Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-02-11

remembrance as the hardy veterans
of East Tennessee. The tribute in
their name, from their representa-
tive, was as feeling as it was briefly
eloquent.
Representative Pettibone saw an
opportunity while eulogizing Gen.
Burnside, who was the idol of SO
many East Tennesseeans, to pay
well merited compliment to the I'm
ion soldiers whose homes are in
these mountains and valleys, and we
are glad that he improved it. On
behalf of these East Tennessee I'm
ion soldiers we congratulate him up
on being the instrument in giving
them the place in history they SO
richly deserve.
1t is fact, as the Jours
nal observes, that they did not
have the ready writer's who
found time to keep their self-sacri-
fcing heroism prominently before the
world. If they had had such writer's,
until towards the close of the war,
when the lamented Brownlow revived
his Knoxville Wing, they would have
had very slight facilities for reaching
the public.
We trust that some one competent
to the task, will yet undertake to
preserve in history the heroric acts
of East Tennessee Unionists during
the late war. 1t would prove chap
ter of thrilling interest and the
history of the rebellion without it will
never be complete.
The following is the speech of
Hon. A. FL. Pettibone referred to in
thejProvidence Journal, as we find
it in the Congressional Record of
January oath:
Mr.. Speaker: One by one the sol
diers OF the Republic, who freely
periled their lives on many bloody
battle field during the war of the re-
bellion that this nation might live,
are passing away! To day we mourn
the loss of that gallant gentleman and
stout soldier, Ambrose E. Burnside.
AS the Representative of the first
district of Tennessee, district which
sent thousands Of its citizens to swell
the ranks of the Union army under
his command, I cannot refrain from
laying little sprig of mountain laue
rel on the grave of the deliverer of
East Tennessee.
In the darkest hour of the civil
war it was his good fortune to lead
the Union forces across the noun
tains, and to bring back to our peo-
pie the loved banner which our
fathers had followed, when Andrew
jackson led the Tennessee soldiers,
on the plains of Chalmette, in the
defense of New Orleans. And it is
entirely safe to say that among the
homes of the Union people of East
Tennessee no name is to-day held in
dearer remembrance than his. His
sojourn among them was marked by
a flowing courtesy toward all men,
which softened the asperities of war
and made all to speak his praise. His
urbanity, his leonine cour-
age, his transparent homes
ty, his unquestioned integri-
rity, his patriotism, which was as
broad as the limits of the Union,
stamped him born leader of men.
In my last interview with him, he
sent his good wishes to his old com
rades, and expressed his warm re-
gard for those whom he had succor-
ed in the dark days of war. While
stoutly maintaining the Union
cause, he SO bore himself that those
who had thrown their fortunes into
the scale of the Confederacy were
compelled to honor the Union gen.
eral who was tender toward the
women and children, the weak and
the suffering of every age, class and
condition. Among our mountains
hundreds of children have been
named for him, for he won the heart
love of our people. But, sir, Ispeak
no more of his renown: