New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-23
THROUGH THE SOUTH.
EAST TENNESSEE.
fFRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

East Tennessee continually hears stories regarding
the war; but they have not been consluereu lnpoiS-
ant enough to appear in history OF eiso % inu0u
material is furnished that portion must DO oisre
parded. The following was related 10 me py OoI
Bird of Kingston:
Vbep the war commenced he had store, dozen
slaves furnace, and other property, and when the
Rebol troops came TO arrest all who opposed them he
Nod IN the mountains, nor was he wholly unpre-
nored for he had organized his friends in q league
and IL WAS agreed that they would all 60 whenever
be gave the signal But before he fled he held pro-
tracted interviews with his friends, many OF whom
urged him to stay and submit. that no might save
his property. He replied that property was nothing
in comparison with Government and he was golng
but he would come back and regain all ne might lose.
At last midnight having come, he kissed his newly
married WIFE made his way across the village gar
dens and through the lines of the Rebel pckets and
found his horse, which friends had hitched to
designated tree Riding that night some ten miles
TO the house of one Of his company he lay concealed
several DAYS in the loft Of an Clubhouse during
which he sent out word through those counties that
the time had come, that they should start
for the mountains, and, making their way the
best they could into Kentucky, meet him at
Camp Dick Robinson. Suddenly all that county
was astir with small squads of men
travelling northward mostly by night. and carrying
that from Cleveland to Bristol, distance considera-
bly, exceeding 200 miles, as many as $4,000 in these
months of July and August babe adieu to the homes
where they were born, to their wives and their little
ones determined to make their way into the Union
lines. Nor were they all poor men, or men belonging
to the middle class, for lawyers, physicians, and
clergymen were included. and among them were
members-elect to Congress, and he who afterward
became President of the United States The dfhcul-
ties of the exodus may be conceived when 1t is stated
that along this whole line Rebel soldiers held the
ferries and fords and all the gaps of the mountains
At some points where roads cOnverged several humid
red would meet together, while not more than one
i'm twenty Was armed, and often they would be pur-
sued by cavalry in which they scattered across
the fields and coming to streams, even they who
could not swim crossed if the water was not above
their necks and frequently when they reached the
foot of the mountains the cavalry were near that
they rushed up the rugged sides regardless OF gap or
path. On one occasion party OF several hundred
so escaped, as they supposed, for the night, had
settled down, but the cavalry dismounted and fol-
lowed, and coming upon the weary men, who were
lying down to rest, the conflict commenced, with
those who were armed for these were in the rear,
while the unarmed threw stones over their heads,
while the cries of the wounded and the dying arose.
OF course many taken prisoners and the Jais OF
East Tennessee were filled, among whom was Gov.
Brownlow who, in his own house in Knoxville told
me how inhumanly he was treated. No wonder after
the war was these days were not forgotten nor
that there are now among the Ku-Klux OF Georgia
Rebel refugees with their families, from East len
nessee. not daring to return to the country where
they did these things.
Although Col. Bird was among tho advance OF the
refugees he was so closely watched that he could
pass by none of the gaps. which at the best were
traversed by exceedingly rugged roads, and he was
obliged to take obscure paths, and to tread where
only the adventurous hunter had ever been before.
At last he became involved among the peaks and
precipices that progress could be made except on
foot, and he was forced to leave his horse, most
valuable ono, and he never saw him afterward
Passing over into Kentucky he united with othel
refugees as they came swarming from 300 to 400 {
day. but, strange to say, they were met by the Ken
lucky authorities who ordered them not to stop, bu
to keep on and cross the Ohio, which command they
said they should not obey. When they reached
Camp Dick Robinson, dirty and ragged Gen. Nelson
was found In command, with authority from Con-
greSs to receive Them and he deputized Col Bird to
organize and appoint officers which he did, and thus
was laid the foundation for the organization of more
than 30 Union regiments from East Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Bird remained at Kingston, and
through her means the soldiers were in commu-
nication with their families i was told that the
mountain scouts came down through the rebel lines,
often bringing thousand letters, and taking back
as many, for each Of which they received dollar;
but alas the letters worth most, because it
was that kind of money which agreed to pay the
face six months after the Confeds became indie
pendent, which event-to say alas again-never
came as most of us have heard. At last she was
Obliged to flee, and, mounting her horse she made
her way alone over the mountains, and across Ken
lucky, and reached her husband at Cincinnati.
Afterward, Col Bird commanded raid into his own
country, and with a few thousand men he attacked
outposts burned stations, and locomotives; and
though the rebels were in overwhelming force he
escaped. AT last Gen. Burnside came and held the
country; and when the was over the Colonel
returned to his home, and found it desoate. But,
We all ought to do he had saved his money, and he
had 5000, in gold. With this he bought, at Govern
ment sales mules, horses. and all kinds of property
knowing what he could 60 with it, and he made
much money; as, for instance he bought those
mules broken down in the transportation at Chatta-
nOoga for So to S head, and, after keeping them
few months on grass, sold them for $50 to $lO0
head and to cut short, like job he has not only re-
covered what he lost but he has gained much more
He owns one steamboat and part of another and IS
about to start line to Chattanooga. He has beau
tiful residence at Kingston, surrounded by shrub
berry and flowers, and he is among the few Southern
men who put up ice. If the South had plenty Of
such men, they would disdain to ask for Northern
men and capital. AS l said in my last letter. Kings
ton is good place for furnaces and hope Northern
men will go down and set them running, that educa
ton and enterprise. along with the iron, may enter
the Confederate soul.
At Knoxville inquired for the tea plantations, on
which ii is alleged to have been demonstrated that
that tea can be grown in Tennessee; but found it
was ten miles distant, and that there were only
halfdozen shrubs, nor was there anyone could find