of the community,
] an, so lar as we have any knowledge,
! .hcsc counsels have almost invariably
been responded 10 favorably by the peo-
pie. From our knowledge of the people
1 of this portion of the State, I'VE have on
abiding confidence that there is no pur-
pose on the part Of any respectable num-
Der of them TO inaugurato civil strife, or
provoke a collision between the authori-
ties, civil or military, and themselves. At
all events, so far as we have any influence
with the people of this end of the State, it
will be cXerted for the maintenance of
the quiet and peace of the community.
/ We feel well assured that it is not your
purpose uniustly to harass or Cypress any
peaceablc and law-abiding citizen, and it
is equally ours to use whatever of weight
we may have to prevent any outbreak, or
disorderly conduct upon the part of our
citizens.
You will pardon the expression Of our
belief, that should The troops now under
your command be required upon another
| field of operations, there will be no dan
ger of an outbreak in this quarter because
of their absence; at all events it will not
abate our honest efforts to maintain peace
and good order among our people.
Very respectfully, Signed as below.
TO this note we have received the fol-
lowing reply:
BRIGADE HEAD QUARTERS,
Knoxville, Tenn, Sept, Ii, 1861.
GenhemeH:-On my return to Knoxville
this morning, alter days absence, have
been gratiiied to receive your note of yes
terday. The spirit it breathes, together
with the influence of your conjoint sigma
lures must greatly promote the peace and
quiet in East Tennessee so much desired
by the Government, both State and Con-
federate. ! will most cheerfully hereafter,
as heretofore, retain no more military
force, and exercise no more military au-
thority, in East Tennessee, than | may
deem due to the peace and safety of the
| community; and trust, gentlemen, shat
we may soon have the pleasure of wit
Messing the disappearance of all misun-
| Outstanding among our people, and with
it, all military forces from this division Of
the State. Very respectfully,
+. X. XoIIIcoFFER,
Brig. General.
To Messrs +. s. llElsKELL, SAM. MILILGAH,
JNo. BANTER, and others.
We sincerely trust that the motives by
which we have been prompted in this
matter viii be property appreciated by
the Union men throughout East Tennes-
see. We are satisfied that we have truly
represented TO the military authorities,
tho disposition and purposes OF our people
as body, and we earnestly hope that our
friends in every locality will demonstrate
by their conduct that the confidence re-
posed in their peaceful intentions has not
been misplaced. We trust we will not be
regarded as presumptuous in invoking all
to continue the pursuit of their peaceful
vocations, and to studously refrain from
the use of Incorporate language and from
violent acts calculated to provoke coils
ions with the soldiery now in our midst.
TO preserve the peace Of our section, and
the safety Of ourselves and families, is
surely worthy the combined effort of us
all. Resistance to the present authorities
can only result in the destruction Of those
who undertake it, We, therefore earn
cstly invoke our friends, in favor of peace,
both in word and deed.
F. S. 1IEIsHELL, ID. X. YouNG,
SAN. MILLIGAN, CoNALLY +. TRIGG,
JouN BANTER, i've. n FLEMING.
WV, p. CRIrrEN, SAM'L PIcKENs.
u. EHpRNBURGu, q 4. II. HopspEy.
.. p, TEMPLE, WILLIAM RoDGERs,
". q. BRowNLow, S. r. RODGERS,
}. IL. GAuT, W. G. PIcEENs,
G. NJ. HAzEN.
September l4th, 1861.
Consolidated.
The AaratisCr and Ga-ettc, Chattanooga,