Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-13

wherever found, but the people with hearts
o'erlowing with gratitude for their dcliv-
crance, gave up their scanty stocks without
seeming TO court the cost or consider the
probabilities Of payment The country
was regained, and for Il time, we had reason
to believe that East Tennessee, from one eX-
trcmity to the other, was about to be, if not
already, restored to the authority and pro-
lection Of the Federal Government, and
that the native industry of our people, in
conjunction with the opening Of our COM
munication with the Northern markets,
would soon restore us to a state Of compar-
atiyc comfort But in this We wcrc disap-
pointed, Early in November, the rebels
under Longstrcct numbcringat least % 600,
entering lower East Tennessee, began their
march upon Knoxville for the rc-conqucst
Of the whole Of East Tennessee. The quick
and uncrring sagacty Of Gen Grant saw
the advantages which this division Of rebel
forces gave to the Federal army and accord
Ingy, by instructions to Gen. Burnside.
who has carried with him to whatever field
Of labor he may be assigned, the affection
and gratitude Of all loyal East Tennessee
ans, the advance Of I.ongstrcct Was laeili-
tatcd. Knoxville WAS beseigcd Soon az
forwards the country, extending from Chat
tanooga to Knoxville, through which Long
street came, WAS traverscd 6y the Union
forces under Gen Sherman, to the amount
Of % O00 men, and the two armies nccessa-
rily exhausted and laid waste the country
through which they passed, As the army
Of Sherman advanced that Of Longstroct
Withdrew and it still suIlenly holds It's po-
sition not more than thirty miles distant,
and occupying the country to within five
miles otthis place, The two armies, amount
ing TO not less than 10000 men, with very
heavy proportion Of cavalry, have drained
and exhausted the whole of East Tennessee.
Union men, upon the approach Of the rebel
army here, abandoned their homes, and tho
more prominent rebel citizens, for the most
part, have deserted their possessions within
our lines, and sought safety with their
friends.
From what has been said Yoar EXeclIency
will see that we are reduced to almost the
last extremity Of suffering and want That
part of our labor not already in the army,
can not now be protitalty employed in the
midst Of hostile demonstrations Our stock,
including cattle, hogs and sheep is well nigh
gone; our horses have bccn taken by one
government or the other, or stolen by strag-
glcrs or natural thieves and our farms in
is impossible that the usual agricultural
pursuits be resumed. Less than 10 per cent,
perhaps not more than 3, Of the usual
breadth of wheat has been sown. No oats
nor potatoes, or very little of either, have
been left for seed the present season; and
it Is the opinion OF the Undersigned, ,iiau n"
the reasons aforementioned, not more than
(if indeed so much aS) 20 per cent. of the
usual corn crop will be planted Our mead
ows and corn-fclds have been made desoIato
by the tread OF armies; homes have been
rendered comlortless, until many of our citi-
zcns, tired of strife and dcsyairing of peace
and comfort are abandoning the country
and seeking elsewhere that protection which
they have failed to obtain in the land of
their birth.
Against this tide of dcsolaton we most
respectfully and earnestly invoke the cXsr-
else Of all the powers with which the Presi
dent and Congress are invested. We can
not believe that the conduct of people who
have endured SO much in behalf of the gov
crnmcnt will fail to command its attention
We do not approach the government as
mcndicants, begging aims By the sweat of
ourbrows we had provided bread for another
year but that supply as before stated, was
given up to the Union army. For the want
OF that supply our people are now suffer
ing and ior-it, they have, in the main, re-
ceived no equivalent The necessities of
our army, and often the wants of the sol
diers, have been so great that large por-
ton of the stock and provisions taken, were
taken by unauthorized persons who, of
course, gave no receipts or vouchers. Hun
dreds of families. heretofore blessed with an
abundance of all the neccssaries and MANY
Of the comforts of lte have been reduced
to almost absolute bcggary, because of the
privations imposed by the army. Many of
these families are without money with which
to replace the supplies, and, had they the
money, the supplies could not be found
Besides, it is TOO often the case that the re
ceipts and vouchers given are irregular and
informal, and such as no Quartcrmastcr vii
honor.
The first remedy that the undersigned
would respectfully suggest is more speed,