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It was at this period that began
that sentiment of love and confidence
among the loyal people that marked their
intercourse through the long period that
intervened before the close of the war.
A common cause and common sufferings had
united them in a common bond of sympathy
and affection, and steeled their hearts
against fear. They were a band of
brothers and sisters.
The "Union" was the shibboleth that
gained admission into every heart and
home. They shared with each other and
even with strangers, who were known to
be loyal, their stores of provisions to
the last morsel, "without money and
without price"—the noble women often
preparing it and carrying it far into
the mountains to reach the hiding places
of their loved ones who were under the
ban of the military authorities or being
hunted by the conscript officers.
It was during this period, too, that
they were living between hope and fear.
The loyal leaders who had gone North
were constantly importuning the
Government to send them relief and they
were constantly assured that this would
be done at an early day. This news was
conveyed through the lines to the
waiting and watching people and would
renew their hopes for a time, but to end
it disappointment. Long, weary months
were to elapse before these hopes were
to be realized. Other and more important
movements of the army, together with
unexpected reverses prevented the
fulfillment of their promises. The
Confederate Government realizing the
importance to them of holding East
Tennessee not only on account of the
railroad and its strategic importance,
but because it afforded them a vast
amount of supplies from its fertile
valleys and was for that reason a
favorite field for forage, hence they
were determined not to part with it
without a great struggle. Gen. Sherman
with his keen military instincts had
seen this from the beginning, and it was
doubtless for this reason that he turned
back the little army of Gen. Thomas,
knowing, or believing, that it would be
sacrificed.
Many important events were now
transpiring throughout the county, which
it is needless for us to mention, though
they were watched by our people with
almost painful interest. The Union
victories were garbled by the Southern
papers into victories for their cause.
The Cumberland Mountain still lifted its
frowning peaks between the Union people
and their fondest hope—their country's
flag. Many had crossed the forbidden
path that led through its deep defiles
and over its steep acclivities and they
were now battling bravely against
Nature's barriers and a determined enemy
to reach their homes.
On the 18th of June, 1862, an army of
about 12,000 men advanced under command
of Gen. George W. Morgan to Cumberland
Gap and took possession of that
important stronghold with little
opposition. The Unionists hailed this
event with gladness, believing again
that relief was near at hand. In this
command were two brigades of loyal East
Tennessee troops, viz: Carter's Brigade,
2nd and 4th Tenn. (Union) Cavalry and
Spear's Brigade—the 3d, 5th and 6th
Tenn. Infantry.
These troops were anxious to redeem
their homes and received the highest
praise from their officers for gallantry
displayed in this expedition. Hundreds
of East Tennessee Union men joined this
force at Cumberland Gap,—many from
Carter and Johnson counties. The
Confederate authorities, realizing the
importance of holding East Tennessee,
hurried in large reinforcements, and
Gen. Morgan was soon besieged by a
largely superior force; and, fearing
that he would be entirely cut off from
his base of supplies, after holding the
Gap from June until September, fell back
through Kentucky to the Ohio river. Thus
the Unionists, who had been in high
hopes, were doomed to disappointment.
Many Union men in Carter and Johnson
counties had, up to this time, managed
to remain in the vicinity of their
homes, and aid, to some extent, in
providing for their families. Seeing the
futility of resistance many even feigned
loyalty to the South to save their
friends and families. Some of these
gaining the confidence of the
authorities were appointed enrolling
officers and. were enabled to save many
conscripts by giving them warning in
some way of their approach. R. A. Lyle
was an instance of this kind. To procure
the release of his step-father, Jacob
Bewley, he had volunteered in the
Southern army, and was sent to
Elizabethton as Deputy Provost Marshal.
He proved a good friend to the Union
people and did all he could for them
without exciting the suspicion of the
authorities, and finally made his escape
to the Union lines. Governor Johnson
secured him a position as private
secretary to the Secretary of State, E.
H. East.
The bitterness toward the loyal people
of East Tennessee became more intense
all the time. Their loyalty had brought
upon them the hatred of the Southern
press and people, and the most
opprobrious epithets were applied to
them. They were called "Lincolnites,"
"Abolitionists," "Thugs" and "renegades
;" even the beautiful country itself,
which had been termed the "Switzerland
of America," was called "the
God-forsaken country." But this ultra
sentiment was not shared by all the
Confederates, especially in regard to
its loveliness.
To show that through all these scenes of
bitterness some of them retained a
deep-seated love for the hills and
mountains, and beautiful valleys, we
introduce an incident that occurred soon
after the war. The people of Carter
county should revere the name of her
gifted son, Hon. Landon C. Haynes, who
was a Confederate States Senator. At a
banquet given to the bar at Jackson,
Mississippi, at which Col. Haynes was a
guest, Gen. Forrest proposed a toast "to
Mr. Haynes, the gentleman from East
Tennessee, sometimes called the
God-forsaken." Mr. Haynes responded : "I
plead guilty to the soft impeachment. I
was born in East Tennessee, on the banks
of the Watauga, which in the Indian
vernacular means beautiful river, and
beautiful river it is. I have stood on
its banks in my childhood, and looking
down in its glassy waters saw a heaven
below, and looking up beheld a heaven
above me, like two mirrors, each
reflecting in the other its moon,
planets and trembling stars.
"Away from its banks of rock and cliff,
of laurel and ivy, hemlock and pine,
stretches back to the distant mountains
a vale more beautiful and exquisite than
any in Switzerland or Italy.
"There stands the great Roan, the great
Black, the great Unaka and the great
Smoky mountains, upon whose summits the
clouds gather of their own accord, even
on the brightest day. There I have seen
the great spirit of the storm lie down
in his pavilion of darkness and clouds.
Then I have seen him awake at midnight,
and, like a giant refreshed from
slumber, arouse the tempest, and let
loose the lightnings that ran along the
mountain tops swifter than an eagle's
flight in heaven. I have seen them stand
up and dance, like angels of light, to
the music of Nature's grand organ, whose
keys were touched by the fingers of
Divinity in the halls of Eternity,
resounding through the universe.
"Then I have seen the clouds drift away
towards the horizon, and morning come
forth from her saffron bed, put on her
robes of light, and standing tip-toe on
the misty mountain top, while Night fled
to his bed-chamber at the poles, lighted
up the green valley and beautiful river
where I played in my childhood.
"O, beautiful land of the mountains with
thy sun- painted cliffs, how can I ever
forget thee!"
But this lovely valley, so eloquently
described, was the scene of many
revolting tragedies. |
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