Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-13
Card from Col Blackburn.
NASHVILLE, Sept. lst, 1865.

NASHVILLE sept ISL, 1900
To the Editor Of the KlouUiLe Wing:
In the Nashville papers of the 29th Of August,
see a statement of Mr.. J. Wheeler late G. S. A,
concerning the difficulty between him and myself
and very respectfully request that you grant me
space in your columns for reply.
In the first place he states, in his letter to Gen.
Thomas, that when l mentioned my name to him.
he was instantly seized by both arms by Captain
Quinn and held while l struck him twice with
club. This 1 pronounce q 1giLflL Lie If Wheeler
had not known this to be lie, he would not have
made the statement 1t is said that some men bis
ter their tongues By telling lies. If 10. Wheeers
tongue is ever blistered, it will be by telling the
truth.
Can't. Quinn did not lay hands on him, nor did he
enter the room into which Wheeler retreatod. He
remained at the head of the stairs to prevent any
one else from coming up and interfering.
When entered and introduced myself to Wheeler,
upon the mention of my name he stepped back to-
wards the bed, as if intending to secure weapon
thereupon I struck him with walking cane, hav-
ing with me nothing else with which to chastise or
iniure the perjured puppy.
He also saws that gentleman seized Capt. Quinn
and held him to prevent his using his pistols Tins
is also untrue No took hold Of or ever touched
Capt Quinn nor did he intend using pistol unless
some of Wheelers staff, all Of whom were about the
house made their appearance and attempted to take
part in the atrsy.
He also asserts an infamous lie when he states that
upon the seizure of Capt. Quinn, ceased the as
sault land ran hastily down stairs. ceased only
when he cried enough and then walked down stairs
and out on the street.
His absurd statement that he never issued any Or
der to the prejudice of myself or men, ard that he
had treated with kindness all prisoners who fell INTO
his hands believe to be equally untrue. had the
| information from Captain Howard and others OF
| Wheelers command, whom captured during MS
raid in 1854 to the effect that if [ or my men were
cantured we were to be Immediately put to death
and as for his professions of humanity to prisoners
and Union men, they are in keeping with his lying
policy II can be proven that, when prisoners were
taken by his command, they were invariably strip
ned of all clothing, even to boots shoes and hats
| That he treated some men according to the usage
| of war he can doubtless prove. Dick Turner anC
| Cant Vert of Libby and AndersOnylue nOtorlety
| could also subStantiate the same thing There ar
! men in this city who were prisoners OF Champ yer
ruson and by him kindly treated and paroled, We
Champ has murdered in cold blood at least one hun
| dred persons.
| The career Of 10. Wheeler late Major General II
the so-called G.. S. Army, proves him to be worse
man than Champ Ferguson. Had he acted as nj
own exeCutioner, he would now be on trial Tor muir
der. In his raid through East Tennessee ho dlsre
gsrded all the ussges of honorable warfare and die
fates of humanity In Anderson county his mel
| murdered and killed number of Union citizens
| who were unarmed and defenseless IN their houses
Among the number may be mentioned Jas Ross
| an old man, seventy years OF age, well known U
many of the citizens of this city as promlnen
member of the Legislature for many years. Mr.
Ross was shot through the head in his own house
and left by Wheeler's murderers mOrtally wounded
as they supposed. \ day or two after the shooting
of Ross they murdered man named Baker, sevent.
odd years Of age. He too, was killed at his reside
| when surrounded by his family. Horace Foster,
native of Connecticut and highly respected citize
of Blount county, was pointed out to Wheelers out
laws as a damned Yankee Lincolnite. He too, Of
his own farm, was dangerously wounded, and after
wards at the point of the bayonet, driven throug
the mud and swollen water courses Space VIII nc
| allow me TO enumeTate the instances OF whoesal
theft from soldiers families insults to helpless VIC
men, and murder of loyal citizens, by Wheeler
| command But say some, Wheeler did not fire th
shot that killed these aged citizens. He did not al
ply the torch to private houses. Granted. Here
see the difference between him and Champ tergI
! SON Ferguson, ilterate, uneducated, acted as h
own exeCutioner. Wheeler, the educated scion OF
frst-blood had subOrdinates to do his work. as az
complished q villain as ever "scuttled ship or CT
q throat There is not loyal citizen of Tennesse
who would not shudder at the mention OF Wheeler
atrocities.
| And this is the man for whom so much injustiC
| has been done me- and upon his statement alone,
upon his OATH and if upon his OATH what should
be worth He also had been reared, protected an
| educated by the Government against which he n
beIled and fought and in so doing perjUred himsel
1 ttN
5 | it. Has he observed, faithfully, that oath Tn
. | is the man Of such heightened manly principle
whose big heart was so full of love and gratitude
the Government for its kindness that he must tur
and fight it, He has gained the respect, admire
ton and protection of Federal soldiers; and TO sue
an extent has he won their confidence that in il
! vestigation of a dispute between him and FEEDERS
officer his statement alone is asked for and taken
t conclusive evidence.
: Wheeler asserts that no order has been given b
H. i 4
as well as several of my officers and men, was tOl
p by several Of his command whom we captured, tn;
after crossing the Tennessee river, Wheeler told
men that that would be the last raid ever made mi
Tennessee, and to give it (the State) hell as the
f went. His instructions were obeyed fully, as Il
/ citizens along the line Of his march can and wi
testify He saws also that he has no recollection
! any complaints having been made, or of anythiI
e having been taken from my family. This PoSsl5
may be true for such things are easily forgotten
men of his stamp. His ears were ever deaf to cor
plants especially those coming from Union familit
7 whom he and his chiyalrous cohorts delighted
prosecute and insult. Gen. Robinson, of his cor
/ mand, remembers, l suppose very well, that ever
thing of value that could be found in my house WI
e taken Off for he, in person, entered and did L
2 noble deed and when nv wife expOstulated Wi
him, he cursed her and told her that she was d
liar.
: In conclusion, would suggest that there seer
- to be quite number OF MneeIer HIehus III I'll
city, who are wonderfully ehagrined over the resi-
of this affair, and who take particular pains al
Z care to denounce and abuse me behind my back.
t all such have to say that if their feelings
= injured as to justify them in talking about me-
them come and express what they may have to 81
> to my face. I am personally responsible for an
thing do or say, and those who do not like 1t ca
t have an opportunity of obtaining satisfaction
can be found during my stay in the city at u
I ST. Charles hotel or on the streets.
Thanking you Mr. Editor, for your kindness,
am sir, with regard,
: Very respectfully
, Your obedient servant
Jos. H. BLACKBURN,
Late Col. U. S. V.
The Nashville Dispatch tells of an old man,
,raars Of age going from Missouri 10 Nashville a