The Placer herald., 1866-03-24
Didn't that Man Suffer!


An occasional correspondent, writing from
Knoxville, Tennessee, to the Republican
Banner, gets off the following on "Old
Smutt:"
There are a few East Tennesseeans who do
not know John Fleming. of this county, a
lawyer of much sharpness, with good prac-
tce and, as far as can learn, Of undoubted
loyalty. Well John tells most amusing
annecdote of our reverend Governor, which
is too good to be lost, and, what is more TO
the point, be gives it as coming from Andy
Knott, who is. also, a we'll known citizen, and
one who bears good record for loyalty
The pilh of the matter is contained 10 des-
cription of Brownlow's sufferings and mar
tyrdom, Of which the world has heard SO
much for the last two years.
A few months ago Brownlow sued Sneed,
Crozier and Reynolds for damages, and re-
covered $25, 900 in the Circuit Court, at
KNOXVILLE, causing the property Of those
gentlemen to be sold out, and buying il at
his own price; property that would, in ali
probability, in peacable times have brought
twice that amount Of judgment. After all
this had occurred, Squire Knott meets Flem-
ing, who was one Of the Governors lawy ers,
10y the way they are all COL Heiskell's
constituents) on Gay street, and accosts him
thus
"Well, Fleming, l suppose you succeeded
in recovering $25, 900 damages for Governor
Brownlow, for and on account Of his suffer-
ings as Union man?"
Fleming said, "Yes Andy, and we had no
trouble, and could have recovered 5000
just as easy if we had laid it,"
Knott-"Wel John there's no telling how
much that man has suffered. When he was
put in Jail at Knoxville, was in there for
my Unonism also, with about one hundred
others. We eat bull beef and sour bread,
and slept on the muddy floor without cover,
while Brownlow had feather bed to sleep
on, and had chickens. coffee, ham, biscuit,
and anything that bis family and friends de-
sired to send him. Great Gcd! Fleming
didn't he suffer-? Directly we were all sent
TO Mobile and Tuscaloosa and treated worse
than damned dogs, while Brownlow was fur
rebels, and sent safely through the lines 10
didn't that man suffer? Well, we lay in
prison, and came darned nigh starving and
being eat up with vermin, itch, etc, while
Brownlow collected half dozen East Tenn.
ssseeans in Yankee land, organized trav-
cling menagerie; and showed at fifty cents
night, children and niggers half price, and
made lots of money, and kept it all himself
and never fed his animals at all. Fleming,
Good God did you ever Sedr Of such suffer.
ing! Then he wrote a book-an abolition
book-and sold an interest in the copyright
for $40, 900 in cash, and the damned rebels
then sent his family through the lines to-
him, where they were all feted, toasted and
Iionized. Fleming, how could mortal man
endure such suffering? No sooner had old
Burnside taken East Tennessee than he and
his family were sent back home, the United
States Government furnishing ambuauces.
teams and guards for them. When Brown
low reached Knoxville, he took possession Of
the custom house as special Treasury agent.
at large salary, and appointed a set Of
revenue aids, and he soon collected about
$4,000 worth of abandoned rebel property,
which has never been accounted for to this
day Great God! Fleming, didn't that man
suffer-