Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-03-14


bleeding people from the horrors trsnspiring before
our eyes. Early In the interview Judge Pasterson,
who had been repeatedly arrested and once senten-
ced to Imprisonment for life remarked that life was
no longer Of any value and death would be relief
to any Union man. But he remarked that If some
one of Us, or some well-known Unionist, would
propose to the post commandant to raise regiment
for the Confederate service and to recruit it from
the Union conscripts, it would aay the fury of the
military and afford at least temporary relief. He
remarked that be would take that course himself
but for his judicial position and relation to Governor
johnson, which would cause them to suspect his
sincerity. Judge Milligan and myself approved of
the suggestion as a rlGss. Mr.. Crawford, too, gave
his opinion that it might be good expedient for
those who were not ready to leave the country, but
declared his intention 70 go North at once. After
much consultation and some expressions of repug-
nance on my part, it was agreed that should pro-
pose to recruit regiment of Union conscripts
through Col Allen, the post commandment Judge
Patterson was to volunteer in my regiment and
was to select ten leading Union men fer Captains,
and give immediate publicity to the arrangements.
We were to be very slow in raising the regiment,
and abandon it if practicable or take advantage OF
any turn In the affairs of the country. My own in
tention was to raise the regiment and march it over
the mountains under the flag of my country. This
intention communicated freely to such Union men
as l could confde in. Judge Patterson thought my
plan impracticable but DR.. Cavenor and others APP
proved it and proposed to join in it. Colonel Lane
and the Kinks and others were in the country Sc
cretly recruiting for the Federal army and be-
heved that through their aid could get my regi.
ment out to the Federal lines
Our expedent worked like charm for while
We who had been in close concealment for week:
now walked the streets without fear. Judge Patter
son and others declared themselves members o.
"Fletcher's regiment They were invited to head
quarters and treated with distinguished considers
ton. A small incident, however, spoiled the whole
plan. A leading rebel congratulated me upon thu
happy change in my sentiments. l replied, almos
involuntarily, "My principles are unchanged, anC
ever will be-" He Immediately wrote to Richmond
that there was trick in my application, which de
feated it. Our sufferings were soon renewed anC
continued to the close Of the war, since which time
it has been reported that there have been some en-
tries made on the other side of the account.
Such are the facts which have given rise to the
charge that offered to raise regiment for the rebe
army. My desire to raise it for the Federal ar
my. The story was circulated here by East Ten
nessee delegates to the late rebel Convention, who
like the fox in the fable desired to show that treas
enable records were the fashion. That pardonec
traitor should now endeavor to blacken the charac
ter of any man by charging one of his own numer
GUS crimes upon his victim is one of the curiou!
phenomena presented in these strange times.
The wrongs of the people of East Tennessee will
never be written, much less avenged and no two
these wrongs than the Knoxville Register and tht
Union and American.
A. J. FLETCHER.