The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-02-14
Leyai,y OF Eastern TcHHcssec--
Rebel Treatnent OF Bridge
Rurners

Legally OF Eastern GchHcsseC--
Rebci Treatsnent OF Bridge
burners.
The recent capture Of the Camp Of
Gen. zollieofl,r's command Ia kentucky
secured among other matters OF interest
and importance, some NEST interesting
correspondence between Col. Wood,
commanding ot Knoxville, and the War
Department Of Confederate states ct
Richmond. Uuder date of Novcu bsr
nth Col. Wool expressed the greatest
alarm at tho uprising Of the Union men.
the destruction Of railroad bridges, &c.--'
or the citizens OF Knoxville he declared
"there was large majority Of the people
.sympathizing with the enemy, aud com.
munieating with them ty the unfrcquch,-
ed mountain paths" Under date OF No.
yembcr goth, to Secretary Benjamin, hS
reported the suppression Of the uprising
of tho loyal people in East Tennessee
and was anxious to know what should be
done with those who had been taken
prisoners. We copy the following para.
graphs;
We have now in custody some ofth IL
leaders, Judge Patterson, the son-in.lsw
Of Andrew Johnson--Col. pickens, the
Senator in the Legislature from Sewer
and other counties, and several members
Of the Legislature, besides others Of in.
fuencc and some distinction in ,lcircoun-
tries. These men have encouraged this
rebellion, but have 80 managed al not TO
be found In ms. nevertheless, all their
actions ard words have been hoe,ilc 10
the Confederate States. The influence
of ,heir wealth, position and connection
has been cxcrtod IN favor of the Lincoln
Government, and they are the parties TO
blame for the troubles in East Tennessee.
They really deserve the gallows. tnd II
consistent with the laws. ought speedily
to receive their deserts. But there is such
a gentle spirit Of concilation In the
South! that have no idea that one oi
them will receive such n sentence ut the
hands of any jury cmpnnneled TO try
them. hare been here at this Siaiion
for three months, hoif he fine in com
ndrd Of he post, and have had good
Opportunity Of leornin9 he feeling per.
rading The country; IL is hostile 10 ths
Confederate Government They ere the
followers and slaves Of Johnson and
Maynard, and never intond TO be other
wise. When accosted they suddCnly be.
como very submissive, und declare they
urc for peace, and not supporters of the
| / inEnln G.nVaFntnnnf hn. sat Nb.,tf IL,
to be Union men. At one time, when oul
forces were at Knoxville, they gave il
out that great changes were taking place
in East Tcnncssc, and the people " orc
becoming reconciled and loyal.
Al the withdrawal Of the crmy from
here to the Gap, nnd the first intImaton
of the approach of the Lincoln army they
wcro In arms, and there was scUrccy d
man but who was ready TO Join the enc.
my and mako war upon us.
have TO suggcst At least that the pris.
oners have taken, be treated, if not ar
traitors, us prisoners Of war. To rt lease
them would be ruinous--to convict them
IN court next TO an impossibiliiy,
These confessions are conclusive as TO
the genuine loyalty which has thus far
characterized the inhabitants of + q,
Tennessee. There is and has been from
the first no halling hesitation about Il. -
The Secretary OF War of the Conicdcr.
ate States, in his response to Col
Woods letter, under date of Ri.hmcnd
November Goth, thus ordered - 10 the
disposition of the prigoners already car
tnrcd
LIST. All such az can be Unidentified in
having been engaged in bridge burning
are to be tried sunimarily by drum head
court martial, and il found guilty, cxccut.
cd on the spot by hanging Itwould be
well to leave their bodies hanging in the
vicinity of III. burnt bridges.
I'd. All such as have not been so on.
gagged, are TO be treated as prisonors of
war, and sent with an armed guard to
Tuscaloosa, Ala, there to be kept i'm.
prisoned at the depot selected by the
Government for prisoners Of war.
Whenever you can discover that arms
are concentrated by these traitors, ycu
viii send out detachments, search Tor,
and seize the arms. In no case is one Of
the men known to have been up In arms
against the Government, to be released
on any pledge or oath of ellegianec. The
time for such measures is past. They
are oil TO be held as prisoners of war,and
held IN jail till the oBd.of the war. Such
as como in voluntarily, take the oath Of
allegiance, and surrender their arms, are
alone TO be treated with lcniency.-I
Your yigilant Execution OF III sc orders
Is earnestly urged by thv Cove rnment.
Your oh. dent servant,
J. r. BENJAMIN,
Secretary Of Wnr.
T. S.-Judge Patt' rson. Col. Pick ms,
aud other ring-lcad'rs Of the same class,
must be sent at onco 10 ruseulooba 70