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After Gen. Morgan's forces left
Cumberland Gap in September, 1862, the
people of Johnson and Carter counties
seemed to despair of the Federal army
coming into East Tennessee at any very
early date. They had been dis-appointed
so often that they paid little attention
to "grape-vine" dispatches any more.
Many men from these counties were now in
the different regiments of Tennessee
troops that had been formed in Kentucky.
A large number from these counties
joined Col. James P. T. Carter's
regiment, the 2d Tennessee Mounted
Infantry. Later a large number joined
Col. Dan Stover's Fourth Tennessee
Infantry. Those who had not yet "crossed
the mountains" made as fair weather as
possible with "the powers that be." They
found the less they said now the better,
but down deep in their hearts there was
no abatement in their love for tip
Union, and they watched with unabated
interest the progress of the war. There
had been many Confederate victories—in
fact getting the news from the Southern
papers—they gained all the victories.
This was most disheartening to the Union
people for they believed if the South
was victorious the Union people could
never live in peace, but like the
Moore's and Arcadians would have "to
fold their tents" and seek another
clime. Mr. A. G. Graham, as we have seen
had suggested their banishment. But let
us say here that in one particular Mr.
Graham was right. In the darkest hours
of the Union cause they did believe in
the coming of the Federal army "with a
faith equal to that -of the Jews in the
coming of the Messiah."
The early Winter of 1862 gave some of
them an opportunity to see the "blue
coats" and learn through the actual
sense of vision that they were not all
dead yet.
A Federal force of about 2000 troops
left Lexington, Kentucky, about the 20th
of December, 1862, under command of Gen.
Samuel P. Carter to make a raid into
East Tennessee for the purpose of
burning bridges and other-wise crippling
the East Tennessee and Virginia
Railroad, which was so important to the
Confederacy. This command was composed
of two battalions of the Second Michigan
Cavalry, Lieut. Col. Campbell ; one
battalion of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry,
Major Ramsey; the Ninth Pennsylvania
Cavalry, Major Russell, Col. Charles J.
Walker, of the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry,
was in command of the cavalry brigade.
This command crossed the mountains at
Crank's Gap, near Harlan Court House,
into Lee County, Va., moved down Cane
Creek, passed through a gap in Poor
Valley ridge and crossed Powell's Valley
four miles east of Jonesville, they
reached the -summit of Walden's ridge
about twenty miles from the foot of the
Cumberland Mountains and halted.
They had advanced this far without
creating any alarm, or exciting any
suspicion as to who they were. From here
they moved to Stickleyville, across
Powell's Mountain and through
Pattonsville. They crossed Clinch river
twelve miles from Estellville, Va. News
of their approach had preceded them, and
upon their arrival at Estellville they
were told that a considerable force of
rebels were at Moccasin Gap prepared to
dispute their passage. The Michigan
battalion under Col. Campbell were
dismounted and moved through the Gap;
the enemy retreated towards Kingsport. A
lieutenant and several -rebel soldiers
were captured near the Gap. The command
-pushed forward and on the way a
Sergeant of the 2d Michigan was killed,
and two other soldiers who bad -wandered
from the road were captured. About
day-light on the morning of December 3o
they reached Blountville, Sullivan
County, Tenn., surprised the place and
captured 3o soldiers of the 4th Kentucky
rebel cavalry and paroled them. They
left Bristol, which was said to be held
by a strong rebel force, to their left
and proceeded to Zollicoffer (now Bluff
City) on the East Tennessee and Virginia
Railroad six miles distant. Gen. Carter
sent his brother, Col. J. P. T. Carter,
with a portion of the 2d Michigan with
orders to burn the bridge across the
Holston river, Gen. Carter following as
soon as his forces all came up. Major
McDowell with a force of about 150 of
the 62d North Carolina surrendered to
Col. Carter without resistance. They
were paroled and declared that they
would not again return to the army.
The barracks, tents, arms, a railroad
car, together with the railroad and
wagon bridge were burned or destroyed.
It was reported that G. 0. Collins, who
accompanied Gen. Carter as his orderly,
and who had been one of the bridge
burners on the night of November 8,
1861, when the bridge across the river
at this place was burned, and had made
his escape into Kentucky and joined the
2d Tennessee Infantry, applied the torch
to the railroad bridge with the remark:
"I was accused of burning a bridge here
once before, if you'll watch me you will
see that I am guilty this time." After
setting fire to the bridge he climbed up
on the railing and crowed.
Gen. Carter dispatched Col. Watkins with
detachments from the 2d Michigan, 9th
Pennsylvania and 7th Ohio Cavalry, 180
in all, to Carter's Station (Depot) to
burn the bridge across the Watauga river
10 miles west of Zollicoffer. This was
the bridge that Dr. Jobe had saved from
being burned on the night of November 8,
1861. On the way to Carter's they
captured Col. Love of the 62d North
Carolina with a number of prisoners and
a locomotive. Col. Love having heard
rumors of the approach of the Yankees
went out on the locomotive to ascertain
the truth of the rumor and fell into
their hands. The detachment reached
Carter's Depot about sunset and found
about 200 of the 2d North Carolina
falling into line. Col. Walker attacked
them and after a short resistance they
fled to the woods. Major Roper of the
6th Kentucky Cavalry made a gallant
charge with two companies of the 9th
Pennsylvania under Capt. Jones,
capturing and killing a number of
rebels. Major Roper's loss was one
killed, one mortally, one severely, and
two slighted wounded. A number of rebels
were killed. The railroad bridge across
the Watauga river, together with a
number of arms, were taken and
destroyed.
Gen. Carter finding that the rebels were
collecting a large force from all
directions with the view of intercept-
ing and capturing him made a safe but
hasty retreat back to Kentucky. This was
the last expedition of Federals that
reached East Tennessee until Burnside's
army came in, in September, 1863. They
were the last Federal troops except
these, ever seen in these counties
except those passing through as
prisoners until the Thirteenth Tennessee
Cavalry passed through with Stoneman's
command in March, 1865.
Gen. Samuel P. Carter was a native of
Carter County, Tennessee, the county
having been named for his grand- tatner,
William Carter, and the county seat,
Elizabethton, for his grandmother, Mrs.
Elizabeth Carter. Gen. Carter was a
graduate of the Naval School, at
Annapolis, Md., and at the breaking out
of the war was a Lieutenant in the
United States Navy. Soon after the
beginning of the war (186x ), at his own
request, he was transferred to the
military service and assigned to duty
with the Federal forces in Kentucky that
were to operate in East Tennessee. He
performed an honorable part during the
war and was promoted to the rank of
Major-General. He loved his birthplace
and performed many acts of kindness
towards his boyhood friends. He was
loyal to his flag, and East Tennesseeans
owe much to him for his valiant service
in aiding to redeem their homes from the
do- minion of their enemies.
After the close of the war he returned
to the /navy, in which he attained to
the rank of Rear-Admiral before his
retirement. As far as we have been able
to learn no other officer in the United
States service attained so high rank
both in the military and naval service.
He died suddenly at his home in
Washington, D. C., May 26, 1891.
Col. James P. T. Carter was a brother of
Gen. Samuel P. and Rev. William B.
Carter. He was a staunch Union man from
the beginning; was a delegate to the
Knoxville and Greeneville Conventions.
After the occupation of East Tennessee
by the Confederates he fled to Kentucky
and organized the 2d Tennessee Mounted
Infantry, which did splendid service
until captured with Col. Garrard's
command near Rogersville, Tennessee,
November 6th, 1863. Those who did not
escape were imprisoned at Andersonville
under the monster Wirtz, many dying from
starvation. Among these were Theophilus
H. Roberts, of Elizabethton, a brave,
noble-hearted young man. John C. Smith
and Samuel Bishop lived through the
dreadful prison experience and returned
to their homes in 1865, "living
skeletons."
Col. James P. T. Carter married the
daughter of ex-Governor Letcher, of
Kentucky, and was appointed Secretary
of the Territory of Arizona by President
Johnson. He died suddenly at Tucson,
Arizona, in April, 1868. His son William
A. Carter, Esq., is a member of the
County Court (1902), and resides at
Elizabethton, Tennessee.
We have mentioned the happiness and
contentment of the people in Carter and
Johnson Counties previous to the war but
now how changed the scene ! The owners
of the humble but happy homes could no
longer rest in peace. The flag beneath
which their fathers fought was no longer
the protecting Aegis of their homes and
loved ones. 0, hapless daughters of
Carter and Johnson counties, there was
in store for thee sorrow, hardships,
suffering, destitution and heartaches
which we pray God may never again fall
to the lot of the mothers and daughters
of these now prosperous counties!
Though ample harvests had rewarded the
farmers in 1861, the excitement of war
had kept men from giving the proper
attention to their farms, and in the
Winter of 1861-62 refugees were to be
fed, men had to flee from their farms,
and troops coming in consumed much of
their provisions, often without
compensation, or in ex-change for
depreciating currency. The blockade had
shut out such necessary articles as
clothing, dress goods, coffee, tea and
all articles of merchandise, and the
stocks of these things in hand were
being rapidly consumed at exorbitant
prices. Only the wealthier classes could
obtain what had been regarded as the
necessaries of life. The women turned
their hands again to the cards, the
spinning wheel and loom to provide
raiment for their families. All kinds of
devices were resorted to; old garments
that had been cast aside were brought
into requisition. Sassafras and
spicewood were substituted for Imperial
and Japan tea. Everything imaginable was
substituted for coffee, to which the
older people were especially attached,
but none hit the right spot. Rye and
sweet potatoes were generally adopted.
They looked a little like coffee when
prepared, but here the resemblance
ended. Thus the Spring, and part of the
Summer of 1863 passed away. Hope—"that
springs eternal in the human breast"—had
been kept alive through more than two
long, weary years. Capt. Ellis who had
been making regular trips across the
mountains since April, 1862, had at
frequent intervals brought letters,
money and sometimes cheering news. His
advent into the neighbor-hood was soon
found out, and mothers and wives hurried
breathlessly to his hiding place to
learn some tidings from their husbands
and sons who had escaped to the Federal
army. The rebel soldiers were generally
apprised of his arrival from Kentucky
and made fruitless efforts to capture
him, but the "Old Red Fox" as he was
called was too sly for them. In fact the
time came when few rebel soldiers were
brave enough to venture within range of
his unerring Winchester. |
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