Johnson, Andrew. Letter signed ("Andrew Johnson") as Military Governor of Tennessee...

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Johnson, Andrew. Letter signed ("Andrew Johnson") as Military Governor of Tennessee Johnson, Andrew. Letter signed ("Andrew Johnson") as Military Governor of Tennessee, 3 pages (8 x 9 ¾ in.; 203 x 247 mm.), on "State of Tennessee - Executive Department" letterhead, 8 November 1862 written to President Abraham Lincoln. Johnson describes the events in Tennessee, his defense of those taken from Eastern Tennessee to fight for the Union cause, and raising further forces locally. Moisture stains on the left margin with staple holes at upper left; archival reinforcement at horizontal folds. In a last ditch appeal to President Lincoln, Andrew Johnson asks that Federal troops be allowed to remain in pro-Union East Tennessee. The letter reads in full; Johnson's handwritten corrections in bold: "His Excellency Abraham Lincoln President of the Unites States Washington City. More than a week ago I inspected a former dispatch in regard to Gen'l George W. Morgan's Division being ordered to Virginia. The courier, who took it from this place has been arrested by the enemy and the inference is that he has been hung. I must again press the propriety, justice, and even humanity of sending that portion of Gen'l Morgan's command composed of the East Tennessee to Tennessee, for the purpose of redeeming the Eastern part of the state, and avenging the intolerable wrong which has been inflicted upon them by heartless and relentless traitors. It would be cruel in the extreme to have the East Tennessee Regiments away from their homes and defense of their families, when they are willing and more than anxious to restore the Government, and at the same time protect their wives and children against insult, robbery, murder and inhuman oppression. I ask in the name of all that is right, magnanimous and patriotic, that these Regiments be permitted to return. There are many things that I will advise you of in a short time since my location here. We have had numerous commandants placed at this Post - some of them have been tolerable, others intolerable, but the one now in command General Nighy, who was left here by General Buell in his disgraceful retreat from Alabama and Tennessee, has done us more harm than all others and is wholly unfitted for the place. Under all the disadvantageous circumstances, I have succeeded in raising one Regiment of Cavalry [5th Tennessee Cavalry, officially mustered into service just seven days later] under command of Col. Wm. B. Stokes, which has rendered important service, also one fine Regiment of Infantry under command of Col. Alvin C. Gillen of the Army now acting as Provost Guard of the City. Col. Gillen is an officer of the regular Army, transferred by the War Department to command the 1st Middle Tennessee Infantry. He is an intelligent and efficient officer, and will make a good Brigadier General. I recommend and ask that he be appointed at once as such. He will fight, a quality very much needed by many of our officers. There are some Brigades here without Brigadier Generals, and as soon as our army can move forward we will form a Tennessee Brigade of Middle Tennesseans. I hope you will lay this dispatch before the Secretary of War and Genl. Halleck. Thisdispatch will be sent through by Benjamin C. Truman who leaves here with it and will see you in Washn. Andrew Johnson Mil. Gov." Secession and civil war had sharply divided Tennesseans during the tumultuous war period. The split was largely regional, East Tennessee standing by the Union, while central and West Tennessee favored secession. After the firing on Fort Sumter, East Tennessee counties maneuvered to leave Tennessee and adhere to the Union, but Confederate military occupation there squelched the effort. Paradoxically, while Confederate military forces were driven from heavily pro-Confederate West and central Tennessee during the first two years of the war, Confederate military control long remained in pro-Union East Tennessee, which contributed more volunteers to Federal than to Confederate armies. By March of 1862, Federal military advances in the Western part of the state afforded President Lincoln the opportunity to appoint a military governor. Lincoln chose Andrew Johnson, who had previously served as civil governor (1853-57) and U.S. Senator (1857-62) from Tennessee. He was the logical choice. Arriving with the rank of brigadier general, Johnson's orders were to re-establish federal authority in the state and maintain peace and security pending restoration of civil government. Fully empowered to discharge executive, legislative, and judicial functions, Governor Johnson moved forcefully to rid the state of Confederate influence. He dismissed officeholders unwilling to take an oath of allegiance to the federal government, closed down anti-Union newspapers, arrested clergymen for promoting the Confederacy from the pulpit, seized the railroads, and levied taxes. He constructed and guarded from sabotage the railroad extending from Nashville to the Tennessee River, a vital link in the Union supply line. In a valiant show of resistance, Governor Johnson remained in Nashville as the capital city several times nearly fell under a determined Confederate siege.