Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-04

CROss-EXAAIIEED.
QUESTIONS 5y DefeHdcut-How long have 70
known Col. 10. Parsons? and has he not slway
sustained the character of loyal upright consci
entious man and what has been his character a
Colonel Of the eth Tennessee Cavalry? Ans. hav
known him personally since June, 1863; l hav
never heard Of Col. Parsons mistreating an office
without good grounds for it. His character has bee
good as Colonel Of the regiment
Were YOU acquainted with John A. Thornhill
If So what was his character and what was his con
duct towards Col Parsons and other officers Of the
9th Tennessee Cavalry. AnS. had but very little
acquaintance with him. l have seen him have diff
cuties with two or three enlisted menhe bears the
character Of being very Over-bearing and difficult
man 20 get along with.
/ Are not the officers Of the 9th Tennessee gener.
ally the friends of Col Parsons? and is not that
friendship the result of his good conduct as an
| officer and man? A1ls. They are generally all
friends Of the Colonel and thnk il is the result
I Of the Colonels treatment.
] Did not the difficulty between Col Parsons and
Thornhll grow out Of the fact that Col Parsons in
the discharge Of his duty, dropped Thornhill from
! the rolls Of the Regimont? AnS. ] cannot say;
do not know.
What officers do you know of travelling in Jeifer-
son county-when were they there, and were they
alone? AnS | do not know Of any being alone.
I have gone home alone time or two in the last
twelve months
The testimony was read over 70 the witness, and
/ he was permitted TO retire.
Court here adjourned till tomorrow morning
/ August 18th, at o'clock, \. NJ.
THIRD DAY.
/ The court met pursuant TO adjournment, 2, A NJ,
August H. 1865.
Yesterdays proceedings were read and approved.
Present, the same members as yesterday, the
Judge Advocate. the accused and counsel
ith witness for the prosecution E. W. Armstrong,
citizen Of Knox county, State of Tennessee, late
Major 9Th Tenn. Cav, being duly sworn testified as
follows:
Questions 6y JuGge Adco;ase-Stste TO the court
your name rank and command, and if you are ac-
qUainted with the accused, before the court p
AES. E. ". Armstrong, citizen of Knox county,
State Of Tennessee; late Major of the 9Th Tennes-
see Cavalry; know Col. Jo. Parsons the accused,
now before the court.
What do you know of his connection with the
murder Of one Jno. A. Thornbill a citizen of JEFF
erson county, State Of Tennessee, on or about the
Path day of June last? 41s know nothing save
what have heard.
INSTRUMENTATION.
QRestio1.s by DefendauL-How long have Won
known Col. 10. Parsons, the accused and what has
been his character as an officer and man since Won
have known him? A1s 1 have known him all
my life; it has been very good.
Were you acquainted with JnO. \. Thornhil2 if
So what was MS character and conduct towards Col
Parsons and other officers Of the 9Th Tennessee Cav.
airy? State all you know in regard to Thornhills
threats. Ans. l was somewhat acquainted wit h
him; l know nothing except what l have heard.
What was IhoTnhlrs conduct during esiege of
Knoxville? Ans. 1t was very bad. He was very
insubordinato and mutinous all during the siege.
Was not ThOEnhills character that Of an inSubor-
dinste soldier and de5perado2 Ans. Il was, sir.
Do you know that Col. Parsons hsd been notified
Of Thornh!lls threats against his life and had he
not while on duty, been long apprehensve Of assas-
sinatIon from him Ans. Yes, sir.
Did you not yourself constantly expect deadly
difficulty with Thornhill during the siege of Knox
ville and was this not because of your connection
with the 9Th Tennessee Cavalry as officer? Ans.
did.
Was not this apprehension the result Of your dis
charge Of your duty as an officer Of the regiment :?
Ans Yes sir.
What was the conduct and bearing of Col. Parsons
towards ThornhiN during his connection with the
regiment Ans. While / was with the regiment
il was cry kind.
Are you not satisfied that Col. Parsons was in
daily peril Of assassination from Thornhill, from
your information of ThornhilIs character and rep
utatioH. Ans. l am satisfied that Col Parsons
life was in danger.
Did you, as an officer Of the gth, receive any or
ders from Col. Parsons while ho (Parsons) was in
Kentucky? What were those orders, and did you
communicate them 70 Thornhill? Did he obey
them Ans. l received orders from Col. Parsons
20 order ThOrnhill 70 the regiment by certain date
OF he would be dropped from the rolls. think he
wac to report by the 25th of January. I sent him
the order, but he did not acknowledge the receipt
From what you saw and know of Thornhlls con-
duct, 90 you not believe that Col Parsons was JUS
titled in dropping MIN from the rolls of the regi-
ment in the manner he did? Ans 1 believe he
VAS thought so from the fact be did not attend to
his duty; hecOuld not be depended on; when placed
upon duty he was often found absent from his post
once three miles
QEes.tonS BY Co.,rt-Could Thornhill not have
been punished by military law for leaving his post
sEd other breaches of discipline he is said TO have
committed? Ans. I do not know.
Was he not as much commissioned and mustered
as an other officers ? Ans. There was one officer
mustered aside from myself If any of the rest were
mustered at that time / do not know it.
If my Of the others in his situation had bean
guilty Of otense, could they not have been tried BY
a court martial and punished if necessary? if not
how was discipline maintained in the regiment or
was there none? Ans. I can say there was much
discipline; for their trial by court martial
say.
Do you not know that all persons within the lines
OF our army are amendablc 10 military law ? Ans.
1 DO not know.
Questions b. Dejesdaas-Was not Col Parsons
acting under and reporting to Andrew johnson,
Military Governor Of Tennessee, and was he not
recognized by Governor johnson as Colonel Of the
9th Tennessee Cavalry? Ans. That was my under
standing.
EXPERIMENTATION.
Questions BY JUagc AdUoeatc.-DO you know Of
ThOrnhlls threatening any other officers of the 9th
Tennessee Cavalry than Col. Parsons Ans. l
never heard him threaten Col. Parsons.
State TO the court upon what grounds you are sat-
lshed that Col Parsons life was IN constant danger
from ThoTnhill? Ans. Because Of what 1 seen Of
his disposition; his attack on Col Parsons At Nash
yIIel and the numerous threats had heard he made
from reliable authority.
Do you know of Thornhin having ever assassin
atng any one OF even to carry any Of his threats
into execution concerning the 9Th Tennessee Cav
airy Ans. l do not personally know. l have
heard OF il. l DO not know of his carrying any Of
his threats into effect.
Did IL0Tnhill eteT receive any compensation for
the duties he performed, was he discharged with
out any pay. Ans. If he ever received any do
not know It; he was furnished with recruiting
funds; the money belonged TO Col. Parsons: as 70
what became Of il l Do not know.
Was not Thornhills discharge from the service
irregular? Ans Ny understanding was that he
was just dropped.
Testimony was read over 70 the witness and he
was permitted 70 retire.
9TH witness for the prosecution, D. NJ. Caldwell,
Captain company 3, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, being
duly sworn, testified as follows:
Questions 5y JH3gs 4Gcocqte-Give yoUE name,
rank and command, and if YOU know the accused
now before the court Ans. Ny name Is D. NJ.
Caldwell, Captain company B, 9th Tennessee Cav
airy; I know Col Parsons the accused, before the
court.
Do You know Vi one JGo. \. Thornhiu having
ever belonged TO your company and regiment Ans.
He commanded the company before 1 was a men,
bsr Of Il.
Do you know il his namo wss ever borne On the
rolls Of the company and regiment? Ans. His name
was
How, when and by whose order was It dropped
Ans l do not know