Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-18
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG.
Knoxville, Tenn, October 10, 1895.
Proceedings Of q General Court
Martial,
sIxTn DAY.

SIXTH DAY.
Eight, l. A., Monday, August a. 1865, court met
pursuant 10 adjournment.
Present, the same members as Il last inseting the
Judge Advocate, the Accused, and Counsel
The court continued tho trial Of the accused, Jo.
Parsons Colonel, 9th Tennessee Cavalry.
1t Col p G. Rutherford, nrst witness fer defence,
being duly sworn, testified as follows:
Questions by Accs4sed.-what is your name, rank,
and where do you reside. Aas. p. O. Rutherford,
Lieut.. Ccl, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, Knox county,
Z Tenn.
Are yo1 acquainted with the accused. Col. Par
Eons7 How long have you known him? What is
and has hitherto been his character officer and
citizen? When and where did your official con-
nection with him begin7 dass. Yes, sir, j have
known him fifteen years; his reputation US a citizen
and gentleman is good; be Is good and efficient
officer he is kind 70 his officers and men. At Lex
ington, Kys May 1853, my official connection With
him began.
When and where and under what circumstances did
you first meet him Ans. j became acquainted
with him al Lexington, KY, about the 18th Of May,
1853. de came there with a squad OF recruits
brought by Lieut.. John g. Sawyers, 9th Tennessee
Cavalry.
What connection had Thornhill with the 9th Ten
nessee Cavalry Ans. BE was 10 have been Cap
tein Of company B, If he recruited enough mea.
fiow many men did he ever recruit for the 9th
Tennessee Cavalry, and what were your opportuni-
teen and twenty men for the regiment according TO
the ro Ia Of the regiment.
How long did Thornhi remain wi.1 the 9th in
Kentuchy7 Under what circumstances and for
what purpose did he leavel Ans. About two
months He left 10 come 10 Eas. Tennessee 10 re-
orut.
When and where did yoa next see him? .Ans.
saw him at Knoxville, October 9, 1863
Was the regiment thon at Knoxvills7 When did
il got there and how long did it remain there3 Ans.
Te IL nI Oct ar.A tr~I
until 18th Of Deceraber following
Who commanded the brigade TO which the 9th
wss attached on the march 70 Kentucky das. Col.
Easement l03d Ohio Infantry.
Did Tbornhill remain behind2 If so, state all
you know on this subject AaS He remained. be-
hind. ! saw him leave the commsnd at Knoxville
whom We were ordered to Kentucky. Col. Case
lneHt toid me he gave him no authority 70 remain
behind.
What was Thornhilrs conduct while the regiment
w.s at Knoxvilleg Ans. II was very insnbord-
nate.
stats what you know in reference 20 orders given
70 Thorn bin 20 rejoin the commando When and
where diG you next see Thornhill after leaving
Knoxsills7 What transpired between him and Col.
Parsons at n. .sahve. State the facts in full? Ans
Col Parsons TO Id that he had drst sent word and
Then ordered him by telegraph 70 rcioin the COM
snand while we we're at Camp Nelson, Ky. i saw
Thornhil next at Nashville about the zstn or zvtn
OF March, 1864. There was difficulty then between
him and Col Parsons. At Nashville saw Thorn
hin 90 70 Col Parsons tent twice without seeing
him On his third visit came M. They were
standing near the tent talking Thornhili wa try
ing 10 force Col. Parsons to put him IN command oil
coSananv b claiming that he had the right; that
the man appointed, d. M. Caldwell, should not COM
unand the company for which be had recruited. Col
Parsons told Tbornhill that what he had done he
expected to remain so that Capt Caldwell choose
70 Command the company he could do 50, as he tPar-
scns) had given him the opportunity; that Il was
no use 10 argue the point any longer Thornhiii IN
sisted that he should argue the point. Col Parsons
told him that from what ne could learn, be lIhcrn
hi) had come there for difficulty, and to create
disturbance in the regiment, and If that was nis
business he could leave. Thornhill told him ne had
as good right there as he iParsens,) or any other
man. Col Parsons told him that rs could leave
there and he refused to do, telling Sal Parsons
him and his whole combined force could not Eut him
out Of there. Col. Parsons then ordered Captain
Armstrong TO 20 TO company and get gusrd OF
Elk men. Thornhill then stepped away TO the lett
about forty yards 10 tent ns be went stating,
That you have asserted one thing that Is false IN
It's face Colonel-you can't put me out OF here and
thea he went into the tent and came out buckling
on belt with pistol, and then walked back past
the Colonels teut six eight steps IN front OF
the tent waving bis hand toward the Colonel and
telling him 10 put that thing through. AT that time
Captain Armstrong was coming, rather meeting
Thornhii Col. Persons stepped up toward the
guard and ordered the guard 70 arrest Thornhils--
Thornhill drew an army or navy pistol, and tod
tho guards he did not want 10 hurt them, but would
shoot Col. Parsons. He presented his pistol at OoL
Parsons, and Capt Armstrong knocked the pistol
down. the ball entering the ground near Armstrongs
person Col Parsons drew his pistol and shot, the
ball entering Thernhils throat near his windpipe
Thornhill then Cred his pistol again at Col farsons
Col Parsons and the guard then closed IA on ihorn
hill and arrested him, and sent him TO the Provost
Marshal st Nashville. All this was done IN the
rsgisneaIsl oampe near Nashville.
Whss swas the bearing Of Thornhiil when te came
70 Parsons tent and up 70 the time OF the shooting
and wha: was that Of Col. Parsons zns. Inorn-
hl was talking very insultngly TO the Colcpel and
the Colonel talked 20 him very gentlenssniy.
Whist DO you know about the release Oh ihorn-
eill, and upon what terms and conditions was ne
q uschaTgef, and al whose instance was no recessed
AZ. Ny understanding from Col. Parsons ana the
Provost Marshal was that Col Parsons went 70 tne
Provost Marshal and told him 10 release Ihornni.
provided be would pledge himself not % injnre Soi
Parsons Or any Of his command. The Provost
Marshal told me chat he pledged himself
Was on was moi Col Parsons at the time oi iho
difficulty on duty as Colonel commanding the regi-
me1t dSis. He commanding the regiment
What ThoTnhilfs moral character State IN
fal all yea know In reference 10 his threats OF vsc
lence and hostile conauc. towards Col Parsons and
other officers and men OF the eth Tennessee Cavalry
ssS. His genera character was that OF adezperado
Th ~nhill told al Knoxville that he intended 10
have settlement with Col. Parsons about thht mat
1cr ON, the lask of June last l met Thornhiil IN
the street auuAfsiic. elokc " AtbA ~nN Ae
sole IL me ~ usual passed down the street about
afty yardu, 5. 'spging into store Thornhil fol-
ia-s.i me down there rs 1 turned 10 step out Of
.tes,,- he was 81 >nding between me and the door,
and md astsd kim ho., he came on Hesaid, como
"a W - - =. ,on "a ask nc the question any
mo III ass.iaaa ss sss Sss gSs nov sssl sSs 70.
"a 'sns' s. ~ ~ r. Parsons he sent you there last
SPRING o inquire my shss,sr ,suss Sslo.f si y sss, sssa
sNe.s AEaanss . n's .;ne with swearing falsely
a him Ia. Col Pson. bad sss 10 hs @R6s 1sd 'ssa sa i
sending me 70 Jefferson county ihs. sa,,ss, hir, ~
be was reasonable eouid sss's ,s sna ,oia -,
said "sis yoa can't satisfy me A. ~, "a ,esxe
II had any basineAs thcTc 20 Sesls !. 80 onne.
was ordere5 to Knoxville shen on busine'' SsNss''
ed with the regiment. = ~. ,,oetins
Was Tho,nbill armed et the time q a's ~ = 49,
yoa at Kncxviilef Were you armsa - ~ s.,s -sh
Ans Thornhl was armed think saw .s.e =. ssS !,
bard Of his pistol and his hand nnder his ep ol -
was aaarmed.
Yhaf 1is - understand Thernall . nssn +,
ss< 7ss< tstslsnen, e Aes. understood nm =
y ~ y six Fec1d tH Eszeoo4- - -,
.1e r>es<d, z1l oh1 end <osee of ez7peia>H 4 z.