Johnson County Tenn.

[Mountain Rebel]

John K. Hughes was a "rebel sympathizer" who lived in Taylorsville. Born in Virginia in 1808. By 1860 he was a Physician and the son in law of Greene Moore. His real property was valued at $850 and personal wealth was $3200. John served as County Clerk from 1864 - 1865. He survived the war.

B.O. Johnson born in 1816. He was a farmer who's property was valued at $2550 with a personal wealth of $1000. Benjamin was a member of the Home Guard and was not a slaveowner.

William K. Waugh was born at Sloans Crossroads in Blount County TN in June 1812. His family moved to Monroe County in SE TN at an early date. William moved to Taylorsville after the death of his first wife sometime in the mid 1850's. He became a merchant and operated a store. He was also the postmaster. By 1860 his real estate was worth $1600 and personal wealth was $12000. William married Julia Hill Emmit Moore the daughter of Greene Moore. They had 3 children. A son, James Piper (Jimmy) Waugh died at Abington VA on Dec 20, 1862, aged 16. Although Waugh was not a slave owner, he was an ardent secessionist and was elected Captain of the Home Guard. After the war at least one man, A.M. Doughtery claimed he was a member of "Waugh's Home Guard" on his application for a pension.

In April of 64, Union Scout Dan Ellis returned to Carter County carrying several packages of letters and money sent back home by the local Union troops for their families. One of the packages was from Capt. Northington, a resident of Taylorsville who wanted it delivered to his wife. The package contained letters and $500. When Ellis arrived in Johnson County, local unionists warned him that the Home Guard was out on patrol and that it wasn't safe for him to go to Taylorsville. He feared being caught, so he stopped at the home of Unionist Richard White who was a friend of the Northingtons. Ellis warned White to be careful. White was afraid to carry the package to Mrs. Northington so he wrote her a note asking her to come to his house to pick it up. He gave the note to a small boy for delivery. On the way there the boy was stopped by the home guard and the note was found. The Home guard went to Whites house, searched it and the package was found and confiscated. White was arrested and sent to Richmond. A few days later Ellis heard of the arrest of White and was outraged. He was determined to have the money back or else. He blamed Samuel McQueen and William Waugh because they were the leaders of the Home Guard. Ellis assembled a group of local unionists and set out for Taylorsville on horseback. Among this group was a rebel deserter named Lafayette Jones. Jones was from Taylorsville and knew Waugh. Previously he had been arrested by the Home Guard and conscripted into the rebel army. Jones claimed the Guardsmen stole his money. When he protested, Waugh promised he would see that it was returned to Jones parents. Jones claimed his parents never received it and blamed Waugh; saying that he would kill him at the first opportunity. On April 10, 64 Ellis and his men rode into Taylorsville and went directly to Waughs house. Jones jumped off his horse, burst through the front door and shot Waugh without saying a word. Waugh died instantly. Ellis men became excited and it took some time for Ellis to calm them down. Waugh's house was ransacked but they found no money or letters. Next, Ellis went down the stage road about 3 miles to the home of Samuel McQueen. They held McQueen hostage while his property was "thouroughly searched". Again, nothing was found. Some of Ellis men wanted to kill McQueen; but Ellis told him if he would promise not to bother the Union people anymore they would let him live. After this, Ellis then went to the homes of several more secessionist citizens and searched their houses but nothing was ever found. Finally, Ellis gave up; but before he left the area they stole several horses from the rebel citizens as payment for the lost package.

This raid and the murder of Capt. Waugh caused the Southern citizens to both fear and hate their unionist neighbors. Tension between the two sides would grow even worse as the year progressed.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

John K. Hughes was a "rebel sympathizer" who lived in Taylorsville. Born in Virginia in 1808. By 1860 he was a Physician and the son in law of Greene Moore. His real property was valued at $850 and personal wealth was $3200. John served as County Clerk from 1864 - 1865. He survived the war.

B.O. Johnson born in 1816. He was a farmer who's property was valued at $2550 with a personal wealth of $1000. Benjamin was a member of the Home Guard and was not a slaveowner.

William K. Waugh was born at Sloans Crossroads in Blount County TN in June 1812. His family moved to Monroe County in SE TN at an early date. William moved to Taylorsville after the death of his first wife sometime in the mid 1850's. He became a merchant and operated a store. He was also the postmaster. By 1860 his real estate was worth $1600 and personal wealth was $12000. William married Julia Hill Emmit Moore the daughter of Greene Moore. They had 3 children. A son, James Piper (Jimmy) Waugh died at Abington VA on Dec 20, 1862, aged 16. Although Waugh was not a slave owner, he was an ardent secessionist and was elected Captain of the Home Guard. After the war at least one man, A.M. Doughtery claimed he was a member of "Waugh's Home Guard" on his application for a pension.

In April of 64, Union Scout Dan Ellis returned to Carter County carrying several packages of letters and money sent back home by the local Union troops for their families. One of the packages was from Capt. Northington, a resident of Taylorsville who wanted it delivered to his wife. The package contained letters and $500. When Ellis arrived in Johnson County, local unionists warned him that the Home Guard was out on patrol and that it wasn't safe for him to go to Taylorsville. He feared being caught, so he stopped at the home of Unionist Richard White who was a friend of the Northingtons. Ellis warned White to be careful. White was afraid to carry the package to Mrs. Northington so he wrote her a note asking her to come to his house to pick it up. He gave the note to a small boy for delivery. On the way there the boy was stopped by the home guard and the note was found. The Home guard went to Whites house, searched it and the package was found and confiscated. White was arrested and sent to Richmond. A few days later Ellis heard of the arrest of White and was outraged. He was determined to have the money back or else. He blamed Samuel McQueen and William Waugh because they were the leaders of the Home Guard. Ellis assembled a group of local unionists and set out for Taylorsville on horseback. Among this group was a rebel deserter named Lafayette Jones. Jones was from Taylorsville and knew Waugh. Previously he had been arrested by the Home Guard and conscripted into the rebel army. Jones claimed the Guardsmen stole his money. When he protested, Waugh promised he would see that it was returned to Jones parents. Jones claimed his parents never received it and blamed Waugh; saying that he would kill him at the first opportunity. On April 10, 64 Ellis and his men rode into Taylorsville and went directly to Waughs house. Jones jumped off his horse, burst through the front door and shot Waugh without saying a word. Waugh died instantly. Ellis men became excited and it took some time for Ellis to calm them down. Waugh's house was ransacked but they found no money or letters. Next, Ellis went down the stage road about 3 miles to the home of Samuel McQueen. They held McQueen hostage while his property was "thouroughly searched". Again, nothing was found. Some of Ellis men wanted to kill McQueen; but Ellis told him if he would promise not to bother the Union people anymore they would let him live. After this, Ellis then went to the homes of several more secessionist citizens and searched their houses but nothing was ever found. Finally, Ellis gave up; but before he left the area they stole several horses from the rebel citizens as payment for the lost package.

This raid and the murder of Capt. Waugh caused the Southern citizens to both fear and hate their unionist neighbors. Tension between the two sides would grow even worse as the year progressed.

According to his death certificate, Peter Preston Hayse (Hays) was born in Johnson County, Tennessee on Dec.9, 1847. He died in Wake County, NC on July 31, 1924. His father, William Hayse was a native of Wake County, and his mother, Margaret Daugherty was from Johnson County, Tennessee. In addition to being a physician, Peter was a Methodist Lay preacher. On Jan.4, 1916, while a Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee resident, he applied for a Confederate pension claiming service in "Captain J.W. Davis Company of Johnson County Home Guard under the command of William Waugh". "Joining in the spring of 1863, in the Battle of Bakers Meadows, various others with Federal Soldiers, bushwhackers, and robbers. Never wounded or officially surrendered. The unit disbanded in mid-April 1865". He then refugeed for a while in North Carolina. There were no records of Waugh's Home Guard so Peter received a pension on the testimony of A.M. and Isaac Daugherty who claimed service with him. (Need info on the Battle of Bakers Meadows). That's a new one for me.

 

[Mountain Rebel]

Good find. I had AM Doughtery and a T. J. Doughtery plus a Hays...no first name.

Bakers Gap is southwest of Shouns Crossroads on Roane Creek. Lots of Bakers !ived in the area. The Gap is located 1 miles from Doughtery 's Forge.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

on Roane Creek

One of David & Catherine Wagner's sons was bushwhacked and killed "on the head of Roane Creek".

 

[Mountain Rebel]

Asa Reece was another Home Guardsman from Taylorsville. He was born in Ash County, NC on May 9,1820 and died Nov. 27, 1898. He was married to Katherine Caroline Wagner (9-1-1826-6-4 -1922). In 1860 he was a 40 year old farmer worth $2000 / $1600 respectively. Shortly after the war he applied for a pardon and testified that he "was only a rebel sympathizer in the late war and took no active part"; except for a few weeks when he "bore arms in a Home Guard company" only to suppress "home disorders and not to overthrow the government of the United States".

William Shoun, born June 8, 1801, died June 6, 1876, was the brother in law of Greene Moore and David H. Wagner and was closely associated with the rebel leadership in Johnson county. One night Leslie Jones 20 years old, son of Jordan Jones, "a strong Union man", went to the home of William Shoun "a Rebel sympathizer" and attempted to break into the house. Shoun thought he was being robbed and shot Jones on the porch where he died.

 

[Mountain Rebel]

James Brown, called a "notorious home guard" by Dan Ellis, was born Oct.21, 1811 in Ashe county N.C. the youngest of 8 children of Joseph and Anna (Hayler) Brown. On Sept. 14, 1837, James married Harriet N., daughter of Pastor William and Polly (Halliburton)Farthing. The Browns moved to Johnson County in 1846 where he bought 800 acres near Bakers Gap on Roan Creek. Here he engaged in farming and stock dealing. In 1860 James real property was worth $7000 and personal wealth was $8777. This included 4 slaves, 3 males and 1 female. James and Harriet had 10 children. Two of his sons served in the Confederate army, Capt. Barton Roby and Lieut. Stephen J. The family were Baptists and he a Democrat.

In Jan 1865 James Hartley led a gang of awol federal soldiers and union scouters on a raid into Johnson County for the purpose of harassing rebel citizens and to draw the home guard into a fight. They first stopped at the home of Unionist Sam Howard to gather information and were told that some rebel soldiers had just passed through. Hartley set out in pursuit, stopping at the homes of several rebel citizens looking for the men. Shortly after dark, they arrived at the home of Samuel McEwin, surrounded it and demanded admittance. McEwin ran and was shot down. Hartley then crossed over Doe mountain and went to the home of Jacob Wagner, captured him and two horses. Next they went to the home of his son, "Hog Dave" Wagner and captured him and his son in law, "both active rebel citizens". Hartley then went to the home of James Brown "who had been in active sympathy with the movements of the home guard". Brown and his wife weren't at home; they had went to church near Alex.Baker's. When Hartley learned of this he went to the church and surrounded the building. By this time, someone had alerted the home guard and 40 or 50 mounted men came down Roan Creek valley at a run. Hartley's gang were waiting to ambush them and a sharp fight ensued. Several of the guardsmen were wounded and they fell back. During the confusion The Wagners escaped. James Brown ran out of the church when the home guard arrived, jumped on his wifes horse and made his escape with the guard. Hartley returned to Carter County.

One month before this, Hartley's gang made a raid into Watuaga County NC where they shot a Farthing man and stole horses from another Farthing. The NC home guard attempted to capture them and a all day fight occured on Beech mountain before Hartley retreated back to Tenn. The Farthings were some kin to the wife of James Brown.

 

[kizil]

Very interesting that you should bring up Ellis's book--I am reading it right now and I just finished reading The Dreaded Thirteenth Tennesse Union Cavalry: Marauding Mountain Men by Melanie Storie. I have nine relatives who were in the 13th, but they were all originally from Ashe County, NC. I was reading Ellis's book to discover what it was like to travel through the mountains to get to Union lines.

Ellis, I suspect, was looking more for book sales than honesty and to justify his own actions in the war. People on both sides wrote highly prejudicial memoirs to appeal to an audiences that all wanted to hear how awful and depraved the other side was. If you have ever seen Dr. Gary W. Gallagher's lecture series The American Civil War put out by The Teaching Company, he mentions this phenomenon, particularly with regards to Civil War prison memoirs.

Many of my Ashe County relatives moved to Johnson or Sullivan County, TN after the war. I also have Ashe County relatives who were in the 5th NC Battalion-Cavalry that you mentioned--The Graybeals of Ashe Co. had members in both that regiment and the 13th TN Union Cavalry.

I do have 5 relatives who served on BOTH sides: 2 were galvanized Yankees, the other three deserted the Confederate Army, then went to Union lines and enlisted in the Union Army. 4 of these men were from Ashe County.

I must admit I was very surprised when I started researching the Southern part of my family: I had assumed most would be Confederates, but about 50% of my relatives from NC fought on the Union side and all but 1 of my KY relatives fought on the Union side. They were all from Appalachia, which I now have found out did have quite a bit of Union support.

A fun bit of family legend (I can't verify this): Phoebe Graybeal Eastridge of Ashe Co., NC did not want her son Andrew to be drafted by the Confederates. As soon as he turned 18, she dressed him in a hoop skirt to evade Confederate authorities and sent him to Tennessee, where he enlisted in the 13th TN Cavalry.

Next on my reading list is the official history of the 13th by Angel and Scott.

I've been searching for the route my ancestor (Lewis Brown) took on his way to take his family to Indiana from Johnson County in December 1864 -- they got as far as Crab Orchard TN where he was killed by "rebels" according to family history. Curious what you learned about the route? I also read Daniel Ellis, and for the same reason.

I'm related to North Fork Graybeals through marriage. My ancestors are Browns (Benjamin Senter), Cornett, Johnson, Osborn, etc.

I grew up in Ashe County, my parents grew up in Creston and North Fork.

 

[limestone1863]

James Brown, called a "notorious home guard" by Dan Ellis, was born Oct.21, 1811 in Ashe county N.C. the youngest of 8 children of Joseph and Anna (Hayler) Brown. On Sept. 14, 1837, James married Harriet N., daughter of Pastor William and Polly (Halliburton)Farthing. The Browns moved to Johnson County in 1846 where he bought 800 acres near Bakers Gap on Roan Creek. Here he engaged in farming and stock dealing. In 1860 James real property was worth $7000 and personal wealth was $8777. This included 4 slaves, 3 males and 1 female. James and Harriet had 10 children. Two of his sons served in the Confederate army, Capt. Barton Roby and Lieut. Stephen J. The family were Baptists and he a Democrat.

In Jan 1865 James Hartley led a gang of awol federal soldiers and union scouters on a raid into Johnson County for the purpose of harassing rebel citizens and to draw the home guard into a fight. They first stopped at the home of Unionist Sam Howard to gather information and were told that some rebel soldiers had just passed through. Hartley set out in pursuit, stopping at the homes of several rebel citizens looking for the men. Shortly after dark, they arrived at the home of Samuel McEwin, surrounded it and demanded admittance. McEwin ran and was shot down. Hartley then crossed over Doe mountain and went to the home of Jacob Wagner, captured him and two horses. Next they went to the home of his son, "Hog Dave" Wagner and captured him and his son in law, "both active rebel citizens". Hartley then went to the home of James Brown "who had been in active sympathy with the movements of the home guard". Brown and his wife weren't at home; they had went to church near Alex.Baker's. When Hartley learned of this he went to the church and surrounded the building. By this time, someone had alerted the home guard and 40 or 50 mounted men came down Roan Creek valley at a run. Hartley's gang were waiting to ambush them and a sharp fight ensued. Several of the guardsmen were wounded and they fell back. During the confusion The Wagners escaped. James Brown ran out of the church when the home guard arrived, jumped on his wifes horse and made his escape with the guard. Hartley returned to Carter County.

One month before this, Hartley's gang made a raid into Watuaga County NC where they shot a Farthing man and stole horses from another Farthing. The NC home guard attempted to capture them and a all day fight occured on Beech mountain before Hartley retreated back to Tenn. The Farthings were some kin to the wife of James Brown.

FYI- Lt. James Hartley was a member of Col. Geo. W. Kirk's 3rd North Carolina Mtd. Inf, U.S. Hartley formerly of 4th Tenn., Inf. Inf., U.S. when joined the 3rd NC on June 11, 1864. Born 1831 in Watauga Co., NC. Col. Kirk was noted to let or send squads of men go after known "rebels" & actively recruit for the 3rd over the mountain region.