1861 EAST TENNESSEE UNIONIST

REBELLIONCauses and Effects

&The people who made it happen

AGENDA

Migrations that formed Tennessee

Political Conditions in Tennessee

Military Situation

Cloaks and Daggars

Starts and Stumbles

Execution

Lessons Learned

MIGRATIONS

Settlement along with Watauga River 1770• James Robertson• John Sevier

Jurisdiction• Virginia• North Carolina• If not them, then who?

MIGRATIONS

Watauga Association Government• 13 Member Legislative Body• 5 of those appointed as Commissioners• 1 of those 5 elected by Commissioners as Chairman who

presided over the Courts.

Watauga Association 1772• “They were the first men of American Birth to establish a free

and independent community on the Continent” (Theodore Roosevelt Winning of the West, p183)

• “…the first written compact for civil government anywhere west of the Alleghanies." (JGM Ramsey, Annals of Tennessee p107)

MIGRATIONS

1779 Nashville is founded by James Robertson and other Wataugans.

1784 – 1788 State of Franklin

MIGRATIONS

June 1st 1796 Tennessee Statehood• Knoxville as Capital• Constitution seemingly a recitation of all previous

wrongs against the people of Watauga and protections against it.

• Thomas Jefferson, referring to Tennessee’s Constitution said, “"The most republican of all the constitutions adopted by the states.“

MIGRATIONS

Trade

Easier FarmingMore Room!

POLITICS

Political Influence

POLITICS

Nashville and Middle Tennessee – Explosive Growth.

• 1790 – 1830 Nashville grew 273%• 1817 Capital of Tennessee moves to Murfreesboro• 1826 Capital is moved again to Nashville

Knoxville and East Tennessee – Stagnant Growth• 1790 - 1830 Knox county grew only 20% after

suffering an 18% loss of population in 1810.• The removal of the Capital from Knoxville had to rub

the people of East Tennessee the wrong way.

POLITICS

Tension by the numbers• February 1861 Secession Convention vote fails by

roughly 9,000 votes• East Tennessee rejects the proposal 33,000 – 7,000

• Many counties rejecting by 80% or greater

Unionist Conventions• May 30th Convention in Knoxville

• Report made no friends with their opposition.• Adjourned to await the outcome of the June 8th vote on

Secession “subject to the call of the President”

POLITICS

Tennessee secedes from the Union June 8th, 1861

East Tennessee Unionist Convention President T.A.R. Nelson calls for a second meeting in Greeneville on June 17th.

• Unionists on the way to Greeneville attacked near Strawberry Plains by Louisiana Tigers as the passed on the tracks.

• Louisana Tigers ride into Greeneville during the convention and “committed some minor outrages”.

• Exciting time. Much lively debate, what time they were not dodging armed and angry Confederate soldiers.

POLITICS

Greeneville Convention Debate• Opening Remarks by John Netherland• T.A.R. Nelson’s Resolutions

• Supported by Rev. William Blount Carter and others• Oliver P Temple’s Resolutions

• Supported by Horace Maynard and others• Very heated debates but a final list of 6 Resolutions

were passed by acclamation.• There is some evidence to suggest that some of the

participants were just ready to go home.

MILITARY SITUATION

Late summer 1861 in the Western Theatre

Reverend William Blount Carter leaves Tennessee for Kentucky.

Kentucky• A few Union raw regiments still organizing• Home Guards defending counties, loyalties suspect• State Militia was forming under orders of Simon B Buckner

Tennessee• Confederate Troops travelling by rail to Virginia• Bridges guarded by Confederate troops• Union Regiments quietly gathering

MILITARY SITUATION

September of 1861 in the Western Theatre

Kentucky• September CSA General Polk takes Columbus Kentucky• September had several Infantry and Cavalry organizations in the

field.• Neighboring states began sending troops to Kentucky

Tennessee• CS General Zollicoffer moves into Kentucky• Cumberland Gap occupied by CS Col Churchwell(4th TN) and

Rains(11th TN)

Reverend Carter goes to Washington

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Rev. William Blount Carter’s Plan

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Rev. William Blount Carter’s Plan• President Lincoln agrees to the plan• Secretary of State Seward offers $2,500 for the cause• General McClellan will keep the Army of Northern

Virginia and Confederates in Middle Tennessee busy.

Return trip…• Stops at Camp Dick Robinson• Gen. Thomas convinces Gen. Sherman• Date is set for November 8th.• Takes Daniel Fry and William Pickens back with him.

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Rev. William Blount Carter’s Lieutenants

Alfred Madison Cate

William Cross

William Pickens

David Fry

Daniel Stover

David Fry

William Pickens

William Cross

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Colonel Daniel Stover, 4th Tennessee InfantryDaniel Stover

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Captain David Fry, Co F, 2nd Tennessee Infantry

David Fry

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Colonel William Cowan Pickens, 3rd Tennessee Infantry

William Pickens

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

William Cross

William Cross

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

Captain Alfred Madison Cate, Co G, 6th Tennessee Infantry

Alfred Madison Cate

STARTS AND STUMBLES

Reverend Carter had his men set.

October 16th 1861

October 21st 1861

October 28th 1861

Can’t unring the bell

STARTS AND STUMBLES

October 16th 1861 – Sherman meets with SecWar Cameron

McClellan100,000

100 Miles

Fremont60,000 Sherman

18,000100 Miles

300+ Miles

STARTS AND STUMBLES

October 21st 1861 – Battle at Camp Wildcat

Zollicoffer

Thomas

STARTS AND STUMBLES

October 28th 1861 – Battle at Camp Wildcat

Sherman

BucknerAS Johnston

CLOAKS & DAGGERSRev. William Blount Carter’s Plan already in trouble…

But the show must go on…

CLOAKS & DAGGERS

November 9th, 1861

David Fry

William Pickens

William Cross

EXECUTION

Colonel Daniel Stover, 4th Tennessee InfantryDaniel Stover- Daniel Stover

- B: 14 NOV 1826 Carter, Tennessee, USA - D: 18 DEC 1864 Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee,

USA- Married Mary Johnson

- B: 8 May 1832 Greeneville, Greene, Tennessee, USA

- D: 19 April 1883 Bluff City, Sullivan, Tennessee, USA

- Daughter of Senator Andrew Johnson

"Only one of these bridges, the one over the Holston, was destroyed. The other was guarded by Captain David McClelland's company of Confederate Infantry, and the attempt at its destruction was therefore abandoned.. There was a guard of two men at the Watauga Bridge. These were easily overpowered and captured. Their lives were spared on the promise that they would not reveal the names of the men who burned the bridge. Yet they went away and disclosed the names of all whom they recognized.“East Tennessee and the Civil War, OP Temple, p385

EXECUTION

Captain David Fry, Co F, 2nd Tennessee Infantry

David Fry

Captain David FryB: 1825 Tennessee, USAD: bef 1880

MarriedCatherine S Goreley

B: 1824 Tennessee, USA

Bridge successfully destroyed.Overall Success in doubt5 of the 8 men involved hanged by Confederate Authorities

Captain Fry mustered each

member of his party into Co F, 2nd East Tennessee the night before.

EXECUTION

Jacob and Henry Harmon

David Fry

Jacob HarmonB: 2 JUN 1818 Midway, Greene County, Tennessee, USAD: 17 DEC 1861 Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA

Married 3 November 1837 Greene, Tennessee, United States

Malinda SelfB: 26 Jan 1818 Midway, Greene,

Tennessee, USAD: 30 May 1872 Midway, Greene,

Tennessee, USA

Henry HarmonB: 3 Sept 1839 Midway, Greene, Tennessee, United StatesD: 17 Dec 1861 Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Pottertown \ Harmon CemeteryGreeneville TennesseeFind A Grave Memorial# 9101540

EXECUTION

Jacob Madison Hinshaw & Henry Fry

David Fry

Jacob Madison HinshawB: 8 DEC 1840 Hawkins County, Tennessee, USAD: 30 NOV 1861 Greene County, Tennessee, USA

MarriedAlmarinda Walker

B: About 1839 Tennessee, USAD: 18 October 1913 Hawkins County, Tennessee, USA

Henry FryB: 7 DEC 1823 Greene County, Tennessee, USAD: 30 NOV 1861 Greeneville, Greene County, Tennessee, USA

Married 9 Nov 1843 Greene County TennesseeMaria Barbara Wampler B: 11 Nov 1824 Mosheim, Greene County

Tennessee D: 10 Jun 1899

Find A Grave# 73702193Blue Springs Cemetery, Mosheim, Greene

CountyTennessee

Jacob M HinshawPrivateCo F2nd Tennessee Infantry

Long CemeteryHawkins CountyTennessee

EXECUTION

Christopher Alexander Haun

David Fry

Christopher Alexander HaunB: 14 SEP 1821 Greene County, Tennessee, USAD: 11 Dec 1861 Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, USA

Married 29 Dec 1846 Greene, TennesseeElizabeth Cobble B: 1820 Greene, Tennessee, United

StatesD: 10 Mar 1909 Greene, Tennessee, United States

Concord Baptist Church Cemetery

436 Concord Road, Mohawk, TN 37810

EXECUTION

Harrison Self

David Fry

Harrison SelfB: 15 Jul 1813 Gap Creek Valley, Greene, Tennessee, United StatesD: 23 May 1888 Rush, Indiana, United States

MarriedSarah Camias Cobble

B: 28 Aug 1810 Tennessee, United StatesD: 1863 Blue Springs, Greene, Tennessee, United States

EXECUTION

Hugh Andrew Self

David Fry

Hugh Andrew SelfB: 9 Apr 1845 Blue Springs, Greene, Tennessee, United StatesD: 20 Oct 1910 McDonald County, Missouri, USA

Married 26 Aug 1875 Greene, TennesseeHappy M Ealy

B: Oct 1858 Greene, Tennessee, USAD: 27 Jan 1924 McDonald, Missouri, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 49091515Owsley Union CemeteryLongview (McDonald County)McDonald CountyMissouri, USA

EXECUTION

Colonel William Cowan Pickens, 3rd Tennessee Infantry

William Pickens

Colonel William Cowan PickensB: 07 MAR 1825 Sevier County, Tennessee, USAD: 8 Apr 1872 Sevier, Tennessee, United States

Married 11 Feb 1847 Blount, Tennessee,USA Susan McCammon B: 1830 Lowes Ferry, Blount,

Tennessee, United States

D: 1886 Blount, Tennessee,

United States

Eusebia Cemetery, Eusebia, Sevier Co Tennesse

EXECUTION

Colonel Daniel Mack Ray, 2nd Tennessee Cavalry

William PickensColonel Daniel Mack RayB: 27 MAR 1833 Yancey County, NC, USAD: 1913 Woodson County, Kansas, USA

Married Louise A. Farris

B: Mar 1828 KentuckyD: 1900 Woodson County, Kansas

Yates CenterWoodson County

Kansas, USAPlot: Block 11 # 49

Find A Grave Memorial# 48364879

EXECUTION

Other members of the team

William Pickens

- James Montgomery (became Captain in the US Volunteers)

- Abe Smith- B.F. Franklin- White Underdown (became

Lieutenant in the US Volunteers)- William Montgomery (became

Captain in the US Volunteers)- Elijah Gamble (became Lieutenant in

the US Volunteers)- "a father and a son - the son objecting

to the mention of either his father's or his own name."

- All men from Sevier County

Private James KeelanB: 1828 VirginiaD: 12 Feb 1895 Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA

Married 25 Oct 1846 Knox, Tennessee

Mary HoeperB: abt 1825 TennesseeD:

EXECUTION

William Cross

William Cross

There is little information on the fate or identity of the men involved in the effort to burn the bridge at Loudon. A certain William Cross is mentioned by Temple.

There is a William Cross associated with the 3rd Tennessee Infantry:

Soldier's Rank In:MajorSoldier's Rank Out:ColonelAlternate name:Film Number:M392 roll 4Src: NPS Soldiers and Sailors

The other leaders assigned to bridges eventually found their way to a similar rank in one of the early Tennessee Union organizations(Infantry and Cavalry) so Col. William Cross may well be the man.

Chances are the bridge was heavily guarded and the attempt was abandoned.

EXECUTION

Captain Alfred Madison Cate, Co G, 6th Tennessee Infantry

Alfred Madison Cate

Captain Alfred Madison CateB: 20 Dec 1822 McMinn County, Tennessee, USAD: 13 Sep 1871 Sweetwater, Monroe, Tennessee, USA

Married 7 Nov 1843 Monroe Tennessee USA

Louisa J WalkerB: 1824 Tennessee,

United StatesD: aft 1900

Buried in Wells Cemetery, Hamilton County, Tennessee

EXECUTION

Captain Alfred Madison Cate

• Adam Thomas• Jesse F Cleveland• Eli Cleveland• Thomas L Cate (Brother of A.M. Cate)

Hiwassee BridgeThomas L CatesB: 3 Jun 1833 Tennessee, USAD: 19 Mar 1907 Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee, USA

Married 1860 Tennessee, United StatesMargaret Hall

B: 28 Dec 1842 Bradley County, Tennessee

D: 25 Jun 1918 Cleveland, Bradley, Tennessee

Fort Hill Cemetery ClevelandBradley CountyTennessee, USAPlot: 14, Plot 056Find A Grave Memorial# 39704185

EXECUTION

Captain Alfred Madison Cate

• W.T. Cate (Brother of A.M. Cate)• W.H. Crowder

Chattanooga BridgeWilliam T Cate

B: 13 Jan 1830 Tennessee, United StatesD: 14 Sep 1882 Tennessee, United States

Married Malissa J OvertonB: abt 1834 Tennessee, United

StatesD: 21 Jun 1864

SheriffWilliam T. Cate

Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, TennesseeEnd of Watch: Thursday, September 14, 1882

“Sheriff Cate and Deputy Sheriff John Conway were shot and killed when a prisoner they were transporting escaped.”

EXECUTION

Captain Alfred Madison Cate

• R.B. Rogan• James D. Keener

Bridgeport Alabama

LESSONS LEARNED

The East Tennessee Rebellion was an emotional response.

The resulting persecution had an enormous impact.

The Failure of Federal Army Commanders to send that Military Column provides one of the greatest “What ifs” of the Civil War.

THANK YOU!

Questions? Family Group Sheets, links to my Ancestry Trees, this presentation, and all images are available at my

blog: HTTP://WWW.WAYNEFIELDER.COM