Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-15
Letter from R. ROddie.


10 His Ereetteacy JVn,. G. Brotenloro Gore,1'Or o.
Tennessee:
HoNoRED SIR:-Owing to rumors and clamors
that are and have been in circulation in regard tc
my character during therebellion both as citizen
and soldier, deem it proper, and in justice to my
self my family and friends, to ask you TO transmit
to the people Of East Tennessee regardless of party
! principles, through the medium of the Knoxville
Wing, the facts which in many instances have given
rise TO the reports being spread abroad with view
| to nalign my name and standing.
! In 1861, the State Legislature passed the ordi-
nance of secession, which I bitterly opposed and
as loved my State, and wished her to stand as she
was.
On the Sth day of June, 1861, it was submitted TO
the people for their Ratification or Rejection
l voted Rejection" and was panied when learned
! the ordinance of secession was ratified
did not wish TO go with my State into rebellion,
but knowing there was no middle or neutral ground
and that l must either 90 against my State and with
her opponents, or go with her was greatly troub-
led and perpleXed. Tennessee is my native State
had been born and reared upon her soil and had
been inculcatod with the idea from childhood to man
hood, and had taught my family the same precepts.
that her d" laws and institutions were right" After
considering the matter, came to the conclusion It
was my duty to go with my native State, as she had
declared by an overwhelming voice that it was her
will
On the lst OF September, I entered the Confeder-
ate service rs a Captain, ana served one wear.
conducted myself as becomes the true soldier treat
ing those l came in contact with, whethera Federal
soldier citizen, or whoever it might be- with the
true respect and courtesy due them; and as Con
iederato soldier true to the cause had espoused.
In August 1852, 1 resigned and went to my home
in East Tennessee endeavoring TO live peaceably as
had done before the war.
The portion of the State where [ resided was
sometimes occupied by the Foderals and ut other
times by the Confedcrates. treated my Union
ncighbors the as 1 did before the war, and in
many cases they came to me when the Confcderales
We're in possession and asked me TO give them my
influence and aid in obtaining rcparation for prop
erty, &c, that were taken from them by the Confed-
crate soldiers which I did frequently and by my in
huence and personal excrions my efforts were gen
orally crowned with success. The above statements
made by me can be substantiated by good, reliable
Union men.
l may have said some hard things 70 persons re-
siding in my neighborhood, but was nstigated to
do 50 by utter adherence of anything bgDoer.ttcal
The persons TO whom these hard words were uttered
were men whom 1 considered devoid Of principle
men whom personally knew were hypocrites in
every sense of the worldwide to-day would change
their principles in politics anything else for fear
or gain, and tomorrow would DO the same, that Is
change again. But the true, heightened Union men
of that section, respect for their fixed principles
and have theirs in return
Owing 70 The unsettled condition OF affairs in Ten
ucssee Joined the rebel service again in March,
1885, shortly after Lee surrendered. ! marched to
Mount Sterling, Ky, and there was paroIeI-look
the oath OF amnesty at Louisville, Ky, in good
faith and have lived in accordance with the same
since them and the same IS my intention ever here
after.
I notice in the papers communication dated
Jonesboro Tenn containing what is there stated as
q black list signed by William Stephenson and
r. Roddie. So far as I am concerned, the whole
thing is Il fabrication of the deepest dye. 1 never
signed such document, NOS had anything to do
with promuIsatng such list, which 1 can and will
prove l remain, Governor
Your obcdicnt servant
Z. RopEIE.