Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-08-10
NUMBER 81.
"Reminiscences OF 1861.
"BILL cRurcuFIELD," PATRIOT, ORATOR AND SCOUT
vs. JEFF. DAVIS.

William Swinton, now writing letters from the
South to the New York Times, says, in recent
letter from Chattanooga:
was writing in my room at the hotel this af-
ternoOn when the door opened, and hearing be-
hind me the unbuckliug of pistol belt, turned
round TO receive my unknown visitor, who fling
ing his g shooting iron with cat.er on the
bed, introduced himself to with the remark
that he g all that is left of Bill Crutchfeld."
For many years he has lived in Chattanooga,
wealthy farmer, a man of great probity, enter
prise intelligence, kindness of heart and public
spirit. At the outbreak of the he
most uncompromiSing, bold and ouspoken
Unionists, the leader of the loyal element in q
bitter region, and such he continued to be
throughout its whole course.
Lit gave most romantic and thrilling account
of his adventures. | will give the account of
lit:l, episode in the early days of the rebellion.
On the evening of the 22d Of January, 1861,
Jefferson Davis, on his way from Washington,
, where he had just delivered his last speech in
The United States Senate, stopped at Chattanooga,
rn route to Mississippi He was accompanied by
mary otier Southern Congressman - Senators
wha had resigned their seats. 1t having been
rumoicj that he was coming, large crowd OF
people nad assembled at the hotel 10 see him.
A. this time the excitement ran very high Ten
nessee. however, had refused to secede and ms
the Southern fire eaters retired from Congress
and passed through the city, they would stop
over in Chattanooga and make speeches to the
people, urging them to go with the South But
the great majority were thoroughly loyal at this
time Under these circumstances Davis arrived
in the city. After supper be came out into the
office, and calls being made for him to speak, he
mounted chair and said substantially as fol-
lows:
g Gentlemen: The South has had great
wrong imposed upon it by the election of Abra-
ham Lincoln, an Illinois rail-spittsc TO the Pres
idency of the United States. Our Only recourse
is to secede from the Union and establish gov
ernnlent tor ourselves. Calling on the people OF
Tennessee to go with the South, lie pledged
them that he only wanted their strength ani ln-
huence that the Cotton States would pay the
debt of the war, and that Tennessee would not
have n dollar to pay. Telling us that Buchanan
was powerless aud could not protect lis that we
must unite the South in solid body, march on
their cities and lay them in ashes, for in that
consisted their wealth aud strength, and that the
way to touch Yankees soul was to strike his
purse. The South had the material-Cotton was
King. France and Old England could not do
without it, and would be forced 10 side with the
South in this struggle. He eulogized them for
their courage boasted cf their deeds of daring
on the fields of Mexico, saying that he knew full
we'll the meaning of the click of their trusty
rifles. He felt satisfied that her people would
not prove recreant TO their trust. When the
time came she would lock shields with her SIS
ter States aud meet the vandal foe. The cleo
tion of Abraham Lincoln aud the party sustain
ing him was equivalent to direct war on the
So,'th. Her peculiar institutions were no longer
safe and there was now nothing left but to fight.
Al for himself, he preferred death before dis
honor"
The speech created intense excitement. and
for some time no one attempted rerly. Tlere
was orator present. Crutchfeld is not an or
stor, but he felt stirred with indignation at the
| II ftpru Of trpa asked
! tor, % May answer Jefferson Davis p Pcrmis-
| sion being granted, he Bounted the counter and
commenced his reply. Davis had started from
the room to go up stairs, but on hearing Crutch-
| field s voice. he stopped and stood in the door
way listening to his words. g was near
enough to him, ;" said CrutchGeld to me- Z" to
spit in his face The reply was delivered with
a vchemence that indicated the rage he felt ut
having listened to such infamous language. lie
said
nGentiemen You have just heard the honor-
able gentleman Senator Davis, of Mississippi,
gallant soldier who, the plains of Mexico,
barred his bosom to the storm, and periled his
/ life under the flag for you and me. For that |
! love and respect him. But now he Is growing
old and gray, and Casar-like, ambitious. There
has come him prophetic vision OF the fu-
ture, and lowering his voice and pointing his
fingers at Davis he said in slow and measured
tones) behold your future military despotl The
gentleman tells that are pOwerlcss; that
appeal for our rights that Buchanan
cannot help us: that we must scccdc and appeal
to the sword. | deny it, dcnounce him ;s &,
renegade and traitor II he WAS coniending
for tie rights of the South and the interests OF
Tennessee lie would be in the Senate Chamber
with our Tennessee Senators and Conercssmer,
defending our rights. On joint ballot we Rad ..
majority Of fourteen. No odds what the North
desired. :hey were powerless. lie then went on
10 ~ IN, four years was short time an ap-
b.t1t -hoy N nj ila
irpGi.ic act secession. Tennessee never stopped
So io.y ~ 20 dictate TO other States the course
fiat i.iey should pursue. ! deny you the right
to tell. what We shall do. We are freemen,
ani - sucJ claim the right to think speak and
f.T ourselves. We are not to be hoodwinked,
h.mapozled and dragged into your Southern
coih-t, rjstocracy, tory-blooded, South Carolina
mofDr..cy. Well may you boast of the rennes-
seeaa md the click of his rife, for with our.
lrusty r,iies and our mountain boys we can whip
out Jour Southern Confedcracy. We fight FOR
the Union, the Constitution and the enforce
ment Of the laws with our trusiy rifles and our
banner aloft; and the gentleman will live 10 see
the day when the keen crack OF The Tennessee
rife will not sound so pleasant in his ears
The most profound silence regned in the as-
sembly at the conclusion of the speech but
presently Davis spoke up, saying % l take
notice of this impudent fellow hut if there is any
gentleman present who iudorses his sentiments
will answer him. Upon this there went up
from two hundred loyal Tennessecan throats the
cry, q We all do and then there was heard
only tho click, click, click Of pistols, rs these
present prepared themselves for what all cx-
pectcd would be bloody affair. Bat the Sc-
cessionists seeing that they were so few in nun.
Der, skulked off, taking Davis, li,id with rage,
to his room. have thought this little glimpse
into the early secession days, and the prophetic
utterances of my honest Tennesscean, worthy of
historic record as you give them.
ONCE, at Walton, Rowland Hill was preaching
in the afternoon, the only time when it seemed
possible to be drowsy under him. He saw some
sleeping, and paused, saying ~ haye Teard
that the miller sleep " bile the mill is going,