The Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee was vital to both sides during the Civil War. The Upper Cumberland produced a geographical challenge to both the Union and Confederate armies. With its natural hollows, caves, mountains, and valleys, it was ideal territory for guerrilla warfare. Residents of the Upper Cumberland belonged to multiple social networks, but when the war came, the networks were destroyed. The Civil War ripped apart families, friends, and even churches. Most of the guerrillas in the area had been born and raised in the Upper Cumberland. Among the most feared were Champ Ferguson and Tinker Dave Beaty. Many residents of the Upper Cumberland joined up with these men. The goal of guerrillas were to stop the opposing army, and protect their communities. These men knew the area intimately, and therefore were difficult to catch. They also took advantage of social division and used it as a recruiting tool. Most men and boys from the area that did not join the guerrillas, were sent to Camp Trousdale, Camp Zollicoffer, or Camp Dick Robinson. The men were then divided up and sent all over the Union or Confederacy. Those that did not join, were funneled out of the area, by the Union Underground Railroad. The goal of this "railroad" was to prevent men and boys who did not want to join the fighting from being caught by conscription agents, or guerrillas. Commanders such as Sidney Smith Stanton and John P. Murray, encouraged men and boys, in the area, to join their armies, instead of joining up with guerrillas. Guerrilla activity got so bad in the Upper Cumberland, that it was referred to as "no man's land," for the remainder of the war. Unlike in Mississippi, South Carolina, or West Tennessee, slavery was not a big commodity in the area. The average slaveholder owned less then six slaves. Those that owned slaves, however, owned the most fertile land in the area. Following the Confederate defeats at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Mill Springs, the Upper Cumberland officially fell under Union control. This led to the rise in power of William B. Stokes and his 5th Tennessee Cavalry. Their goal, was to work with Union guerrilla Tinker Dave Beaty and eliminate all Confederate threats from the Upper Cumberland. As much as the Confederates would have liked to regain possession of the area, it was not to be. The Upper Cumberland, saw no major battles during the war. Following the Civil War, people in the Upper Cumberland were forced to release their slaves. Many people were living in poverty. President Andrew Johnson set up Contraband Camps in the area so that freed slaves would have safety. To counter Ku Klux Klan activity, State Guards were appointed. Tinker Dave Beaty's son Claiborne was appointed head of this group. Some of the area's biggest Unionists became Radical Republicans. Putnam County, in general became primarily democratic. Investing in natural resources became a big commodity. Following the war, many men invested in resources such as coal. With this rise in demand came the need for transportation of these natural resources. These same men invested in the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis, as well as the Tennessee Central Railroads in order to access these natural resources. The Civil War made the Upper Cumberland stronger, it led to a boost both economically, with the rise in investing, and also socially, with the elimination of guerrilla activity and slavery. The Civil War, will forever be a vital part of the history of the Upper Cumberland.
Map of the Upper Cumberland, referred to during the Civil War as "no man's land."
Champ Ferguson: Confederate Guerrilla
Tinker Dave Beaty: Union Guerrilla, more coming on Beaty next week.
William B. Stokes
This picture illustrates the rise of the railroad and coal mining in the Upper Cumberland following the Civil War.
Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond. This Christmas, give the gift of heritage management. Go check out the section of the blog devoted to Moore Historical Consulting, and put me to work for you!!
No comments:
Post a Comment