Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-15
IFrOn Tue hHOAFIIIe fsegIsler, Aug. 10
ssThe Ball Opened In East Tennes.
ARR.e9

From the Knoxville Register, Aug Is
sThe Ball Opened In East Tennes-
see.S
For some time il has been known that Capt
Thornburg, of Uuion County, a strong Lin
colnite has been organizing a military COM
pany, for the avowed purpose of aiding in
the subu CATION of the South. The arrange
ment being complete, on Friday last they
took up the line of march for Kentucky, to
unite with the Lincoln forces there being or
gained, and to return to their own natiUe sec
tio,f, to reenact upon the soil of East Ten
nessee the damnable deeds that has marked
their course in Missouri, Virginia and Mary
land.
Fortunately, however, report of their
movements reached the ears OF Lieut.-Col. Z
NJ. Walker, in command at Cumberland Gap
Forthwith he dispatched the gallant Captain
III. NJ. Ashby, with portion of the Cavalry
under his command, to intercept the passage
and if possible arrest the ringleader. Tney
came in contact with Capt. Thornburg and
his traitor band of so men, near Rogers Gap
in Scott County. They were armed with
John Brown pixies and pistols. bowie knives,
and some few rifles. A surrender was de-
manded. 1t was refused, and a charge was
made upon them, which put the whole party
to flight Several shots were fired, one OF
which took effect in the neck of Capt. Thorn
bnrg, checked his locomotion and forced him
to surrender. Some seven or eight others
were captured. besides IA horses, q pixies,
several large knives, pistols, rifles, satchels,
saddles. In fact, it was miniature Manassas
affair.
Lieut. Gibbs was the hero of the battle.
Capt. Thornburg had valuable horse, which
Lieut. Gibbs was anxious to purchase when
he entered the Confederate service. Thorn
burg asked $500 for him, but refused to let
Gibbs have him at any price. The Lieuten-
ant told him he would yet have the pleasure
of riding him-that whenever Thornburg at
tempted to cross the Cumberland Mountain
on his hellish mission, he would capture him
and take his horse.
What he told him in jest has been realiz-
ed. Lieut.. Gibbs made gallant charge up
on the Captain, took him prisoner and now
parades on his fine horse.
This is but the beginning in East Tennes-
see, and unless better cOunselS prevail, no
man can tell the end. This man Thoruburg
is represented as one of the leading rebeIlious
spirits of this section. He was found in arms
against the Government to which he owes al
legiance. He committed treason against the
State and Confederate Government, and the
full penalty OF his crime should be visited
upon him. There is no excuse or juStifica-
ton for his acts. Towards his deluded fol-
lowers we have different feelings. They
"know not what they do.'' They have been
misled and deceived, and are the victims of
misplaced confidence. The truth has been a
sealed book to them, and their minds poison
ed with false representations.
1t is enough 10 make the blood chill in the
veins, and every Tennessean to blush with
shame for his native or adopted State, to find
such vile miscreants within her borders
Great God! can il be that there are flends in
human form, living in our midst who are
willing to take up arms against their own
brethren? That are seeking to compose
portion of a Grand Army" to invade their
own soil? Invite, and form part, of mer-
cenary band, to lay waste and devastate
their own section: destroy the property and
burn the houses of their neighb ,rs and
friends; take from the honest laborer the
food provided for his family by the sweat of
his brow; to feed those who come to kill and
destroy; to have the civil made subservient
to the military power; and to welcome with
open arms devils incarnate to commit brutal
violence upon their mothers, wives, daugh-
tiers and sisters. Such acts have blackened
the footpaths of this invading army, wher-
ever they have been quartered, and such is
the character OF those who make up its num-
bers.
We again appeal to the honest masses to
arouse from their SAUNDERS, burst asunder
the cords that bind them, and forsake the
paths that are leading to their ruin and de-
struction. A fearful retribution awaits the
authors of this mischief. They may escape
the penalties prescribed by human laws, but
vengeance is mine, saith the Lord"