Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-02

To the Loyal People Of the United States

To the Loyal People OF the United States,
Fdi0w citizens i wish ! could speak
to you all, orally and present to your CON.
sidoration the necessity Of prompt material
aid TO the people Of East Tennessee I'm
possible as il is lo reach your ear in that
way, beg To address You through the pub
lie press, and my letter shall bo It's own
apology
That part Of the State Of Tennessee east
Of the Cumberland mountains, embracing
some thirty counties, is Fast Tennessee and
contains 2956jl persons by the census of
1860
Four armies nearly 100000 men, with
perhaps 100000 horses and mules, have oc.
cupiod and subsstcd principally upon East
Tennessee for six months as has a rebel
army for more than two years. These ar
mics have consumed the almost entire sub
stance Of the people, and there is nothing
left for them to subsi,t upon whIc they
make another crop All the live stock OF
the citizens, Of amy value. has been appro-
priatcd by these armies and guerilla bands
and bandllti lowering on their hanks and
rear
shut ont from commerce tor three years
our pcop" relied for their clothing upon
the old spinning whocl and hand -ioom.--
Their supplies from this source were seized
by the rebel soldiers and robbers, and in
many cases carried away Our tanncrics
were robbed and our people leit without
shoes for the winter. Much Of the very
wearing apparel Of the people, table and
bed furniture, farming implements, and
kitchen utensils, were also taken.
Dwelling, and other houses have boon
pundcred and destroyed Yards, gar'u
and field fences, and sometimes buildings,
have been torn down and used for fuel
their enclosures dcSoalcd and utterly laid
waste.
The people Of East Tennessee have
fought in all our wars including the rcvo-
luton, and the great mass Of them are still
true to the Constitution and the Uujon-
Betrsea trcaty and MjTy HoW0ad-more
than toUr,lihS Of her fighting men, are now
in the national army, battling ior our ma
tonal existence Hence those who now
feel the horrors OF do>,tution, and the
pangs Of famine intensified by winter
winds, are the aged parents and tender
families OF these on-hcarted mountain
patriots
Gallant, brave men God nerve your
arm for victory Who ever fought rs We
fight fou NEE, the storm of battle while
your houses are being piIIagcd-your farms
laid waNto-yom substance destroyed. and
your loved ones at home reduced to tattors,
and ready to perish for bread Soldiers
Of Liberty fear not God will provide
Yet my people, too proud to bow 10
dcspotlSm of traitors do not beg the chari-
ty of brethren. They claim the assistance
which justice as well as patriotism demands
llayo they righteous claim? Our cause,
our struggle, our hopes, our destiny, our
country are one. Tho restoration of the
Union the preservation and pcrpetuation
Of constitutional liberty. and nationality,
these constitute our united aim. If this be
50, We are in justice bound to suffer and
sacrifice, and endure alike. But how has it
been in fact? That goa have endured
bravcly. that YOU have suffered freely and
greatly, that YOU have sacrificed nobly and
hcroicaIy. none dare deny. But our pco-
pie AT home were doomed to feel for two
years the ttttcrs Of spoti>m--which, dis
armed, they could not resist, while many
of our young men were with yours fighting
the battles Of the Union. Under the gio-
riouS chicltains, Rosccrans. and Burnside .
and Grant You came .joyiuIy. at last, to our
assistance; but the coming Of our friends
was the signal to our enemies, East Ten
ncsScc was soon one vast military cncamp-
mont OF contending armies. \ great, a
tremendous Il sublime sacriicc-a sacrifice
that will stand out in history. TO all ages,
prominent grand With scarce parallel,
was demanded How East Tennessee re
spondcd let the ioalhSomc dungeons where
Picliens. and IhoImburg, and Bible, the
youthful Williams brothers, and other pat
riots were martvrcd-lct the gibbcts where
the llarmons lIaun, and Dugger, and
many other faithful meu met death tor their
countrv.-lct the blood of hundreds Of her
old and young men. shed on the green sod
of every county 10y commissioned and un-
commissioned assas>inS-.et the blackcncd,
houscics> chimncys. the chaIrcd fences, the
devastated farms, the l00,U0O.0u9 Of her
property destroyed and the deStitution that
prcsidcs in almost every homc.-lct these
all answer hor She has responded.
The sacrifice h.s cost Us about all we had
except honor ana loyalty but 1t Is made
and we would not hesitate to make it again
if duty demanded our motto, our feeling
is" Perish money, property, home, life
perish cyUhHg-suRviNE orR LIBERTY
LIVE THE NATIoN r. Why the war has
been to us ruin, and to You wealth; to Us.
thus far. a curse. to YOU Il blessing Il mean
pccuniariIy); why the war, with rs should
have created Il dcspotiSm that robbed death
of his t2rrors,--lnade our nights hidcous
with horrors. and robcd the sunlight with
unuttcrablc sadness, while your waking
hours were checrcd by present prosperity
and the hope of greater gains, and. pillow .
ed in the lap of ease, your night, were dcd-
icatcd to refreshing sleep. with your rosy
checked children slumDcriug around you
why this war should have made our richest
men poor, and yow wealthy men million
aiI,ps mud unuN- a. N-pup ,ptt' tlppt,la iuIp-