THE FREEMONT-PRICE TREATY. 415 The Fremont-Price "Treaty." The Fremont-Price "Treaty." One of Hunter's first acts, after assuming command, was to repudiate the proposed "treaty" between Fremont and Price, regarding the conduct of the war in Missouri, which was then only awaiting the rebel General's signature to become effective. The document, though properly belonging to the history of Fremont's "Hundred Days," is here given to indicate the policy adopted by the new directors of affairs. This import-ders made and provided for such offenses. ant and rather novel arrangement between belligerents was as follows: "1. No arrests whatever on account of political opinions, or for the merely private expression of the same, shall hereafter be made within the limits of the State of Missouri, and all persons who may have been arrested, and are now held to answer upon such charges only, shall be forthwith released. But it is expressly declared that nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to bar or interfere with any of the usual and regular proceedings of the established courts and statutes and or "2. All peaceably disposed citizens who may have been driven from their homes because of their political opinions, or who may have left them from fear of force and violence, are hereby advised and permitted to return, upon the faith of our positive assurances, that while so returning they shall receive protection from both armies in the field, whenever it can be given. "3. All bodies of armed men acting without the authority or recognition of the Major-Generals before "Whereas, Major - General Sterling Price, commanding the Missouri State Guard, by letter dated at his headquarters near Neosho, Missouri, October 26th, 1861, has expressed a desire to enter into some arrangement with Major-General John C. Fremont, commanding the forces of the United States, to facilitate the future exchange of prisoners of war released to parole; also, that all persons heretofore arrested for the mere expression of political opin-named, and not legitimately connected with the armies in the field, are hereby ordered at once to disions, may be released from confinement or parole; band. also, that in future the war be confined exclusively to the armies in the field, and has authorized and empowered Major Henry W. Williams and D. Robert Barclay, Esqs., to enter into such an arrangement in his behalf; 4. Any violation of either of the foregoing articles shall subject the offender to the penalty of military law, according to the nature of the offense. "In testimony whereof, the aforesaid John Charles Fremont, at Springfield, Missouri, on the first day of November, A. D. 1861, and Major-General Sterling Price, at ber, A. D. 1861, have hereunto set their hands, and hereby mutually pledge their earnest efforts to the enforcement of the above articles of agreement, according to their full tenor and effect, to the best of their ability. Second Brigadier-General Samuel R. Curtis, or the officer in command at Benton Barracks, is hereby authorized and empowered to represent Major-General Fremont; and Colonel D. H. Arm "To all peaceably disposed citizens of the State of Mis-strong, Honorable J. Richard Barrett and Colonel souri, greeting: Whereas, A solemn agreement has been entered into by Major Generals Fremont and Price, respectively commanding antagonistic forces in the State of Missouri, to the effect, that in future arrests or forcible interference by armed or unarmed parties of citizens within the limits of said State for the mere entertainment or expression of political opinions, shall hereafter cease; that families now broken up for such cause may be reunited, and that the war now progressing shall be exclusively confined to armies in the field; therefore, be it known to all whom it may concern Robert M. Renick, or either of them, are hereby au- "Thus done and agreed at Springfield, Missouri, this first day of November, 1861. CHAPTER IV OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY UP TO THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRING, FORCES IN THE FIELD. THE EAST TENNESSEE MOVEMENT. BRIDGES BURNED. PERSECUTION OF UNIONISTS. THE KEN ITS ABSURD PROCEED TUCKY "PROVISIONAL" CONVENTION. MARSHALL'S BRIGADE. BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS. The Location of The Location of THE disposition of forces | position, which extends in Kentucky made by Gen- from Bowling Green on his eral W. T. Sherman, during left through the centre in his brief command in the Department of the Barren county to his right recently at BurksCumberland, were such as the exigency seem- ville. The Union armies are advancing slowly ed to require. The rebels had the vantage but surely. General Crittenden has had his ground. Not until after November 15th, did headquarters at Morgantown, in Butler county, Buckner retire to the south side of Green with such gallant spirits as Colonels Jackson, river and draw in his lines toward Bowling McHenry and Burbridge. General McCook Green. The battle of Wild Cat (Oct. 20th) will soon be at Munfordsville, on the Green gave General Schoepff such a position as soon river, at which point he can cross whenever compelled the evacuation of Barboursville- it is desirable, and General Schopff is clearing Zollicoffer retiring in much discomfiture to- away the rebels who have recently ravaged wards Cumberland Gap, at which point he the valley of the Cumberland." This well inknew the Federals were aiming. The Louis-dicates the line of advance. The entire arville Journal of Nov. 6th, said: "The dispo- rangement was made with reference to forcsition of the three divisions of our Union ing every rebel battalion from Kentucky soil, troops may be briefly stated: General Crit- leaving to Grant the work of dealing with tenden commands the Western division, Gen-General Polk and the Columbus defenses. eral McCook the centre, and General Thomas This extension of the lines, however, required the Eastern, while General Sherman super- a force equivalent to the strength of three vises the whole. In the West Colonel Bur- armies, since the Confederates, by a rapid bridge has advanced as far as Woodbury, at concentration, might fall upon any one of the confluence of the Big Barren with Green the divisions to its destruction, should it river, about fifteen miles on the left flank of prove weak. Sherman bent all his energies Buckner's position at Bowling Green. In the to the single point of securing his positions centre our troops have gone beyond Nolin, —a labor that cost him his command, excitand taken position at Bacon Creek, which is ing, as it did, so many personal and public not more than six or seven miles from Mun- antagonisms, as to render the presence of fordsville, on the Green river. The Western another director necessary. The story of division has received orders to march from Sherman's Kentucky campaign illustrates Mount Vernon, the intended route being one of the features of the Union campaigns through Pulaski towards Cumberland, from which accounts for many a sin of omission whence Staunton has just fallen back. Thus and commission-the bickerings and rivalour troops are converging upon the enemy's ries among officers amounting to absolute 53 ruin of many a weil ordered step. That | long had been secretly or- The Advance on The Union Uprising in East Tennessee. Federal army, they prepared to strike for That the rebels were keenly alive to the danger of an advance into East Tennessee, appeared as well in the tone of their press as in their great efforts to stay the progress of Schoepff and Nelson. The Rich-gers represented that Zollicoffer would be asmond journals were loud in their demands sailed and driven from Cumberland Gapfor assistance against the enemy in that quar- that, in order to prevent his rapid reenforceter, and early in November had the pleasure ment, it would be necessary to burn bridges of announcing that General Sidney A. John- on the railways leading south and east of ston would direct, in person, the campaign Knoxville—that their destruction being comagainst Thomas. Nelson's sudden dash at | plete, the Federal forces would soon so occuPrestonburg [Nov. 5–7] and the rapid retreat up the Big Sandy river of the rebel General, John S. Williams-the repulse of the latter near Piketon and his retreat to Pound Gap -gave the Confederates every reason for aları, since all that portion of Western Virginia south of the Great Kenawha river was then open for the Union advance in that direction. A Richmond paper of November 14th, said: "No government can afford to let such a population as this be overrun, or to lose a district from which so many of its best soldiers are supplied. Intrinsically important as Southwestern Virginia is to the Government, from the qualities of its people, it is even more important from its geographical position. If that country be given up, and East Tennessee be in consequence lost, the empire of the South is cut in twain, and we become a fragmentary organization, fighting in scattered and segregated localities for a cause which can no longer boast the important attribute of geographical unity.” So Sherman appeared to think. He evidently proposed to make a strong demonstration in that direction. Nelson's advanee completely banished the invaders from Eastern Kentucky, leaving his column at liberty to move against Pound Gap, or to co-operate in the movement for the relief and release of East Tennessee. The people of the section of the Confederacy lying around Knoxville were aroused to a state of mingled hope and enthusiasm at the promise of early relief. The Unionists py the State, or that portion of it represent-, ed at the Greenville Convention [see pages 296-98] as to free it from Confederate rule. Acting upon these representations the Unionists decided upon arrangements for the work in hand. Parties were organized, numbering from fifteen to twenty-five resolute men each. Properly provided with combustibles, they proceeded, with great caution, to the several bridges chosen for destruction. On the night of November 10th, between the hours of ten and eleven, the air was lit by the glare of the conflagration of four heavy railway struc tures. The work was admirably managed— the firing being simultaneous, and the destruction perfect. The bridges rendered useless were that over Hiwasse river at Charleston, on the East Tennessee and Georgia railroad; that over Lick creek and the work spanning the Holston river at Union—both on the East Tennessee and Virginia road; two trustles crossing the Chickamingo creek eight miles from Chattanooga, on the Western and Atlantic road. The telegraph lines also were destroyed between Knoxville and Chattanooga, and Knoxville and Bristol. Captain Fry superintended the burning of Lick creek bridge. That work was guarded by six soldiers, who were overpowered but were released after taking the oath of alle giance to the United States, swearing by the Bible-a copy of which was carried along for that very service. Of course the rebels broke REBEL PERSECUTIONS IN EAST TENNESSEE. was, on the question of secession or no secession, 419 Rebel Persecutions. their oath upon release. They hastened to give the alarm, and, by their evidence, six of the Unionists were apprehended, thrown into thirty-two thousand nine hundred and twendungeons and two of them hung. Captainty-two for the Union-being a majority of Fry escaped to Kentucky, but not to lead the over eighteen thousand votes against secession. Federal advance over the mountains. The That was the "voice of the people,” expressFederal forces had deflected toward the east ed even in the face of Confederate muskets. instead of pressing in to Tennessee. It is well the record exists, to live as a blasting witness against those ministers of misrule who desecrated the name of American by their crimes in Tennessee. The Union Uprising in East Tennessee. This daring act greatly excited the Confederate authorities. For a few days the most lively apprehensions existed in regard to conspiracies, uprisings and rebellion; but, when it was seen that nothing further than bridge burning occurred, and rebel troops were thrown rapidly into that section, assurance took the place of fear. The rivets in the manacles placed on Union wrists were tightened, and, as their helplessness became more apparent, so the cruelty of their tormentors increased, until few men were strong hearted enough to avow a love for the old Union. The Memphis Appeal of November 10th, wrote: “ This insurrection, however, while comparatively harmless from its being premature, gives evidence of a deep laid plot among a few of the most reckless traitors of that region to resist the sovereign voice of the people of the State by force of arms, so soon as they have hope of assistance from the Lincoln despotism. It is fortunate that it has occurred at the present time, when we are fully able to put a lasting quietus upon it, from which no appliances of future Federal aid will ever be able to resuscitate. We now have an open foe to conquer, who is rendered impotent by the very disclosure of his hostility-and not less so by his isolation." Truly said. The "foe" was rendered impotent by his isolation, and his very helplessness was but a prelude to punishments at which human nature revolts.* But what baseness directed the paragraph! "To resist the sovereign voice of the people"! The journalist who uttered the libel falsified because he dare not do otherwise. The entire Confederate cause was built upon just such departures from honor and truth. The ereign voice of the people," as declared in the last election then held in East Tennessee, SOV * See Parson Brownlow's book for details of the sufferings experienced by the few who would not recant their loyalty. His statements are confirmed by much official and personai testimony. The act was premature. It resulted disastrously, in calling down upon loyalists the full rigor of Confederate law and filling that section with rebel troops to such a number as rendered the Federal advance one of peril. It aroused Governor Harris to renewed vigilance in the cause of persecution. Under the guise of a call for arms to fit troops for the field, he issued a proclamation (Nov. 12th) by which East Tennesseeans were very generally disarmed and rendered all the more helpless. November 14th he issued another proclamation calling out the militia to the number of thirty thousand "to repel the invader," ordering the conscripts to be ready for marching orders by the 25th of November. Under this order about twelve thousand men were placed in the Confederate ranks-temporarily as they supposed, but permanently as the Confederate leaders designed. It was not the only instance during the war where the militia of the Southern States were impressed after having once been put in the field. The spirit of Confederate mercy was made public in proclamations as well as in acts of violence, which spared no citizen of loyal sentiments. One Daniel Leadbetter, Colonel Commanding" at Greenville and vicinity, issued a manifesto, December 4th, from which we quote: "The Government commands the peace and sends troops to enforce the orders. I proclaim that every man who comes in promptly and delivers up his arms will be pardoned on taking the oath of allegiance.* All men taken in arms against the Govern * Exercising his authority, this officer hung a number of persons. To be suspected of Union sentiments was enough to unglove the iron hand of this minister of vengeance. Almost his first act was to arrest and hang without trial two men named Fry and |