Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-15
Letter from Col. Baxter--No. 3.

me to visit Memphis, and went My absence af-
forded another opportunity TO some one, OF the
hounds still yelping at my heels, for INDUCING
their personal malice by embarrassing me in
nv business Accordingly, it was whispered in
TO the ears of Gen. +. Kirby Smith, the com
mander at Knoxville, that had gone on q spy
ing expedition, in the interest OF the Federals;
Upon this suggestion, Gen. Smith telegraphed
Gen. Johnson at Corinth and the latter tele-
graphed TO Memphis an order Tor my arrest
Under and in virtue of this order, was arrest
ed and committed to prison, and for IL time eX-
cluded from communicating win my aInl5y OF
my friends. Judge Wright Gov. Harris, Gen
McCown. Col Austin, j. +. X. Ray, DIR. Foulks,
,Judpe Henry G. Smith and Others declared their
WILLINGNESS, and made efforts TO come to my re,
lief. But no one, or all of them together, mad
influence enough to procure modlhcauon OF
10 military order. which excluded me from all
intercourse with friends or open the prison door
which shut me out from the world
A feyv extracts from diary which kept du-
ring my imprisonment, will serve to show the
nature and character of the imprisonment and
the emotions which animated me; perhaps it
NAV prove interesting to your readers.
April LIST, 1862, the day after my arrest, wrote
as follows:
ieeted TO such an ordeal, as the one am now
Passing through, to realize the emotions which
pervade nv mind Never was any man more
thoroughly sustained by honest convictions than
/ am The views of the magnitude and tenden-
of this war which L ClltTlulll, are btlllB re-
allied to the letter. Indeed | am astounded at
the clearness with which foresaw it all. Pophe-
CIV has been realized in history. At the risk of
life and property, at all times and under all CIR
cumstances, have labored to mitigate ITS evils.
Nevertheless when | speak to the guard who
sits ot the door with musket and bayonet in his
hand. watching every motion and expression, he
renlies that he is forbidden to converse with me-
Conscious of my superior dscernment, patriot
ism and good intentions, am yet compelled by
n 20 tuithip
sprescribed limits and to exist in the presence of
an armed force of my own countrymen, as if my
restraint was necessary TO the public safety
NV proud and manly spirit rises up in rebellion
against such oppression; and II every freeman
in the South felt the same resentment against the
Yankees that do against the cowardly instru-
rnents of nv Imprisonment, they would rise as
one man and drive them back across Mason and
Dixons line.
graph. a newsboy called out The EUeHing
4rGus' Anxious 10 know what was transpiring
in the outer world, | requested the guard to pro-
cure me a copy; but he replied that newspapers
were prohibited to me. This Is the severest
stroke yeti j. wanton cruelty. The newspa-
pers are the only channel left through which |
can learn anything of current events in which L
feel a deep interest; the only means of Willing
away the tedium of Imprisonment They are
almost essential TO my existence. My family
and nroperty are all involved in this war, and it
Is a natural right of the highest and most sacred
character, to inform myself, if can, Of the eY-
tent to which these interests will likely be e1-
posed by the conflict with which my immediate
section is now threatened. The reading OF the
papers could do the Confederacy no injury, even
# / were disposed to use them for that purpose,
as / am not permitted to communicate with any
one and therefore could not communicate in
formation if would. This all smacks of a dis
position to Cypress me personally. From whom
Z proceeds / can only conjecture. Perhaps II is
TOO much self-esteem that prompts the thought,
hut in my opinion, my mind takes wider
range in reference 10 the pending revolution
than others take; my views rise above the
hatreds and animosites which seem 10 control
The actions of the masses North and South, and
teaches conclusions far beyond anything of
which they have ever dreamed.
HApril 2d-About five O'Clock this morning
the guard at my door was changed. Being
awake heard the Sergeant instruction 70 the
new guard 1t was not to converse with me
himself or permit any one else to do so, and 10
exclude all newspapers from me.
Cant. Bigbee promised last evening TO confer
With the Provost Marshal in reference TO the
o,cIusion of newspapers his tone aud manner
-, clearly indicating his own good sense and
good feeling on the subject. At an early hour
T sent one of the guard TO him TO inquire the
result of his conference, and received Tor answer
that he had not called the Marshals attention TO
the matter, but that he would 90 50 ana report.
$50 this high and invaluable right l. under
consideration or, rather. having been decided
against me, is now, on my motion, being recon-
sidered.n
i'Tbe English language is too poor to do jus
t;oa 10 euch tyranny Here am in durGHce oiie
Spitbout warrant or authority of law, and with
ont the most remote idea of the charge pre-
ferred most probably confined at the instance
of some malignant personal enemy; cut on
from the society and counsel of friends; for the
time being under the ban Of public opinion, and
denied the privilege of ascertaining, SO far as
the press NAV furnish information, what steps
are being taken by personal enemies to iniure
me in public estimation and prolong my I'M
prisonment Such wanton exercise of power
is worthy of being recorded side by side with
the meet revolving cruelties of the inquis ition.
.'Soon after recording the foregoing outburst
of indignation. Capt. Bgbee called and an
nounced that the order excluding newspapers
from me had been revoked, and handed me the
Aoalanehe and Appeal-and SO this trouble is
disposed Of"
On the 4th of April | wrote a long letter to
General johnson, which | noticed in my diary,
on the succeeding day, in the following terms;
Doubtless, many persons will say that my
no attempt TO fatter military vanity. Ny object
is to tell the truth and if l can't effect good for
the country, TO preserve n clean record and a
clear conscience
April IL" Now, at I, p. NJ, an officer returns
me letter written yesterday and addressed 10
my wife and sent to the Provost Marshal TO be
examined and mailed, accompanied with mes
sage that it contained matter not proper 10 be
communicated. 1t contained no information in
relation TO any movements. but was unsparing
in its denuncations of military oppression Such
despotism will not be long tolerated at all
events Ihope it will not be permitted to exist