Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-10
Persecution of UnI0nists In Grundy
Esa8 County.
Statement OF TEenty-slx Returned
Union OfFicers and Soldiers.

1t is always a source of the deepest
regret to us that We are ever called up
ON to record the existence of insubor.
dinaiion and the preparation of iawless
acts in any portion of this State, but our
duty as public journalists is imperative,
and cannot be slammed. Some days ago
we published brief item making q very
unfavorable representation Of affairs in
Grundy county, and the following Off
cial communication, signed by twenty
six Union officers and soldiers, citizens
of that county, gives most painful
confirmation of our previous statement:
ALTAMoNr, Grundy Co., Dec. l6.
Gov VIM. g. BRowNLow-Honored
Sir: We, the undersigned, discharged
soldiers, and loyal citizens of Grundy
county, take the liberty of addressing
you this communication, to make you
acquainted with the condition of our
county. There are still two parties
among US here, Union and rebel. The
rebL ls have devised plan to drive us
fro m our homes by presenting US before
the civil courts Tor acts done while in
the service of our country, and by order
of Brig. Gen. Wood and other Union
officers. We would not complain if all
persons were treated alike; but there
are two or three companies of rebel
bushwhackers still living in this county,
who robbed the Union men of every
thing they could find during the cam
paign of 1864. Ttese outlaws did not
belong to any regular command, but for
all these outrages they go unpublished,
aud grand juries refuse to find any bill
against them. We now appeal to the
authorities to know if men who have
left their homes and families for the
service of their country, are to be hsr-
sssed and ruined by rebels who fought
against their country. Are we to be
driven from our houses by such men as
these2
We are governed in this county by
DISTINGUISHED rebels. We know they are
not commissioned, but if we resist their
unlawful authority we shall be stigma
tized as outlaws, which is the name APP
piled to all the Union men of this coun.
ty by the rebels.
We hope to hear from you before the
second Monday in nett month. IF you
say abide by their legal proceedings, We
must submit; if not, although few in
number, we will take care of ourselves.
AT the last court, some Of the Grand
Jury had never taken the oath. Ali
these facts we can substantiate by con-
vincing proof ar
Respectfully, a.
Your ooedient servants, IiH
Here follow the, names of twenty six
Tennesseeans, who, when this State was
in armed rebellion against the Federal
Government, enlisted under the national
flag, and risked their lives in its defense
and for the maintenance of free governs
ment. We suppress their names, for
fear that their publication might work
the forfeiture of their lives at the hands
of their bitter enemies, who seem to
think that pardon from a generous and
forgiving Government is license for
the renewal of treason. This statement
of plain, unambitious citizens, who only
ask to enjoy the sweets of private life in
peace, is full of painful suggestion. Is
it prophetic of the condition of the
Unionists of this State when the pres
sure of the Federal arms shall be re-
moved? Grundy county is somewhat
remote from the channels of communi-
cation, and this alarming condition of
affairs may lead some to suspect that it's
reconstructed citizens are only a little
in advance of their neighbors, who un-
derstand how to wait until their time
comes. We pity the poor Lincolnites
and the despised freedmen when the
broad shield af the FadaraI Gouar1r,o-t
shall be removed, if treason is to be ex-
allied in high places, and patriotism
made odious, and rebels are to preside
in the superior and inferior courts.
Nashville Times.