Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-16
Major John Megaughey.


Associated with certain localities, there are, in
the minds Of the traveller, often recolections Of
some prominent Object which has more than Its sur
roundings suppressed the memory. Such, for In
stance as the stately tree OF beautiful edihce So
in regard 20 our town Of athens. The stranger
who may have sojourned but few days in the vii
lege must ever when reverting TO his knowledge of
the place, remember John McGaughey-Ons Of its
most prominent citizens.
Mai. McGaughey was pre-enlinent for many viz
tues. As a county magistrats he had many years
ago acquired The reputation Of a clear-headed and
impartial justice As political leader he had borne
prominent and active part in every contest which
came before the country, for long time before
the writer OF this humble tribute had the honor of
his acquaintance.
He was a man Of positive traits Of character
He was no dssembler. There was no duplicity
about him. His acquaintance always knew exactly
where to place him. Firm and erect he always
stood-frank and honest-bold and constant. Such
were the native characteristics of the man.
When the storm Of secession swept overour State,
prostrating to the ground almost every tree in the
political forest he stood like the sturdy oak, un-
yielding, erect and firm, while others around him
broke or bent. Aye he was giant whose head
arose above the storm,-with keen vision he fore
saw and foreseeing foretod the eventual success Of
the Union arms, and the complete subjugatOn Of the
rebellion. When John Bell-who was once q po-
litica fayorite of the Maor-last visited East Ten
nessee, with view to obliterate the Union senti-
ment which pervaded "the darkened understand
ings of East Tennesseeans," he was called out at
the Athens depot by number of secessionlsts,
most of them old partisan enemies of Mr.. Bell. de
came out of the cars and stepping upon the plat
form Of the depot, recognised Esquire McGaugheyi
who was standing not far from the crowd gather
! ing around the apostate MISUNDERSTANDING to-
wards the Esquire, Mr. Bell accosts him, by expires
sing the hope that he was "on the right side" :
With that impurturbableg gravity and emphatic tone
peculiar to the Esquire, he instantly retorted 81
am in favor of the Union, the Constitution, and the
enforcement of the laws" This quotation by the
/ Major of Mr.. Bells platform was unanswerable.
! As Provost Marshal, Maj. McGaughey had
earned wide and enviable reputation, and by the
military authorities, with whom he transacted
! business was, regarded as the most efficient OH
! Ger who held the position in the department.
/ Though man of stern qualities, he was ii
all the private relations of life kind and true Very
much missed indeed will be his kindly face snt
pithy remarks, as remarkable for their brevity, as
/ their humor.
Having been prominent Union man Throughout
the on-discountenancing secession from thu
MISUNDERSTANDING, as he often did publicly tina
he was "a coercionist" remarking by way of e1pla-
nation, that it was ridiculous to talk of govern
ment without the power Of coercion, or enforcing
obedience to its laws. That he had opposed Clay
/ Compromise with the Nullifers in 32,-and that Il
South Carolina had been coerced then, as she ought
TO have been, we would not have been troubled with
the Seceders of 60, and would have avoided th'
present dreadful war. Hence, he wss very obnO1
lou. to the rebeIs both in and out Of the army.
4 conspiracy to asssssinate him was formed las
Summer in Atlanta, to which charlatan known a.
/ Dr. King, was party. Failing in their first effort
King deserted the rebel army and Joined the I'll
Regiment Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and wher
rebel the marauders under the lead Of one Maj Grt
ham, OLGA, mado an attack on this place, King de
serted went over to the enemy and assisted IN muir
dering Mai McGaughey, who, after his capture wa!
most brutally treated. Though an aged man, anC
! suffering from rheumatism, he was Invested Of hi
clothing hat and shoes, and kept shivering in tn
cold-and on the following day, twenty miles from
his home, in the highway they cruelty murdered
him, after having robbed him Of acOnsiderable sum
/ of money, valuable papers, &c. During the time
! he was prisoner he was without food or drink
His body was left weltering in his blood How diff
ferent his treatment of re bels-last Summer learn
ing that the body Of rebel soldier was imperfectly
covered, he carried his spade on his shoulder, anC
with one of his sons and two or three Union neigh
bors, went to the woodland where the rebel horde
1 of Wheeler had made mock interment of theil
I own men, and decently buried the body, cut dowr
trees and made an enclosure TO prevent the beasts
from disturbing the remains.
Major John MeGaughey was born in Sewer coun
ty, Tennessee, February 18th, 1877, was captured
January 18th, 1865, and murdered the 29th Janua
ry 1865 He resided in McMinn county about 81
years. \ good man i gone from our midst