There's actually a very sad/interesting story attached to this grave.
In June 1865, the War Between the States had been over for less then a month.
The Confederacy had lost the war. Young men from all over the South were in
the process of returning to their homes and farms. Some of these young men
would join the United States Army and go west to fight Indians as they were
now trained professional soldiers, others would leave America to take up a
new life in other places in the world. There would be other soldiers who just
drifted away never to be heard from my their families again.
Private soldier, Ethelbert Crozier, a former soldier from the 8th Tennessee
Cavalry, was not one of these young men. He had enlisted in Murray's 4th
Tennessee Cavalry when the war started. On August 10, 1862, he rode with
other members of his cavalry company into at Camp McGinnis, located in Overton
County, Tennessee as a private soldier recently assigned to Murray's Fourth
Tennessee Cavalry as Company F. When the 8th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment was
formed it needed troops to fill the regimental ranks. Company F became Company
I of the 8th Tennessee Cavalry under the command of Colonel Baxter Smith. The
regiment would be known in the field as the 4th Tennessee Cavalry but was
designated as the 8th Tennessee Cavalry by the Confederate Army Headquarters.
On April 26, 1865, when the Army of Tennessee C. S. A. surrendered under the
command of General Joseph E. Johnston, the 4th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment now
under the command of Lt. Colonel Paul Anderson, also surrendered and was paroled
on May 3, 1865 at Charlotte, North Carolina. The regiment was disbanded and the
soldiers both Officers and enlisted men alike headed home to their families they
had left to fight for their cause. Private soldier Ethelbert Crozier, with his
military parole in hand, made the long journey home walking over 300 miles to
Anderson County, Tennessee, where he with heavy heart did not know what kind of
reception he would face upon arrival home.
He had survived four long hard years fighting, for a cause he believed in. Upon
his arrival home his mother was in a joyful mood, for her son had survived the
war and had come home to start a new life. Her joy would soon turn to sorrow, as
he would be executed by Federal Soldiers of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry U.S.A. of
the Army of Occupation on May 25, 1865 at her home while she and her husband looked
on.
A few days after the incident, Mrs. Crozier wrote the following letter asking for
justice to prevail during this period known today as the Reconstruction Period.
She took the letter to the local Provost Marshal of Federal Army Occupation Forces
in charge of Anderson County, Tennessee.
Robertsville, Anderson County, Tennessee June 7, 1865
To the Provost Marshal Knoxville, Tennessee
Sir or Commander
The 25th May of last month my Son Ethelbert Crozier a private in the Confederate
Service and paroled by General Sherman was inhumanly Murdered in my yard by
Soldiers of the Federal army before my eyes almost in my arms whist I his mother
together with his Father and Sister pleading with them not to shoot. After he
fell they made attempts to shoot him again but seeing his wound was mortal they
left taking his parole tearing it up and dropping it in the road near our house.
They made no charges against him only that the rebels had run over them. We are
able to prove by the most respectable Citizens of Fentress County where he resided
when the war began that so far from imposing on union men he protected them that
for doing that he so he was threatened with mob violence by the rebels. He opposed
conscripting Union men and told them if he had to do it he would give them notice
for them to make their own arrangements I appeal to Major John Wright of the Federal
army who not long before my son came home enquired of my husband where he was and
said every body in Fentress County thought a great deal of him and that he could
go back there and live in peace. I appeal also to Mr. George Kingston, Esquire James
Wright, Mr. Charles Treginis, Mr. Bush all of Fentress County and might mention many
more who would substantiate these things, I had made inquiry of the Union Citizens
in this neighborhood to know if my two sons could come home and live in peace. I
received answer that this one who has been murdered could. I have not as yet been
able to learn the names of the men who were engaged in the murder but think their
names may be ascertained as
they belonged to a squad of 16 men of the 11th & 9th Tennessee Cavalry and believed
to live in Fentress & Morgan County. A haversack was dropped with letters in it
directed to Citizens of Fentress County. Two dismounted and came on the Porch one
other rode back and set his horse before the gate and saw all. I respectfully I
humbly appeal to you sir to rise the means in your power to bring these men to
justice. Men so Cold blooded so hardened as to slay our sons before our eyes washing
through the tears and entreaties of mothers and sisters to reach & slay them Surely
should be punished. He had the pledge of General Sherman and showed it to them. We
have sympathy of good loyal citizens our neighbors who say of this offence this wanton
murder goes unpunished there will be no security for any man who has been in the
rebel service. Shall I appeal in ----?
Respectfully
Abioh R. Crozier
Not soon after this letter was received in Knoxville, Tennessee action was taken to
investigate the offence which was stated in the letter from Mrs. Crozier. A note was
sent to Headquarters of the District of East Tennessee, at Knoxville, Tennessee,
concerning Mrs. Crozier's enquiry. R. Morrow, Assistant Adjutant General, wrote the
following note, Respectfully referred though Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division D. C.,
K Grundy Officer 9th Tennessee for investigation and report.
If the facts as stated prove true three men will be immediately arrested and
steps taken to bring them to trial before General Court-Martial.
Provost Marshal
This paper to be mentioned by -----
Major General Stoneman
R. Morrow A. A. G.
Another order was generated from Headquarters to the brigade level. The order with a
copy of the letter was received at Brigade headquarters on June 20, 1865, at Lenior,
Tennessee; Respectfully referred to the Commanding officer of the 9th Cavalry who
will comply with orders from Major General Cruiozthers
Major General E. G. Richards A. A. G.
A third order with the letter was forward on from the brigade to the company level
concerning the alleged murder. On June 24, 1865 the letter accompanied by a general
order was sent from the 3rd Brigade, 14th Cavalry Division at Lenior, Tennessee,
Respectfully informed to Company officers 9th Tennessee Cavalry where attention is
called to foregoing endorsed notes.
By order of Colonel Joseph Parsons Commanding Officer of Brigade
John G. Deacon
Capt. and A. O. O. 9th Co. A Cavalry
On July 12, 1865, 47 days later at the company level action was taken in finding out
who did the alleged murderers. Respectfully returned with information I have understood
to find the alleged within but 2 jailed. I have one who hopes to alibi himself and I
will learn what I can.
Joseph Parsons
Colonel 9th Tennessee Cavalry
Commanding Officer
Three soldiers were named and arrested by the Provost Marshal for the alleged
crime. The names of the accused are as follows Peter Driscoll, Ed Franklin, and James
Holden, of the *11th Tennessee Cavalry U. S. A., belonging to Colonel Parson's Regiment
were summoned and arrested. The army, in typical fashion from what can be discerned
covered up the incident for there were many cases of Union sympathizers being bushwhacked
or murdered by Confederate irregulars in the area. The 9th Tennessee Cavalry was at
this time being used to quell this backyard rebellion. A General Order was issued from
General Stoneman's Headquarters concerning this small uprising company commanders were
given the following instructions The instructions issued read in part as follows: In
the performance of his duty you are authorized and instructed to use the most vigorous
and serve measures. The persons with whom you have to deal are outlaws so long as they
are at liberty and should be treated as such. When taken prisoners they must
be treated as prisoners, and entitled to trial, which takes time and entails trouble and expense.
Give them to understand that no false mercy will be shown them and no prisoners taken,
and that every man found in arms under whatever pretense, acting without authority from
Federal Officers or legally constituted authorities of the State of Tennessee, will be
treated as public enemy and an outlaw and be killed like a mad dog by anyone who meets him.
Company G of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry was operating in the Clinch River area around
Robertville, Tennessee when this incident occurred. Did this company carry out the alleged
deed one will never know? The Company commander, J. W. Harrington reported to General
Stoneman's Headquarters, On June 30, 1865. In his report, he stated that he had taken
prisoners who were thought to be bushwhackers or guerrillas, for they were found hiding
or had disposed of their arms just before they were encountered by his troop of cavalry.
There is a strong possibility that the three soldiers who murdered Pvt. Crozier were from
this company. These men had spoken of revenge for past deeds for they had fought against
the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, C. S. A., in the battle of Saltville, Virginia.
These men misused the power to carry out the general order from the
General Stoneman's Headquarters. The order gave these men of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry
U. S. A. a reasonable excuse to murder and innocent paroled rebel soldier for they felt
hatred toward his regiment, which they had encountered in battle.
Mrs. Crozier most likely never received a letter of condolence from the local
Commanding officer Colonel Parson's over the death of her son by Union troops under
his command. Justice only goes to the victor. Mrs. Crozier only satisfaction came in
the fact that she made the local military government spend endless hours searching out
her sons killers only to have them disappear from government rolls. The three
soldiers disappeared as they are not listed in the regimental roster giving
the impression that
the regiment covered up the crime so the unit could retire without a black
stain on its reputation. On July 20, 1865 the unit was placed under Major
General Emory Upton's
Cavalry Brigade, of the Disrict of East Tennessee. On September 11, 1865 the 9th
Tennessee Cavalry Regiment retired their Regimental Colors and mustered out of
Federal service with honor.
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