Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-13


Below we publish commueationIOn the killing Of the
late Captain John A. ThOrnhi At the request of the
writer of the communication, relative Of the deceased
we suppress his name In all such cases it is our rule
give the Of the author demanded by those IN
tsrested or implicated.
On the other side Of the question publish the arsu
ment Of one Of the counsel Of Col. 10. Parsons.
The following marathon Of facts and circumstances are
given, that the public may know what Outrages are per-
Petrated under the ssmblauce Of authority
On the Path day Of June, 1865, Captain Bel and Lieut.
RANKIN Of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry with party Of
sixteen armed soldiers rode up to the house Of Richard
Ihornnl' IN jefferson county, and inquired If Captain
Thornhil was there Mr.. Thornhill who was former
ly Captain IN the Regiment which the above named
officers belong from seat on the porch Of
the house. and announced the party that he was there
having made the house Of his unclc Richard TborDhii
| his home The party desired him 10 come out 10 the
fence which desire promptly complied with After
moments time consumed IN expressing the compliments
usual among gentlemen, Captain Thornhiu invited tho
party down. and into the house. This they de-
clined to do stating that they did not pave time delay
Just this time Of the party raised his pistol which
had been previously drawn from the seaoosrd and
eealed from the view Of Captain Thornhiu by being held
the opposite side of the horse and another Of tho par
ty gave significant wag Of the head, and both men in
front discharged their pistols simultaneously az captain
Thornhill He entrcated the not 20 Kill him. and
begged Of them to know why they. were attempting in
that manner to take his life. To these Cnreaties
NV was made, that could be card by ladies who
sat the porch few PAGES distant but the hrnG con
tinued-it being ascertained BY the ladies' the
porch, who eyewitness to all that was ranspir
ing that all the who in front of the house, had
previously diSengaged their pistols from their scabbar
CAPTAIN Thornh being satisfied that there but
one alternative left him to his life turned from the
party and walked brskly the yard until he had
brought the house between him and the men, aud then
ran across lot to gain woodla nd near by.
He succeeded in reaching the woods without having
received any wounds it is thought the balls first tired
at him took effect upon the fence and would, in all prob
ability have made good his escape from the party which
asssled him at the house, but reaching the woods
seems that the blood thirsty wretche J make assurance
doubly sure had previously divided their force, and had
concealed one half their number in the woods anCips
ting that if Captain Thornhill successful in euding
the party the house to attack him, he would be
most likely fly to the nearest cover for protection In
this they were mistaken, and Captain Ihornhu Wa
intercepted by this party in his flight Before numbering
him they waited until Captain Bell and his party came
up from the house As as Bell AMI ms nen arrived
: the firing was again commenced
At this moment Captain Thornhi heard by some
ladies who had followed from the house. among the NUN
Der his sister, again demand from them the cause Tor
| which they killing him. To this demand ne reply
was made tina. the ladies could hear and the firing
tinued until he was pierced by eleven balls and instantly
d murdered.
e By this time the ladies of the family aud Of some ol
the neighboring families had reached the spot where the
Il feless and mangled body Of Captain Thornhiu lay
t. stretched upon the ground, and in all the anguish Of
sisters heart because Of the murder Of her brother the
question again pressed upon them TO know why they
thus penetrated such foul and brutal deed. Some of
them said they did not know, while others stated they
were ordered do by the Colonel of their Regiment
The party having satisfied their dcudish thirst fol
blood of an unarmed and defcnsecs man. commenced
retracing the road they had About Ouourh OF
DO a mile from the residence Of Mr. Ihornhil the party
ID halted the road for purpose and here met
by an old and reliable citizen who had heard the firing
H of the guns and Of the women and being alarm
ed requested Of the be informed what such stats
of things meant. He informed by Of the party
nearest him, that " they had been up here to k1
q id rascal" The gentleman then asked them If theJ
had accomplished their purpose, which they replied
they had put eighteen balls him, Of the asssT
m ting, with fendsh STimace that he had given him
10 "deaiener" placing his finger at the time on IN
n neck to indicate where ball had entered deceased
n This shot was given after deceased had fallen, va
utterly impossible for it to have taken the course II did
deceased had been either IN an erect or rcumoenJ Pc
sition the ball having entered the side OF the neck an
| came out on the top Of the head.
In further delineaon Of circumstance attending thu
most extraordinary and unparalleled act OF brutality
known in the annals of civilization, may he well enOug
to that Friday night previous to this murder Oh
Saturday, Bell and Rankin stayed some ten miles below
ne where the affair occurred. One IN answer TO inquire
made as to their destination they stated that they Wer
on secret scout and could not make public their bust
ness To another individual they said they we're goln
" on scout to Rogersve and they then passln
across the country the opposite direction ROSersv
they were told that they travelling very much out
the way to which they replied they going acros
r. from the main Knoxville and ROgcrsyle road, TO %
nd cambridge and Bulls Gap road, this much COO
es or way thus covering up under the guise Of mitaI
Fn usage their foul and bloody mission OF murder and ASA
les sinatOn.
In concluding this communication, do justice d
memory Of Captain ThOrnhil 1t be stated that
the very inception Of national difficulties he espOuse
the cause of the Union and from that time to the day
ct his murder, was an Uncompromising advocate Of
10 cause having pouring his blood upon the batehc
IN for its maintenance, and having undergone long al
perilous tours of Imprisonment in the hands OF the
Ice emy suffering all the privatons and hardshps mclde
- to a soldiers life. Yet with answering devotion
ms chung the cause Of his country, always trusting tn
to Goa would reward !ue Pa'iio' '''s az s' M
IN ri OTIS banners and just at the time when the cloud
- ar was passing away, and returning peace with b
% ong train Of heavenly blessings, beginning to Of
laI some compensation the soldier, whom heay
ICY had allowed pass through the dreadful sCOgrge Of 70
LED years bitter war; and who having made many Will
hat Sacrifices his life was taken under themost barbarous
cruel circumstances and by those too, who had been
it, comrades arms, and who ought to have rOiced wi
life him, that amid the fire and tempest Of an unparael
an war, he in the possession ct life and health.
on. ~" ioIo 49, II a. - 81, -. - -.
rO- '"Ae'' '''