The National tribune., 1899-03-16

For proper understanding of the events
narrated Il preliminary statement Will not b'
amiss. My ancestors were farmers, mostly
engaged in raising cotton, corn, wheat anC
tie other products common 10 The Southern
States. My grandfather owned a large cottCl
plantation in ST. Clair County, Ala, and
with tie assistance of his slaves raised,
cinnod and baled the usual yield of cotton,
The prices Paid for Gotten nj The line soOf
placed grandfather and his family III good
circumstances. My father was engaged ii
the same business, but started in 10 clear VI
and put in cultivation lot of Few lands,
which required great expense and delay be
fore reapiDg any lcrcl.t thcIc.rom. While
he WAS so engaged he was taken sick with
fever and soon after died, leaving his bust
ness Affairs in b&d shape. My mother re-
paired TO 4 small farm near Knoxville, Tenn,
het former home, almost wholly dependent
upon ME 10 assist ier in maintaining herself
and the other members OF the family.
So ] practically LccOme the heal of tie
family, and went 10 work on tie farm for 4
num er of wears ] attended the free schools
and by close attention and the taking up OF
other branches by myself later at night by
pine light managed 10 secure something of
an education.
was raised to think it a duty TO go 10
church and belong 10 the temperance society.
In my immediate neighboIhood was the
church, a spacious log building, with long
shed in front, where the people assembled
from lar and near at the big meetings that
occurred once wear.
/ finally entered the University at Knox
vile. On doing so ! was requested To sign
the contract and 10 subscribe and swear that
] would support the Constitution of the
United States and of the State OF Tennessee.
]. at tie time, did not understand what was
meant 10y uphOlding and supporting Con-
stitution. i graduated III 1852, and then up
TO 1859 i was engaged i'll teaching, and
formed a large acquaintance.
Up to this time no State in the Union
was more loyal To the Federal Government
than Tennessee. She was great Common
wealth. in herself. and her people held great
veneraton for the National Union. Under
the leadership of President Andrew Jackson
she had spuined The notification movement
of South Carolina insiigated 10y Calhoun.
Her people, under James X. Polk, Andrew
Johnson, James p. Jones. Thomas Arnold,
Thomas A. X. Nelson, Horace Maynard, and
last, but not least, the immortal W. q.
Browniow, in 1860, felt secure in with
standing the pressure brought TO bear by the
Confederate Government 10 carry the State
out OF the Union. Here the struggle begins
The people Of the State, by their vote OF
some SO, 60 majority, refused TO secede and
join the Conlederacy; but the Governor OF
the State and few members of the
Legislature declared the State out of the
Union. The people stood appalled, at their
helpless condition, while the Confederate
Government stationed large army at
Knoxville and Cumberland Gap, which they
at once fortified.
While l had not been a politician, had
carefully noted the progress of events from
the time of the election of Abraham Lincoln
till Virginia joined the Coniederacy The
East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad was
the only line for>the transportation of troops
from the more southern States to the seat of
war on the Potomac The Union men in
East Tennessee tore up the railroad track
and burned the bridges along the line, thus
disturbing the transportation of troops.
This, among other things, brought down 4