Record Data
Transcription
Washington City, Aug. 6th. 1861.
Sir,
We have received entirely reliable information from East Tennessee up to Saturday the 27th. ult. On Friday, the 26th. of July, three commissioners from the Confederate States, called upon the central union committee at Knoxville, Tenn. and endeavored to prevail upon them to abandon the Government of the United States. This the committee at once declined to do.
The commissioners then informed the union committee that the Government of the Confederate States would allow the loyal citizens of East Tennessee until Friday the 16th. inst for consideration, and that if they did not determine, by that day, to yield willing obedience to the new Government, they would be compelled to obey, and be forced to serve in the Southern army. Your Excellency will at once see that the condition of the people of East Tennessee is such as to require the most prompt and energetic action on the part of our Government.
In the midst of the general gloom which hangs over our people, we are happy in being able to give your Excellency every assurance that their loyalty is not diminished, but increased, as their dangers become more threatening-- Although they are encompassed with enemies, our brave men are daily organizing, and are only waiting for you to place arms in their hands with which they may strike in defence of themselves & their country--
We deem it our duty to inform the President that up to July 27th. eighty thousand (80.000) Southern troops had passed into Virginia over the East Tennessee and Virginia Rail Road--
Our object in making this communication, is not to be importunate, but to keep our Government informed of the true condition of our people, and of the intentions of our enemies.
Very Respy. &c.
Andrew Johnson
Wm. B. Carter
