Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-11
Defense of DR.. CawOOd,

The following card Is from DR., Cawood, in reply
to the complaint, of the Union men of Jefferson
county The Doctor admits TINT Of the first eigh-
teen men he mustered into his company heo had
been In the robc army lie admit, that he after
wards increased hi. company to 'iHly-Ayc, He does
not say who the rest are but rays he appealed to
them to come in "irrospoctiyc of parties Others
inform u, that two or three Of them ARE indicted by
the Federal Grand jury for treason Union men
do feel "aggricyed ut being secuted among by men
who rohotdriiy entered the rebel army--mcn who
are inflicted for frrdso and men who are notoriously
on the rebel side. But they will not likely call nj
the Captains Office in cambridge to encounter tho
class Of men we have named
The Doctor admitted to Us that his company had
only protected the town and had not protected the
country people, one of the things complained Of
The town is a rebel town
TO THE PEOPLE or JEFFERSON COUNTY.
As have been grossly misrcprcscnted through
the columns Of the Knoxville Nhig, by designing
individuals from this county, whose only ambition
is TO remain at Knoxville and make false impress
sions, il becomes necessary for me to make state
mcnt of facts in vindication of myself and those
with whom have been associated
II is well known TO you all, and more particularly
those OF YOU who have remained constantly at home
that our county has been unfortunately situated be
tween two contcndng armies, and consequently we
could get no protection from either of them. Bad
men, seeing what they conceived to bc,a helpless
condition of the citizens took advantage of it, and
began cautiously by cmndcstinc thcfts, and soon
magnifed their efforts into the most outrageous high
way robbery known to civilized man. They prac-
ticed what they denomnatcd miding protesting to
be Federal soldiers they would rob rebel families SO
long as "A Federal command was near enough to Law
their outrages ON Federal soldiers but when rebel
command was near, they would profess to be rebel
soldiers, and rob Onion families, Thus they con-
tinucd for two long months, sleeping In the woods
in the day. and robbng at night until it becane ap
parent that something must be done to suppress
these robbers, or all must ultimately be ruined,
Being satisfied in my own mind that they were
dcserters from both armies, and thcving citizens,
thought it the duty of every honest man to assist in
supprcssng them.
therefore appealed first to the citizens to assist
me in arresting this band of highway robbers. A
company Of eighteen men was formed prominent
among whom were Capt D. X, Self and Capt. j.
A. Dunlin, both late of the Federal army, all the
remainder being Union men except two who had
been in the rebel army.
proceeded to make search, which resulted in the
arrest of Capt. Allen Smith, John Vest, William
Price Pleasant Lindsay Ruben Harris, Al Brown,
Lewis Jeans, and John Baker four of whom are
rebel dcsertcrs, two Federal deScrers and two cti-
zens. In their possession we found three wagon
loads of stolen goods, consisting of rcady-made
clothing for both sexes bed clothes beds household
and kitchen furniture, iewcry and many other mr.
tcles, true list of which may be found by appica-
ton to the circuit clerk of your county. The thieves
were all sent to Knoxville, as Il thought the prop
To- beGs be er5PeP % q8WG By GSana Ufg""f
then, in connection with H. +. Watkins and Joseph
III. Hynds drafted preamble and some resolutions,
expressing the object for which the company wae
organized, and the rules by which it should by gov
erned tall of which may be seen at the Clerks Of
fee after which called all mon, irrespective of
party who endorsed my course, TO give me their
names and my company reached sixty-fye,--
The company has had but little to do since arresting
the eight men mentioned, as no other thefts of II
similar character have been committed. No man,
to my personal knowledge, has taken advantage of
the company to wreak his malice upon another
Finally gentlemen of Jefferson county both citizens
and soldiers let me respectfully ask of you who is
opposed TO the course | have takenY Is ii the man
who desires the restoration Of law and order there
by securing the peace and happiness of the commu-
nity in which he lives ? Or is it not more likely the
man who chcrishes warm feeling in his heart for
the robber and the bloody assassin Certainly no
honest man can be offended having knowledge of
the facts before him.
Should any one think himself Oggricyed 10y my
candid explanation, he can find me at my office in
cambridge at all times, in readiness TO make salts
factory any personal charge he may prefer.
j. {. CAwooD.
cambridge Dec l3, 1864.