Today in History:

679 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 679 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

neighbors, do you or do you no suppose that they would soon learn to regard their friends with almost as much animosity as their enemies when they saw that they had no more protection under one than under the other; is that human nature or not?

Yes, sir; that is human nature. And if they were to suffer as much under the Federal Army as they have done under the other they would feel very greatly disappointed and it would have the tendency to cool them off. This is an opinion founded upon what I think human nature is.

Question. Do you believe that there are a great many people in the Southern States who are loyal at heart but compelled under the circumstances to acquiesce in the rebellion?

I do believe that the number is much greater than our friends and intelligent men here in the North suppose it to be, and that they are prevented from coming out for fear that when we take a place we shall not continue to hold it and that they will suffer for it afterward. It is fear that keeps them down. I would designate the State of Georgia as having a great many men loyal at heart, but who are crushed down. It may be that I am better acquainted with Georgia than with any other State out of Tennessee. I know they very reluctantly went into the rebellion.

Question. Do you think those people deserve punishment for a state of things which it was not in their power to prevent and which they still deprecate?

No, sir; I do not think they do. I should be sorry to have them punished if it could be avoided. I blame them, the whole of them, for not standing out and squarely avowing their sentiments. I censure them for knocking under rather than submit to punishment. I would rather be hanged myself.

Question. But is it not a very rare thing to find in human character firmness and constancy enough to endure such trials?

I could not say; it seems so to me, sir. In East Tennessee there were thousands of the most remarkable cases, that never came before the country, of men firm, unyielding, and spirited to the last, even under the lash and whip. They put them in jail, they starved them, and hung them under the gallows trying to extort confessions from them, but they said they would rather die first.

Question. Have you known of any policy practiced by any of our armies which regarded loyal people and traitors in the same light and treated them alike under all circumstances?

No, sir; I have not known anything of the kind personally. I have heard complaints, but they are matters of hearsay only. I have no knowledge of anything of the kind.

Question. What was the extent of these complaints, what did they amount to-those that have most attracted your attention?

Not very extensive, I think. I have heard our folks complain that a man to have his property and rights protected had better be a rebel. I heard it in reference to Cumberland Gap last year, but how well founded I do not know. I always thought it well to discourage grumbling both among citizens and soldiers, and when I heard anything of the kind among our East Tennessee troops I tried to reconcile them to their condition.

Question. Have you heard any of those complaints recently?

Yes, sir; on my last visit to Nashville. The complaint seemed to apply to the city authorities there-complaints of the military authorities in charge of the city and of Governor Johnson. But such complaints are always more or less going on; a great deal of such has come under my notice.

Question. Has Governor Johnson, as Governor of the State of Tennessee and in other prominent positions, been considered to have exhibited remarkable administrative and other qualities which fit a man to govern wisely, to shape a wise policy for the government of men?

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. I object to that question, Mr. President. It certainly is traveling out of the examination-in-chief; and even if it were not, Governor Johnson is not on trial before this Commission.


Page 679 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.