Civil War and Reconstruction
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Sarah Thompson's description on how she slipped out of town to warn Union troops
(Sarah Thompson’s description on how she slipped out of town to warn Union troops—transcription with mis-spelled words and grammar corrected for readability)
"I took my sunbonnet in hand and went to the street and met Colonel Williams and after I had passed the time of day I asked him to pass me out after my cow as there was several cows on the hill. He told the guard to pass me out and to pass me in when I returned and I would give him some milk. So I was through the enemies lines and went on after the cow. When I got to it I threw (a rock) at her and she went down the hill and I went after her. When I was out of sight, I crossed over in a corn field and went to a friend’s house that had aided me more than one time and got a horse and went to our forces that were at Bulls Gap.
I sent word into our forces. When Gillem who was general heard the news he did not believe it as he said it was a woman’s tale. The colonel of the 3rd Tennessee whose name is Brownlow and the 10th Michigan and seven others said they would go. After they talked and at last they started though I must say Gillem did not deserve any of the honor of that great deed for had it been left to him he would not have went and when he did go he went behind so far there was no danger of any harm in anyway coming at him."
Greenville, TN. From -Sarah Thompson-'s account of Morgan's defeat. Testimonial about Thompson's role in the defeat of General John Hunt Morgan with descriptions of Thompson's travels and her work for the Union. (Sarah E. Thompson Papers, Special Collections Library, Duke University)
[General Alvan C. Gillem was the Union general Sarah Thompson wrote about. He was born in Gainesboro, Tennessee, located in Jackson County. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1851 and was a professional soldier who continued serving the Union even after the war began. Gillem does get credit for leading the cavalry division that trapped and killed Conf. General John Morgan in Greenville in September 1864.]
Picture Credits:
- Photograph of Sarah Thompson. Undated. Sarah E. Thompson Papers, Special Collections Library, Duke University
Civil War and Reconstruction >> Civil War >> Soldiers Life >> Spies
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