Histories

KNOXVILLE TENN January 20 1862

On the 19th day of November last I arrested and brought to this place Levi Trewhitt esq of Cleveland Tenn This arrest was made under an order from Col WB Wood commanding the Sixteenth Alabama Regiment who at that time was the commander of this post The arrest was ordered because Mr Trewhitt was suspected of a knowledge of the burning of the railroad bridges and the plans by which it was done He was retained here for some weeks and then sent to Tus caloosa by order of General WH Carroll who succeeded Colonel Wood in command There was no trial or investigation of the charges so far as I know or have understood

JAS W GILLESPIE
Colonel Forty third Regiment Tennessee Volunteers

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS
President of the Confederate States of America

Your petitioners, the undersigned citizens of Bradley County Tenn, humbly represent and show unto your excellency that Levi Trewhitt, who is now as they understand confined in Mobile as a prisoner war, is one of the old influential citizens of Bradley County Tenn, that he is about sixty five years of age and has been for the past few years afflicted with paralysis, and as they now understand is sick and in the hospital at Mobile. They further state that said Trewhitt was a very useful man at home. We therefore pray that said Levi Trewhitt be released from said confinement upon his becoming a loyal citizen and taking an oath to support the constitution of the Confederate States of America; and as in duty bound will ever pray &c

WILLIAM GRANT
T.L. HOYL
JNO B HOTL
[And 31 others]

We the undersigned officers in the Confederate service fully concur with the above petitioners

D.M. KEY, Lieutenant Colonel JAMES
[JAMES W.] GILLESPIE, Colonel Regiment Tennessee Volunteers
[And 16 others]

STATE OF TENNESSEE
Bradley County

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned ,an acting justice of the peace and duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the county and State aforesaid John Blackburn a man of undoubted truth and veracity and entitled to credit when on oath and made oath in due form of law that at and about the time the rebellion in East Tennessee took place and about the time that it was understood that Clifb was encamped with a regiment of men for the purpose of going to the State of Kentucky there was some disquietude in the settlement in which he resided aud in consequence thereof a meeting of divers of the citizens was held for the purpose of takin g steps in relation to the condition of the country some talking of going and joining Cliffc in his rebellion and at said meeting Levi Trewhitt who as he now understands is confined at Tascaloosa or Mobile as a prisoner of war was present and opposed all and everything that had any tendency toward rebellion and advised them to go on with their ordinary business and keep out of all rebellion and to keep away from Clift and by the exertion and influence of said Trewhitt said settlement became quieted down and the citizens went on with their ordinary business he all the time opposing any rebellion whatever and none of said neighbors and citizens went to Clift or into the rebellion to the knowledge of affiant.

JOHN BLACKBURN

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of January 1862 and I certify that the said John Blackburn is a man of undoubted truth and veracity

JB HUMPHREYS
Justice of the Peace for Bradley County Tenn

etc., etc.

1. The War Of The Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Govt. Printing Office, 1894. books.google.com/books?id=y9QtAAAAIAAJ" pp873, ff
2. Select Series II Volume 1 - Prisoners of war, www.civilwar.com/resources/official-record.html , then p 873
   Or go straight to www.civilwar.com/components/index.php?option=com_officialrecord&series=Series%20II&volume=Volume%20I&part=