ed a special session of the legislature at to meet on April 25, 1861, and in a mesNashville, Jan. 7, 1861, and in his mes- sage to them he strongly urged the immesage he recited a long list of so-called diate secession of the State. He urged that grievances which the people of the State there was no propriety in wasting time in had suffered under the rule of the na- submitting the question to the people, for tional government. He appealed to their a revolution was imminent. A few days passions and prejudices, and recommended afterwards Henry W. Hilliard, a comamendments to the national Constitution missioner of the Confederate States of favorable to the perpetuation and protec- America, clothed with authority to tion of the slave system. The legislature negotiate a treaty of alliance with Tenprovided for a convention, but decreed nessee, appeared (April 30) and was althat when the people should elect the dele- lowed to address the legislature. He exgates they should vote for "Convention" pressed his belief that there was not a or "No convention"; also, that any true-hearted man in the South who would ordinance adopted by the convention concerning "Federal relations" should not be valid until submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. The election was held Feb. 9, 1861, and the Union candidates were elected by an aggregate majority of about 65,000; and, by a majority of nearly 12,000, decided not to have a convention. The loyal people were gratified, and believed the secession movements in the State would cease. Governor Harris called the legislature not spurn submission to the "Abolition North," and considered the system of government founded on slavery which had just been established as the only form of government that could be maintained in America. The legislature, in which was a majority of Confederate sympathizers, authorized (May 1) the governor to enter into a military league with the Confederate States, by which the whole military rule of the commonwealth was to be subjected to the will of Jefferson Davis. It A CORN-MILL IN EAST TENNESSEE. and Washington Barrow, commissioners for the purpose. They negotiated a treaty with the agent of the Confederate States, Henry W. Hilliard, and on the 7th a copy of the treaty was submitted to the legislature. By the treaty the authorities of Tennessee were to "turn over" to the Confederate States "all the public property, naval stores, and munitions of war of which she might then be in possession, acquired from the United States, on the same terms and in the same manner as the other States of the Confederacy." Already Governor Harris had ordered (April 29, 1861) the seizure of Tennessee bonds to the amount of $66,000 and $5,000 in cash belonging to the United States in the hands of was done on May 7. The eighteen mem- the collector at Nashville. At about that bers from East Tennessee (which section remained loyal) did not vote. The legislature passed an act to submit to a vote of the people of Tennessee a declaration of independence and an ordinance of secession; also an ordinance for the adoption of the constitution of the Confederate States of America. The governor was empowered to raise 50,000 volunteers for the defence of the State," and, if necessary, to call out the whole available military strength of the commonweath, to be under the absolute immediate control of the governor. He was also authorized to issue bonds of the State for $5,000,000, to bear an annual interest of 8 per cent. time Jefferson Davis, disgusted with the timidity of Governor Magoffin, of Kentucky, recommended the Kentuckians "true to the South" to go into Tennessee and there "rally and organize." East Tennessee, where loyalty to the Union was strongly predominant, was kept in submission to the Confederacy by the strong arm of military power. The people longed for deliverance, which seemed near at hand when, in January, 1862, the energetic General Mitchel made an effort to seize Chattanooga. His force was too small to effect it, for E. Kirby Smith was watching that region with a strong Confederate force. Mitchel asked Buell for reinforcements, but was denied. Finally Pursuant to the act of the legislature General Negley, after a successful attack authorizing the governor to take meas- upon Confederates near Jasper, having ures to annex that State to the Con- made his way over the rugged ranges of federacy, the governor appointed Gus- the Cumberland Mountains, suddenly aptavus A. Henry, Archibald O. W. Totten, peared opposite Chattanooga (June 7). Towards evening he had heavy guns in entered the magnificent valley of east position, and for two hours he can- Tennessee, their baggage and stores carnonaded the town and the Confederate ried, in many places, by pack-mules. On works near. The inhabitants and Confederates fled from the town. With a few more regiments Negley might have captured and held the place, and Mitchel could have marched into east Tennessee. But Buell would not allow it. The Confederates had already evacuated Cumberland Gap voluntarily, and the inhabitants of east Tennessee were jubilant with hope of deliverance. But they were again disappointed and compelled to wait. The cautious Buell and the fiery Mitchel did not work well together, and the latter was soon assigned to the command of the Department of the South. his entering the valley 20,000 Confederates, commanded by GEN. SIMON B. BUCKNER (q. v), fled to Georgia and joined Bragg. General Burnside had been joined by General Hartsuff and his command. Their numbers were swelled by junction with other troops. At the mouth of the Clinch River they first had communication with Colonel Minty's cavalry, on Rosecrans's extreme left. At Loudon bridge General Shackelford had a skirmish with Confederates, and drove them across the stream, they burning the magnificent structure, 2,000 feet long. Early in September a force of ConfederIn August, 1863, General Burnside was ates, under General Frazer, holding Cumassigned to the command of the Army of berland Gap, surrendered to the Nationals, the Ohio, and was ordered to take active and the great valley between the Cumberco-operation with the Army of the Cum- land and Alleghany Mountains (of which berland. He had gathered 20,000 men Knoxville was the metropolis), extending near Richmond, Ky., well disciplined and from Cleveland to Bristol, seemed to equipped. They left camp Aug. 21, climb- be permanently rid of armed Confedered over the Cumberland Mountains, and ates. The loyal inhabitants of that region received the National troops with open garrison of 600 men under Col. A. C. arms. After the battle of Stone River, or Murfreesboro, the armies of Rosecrans and Bragg lay confronting each other, the former at the scene of the battle and the latter below the Duck River. Bragg's main base of supplies was at Chattanooga. In that relative position the two armies continued from January until June, 1863. Meanwhile detached parties were very active in various parts of Tennessee. At the beginning of February (1863), General Wheeler, Bragg's chief of artillery, with 4,500 mounted men, with Brigadier-Generals Forrest and Wharton, attempted to recapture Fort Donelson. The chief object of the Confederates there was to interrupt the navigation of the Cumberland River, and thus interfere with the transportation of supplies for Rosecrans's army. The Confederates failed in their project, for the fort was well defended by a little Harding, assisted by gunboats. There was a severe engagement (Feb. 3), and at 8 P.M. the Confederates fled with a loss of nearly 600 men. Harding lost 156, of whom fifty were made prisoners. Late in January, Gen. J. C. Davis swept over a considerable space in thirteen days, and captured 141 of Wheeler's men. Later, Gen. Earl Van Dorn, with a large mounted force, was hovering near Franklin, below Nashville. Sheridan, at Murfreesboro, and Colonel Colburn, at Franklin, marched simultaneously to confront him. Dorn was accompanied by Forrest. Colburn, with 2,700 men, moved against Van Dorn at Spring Hill, but failed to form a junction with Sheridan. After a sharp encounter he was forced to surrender (March 5) about 1,300 of his infantry. The remainder, with the cavalry, escaped. Sheridan, with about 1,800 cavalry, skir mished in several places with the Confed. Van (q. v.) on an extensive raid in Alabama and Georgia in April and May, which resulted in the capture of the leader and his men. Late in November, 1863, GENERAL SHERMAN (q. v.) arrived in the neighborhood of Chattanooga. It was imperative that he should get his array over the river without being discovered. To draw the attention of the Confederates to another quarter, Hooker was ordered to engage them on the northern side of Lookout Mountain. His entire force consisted of approximately 10,000 men. The main Confederate force was encamped in a hollow half-way up the erates, and finally at Thompson's Station, after a sharp engagement, captured some of his antagonists and drove Van Dorn beyond the Duck River. He returned to Murfreesboro with nearly 100 prisoners, with a loss of ten men killed and wounded. On March 18, Col. A. S. Hall with 1,400 men was attacked by Morgan, the guerilla, and 2,000 men at Milton, 12 miles from Murfreesboro. With the aid of Harris's battery, in a three hours' struggle Hall repulsed Morgan, who lost 300 or 400 men killed and wounded. Early in April, Gen. Gordon Granger was in command at Franklin, building a fort near. He had about 5,000 troops. Van Dorn attacked mountain, the summit of which was held him there (April 10) with 9,000 Confed- by several brigades. Hooker began the aterates. The latter intended if successful tack on the morning of November 24. to push on and seize Nashville, but he was Geary, supported by Cruft, proceeded to repulsed with a loss of about 300 men. Wauhatchie, crossing Lookout Creek there, Rosecrans sent COL. ABDEL D. STREIGHT the rest of the troops crossing in front of |