The National tribune., 1886-10-14
SOUTHERN L0YALISTS
What it Cost TO be True TO the
Union.
by COL. W. W. JACKSON, WASHINGTON, D. c.

by COL. W. W. JACKSON, WASHINGTON, D. c.
Among the many essays upon the late rebel
/ lion bus little has been said upon one or its
most interesting features, and the subject OF
Loyalty in the Southern States is at the
/ present day apparently ignored by all who treat
upon its incidents, as though Mason and Dixon's
/ Line was the boundary between n universal
sentiment Of loyalty and disloyalty 10 the Gov
/ eminent of the United States, without cxcep-
/ ton or modification. That there was an ele-
mcnt Of the most devoted and elf-sacrifcing
/ loyalty always existing among the people OF
/ the Southern States goes without saying, and
/ half century since there existed, even among
the political wireworbers aud fre-eaters who
/ claimed TO be the opponents Of the sentiment
of the Southern people elements Of antagonism
/ that held them in check for half century
and prevented this tribe OF untamed asses from
promulgating their pernicious doctrines and
| precipitating the catastrophe which, in the
course OF events overlook the promulgators
and blackened the page of history with the rec
ord of crimes that would bring the blush to
the face of a Moorish pirate or any other than
that of desperate political demagOg.
In the Southern States this element, although
numerically insignificant, despotically control
! led every sentiment Of public expression, sup
ported by the Shareholders, whose wealth and
influence over the poor white trash " had
RENDERED THEIR POWER ABSOLUTE
and unquestioned until the darkey, whose body
and soul had been paid for out of the aocumula-
tons Of an autocratic owner, was less the slave
than the poor white man, whose soul was the
property of his wealthy neighbor as well rs his
body, without the cost of a cent or the legal
! obligation of a moments support
These remarks apply more especially to those
locations where the employment of slave labor
conferred almost fabulous wealth upon the
| owners, and the commercial and political ceEters
where the poor whites and their families ex-
listed merely in their midst no less objects of
contempt among the more fortunate of their
own race than among the "chattels" which
they held by a title Of the same nature as that
| by which they were possessed of their horses,
cattle. swine and dogs. 1t was in sections re-
mote from these that the war of the rebellion
developed among the people of the South
spirit of patriotism and devotion 10 the Union
which was maintained in a manner that chal-
lenges the admiration of every lover of his
country; for he who took sides with the Union
| when rampant treason Haunted its Tattlesnake
flag as symbolic of its intended designs was
assured of the venomOus spite of his wealthy
neighbors and the doubtful assent of loyalty
among his Northern friends aud compatriots.
Among the hardy mountaineers of Eastern
Kentucky and Tennessee, Southwest Virginia
and North Carolina, as well as in large pOr-
ton Of Northern Alabama aud Georgia, and
even in Mississippi, there existed a sentiment
of intelligent patriotism that neither the
frOwns and threats of their rulers or the fear
of death and the ruin of
THEIR FAMILIES AND HOMES.
Of social ostracism or persecution in any of
the horTid forms adopted 10 cOerce them, could
daunt or overawe. To join the army of the
Union among the patriotic people of the North
| was but response 10 the call Of a duty 10 be
! mar will no inr nf puh 10
sentiment and the consciousness of sacred
! duty 10 the flag, with an assurance of honorable
remembrance, kindly regard, and the lasting
gratitude of the Nation when its labors were
over.
The Southern volunteer had no such stimu-
liant except the love he bore 10 the flag, whose
legends bore him back in memory 10 the day
when its folds were thrown TO the breeze upon
the bloody fields Of the Revolution, the war of
1872 and the Mexican war, where the blood Of
the gallant men of all sections had flowed in a
common stream in its defense, and every star
upon its field Of blue and every stripe upon
its surface was a symbol sacred TO him as
the love he bore 10 his wife and children.
Failure to him was the remuneration Of every
social tie the loss Of home, friends and kindred,
and involved the hatred aud persecution of
those who had seized the reins of Government
and had forced a false expression of public
sentiment by the people of his section. Hated
1
victim of persecution more inhuman and
sanguinary than the Spanish inquisitiOn, which
he bore with the lortitude of a martyr, and
barred his breast to the storm with a reckless
bravery that only needs 20 be told to excite
the liveliest emotions of admiration in the
breast Of every lover of his country aud its
cause.
In justice to such as are here described, il is
my duty, as il is my pleasure, TO delineate some
of those scenes that, in the performance of my
duty as a soldier, came under my observation
during the late war of the Southern rebellion !;
aud If j succeed in ENGRAVING a new feature
upon the question of Southern loyalty, | shall
have attained the object sought in my efforts
10 do justice TO these brave and patriotic peo-
Pile and correct the false impressions of thOus-
ands who misapprehend the facts as observed
them.
Among the hardy mountaineers of the old
North State none are better known than the
descendants of an old Scotch family named
Mcdonald, whose family records carry the
names of more than its ratio of bold and hardy
pioneers, who have, in their own unheraded
fashion, been known as the
EMBODIMENT OF PERSONAL PROVES.
combined with patriotic enthusiasm, that has
led many OF its male members into scenes of a
sanguinary type, ever since the Revolution.
None are more revered among these hardy
men Of the mountains than the bold Serg't
1 AiNDohaihs bit VI Aiit lfoHEultOrS, whose
name is written upon the pages of our country's
history AS the Serg't Mcdonald who seized The
colOrs when they were shot away aud replaced
them upon the walls of Fort Moultrie amid
terrific storm Of shot and shell during its bonn
bardment by the British in III.
The occupation Of Knoxville, Tenn, by Gen
Burnside was the signal for the loyal element
Of that section 10 demons rate their attachment
TO she Union cause, and among the foremost
was Jonathan Mcdonald, who upon conference
with his loyal neighbors determined 10 assist
in the cause which lac advocated Of re-estab-
fishing the authority of the Government over
that portion Of the State. In pursuance of this
object Capt. Goldman Bryson was authorized 10
represent the assembly, aud 100 names were
forwarded 10 Gen. Rosecrans pledged to enlist
In the Union army whenever authority was
conferred upon the gallant Captain TO enlist
them. This was obtained without delay and
McDOnald's house was selected rs the rendez.
yous. From the peak of his humble roof the
Stars and Stripes were east TO the breeze. and
the stalwart form Of its owner was daily seen
on his eTrand 10 arouse his friends and neigh
, bors 10 enlist i'm its defense
Rallying 10 the call battalion Of determined
: men were soon mounted and armed under the
command Of the gallant Bryson, aud il soon
{ became hazardous for the Confederate conscript
officers 20 attempt TO coerce their victims or
even 10 make their presence known ia the vi