The Patriots and Guerillas of East Tennessee and Kentucky; The Sufferings 
of the Patriots; Also the Experience of the Author as an Officer in the 
Union Army; Including Sketches of Noted Guerillas And Distinguished 
Patriots, by Major J. A. Brents

Published: New York, J. A. Brents, Henry Dexter, Publisher's Agent, 1863

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                        The Patriots and Guerillas
                      of East Tennessee and Kentucky
                      The Sufferings of the Patriots
     Also the Experience of the Author as an Officer in the Union Army
                          Including Sketches of
                NOTED GUERILLAS AND DISTINGUISHED PATRIOTS

                                    By
                            Major J. A. Brents

                                 New York:
                               J. A. Brents
            HENRY DEXTER, PUBLISHER'S AGENT, 113 NASSAU STREET
                                   1863




CONTENTS:

PREFACE

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER I.
SUFFERINGS OF LOYAL EAST TENNESSEEANS, AND LOYAL KENTUCKIANS ON THE 
TENNESSEE LINE.

CHAPTER II.
NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS---THE FERGUSONS---ATROCIOUS MURDERS, ETC.

CHAPTER III.
KENTUCKY AND THE REBELLION.

CHAPTER IV.
THE WRITER'S EXPERIENCE IN THE ARMY.

CHAPTER V.
A CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

CONCLUSION 




PREFACE

The public mind is at this time directed to the progress of the civil war 
which is desolating our beautiful land. The people are anxious to know 
what has been done, and who did it. Especially have they sought with 
eagerness for information respecting the loyal East Tennesseeans. Public 
anxiety also has been manifested, ever since the commencement of the war, 
in regard to affairs in Kentucky; and people generally are desirous to 
know the history of men who are charged with having committed black and 
bloody crimes.

The writer is a Kentuckian, residing upon the Tennesee line, and served 
eleven months as an officer in the Union army. His position upon the 
border and in the army gave him an opportunity to obtain much valuable 
information in regard to the loyal East Tennesseeans, the state of affairs 
in Kentucky, the progress of the war in the West, what has been done in 
Kentucky and Tennessee since the rebellion broke out, and the history of 
men whose hands have been stained with pillage and blood. He has collected 
this information in the form of a book , and now offers it to the public, 
with the hope that it will furnish the information desired.

The Author.

November, 1862



INTRODUCTORY

Crime has existed in all ages and in all countries. Individuals, 
communities, and nations have alike tolerated its existence and suffered 
from its effects. But of all the crimes known to mankind, that of 
rebellion against a mild and beneficent government is the greatest. It is 
a vital stab at human liberty. It desolates the country by the ravages of 
civil war, bringing death to the door of almost every family. It imposes 
enormous burdens upon the people, exhausts the resources of the country, 
destroys commerce and trade, checks the advance of science, art, and 
civilization, and produces stagnation in all useful pursuits.

Such are some of the evils of rebellion; such the crime committed against 
the Government of the United States, the best government ever founded by 
man. The citizens were happy and contented, enjoying liberty in a greater 
degree than any people upon the earth. The Government was respected 
abroad, having the strength to secure it from external danger. The leaders 
and plotters of rebellion knew they could not organize a better 
government. They did not expect to secure to the people greater prosperity 
and happiness, or a greater enjoyment of the blessings of liberty. The 
crime is magnified when we consider that they desired and intended to 
secure the permanent slavery of a portion of the human race. Of their 
coadjutors, the fanatics of the North, who are not entirely blameless in 
this matter, I will speak in another place. 

In the compilation of this work, the author has intended to give a 
narrative of his personal experience as an officer in the Union army, 
together with sketches of some of the patriots and guerillas of Tennessee 
and Kentucky. He believes these personal sketches sufficiently interesting 
and valuable to be given to the public. The narrative of the notorious 
guerilla, Champ Ferguson, ought to be read by every one. A thief, robber, 
counterfeiter, and murderer, he was eminently qualified for the position 
of guerilla chief.

The author designs, in this book, to expose to public view some of the 
evils of the rebellion. He intends also to give sketches of a few of the 
unflinching and unselfish patriots of Kentucky and East Tennessee. The 
work is not "founded on fact," in popular pariance; it contains nothing 
but facts, and the reader may rely upon it as a truthful narrative. Let 
the public read and learn the sufferings of a loyal people, and how much 
they can endure for their country's sake. I have suffered with them, and 
can appreciate their trials. I also am a refugee from my home; my family 
are among strangers, and my property has been destroyed. 

That this rebellion may be crushed, and peace restored to our once happy 
land, is my earnest desire.