The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-16
WEST HARPETH GARRISON, J
TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA RAILROAD, ,
June Is. 1864.

1ENNESSEE AND ALABAMA lAiLNDAB, ?
June Is, 1864
On the morningo of the 29th Of May,
I received letter from my wife in the
rebel lines in Upper East Tennessee,
which contained sad news Of the suffer
ing and distress of the people there,
and l Immediately resolved to apply
for permission to go and rescue
her from Rebel oppression. I applied
to Gen. Rousseau, then in command of
this District, and was granted few
days leave of absence for this purpose
from this noble commander
On the morning of the 2nd inst we
took position on the top of box-car,
about as comfortable a place as can now
be procured conveniently on our Rail
roads south, for an easy ride. Accom-
panied by a regiment of our brave boys
Just started for the "Front We
"held our position" for forty-eight NOR
tai hours-day and night-through sun
shine and rain-and felt proud we had
the opportunity thus to get transporta-
ton to the land Of our childhood's
happy scense-but which now, al s. may
well be termed the land of desolatiOn
and distress
On reaching Knoxville, we found our
troops were no further advanced in up
per East Tennessee than Strawberry
Plains, some sixteen miles above that
city; and, except an occasional raid, the
whole of the upper country is left un-
protected-sOme one hundred and TWEEN
ty miles-embracing the counties con-
tanning the most loyal population that
can be found in the whole country.
This part of East Tennessee is now left
to the mercy of the rebel bush-whackers
and guerrillas-who are robbing the
women and children of what little
Longstreets bands Of thieves did not
deprive them Old gray-haired men are
fleeing from their homes to the Union
lines to seek protection; and such Of the
women and children as are able to stand
the long, fatiguing journeys on foot
such things as horses or vehicles Of con-
veyance Of any kind having long since
been appropriated by the rebel authoFi-
ties-even to old blind horses We saw
and conversed with many refugees, who
arrived inKnoxyillea at or about the same
time we did, whose description of affairs
in these unprotected counties is Of the
most awful and heartrending nature
Reader, do not look upon these state
ments as wild and exaggerated stories,
to excite sympathy abroad. Its, alas
alas the plain, unveiled truth, which
can be verified by abundance Of the
best evidence To prove to you how
these sufferers plead for aid from our
beloved Government, / here produce a
petition which was handed me by that
model of all good men, Gen. S p Car
ter, Provost Marshal General of East
Tennessee; and, Judging from the nu-
merous signatures attached, we cannot
but hope that succoF will soon be youch-
safed Them. 1t reads as follows
"KSoxvnLE, Tenn, May %, 1864
"BEIG GEN S. p CARTER:
"Dsqr Sir: We, the undersigned pc
titioners, would most humbly call your
attention to the condition Of things in
the upper counties OF East Tennessee. /
"As the harvest IS now fast approach
ing, and no help to reap or take care Of
the grain, and there being but little
corn planted this spring, in God name,
what viii the people of that section do,
should they receive no aid from the
Federal Government, and the rebels
are permitted to reap and take what
grain is now growing What will De
come Of the mothers, wives, sisters, and
children of the many soldiers and refu-
gees that are now away from home
To whom should they look for protec- |
ton but the Government of the United I
States Pin whose service many that /
are near and dear have fallen, away
from home and loved ones here. And /
by their loyalty to that government, /
they are now suffering by the tyranni- 1
cal rule ofrebeldom, and have been for /
the last three years.
Is there no balm to sooth the wound |
ed heart? Is there no physician to al 1
ieviate the aching pain To you, Gen
eral, we make this appeal, trusting and /
hoping that through your influence, as .
a Tennessean, you may be enabled to /
send force sufficient in those upper /
counties to drive of the few guerillas /
that are now holding that country. VIII /
you not, then, use all your influence IN (
our behalf2 Letters are TeceiTed here 7
daily from those loyal women Who still !
remain at home, almost heartbroken, /
praying that the Federsls may send 4
them projection, and relieve them Of 4
their awful suffering. We, therefore, +