The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-18
Loyal renns..snn.. d


Why has not the Government oroteo-
ted East Tennessee2 81 The man who can
answer that question fully knows more
Of Government secrets than we do. We
only know that it has not been done.
and that IL has been promised until
promises have grown so old and feeble
that nobody expects Of them strengh
enough tofulill themselves. Tits enough
70 know noto that there are Eastern Ten
nessee men here. and trat they want and
demand the protection Of their own Gov
ernment. They are loyal men. They
have never wavered In their support of
the Government. They have been hunt
ed among the hills like foxes 10 force
them into the rebel army. They have
lain months out in caves 20 avoid the
compulsion that forced them TO fire and
fight against the flag Of Che Union. They
talk among The rebel prisoners openly
and boldly. We heard one of them but
aday or two ago say TO a Mississippi
man "You id scoundrels wanted our
farms and our wives and niggers, and
youare mad now because You didn't yet
them. | tell you / never fred a gun At
Union soldier, aud never wilt. You
may laugh, and be did, but IL ever
can get chance TO enlist in the Union
army and get back TO Eastern Tennes-
see, you'll see who will fire the first
gun" These men are all loyal aud true,
as noble men as we have ever known.
They not only want but demand the
privilege Of taking The oath Of allegiance,
and the right to enlist 10 our army.
They have earned both. by the most de-
voted patriotism, and ought 10 have their
will. We have seen In The "1st Tonnes
see Battalion" as 10 is called, great stall
wart men with frames like giants, bare
footed, bronzed with exposure, hardy as
their own hills, as brave as men can be.
who cried AZ the recognition Of their
courage by loyal men, and said they
wanted nothing bat the chance 10 get
home and fight. And tho way they said
'GgM' meant something. Nearly oil Of
the Eastern Tennessee men at Camp Nor
ton are oonscripts, and loyal TO the core.
They ought to be released, and we have
good reason 10 believe they will be.
The following letter from Mr.. Foster, a
| private aud conscript in the "lst Tennes-
see Battalion" tells what these men feel,
and shOWsl what the Government ought
to DO for them; ta 1864
W CANP MoRToE, lEDAEAPoLIs, IND.,l
f.a.l4.ta juno 7tb, 1868.
10 Ills Ereelleacy, GJo, Aadre0 johnson:
DEAR SIR;7-I am, and always have
been, a loyal citizea Of the United States
Government. | am now q prisoner Of
war at this place was captured NJ
jackson, Mississippi, on the nth OF last
May. / am zeal0usly devoted 10 the
| Union, and a most Incorporating snd
vehement opposer Of the rebellion. |
was pressed into the rebel service under
their Conscript Act. Have never fred
a gun, aud never want 20 do so. | live
in Dekalb county, Middle Tennessee.
My family is there now. lhppeal 10 you
as the rightful Chief Executive Of my
State, for the protection which the Cow
eminent owes TO every loyal citizen.
For evidence Of my loyalty, / refer TO
Colonel Wm. b. Stokes, IN command Of a
regiment Of Federal Cavalry, in General
R5eecraDs' army; also, Colonel ManGon
NJ. Bien, Of Nashville, Tennessee, Col
George Beckwith, Smithville, Tennes see,
and D. Joseph CLARK, Of Liberty, Tenn
fear thssf may be exchanged be fore |
can hear from you Please telegraph Il
you deem II necessary. There are, as
suppose, Two or three hundred prisoners
here, mostly from Tennessee, who, like
myself, are willing 10 take the oath OF
allegiance. Please give US your assis-
lance. write in behalf and A. the re-
quest Of others as well as myself
tt Your most ob't servant,
b. T. X. FosrER,
th Co. A, lat Tenn. Bat