Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-03-21

his replies which he proposes to rentitate at the
proper time. Some of the letters written against
him from East Tennessee abounding in isiLft slam
ier' were not intended for his eye, and had the wr-
ters dreamed of their falling into his hands they
would have been withheld from those to whom ad-
dressed. In every instance he has replied, and is
proudly conscious of having got the better of the
SIGHT. Some men have been shown up in no very
envable light aud some females could they see his
defense against their charges, would at least wish
they had never written a line
The case Of Mrs Kahn is one of the mildsst of
this class Her reputation here was that of a most
worthy and clever lady, and it is natural that she
should enter into deep and heartfelt sympathy with
her husband. She has been misinformed as to the
character of Judge Hall. And as to the Governor,
be had no more to do with sending her out of the
lines, or of procuring the indictment of her husband
than had the man in the mopnl But to the cores
pondence:
HARTFORD, Conn. Jan. II, 1866.
GENERAL The only apology can offer for the
liberty take in addressing you, is that of distress
sed wife begging that you will examine into the case
of her husband, w. G. Kahn, now imprisoned in
Knoxville, Tenn, on charge of murder. 1t is I'M
necessary for me to enter into the details of the
as it has already been submitted to you by General
Hazen.
feel that l am trespassing upon your valuable
time, but there are some facts of private nature
which am DESTROYS you should be acquainted with,
believing that as a husband and father you will feel
for me-
NV husband entered the Confederate army with
the full conviction that he was right and believe
endeavored to do his duty in every position in which
he was placed. On the LIST of February, 1864, few
months after the occupation of Knoxville by the
Federal army, was ordered by Gen. Foster, then
in command of the Department of East Tennessee
through the fundamentally of Brownlow, to be at
the depot in K. at o'clock the day but one after
to take the train going South The order also stated
that was permitted to take nay wearing apparel,
two blankets and two or three days provisions. My
house was occupied by Federal officers and had been
from the time the U S. troops first entered the pae
1t is only Justice to them to say here, that was
treated with the greatest courtesy and uniform kind
ness by them. They deprecated this order, and
without any solicitation on my part applied to the
General commanding for permission for me to re-
turn to New Haven, my home before my marriage
and where my mother was residing. After consul
tation with Brownlow this was refused. I accord
ingly left Knoxville as l was ordered with my two
little daughters one eleven, the other nine years of
age to join my husband in the South, travelling
nearly thousand miles to meet him in Virginia.
L
ships and privations I endured suffice it to say my
eldest little girl died from the exposure to cold she
endured.
After the surrender of Gen. Lee, came North tc
my mother. About the list of June my husband
Joined me at that place, having been paroed al
Augusta, Ga, with permission to go to New Haven
He had been with me but two or three days when he
was arrested by an order from Brownlow, purport.
ing to como from the President of the U. S. He
was taken to K, thrown into prison, where he has
been ever since.
The Circuit Court meets on the second Monday
in February. The presiding Judge is personal en-.
envy of Mr.. Kains, and man totally devoid of al
honorable feeling tool of Brownlows, unconstitu-
tionslly elected, and moreover does not know the
first principles of law This is the before whom
my husband is to be tried, unless before that time
released by you, which feel almost certain you will
do after careful Investigation of the case.
I have made this statement to you General, that
you might see that all this has arisen through the
vindictiveness of Brownlow, who seems determined
to prosecute US to the bitter end. 1t Seems to me
there has been anything wrong in my husbands
course, we have bitterly atoned for it.
am at present on visit to my sister at THU
place Ny address is New Haven, Conn, Box 1906
General, I implore you to release my husband
and the prayers of grateful wife shall ever ascend
to Heaven for blessings on you and yours.
am, General,
Very respectfully yours,
MARY A. KAHN.
The following endorsement was placed upon Mrs
Kain's letter by order of Gen. Grant and sent for
ward to Gen. Thomas Respectfully referred tc
Maj Gen. G. 81. Thomas, commanding the Military
Division of the Tennessee.
by command of Lieut.. Gen. Grant.
"P. S. BURNS, a. A. G.
Headquarters A. U. S., Jan. 20, 1866"
The following endorsement came upon the same
paper from Gen Thomas: Respectfully referred
to his E1celency, Gov. Brownlow, for remarks, will
headquarters
"By command of Maj. Gen. Thomas.
"WM D. WHIPPLE,
u revet Brig. Gen., A. A. G."
To these documents jointly the Governor made
thr. following reply:
STATE OF TENNESSEE, /
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, :
Nashville Jan. 81, 1866 J
Maj. Gen. Geo. II. Thomas, Commanding MiLitaT7
Division Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn:
GENERAL Il have the honor to state, in relation
to the letter of Mrs Kahn, referred to me for re
mark" that said letter abounds in grave anG
misstatements The spirit of this extraordinary let
ter is doubt inspired by her correspondence with
her husband, and she has doubt been led into er.
ror as to some of her facts by the same means. A:
Kahn was one of those who caused my arrest, i'm
prisonment and cruel treatment, it is natural he
should suspect that had caused any supposed harsh
ness to himself or his family. But his suspicious
are the suggestions of guilty conscience.
Before the occupation of Knoxville by General
Burnside, Kahn, who is lawyer, had been, am
informed, Judge Advocate of rebel Court Martial
at that place or Recorder or Secretary and partci
pated in many atrocities, among them the hanging
of some worthy loyal citizens He had also been
Provost Marshal at Blountville, Tenn where his
conduct was characterized by wanton cruelty to
Union people, both male and female. l am informed
and believe that while in East Tennessee he caused
inofensve citizens to be whipped for loyalty at a
wagon wheel the wheels of his battery. He ais o
sent many families through the lines after stripping
them of their provisions and clothing. Among
them l remember the case of Mrs. Samuel Snapp,
whom Kahn first robbed of everything, and then
drove her through the rebel lines with some half
dozen little children, in mid-winter. have always
that Mrs Kahn ssent out of the Federal
lines in retaliation for of these acts of her hus
band The military authorities never consulted with
me about sending her through the lines, nor did l
advise them on the subject. l was informed that
Mrs. Kahn permitted to dispose of her effects at
pleasure and to carry off what she choose and de-
post with friends whatever she choose to preserve.
This much I state as due to Gen. Foster. 1 was
United States Treasury Agent at the time, and as
such might have seized Kains law library and other
effects for the Government, but refraned from do
ing so, in part because Kahn had been cruel to me,
and my acts would have been liable to misconstruc-
ton.
Kain was indicted by the Grand Jury of Knox
county, Tenn for murder, and perhaps for other of
lenses The civil authorities at Knoxville notified
me of the Indictment, and of the fact that he was
in New York. AS Governor of Tennessee might
have issued my requisition on the Governor of New
York, but simply notified the President. knew
no more of the till Kahn was brought to Knox
vile prisoner. This is all 1 know of his arrest
He awaits his trial under the rules of the court.
AS to the Judge before whom Kahn is to be tried,
who is alleged to have been " unconstitutionally