The little band of men having
carried out the plans of Mr. Carter as
far as it could be done by burning the
bridge at Zollicoffer and other places
along the East Tennessee and Virginia
railroad, now expected that the
Government would faithfully carry out
its part of the contract which had been
made with their leaders and sanctioned
by the President himself as well as the
highest officials of the Federal
Government. These men, through motives
of patriotism and love for the Union and
a desire for its preservation,
performed, to the best of their ability,
their part of the compact and rendered
to their country a signal service, and
dealt a severe blow to those who were
trying to destroy the Government. They
could not believe for a moment that the
army under Gen. Thomas would not now
advance immediately into East Tennessee,
take possession of the railroad and hold
the country.
It did not occur to them that all these
plans would be changed and more than two
long years would pass before East
Tennessee would be finally delivered
from the dominion of the Southern
Confederacy ; and that many of those who
had engaged in bridge burning would
never again see their country's flag
wave over their loved land, while
others, after suffering much danger and
persecution, would join the Federal army
.and aid in driving the last foe from
the soil of East Tennessee.
On the 9th of November, the day
following the burning of the bridge
across the Holston river, great
excitement prevailed. The news spread
far and near that "Sherman's Army" was
advancing into East Tennessee, and
hundreds of Union men from all parts of
Carter, Johnson, Washington and Greene
counties, and from Western North
Carolina, armed with pistols, shot-guns
and old squirrel rifles, flocked into
Elizabethton on their way "to meet the
army."
They were really an unorganized mob
without leaders, discipline or any
knowledge of what war meant, and yet,
impelled by passion and hatred of the
Southern cause and love for the Union
they marched on to offer battle to Capt.
McClellan's company, which, though
numbering only 125 men, was well armed,
drilled and disciplined. Men better
acquainted with military affairs knew
that men, however brave and numerous,
cannot contend successfully with even a
small body of well trained troops.
This crowd moved on down the river,
crossed Taylor's Ford, and went on in
the direction of Carter's Depot. They
came in sight of McClellan's pickets,
near the old "Turkey Town Camp Ground."
At this point Dr. Jobe, Col. Stover and
others, who had some little experience
in military affairs, induced them to
halt and hold a parley, which resulted
in some kind of organization, agreeing
upon Col. Stover as commander. They then
returned to the south side of the
Watauga river and went into camp with
headquarters in Col. N. G. Taylor's
large barn, which stood a short distance
from the banks of the Watauga river.
They managed to get something to eat and
putting out pickets in every direction
the tired and motley crowd, after the
day of excitement, went into the barn
and sheds and such other places as they
could find and laid down to rest. About
midnight they were fired upon from
across the river. Many, being
unused to war's alarms, and their
courage leaving them when fired upon in
the darkness, fled across the fields,
while others stood their ground travely
and saluted the rebels with a sharp fire
from their shot-guns and squirrel
rifles. This fight was kept up sharply
for a short time, the balls of the enemy
whizzing through the air at a lively
rate and the Union men, undismayed,
returning the fire. Finding it too hot
for him Capt. McClellan withdrew but was
not followed by the Unionists. McClellan
had a few men and horses wounded but
there were no casualties on the Union
side. The next morning a number of the
Union men found bullet holes through
their hats and clothing showing they,
had received "close calls" the night
before. Those who ran the night before
returned the next morning, verifying the
old adage "that he who fights and runs
away will live to fight another day."
This incident was known as "The Fight at
Taylor's Ford" and many amusing and
ludicrous stories, personal and
otherwise, were told concerning it. We
hope to gather these up, together with
sketches of the leaders and many of the
participants in this memorable little
affair, which we will relate in another
chapter.
On the morning of the loth the "command"
moved out to "Clark's Big Spring" on Gap
Creek, where they remained over night.
At this same place Col. John Sevier's
command, which left Sycamore Shoals on
the Watauga river on the 26th of
September, 178o, on their way to King's
Mountain, stopped for their mid-day
lunch. On the morning of the 11th they
moved back to Elizabethton and went into
camp in the "Sugar Hollow," a short
distance west of town. Here was a
collection of 1500 men, many of them had
brought their horses with them from home
and all had to be fed. There was no
means of subsistance except such as
could be furnished by the people in the
vicinity, many of whom were too poor to
furnish anything, however willing they
might be. Those who were able freely
opened their doors to them without
complaint, and did everything in their
power to entertain those who were
engaged in what they called "The Little
Rebellion against The Big Rebellion."
Many of the citizens gave up their keys
to their smoke houses and cribs to John
K. Miller, who was acting quartermaster
and commissary of this organization.
On the 12th of November, three days
after the bridge was burned, Elijah
Simerly, who had been sheriff of the
county and was a prominent Union man and
an officer in this organization, was
sent down the country to see if any
tidings could be learned of Sherman's
army, which was still daily expected.
Mr. Simerly returned, but brought no
encouraging news, as nothing could be
heard regarding the advance of the
Federal army.
In the meantime the most exaggerated
reports were sent to the Confederate
authorities concerning the movements of
the Unionists by the rebel citizens,
many of whom were greatly alarmed and
left their homes. In addition to the
Confederate troops already in East
Tennessee Gen. Leadbetter was sent there
with 10,000 troops to repair the
bridges, guard the railroads, disperse
the Union men and mete out punishment to
those engaged in the bridge burning, and
the rebellion, or who in any way
sympathized with or aided the Union
cause.
Gen. Thomas, who had left Camp Dick
Robinson, Ky., with his army, had moved
as far as London, 55 miles distant from
the former place, where he received
orders from Gen. Sherman to return, thus
leaving the bridge burners, those who
had engaged in the rebellion and in fact
all the Union people, to the mercy of
the Confederate authorities, who were
now bitterly hostile to them.
On the 14th of November, Col. Stover
despairing of aid and learning of the
proposed advance of Leadbetter, moved up
farther towards the mountains and
encamped at a place near the residence
of Hon. John W. Hyder in the Doe River
Cove (now Hampton) on the main road
leading from Johnson City to
Taylorsville (now Mountain City). Here
the men were furnished with provissions,
beef cattle, sheep, flour and cornmeal
and feed for the horses by the farmers
residing in the neighborhood. They
remained there until the 16th of
November. Constant rumors of the enemy
had been circulated through the camp and
they were expected at any time. Gen
Leadbetter had arrived at Johnson City
on the 15th with a large Confederate
force and two mountain howitzers and
moved out on the Taylorsville road
towards the Union camp.
We will insert here a graphic account of
the breaking up of the army of the
"Little Rebellion," furnished by one who
participated in it, Capt. S. H. Hendrix,
and whose experience will illustrate
that of many others.
Captain Hendrix says : "I followed the
command to Hyder's Old Field above the
Doe River Cove and remained with it
until Saturday evening, November 16. I
was out on the pike beyond Douglas' at
Mr. Lyon's— had gone there to get some
sleep, as I had not slept any of
consequence since Wednesday night
preceding the bridge burning on the
8th—had been up more or less every night
and some times all night. I was at
Lyon's house when Leadbetter's advance
fired on our pickets only a few rods
away. Then I lost my sleepy spell and
started for camp. Brownlow Fair and
William M. Gourley, and I think Andrew C
Fondrin, were the pickets fired on. I
ran back north of Douglas' in the gap
and found Gourley, Fondrin, Fair, Daniel
Ellis and James I. R. Boyd with a small
force formed in line across the road. We
remained there until nearly dark when we
began to get weak and scared ; and
finally all left on a run for Doe _River
Cove, or rather for Aunt Sallie Lacey's.
From there I left for Johnson county and
stayed all night at Sophia Jackson's, up
the Laurel Fork creek.
"Miss Jane Campbell gave me a loaf of
bread as I passed her father's house,
which I ate with the beef I found in our
abandoned camp as I passed through it."
Col. Stover and his officers, realizing
the hopelessness of resisting the large
body of trained and well armed rebel
troops with men who had no experience in
war and no effective arms, and having
entirely despaired of receiving Federal
aid, disbanded the army, each man to
take care of himself as best he could.
Some fled to the mountains, some to
Kentucky, while others returned to their
homes, hoping to receive some clemency
from the Confederate authorities. Most
of these were doomed to disappointment
as they were sent to prison, there to
endure all kinds of curses and abuse,
and many to suffer death.
Such was the fiasco known as "The Carter
County Rebellion," which resulted in
such distress and suffering to the
people, which we will attempt to
describe in another chapter.
But allow us to anticipate so far as to
say that at a later day many of the very
men who "skedadled" at Taylor's Ford,
and who fled from Leadbetter's veterans
at Doe River Cove, lived "to fight
another day," and returned to drive
their persecutors from their native
heath, and enjoy again the smiles of
fortune and the blessings of peace under
their own vine and fig tree, and beneath
the folds of the dear old flag they
loved so well.
Officers in the Carter County
Rebellion.-
We have mentioned many of the officers
who took part in the "Little Rebellion,"
here and there in this history, but we
have no "records" to refer to ascertain
the rank of each one. We give below the
names and rank of a number of them as
well as we have been able to learn them.
Daniel Stover, Colonel. Carter county
force.
J. H. Wagner, Colonel, Johnson county
force.
J. W. M. Grayson, Captain, Johnson
county company.
John K. Miller, Quarter
Master and Commissary.
Elijah Simerly,
Major, Carter county force.
John Helton, Jr., Captain of Horsemen or
Cavalry.
The following were captains of squads or
companies from different parts of Carter
and Johnson counties :
Jas. I. R. Boyd, W. M. Gourley, Landon
Carter, David N. Morton, David Stout,
Williams Cass, D. P. Wilcox, C. C.
Wilcox.
Lieutenants : B. B. Ferguson, D. B.
Jenkins, William Jenkins, Henry C.
Pierce.
We will close this chapter with some
extracts from letters written by Gen. S.
P. Carter immediately after the bridge
burning, showing his great sympathy and
anxiety for the Union people, and how
eloquently he pleaded for their relief ;
and a letter from Gen. George B.
McClellan, commanding the U. S. army to
Gen. Buell, in which he pays the highest
tribute to the loyal people of East
Tennessee and asks that mere military
advantage be sacrificed to the nobler
sentiments of justice and humanity that
demanded that assistance should be sent
to these brave and loyal people.
HEADQUARTES EAST TENNESSEE BRIGADE, CAMP
CALVERT,
Nov. 16, 1861.
BRIG.- GEN. GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Commanding, &c., Crab Orchard, Ky.
General:—My brother, William, has just
arrived from East Tennessee and the news
he brings I think of so much importance
that I will dispatch a special messenger
to convey it to you. My brother left
Roan county, near Kingston, on Monday
night last. He reports that on Friday
night, 8th inst., of last week, he
succeeded in having burned at least six
and perhaps eight bridges, viz: Union
bridge, in Sullivan county, near the
Virginia line; Lick Creek bridge, in
Greene county; Strawberry Plains, in
Jefferson county, fifteen miles east of
Knoxville, and on the East Tennessee and
Georgia Railroad; two bridges of the
Chickamauga between Cleveland and
Chattanooga, and between Chattanooga and
Dalton, Ga. These bridges are certainly
destroyed. The Long Island bridge at
Bridgeport, Ala., across the Tennessee
River, and a bridge below Dalton on the
Western Atlantic Railroad, are probably
destroyed.
The consternation among the
secessionists of East Tennessee is very
great. The Union men are waiting with
longing and anxiety for the appearance
of Federal forces on the Cumberland
Mountain, and are all ready to rise up in
defense of the Federal Government. My
brother states that he has it from
reliable sources that the rebels have
but 15,000 men at Bowling Green, many of
them badly armed and poorly organized.
The other 15,000 men are distributed at
two other points in Southwestern
Kentucky.* * * * * * * * * * * *
General, if it be possible, do urge the
Commanding General to give us some
additional force and let us advance into
East Tennessee; now is the time. And
such a people as are those who live in
East Tennessee deserve and should be
relieved and protected. You know the
importance of this move and will, I
hope, use all your influence to effect
it. Our men will go forward with a shout
to relieve their native land. * * * * *
*
With much respect, I am, dear General,
yours very truly,
S. P. CARTER,
Act'g Brig.-Gen. Com'd'g East Tennessee
Brigade.
_________________
CAMP CALVERT, EAST TENNESSEE, Nov. 20,
1861.
GEN. GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Commanding, &c., Crab Orchard, Ky.
General:—* * * * Recruits are arriving
almost daily from East Tennessee. We
have no arms to put in their hands.. The
Union men coming to us represent the
people in East Tennessee as waiting with
the utmost anxiety the arrival of the
Federal forces. They are all ready to
join them and do their part toward the
deliverance of their native land. Union
camps are already forming in some of the
counties, and unless help soon reaches
them, as they have little ammunition,
they will be scattered or destroyed. * *
* *
With the hope of soon seeing you here,
respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
S. P. CARTER, Brig.-Gen. Commanding.
________________
HEADQUARTERS EAST TENNESSEE BRIGADE,
CAMP CALVERT, Nov. 24, 1861.
BRIG.-GEN.
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Com'd'g, Danville, Ky.
General:—* * * * * We have arrivals every
day from East Tennessee. The condition
of affairs there is sad beyond
description and if the loyal people who
love and cling to the Government are not
soon relieved they are lost.
* * * *
Respectfully your obedient servant,
S. P. CARTER,
Acting Brig.-Gen. Com'd'g.
_________________
HEADQUARTERS EAST TENNESSEE BRIGADE,
CAMP CALVERT, Nov. 25, 1861.
BRIG.-GEN. GEO. H. THOMAS,
Commanding, &c., Danville, Ky.
General:—* * * * The rebel force at
Cumberland Gap is so small, from the
best information I can obtain, that I
think that we will meet with little
opposition in case it is determined to
advance by that pass. Our desires are to
get to East Tennessee as soon as
possible in order that our loyal friends
there may be relieved. Many of them have
been lying out in the woods to escape
their enemies, but as the season
advances they will be driven to their
houses and be forced into the rebel
ranks or carried to prison. Let us up
and help them now when it will require
so little to accomplish this desirable
end. * * * * * * * * *
I am, General, respectfully and truly
yours,
S. P. CARTER, Acting Brig.-Gen.
Commanding.
_______________
General Carter continued to urge upon
Gen. Thomas to move into East Tennessee
in numerous appeals, of which the above
are samples. His whole sympathy and
thoughts seemed to be turned towards the
suffering loyal people of his native
land.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 3, 1861.
BRIG.-GEN. D. C. BUELL,
Louisville, Ky.
Dear Buell:—I inclose two letters which
were referred to me by the President and
were intended for your eye. I do so
feeling sure you sympathize with me in
my intense regard for the noble Union
men of Eastern Tennessee; that you will
overlook mere matters of form; and that
you will devote all your energies toward
the salvation of men so eminently
deserving our protection. I understand
your movements and fully concur in their
propriety, but I must still urge the
occupation of East Tennessee as a duty
we owe to our gallant friends there who
have not hesitated to espouse our cause.
Please send, then, with the least
possible delay, troops enough to protect
these men. I still feel sure that the
best strategical move in this case will
be that dictated by the simple feelings
of humanity. We must preserve these
noble fellows from harm; everything
urges us to do that—faith, interest and
loyalty. For the sake of these Eastern
Tennesseeans who have taken part with us
I would gladly sacrifice mere military
advantages; they deserve our protection
and at all hazards must have it. I know
your nature is noble enough to forget
any slurs they may cast upon you.
Protect the true men and you have
everything to look forward to. In no
event allow them to be crushed out* * *
* You may fully rely on my full support
in the movement I have so much at
heart—the liberation of Eastern
Tennessee. * * * * If you gain and
retain possession of Eastern Tennessee
you will have won brighter laurels than
I expect to gain
GEO. B. M'CLELLAN, Commanding U. S.
Army.
________________
Gen. S. P. Carter, Hon. Horace Maynard,
Nelson, Johnson, Brownlow, and all
the distinguished leaders in East
Tennessee; with the sympathy of Gen.
Thomas enlisted in this movement, and
the approval and sympathy of Gen.
McClellan evinced in his manly and
patriotic letter we have quoted; and
above all, the deep interest taken by
President Lincoln in the unfortunate
condition of the loyal people of East
Tennessee, that they were abandoned to
their fate without even a serious effort
being made to relieve them. If a
military force had been dispatched to
East Tennessee, or even the East
Tennessee troops then in the field and
chafing to come to the relief of their
friends and families, had been permitted
to make the effort, if it had been
disastrous, it would at least have
explained the mystery that has always
surrounded the cause of the abandonment
of the loyal people of East Tennessee to
their fate.
With the information before us we can
but lay this failure at the door of Gen.
D. C. Buell, who seems to have
disregarded the appeals of Gen. Carter,
of all the leading loyal men of East
Tennessee and of the com mander-in-chief
of the army and President Lincoln
himself, whose great heart went out in
deepest sympathy for our suffering
people.
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