Sunday, January 4, 2009

New information on Edward "Ned" Brown

1-2-2009
New research done by Larry Brown into who killed Edward "Ned" Brown, reveals a diary by a sixteen year old girl named Alice Williamson
in 1864. She lived in Gallitin, Tennessee.
Alice Williamson Diary
Alice Williamson, a sixteen-year-old Gallatin, Tennessee young woman, writes in her diary during February through September 1864, about events in her town, which has been occupied by Union forces. She refers, irreverently, to the Union Commander, General Payne, as "his lordship", "our king" and "the old sinner". She describes a number of murders carried out by this commander. The "General Payne" Alice refers to is actually, General E.A. Paine. In many instances, once Southern towns were occupied by the Federals, the soldiers and commanding officers, in particular, took out their own personal vendettas against Southern citizens. E.A. Paine was one of these men reigning terror over the town's people of Gallatin. Alice tells how several Southern men end up as Payne's prisoners and are eventually shot without any kind of trial. The Union officer's wives go out to see the killings. She, also, talks about the stealing and plundering by the Union troops, including her family's food and her father's horse. In April, Alice's diary mentions that "Old Payne" and all the others (Union men) are mad about the infamous and controversial Ft.Pillow incident. She believes vengeance will be taken out on the citizens of Gallatin. Miss Williamson copes with the killing and occupation of her town with resignation. She is a heroine, herself, as a Southern woman that kept the faith and loyalty to the Confederacy while suffering under the most difficult circumstances. This diary gives a very vivid and chilling account of what life was like in Gallatin, Tennessee during the year of 1864. Read AliceWilliamson'sdiary. Go to:- http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/williamson/p01/williamson-p01.html

This General E. A. Paine had a son, a Captain in the Federal calvary, who probably was the one reffered to in the above notes who was conducting a raid through Jackson, Overton, and Clay counties in Tennessee. The obvious hatred of the father for all "Rebels" probably carried over to the son. I have researched General Paine's offical records and find a saddistic bent to his mind. Where ever he was posted he seemed to take personel pleasure in Killing without due cause.

More notes......................
Gallatin was repressed by the brutal General Eleazor A. Paine, commander of the Union railroad guard from November 1862, to April, 1864. The occupying army in Gallatin had two assignments; protect the rail and water lines, and police the civilian population. In 1862, they built a fort at Gallatin, called Fort Thomas, that overlooked the town. The provost marshall stationed at the fort wa s given the responsibility of policing Gallatin.
During 1863 General Paine tightened military control over the Gallatin area. He did this by giving patriotic speeches to his troops, and getting support from the local newspapers. His men criss-crossed Summer County, looking for rebels and bushwhacker s. For example, in January, he took a large force eastward towards Kentucky, using cavalry to round up rebels.
His tyranny was always present. He was known all around Gallatin for executing suspected rebel spies without a trial. His sadistic executions like chasing down prisoners who were set free on old horses is described in Williamson?s diary as "chasing the fox with fresh horses". He also had a fondness for villagers? furniture, confiscating it for his own use.
He was removed from the post April 29, 1864 by the orders of Major General William T. Sherman, who transferred him to Tullahoma to guard bridges across the Duck and Elk rivers. The following is the text of the order as published in The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Ser.1, v.32 pt.3.

April 29, 1864
General Rousseau,
Nashville, Ten.: Order General Paine and the regiment now at Gallatin to Tullahoma, and give him charge of the defense of the road, embracing Duck and Elk River bridges. Replace Paine's troops by some guard at the bridges. The road north of Nashville is not important to me but the south is vital. Remember to place gun racks and muskets in all the forts and strong buildings, so that citizens may, if necessary, assist in the defense of Nashville. But there is no danger there now and cannot be for a month to come
W.T. Sherman
He was quickly back to his old ways, and soon he was under investigation. A congressional inquiry into his actions in Kentucky found him guilty on some counts, and punished him by reprimand at Paducah.
Eleazer A. Paine's son was mentioned by Alice as "Capt. Paine (Son of Tempest)", and was stationed at Gallatin for a time. His full name was Captain Phelps Paine.
(from Durham, Walter T. Rebellion Revisited, a History of Sumner County, Tennessee From 1861 to 1870 Sumner County Museum Association. Gallatin, Tennessee. 1982.) Joe B. Lynn-1-4-2009

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello,
I'm a descendant of Dudley Brown through his son Samuel Matterson Brown to my grandfather Dero John Brown and my father Wesley John Brown. These past few hours I
have greatly enjoyed reading about ours and your family's history. I hope your blog is still up and running somewhere. If it is, would you be so kind as to inform me how to connect further.

Donna said...

Would also like to make contact with someone in family. My email is
dmcpatriotdaughter@gmail.com. Would love to hear from someone. I will answer promptly.

Thank you