The photo is from a reenactment of the Battle of Fort Sanders.  Photo credit: Tammie McCarroll Burroughs

Confederate Response

 

OKOLONO, TENN

November 20 1861

Hon JP BENJAMIN Secretary of War Richmond Va.

SIR: Permit me to make a light draught upon your time and ask your attention to a few suggestions my reference to the rebellion of East Tennessee. I am a citizen of Carter County and have been all my life, except a temporary absence, which I spent in the State of Mississippi. In my judgment there is not a Union man in Carter County who was not involved to some extent in the rebellion. Many of them were drawn into it by wicked leaders, and some have heartily repented, but many others will seek the first favorable opportunity to repeat the experiment. Under these circumstances, what can be done to hold them in check in the future. If a Northern army invades the State at any future day, a majority of our population will undoubtedly tear up the railroad, burn the bridges, and destroy the lives and property of Southern mun. All, however, are not bad men, but the evil disposed, must be removed from our midst or a sufficient force stationed here, to hold them in check. If a force is placed here, it must not be removed again under any circumstances until the end of the war, or we will all be ruined and the railroad torn up. In this opinion I am not mistaken and hope the Confederate Government will not be deceived by deceptive professions of loyalty.

If the military commander at this point could have a discretionary power, which would enable him to inquire into the character of the rebels and give certain ones the option to join the Confederate service during the war, or be sent on for trial for treason, I have no doubt the ends of justice would be attained and much annoyance to the Government avoided. This, perhaps, would be rather a high handed movement, but the disease is a desperate one and requires severe and energetic treatment. Every Union man in the county either took up arms or was fully advised of the intention of his party to do so, so they are all principals or accessories before the fact. If they are all prosecuted, every citizen of East Tennessee must be arraigned before the court or brought up as witnesses. Nearly every rebel in my county could be convicted, if all the Southern rights citizens were brought up as witnesses, but this perhaps would look too much like political prosecutions.

Martial law ought to be enforced in every county in East Tennessee, to hold these bad men in proper restraint, but our President is very averse to such a policy. But be assured, if the Northern despotism succeeds in throwing a strong military force in here, we shall have much worse than martial law. Even now our most quiet and law abiding citizens have been shot down in cold blood from behind coverts by the tones and the proof can be made that Unionists have been tampering with the slaves.

The mass of the Union party religiously believed that a Northern army of at least 100,000 men was in East Tennessee before they began this rebellious demonstration. The Southern men have all been disarmed and the tories have apparently disbanded in most of the counties, but really gone home to await the approach of an invading army.

If we are invaded every Southern man will be taken a prisoner or else murdered in the night time. Our very existence depends on Mr Lincoln's ability to invade the State. Under these circumstances ought we not to have all the aid in the power of the Government to bestow? If we are not invaded a few thousand troops will keep the rebels quiet until they are completely subdued but a hostile force here will open up a passway for our enemies down through North Carolina Georgia and all the Gulf States Of this, I think there can be no sort of doubt. In addition to all this, East Tennessee is full of spies and emissaries. Military law alone, in my judgment, will stop the intercourse of these spies with their collaborators in Kentucky. Men come here under the guise of refugees from Kentucky and Maryland and thus hold intercourse with our enemies. Asking your pardon for my boldness and the hasty manner of writing this letter.

I am very respectfully &c

MADISON T PEOPLES

 

 

 

 

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