Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1878-12-20
"reminiscences OF the Second Tennes-
see Cavalry,
By JNO. w. ANDES.
NO. L.

NO. 1.
The "reminiscences which are now
about to be presented are OF thrilling
interest, especially to those who par
ticipated In the exciting contests
through which the Second Tennessee
Cavalry passed in the late civil war.
Their presentation will involve brieI
allusion to what transpired In thlS
section of the ntry just prior 10 the
breaking out of hostilities between the
South and the North in 1861. La many
respects it was different here IN East
Tennessee from other portions OF the
Union. Separation here meant more
than an attempted secession OF one
section from the other, for families |
were divsded father against SOD,
brother against brother; some for the |
Union, some for Southern Confed- |
eracy. People who did not live here
can have no adequate idea of the ex
element that prevailed. 1t began to
gather violence in 1860. when Mr..
Lincoln was elected President. 1 re-
member distinctly the day OF the Presi-
Dental election in 1860, held at Sc
viervilIe. Some of the noisy Demo-
Gratis, in their Incorporate zeal, under
took to take down the banner which
waved over the court house. They
found it would be unhealthy, and
they gave it up. In the first election
involving the question of holding a
convention to take the State out of the
Lit hol II nhr 1921
county gave only one secession vote.
In June, 1861, when the question of
separation or "no separation was
submitted to the people, Sewer county
voted so for separation and ,534
against it. Prior to the June election,
quite q mum Der of speeches were made Oh
both sides. A large mass meeting was
held at Trundle's Y Roads on the IA b
of March, 1851, at which Judge e. F.
Trigg and Judge John Baxter both |
made strong Union speeches. The :
first secession speech ever made 10
the county WAS made by Gov. Henry
s. FOOte. on the 22d OF the same
month. 1t was made in the town of .
Sevierville, and it was by the skin of
his teeth that he got TO make it. c
Nothing but fear of the Confederate t
authorities at Knoxville prevented 4
him from being taken down." \
On the lst of June, Col. James c
E. Cooke made another. On the 81 of O
June, Judge James p. Swan made a p
red-hOt Union speech. On the 8th of
June, the day of the election on "sepa- v
ration" or mo separation great ex- t
element prevailed. People came to L
own In large companies with the
stars and stripes f1OatiOng in the bretZe, Z
Ind shouts for the Union. A compa-
~ OF Union cavalry was organized "
hat day with Andrew Lawson, Cap "
ain; d. M. Ray, 1st Lieutenant r.
A. Montgomery, I'd Lieutenant, and t.
John w. Andes, 81 Lieutenant. They "
numbered 100 men, who uniformed /
themselves and began drilling Iegu-
srly every Saturday. b
For the next six months a state OF ri
anxious uncertainty prevailed among !
he Union men. They hardly knew
What to do or say. Gov. Harris had a
declared the State out of the Union, -
nd the people were divided. On the
IN of November a crisis came Sew
raj bridges on the East Tenness 9e and
Georgia and East Tennessee and Vir-
mia Railroads were burned and the so
urning of others was attempted. 70
'rOuble set in in earnest. Gov.
was then in the county, at ue
be residence of his old friend Rev. M
ames Cummings, of Walden 8 Greek FRI
his was on Friday. On Sunday Mr. ba
IrnwnlOw went TO Sevierville and
reached, taking as his text the 9Th va
erse of the Sd chapter OF Revelations. Il
at the conclusion OF his he
ermOn he called for his horse and nc
arted for Wears Valley, in company
18th Rev. Jas. Cummings, Rev. w. eli
:. DOwell aud others. et'
That night the whole country was ho
lrnWn infn a RfQtR nj foUor
? the circulation OF a rumor That the
Onfederate troops had crossed the III
yer at UnderdOwn's Ferry, and were he
illing Union men an burning their is
By 8 o'clOck at night hun of
reds of men had turned out, armed
18th every conceivable weapon, and az
ley began TO gather at Sevierville. 1t
y midnight the town was full, and a Sol
ate of excitement prevailed which is nj
The Tumor proved I'M
'ue and comparative quiet prevailed, VI
ut by this time companies were being ha
rganzed to cross the mountains into
entucky, for the purpose of joining
lie Federal army. Others were organ
ing Confederate companies. On the -;
h Of JAN, 1862. Capt. Chambers or n'
anized his Confederate company. gr
. big barbecue was given them, and CO
he company was presented with q of
bonny blue" flag. They left imme- -,
lately to enter the Confederate SER a''
ice. On the 7th of March, 1862, the de
ewly-elected county officers were in of
allied, and q posse of soldiers came mn
p from Knoxville to require them to rT
Ike the oath OF allegiance to the \"
outhern Confederacy, which they fa'
.clined to do. 20