Year: 1861

10 our krlenuSvln East TenneS-


see.


Prompted by an earnest desire TO preserve peace
among the citizens Of East Tennessee, and 70 re-
move fur as possible all causes calculated to irr-
tate our people, the undersigned on yesterday vel
unfairly addressed note to Gen Zollicofer now in
command in this division of the State, Of which
the following is a copy


KSoxyILLE TENN, Sept Is, 1851.
GES. +. X. ZULLIooFFER, Commandigy hs Forces Of


East Tennessee.


/ DEAR SIR We have learned, from reliable sour
ces that there is some apprehension existing in The
minds Of many persons nathis quarter Of the State
that the people Of Fast Tennessee are about to break
out in open rebellion against the existing anthori-
tics Of The State, and naugurate civil war in our
midst, We are surprised that any such apprehen-
sion should he for a moment cherished unless those
who entertain II have been favored with better
sources of information than can pretend to. OF
course intercourse and conversations in reference
TO the present deporable troubles in which we are
involved, have been, for the most part, with that
portion of our citizens known as Union men, and
any opinion which we msy express is founded upon
our knowledge of the purposes and intentions OF
the people as derived from that source.


We should deplore a civil war ia cur midst and
we believe that we but reflect the feeling OF the
Union party IN East Tennessee IN avowng that SEN
tment. Our counsels for some time past have been
for the peace and quiet of the community, and so
far as we have any knowledge, these counses have
almost invariably been responded TO favorably by
the people. From our knowledge Of the people of
this portion of the State, we have an abiding con-
fdence that there is no purpose the part OF any
respectable number of them to inaugurate civil
strife or provoke collision between the authori-
fiaa riv vii milf and = alt
events, so far as We have any influence with the
people of this end of the State, it will be exeried
for the maintanance of tho peace and quiet OF tho
community.


We feel well assured that il Is not your purpose
unjustly to harrass oppress any peaceable and
law-abiding citizen, sne il is equally ours to use
whatever of weight we may have to prevent any
outbreak Or disordcrly conduct on the part Of our
citizens. q
You will pardon the expression of our belief, that
should the troops under your command be required
upon another field Of operation there will be no
danger Of an outbreak in this quarter because. Of
their absence at all events it will not abate our
honest efforts to maintain peace nnd good order
among our people.


Very respectfully, Signed as below


To this note we received the following reply


BRIGADE HEADouARrERs


Knoxville, Tenn. Sept. IA, 1861.





morning after days absence, have been gratified
to receive your note of yesterday. The spirit il
breathes, together with the influence of your con-
joint signatures, must greatly promote that peaca
and quiet in East Tennessee so much desired by the
Government both State and Confederate I will
most cheerfully hereafter as heretofore, retain no
more military force, and exercise more military
authority, in East Tennessee, than may deem ,;ae
to the peace and safety of the community and
trust gentlemen that we may soon have the pleas
ure of witnessing the disappearance Of all misun-
dersanding among our people, aud with it. all mile
tary forces from this division of the State.


Very respectfully,


FIX. ZOLLICoFFER,
Brig. Geneneral.
To Messrs. F. s. Heiskeli Sam. Milligan, Jno Bax-
ter, and others.


Wesincerey trust that the motives by which we
have been prompted in this matter will be properly
appreciated by the Union men throughout East
Tennessee, We are satisfied that we have truly re-
presented to the military authorities the disposition
and purposes Of our people as body, and we ear
nestly hope that our friends in every locality will
demonstrate by their conduct that the confidence
reposed in their peaceful intentions has not been
misplaced We trust we will not he regarded as
presumptuous in invoking all to continue their peace
ful vocations, and to studioasly refrain from tho
use Of inteaperate language and from violent acts
calculated to provoke collisions with the soldery
now in cur midst. To preserve the peace of our
section, and the safety of ourselves and families, ia
surely worth the combined efforts of us all. Resis-
tance to the present authorities can only result in
the destruction of those who undertake IL. We,
therefore, earnestly invoke our friends in favor OF
peace, both in word and deed