OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. [CHAP.XII.
stand of arms. What the others will do I do not know. He speaks of going to Knoxville in a few days. General Hardee is now moving to Eastern Kentucky to join Zollicoffer with 13,000 men. Colonel Leadbetter telegraphed me from Bristol to disperse the traitors, station guards at bridges, and move on to Knoxville, but if I station guards my regiment is all gone. I am now dispersing the insurgents, and shall keep at it from this point until I hear from the War Department or you, or again from Colonel Leadbetter. General Carroll will not detain me. I refer you to a letter inclosed for some of my private views.* I desire, unless I can get some command here, to come back to you. If I cannot order and have the same discipline, then let me come where I will find it.
I write this that you may know what they have set me to doing. I would have been gratified could you have seen our 9-miles march. I believe you would have been satisfied with the closed ranks, the silence, the activity, and great desire of the men for action.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
S. A. M. WOOD, Colonel, Commanding Seventh Regiment Alabama Volunteers.
[Indorsement.]
This was probably not intended to be forwarded, but containing much information which may be of interest to the Department, I forward it.
BRAXTON BRAGG, Major-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS, Knoxville, November 20, 1861.
SIR: The rebellion in East Tennessee has been put down in some of the counties, and will be effectually suppressed in less than two weeks in all the counties. Their camps in Sevier and Hamilton Counties have been broken up, and a large number of them made prisoners.
Some are confined in jail this place and others sent to Nashville.
In a former communication I inquired of the Department what I should do with them. It is a mere farce to arrest them and turn them over to the courts. Instead of having the effect to intimidate it really gives encouragement and emboldens them in their traitorous conduct. We have now in custody some of their leaders-Judge Patterson, the son-in-law of Andrew Johnson; Colonel Pickens, the senator in the legislature from Sevier and other counties, and several members of the legislature, besides others of influence and some distinction in their counties. These men have encouraged this rebellion, but have so managed as not to be found in arms. Nevertheless, all their actions and words have been unfriendly to the Government of the Confederate States. The influence of their wealth, position, and connections has been exerted in favor the troubles in East Tennessee. They really deserve the gallows, and if consistent with the laws ought speedily to receive their deserts; but there is such a gentle spirit of conciliation in the South, and especially here, that I have no idea that one of them
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*Not found.
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