News Articles Regarding Bushwhackers in 1863

Local News Articles Regarding Bushwhackers in Civil War

Knoxville Register, 20 Feb 1863

Bushwhackers

To the amount of twenty-four, were marched into town yesterday evening, under guard, from Big Creek Gap. -- Among these specimens of patriotism, lovers of home and liberty, is the son of the notorious Clift, who flourished in the early part of the war in Hamilton County, and in the mountains around and about. -- What will be done with them; we cannot say. Men, who at this late day, sin against light and knowledge, not only treacherously leave their country, but from ambush attempt to assassinate their country's defenders, are worthy but little sympathy. One almost wishes that our soldiers would lose them in the ravines and gorges of the mountains they infest.

Let bushwhackers be treated as the law of retaliation directs, and bushwhacking will soon come to an end.

Knoxville Register, 14 Feb 1863

Postponed

The execution of young Harris, the deserter from Conscription, and Federal Captain, lately sentenced to death by the Court-Martial in this city, has been postponed by order of the Government, from yesterday, the day fixed upon for his shooting, until the circumstances of his case can be inquired into at Richmond.

Greeneville Banner, 20 Feb 1863

Laurel, NC

Col. Allen informs us that since our troops have been in this infected region, they have killed twenty-five bushwhackers, and taken some thirty or forty prisoners. A few of these miserable outlaws still run at large, occasionally committing their depredations upon the citizens around. There are troops still looking after them, and it is hoped that the nest will finally be broken up.

Athens Post, 6 Dec 1861

Guns---Prisoners

Our old friend, Capt. Boggess, of the Meigs County Minute Men, arrived here last Saturday, with a large lot of guns, and five prisoners said to be members of Old Clift's Company. Clift himself is said to be still at large, although there are those who think the old fellow was summarily disposed of by some of the parties who were in pursuit of him.

The Chattanooga Daily Rebel, 2 July 1863

The Cleveland Banner of Thursday, informs us that Mr. Michael Baugh residing about eight miles west of that place, was waylaid and shot by some bushwhacker and killed. He was on his way to town, and only about a half mile from his home when the cowardly deed was perpetrated. He was shot with a Minnie ball, weighing an ounce and a half, from a Belgium gun -- the ball striking him almost squarely in the breast and passing out near his back bone, killing him, as it is thought, almost instantly. Although he was robbed of what Confederate money ($700) he had on his person, the Banner does not believe that money was the object of the scoundrel who murdered him.

Athens Post, 29 Mar 1862

Lt. Miller, of the 29th N. C. Reg't. was shot through the thigh, this side of Powell's river, by a "bushwhacker." As soon as the fight commenced on the other side of the mountain, "bushwhackers" commenced their deviltry on this side of the mountain.

Athens Post, 24 Apr 1863

Bushwhackers Hung

For many months past, the mountains along the border of East Tennessee and North Carolina, in the counties of Johnson and Ashe, have been infested by a band of bushwhackers, led and control led by one Jesse Price and his sons who have committed many acts both of murder and robbery. This man Price lived upon Big Rye Cove Ridge, Ashe County, N. C. The militia of that county having been called out for his detection and apprehension, he had kept close about home on the lookout for a week or two. Whilst thus watching in the direction of Jefferson, a company from Grayson, Va., came upon him from the rear last week, and nabbed him and four of his sons. -- They were taken to Jefferson, and on Friday last, the old man and three of his sons -- Hiram, James, and Moses -- were hung without judge or jury, or benefit of clergy. The fourth son, in consideration of his youth, and the promise that he would discover the hiding places of others of the band, was, after the rope had been tied around his neck, permitted to live.

Price and his sons were dangerous men, and a great terror to all of the loyal men of the whole country-side. More than a year ago they had escaped to Kentucky, were apprehended and taken to Knoxville, and, after taking the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, were released. From that day to the day of their apprehension, they have been committing their depredations. They'll commit no more. In such cases, summary punishment is the most effectual. -- Abingdon, Virginian.

~ to be continued ~

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