Past, Darkly (The Dreams Book 2) Read online

  The story of Reconstruction Chattanooga and its mixture of cultures made it a unique city in a dangerous time.

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  The Indian Removal Act

  TRAIL OF TEARS

  Map showing the paths followed by the Five Civilized Tribes as they were moved from their homelands. Included were the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctow, and Seminole Tribes.

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  SUCCESSION

  In 1861, eleven states seceded from the United States of America. These states were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Each state had its own declaration of cause of succession. Those manuscripts are available through many published works, available online or in printed format.

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  Proclamation of Emancipation 1863

  Reproduction of the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

  Articles of Agreement Relating to the

  Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia (1865)

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  The following is a summation of the amnesty program appearing in Harper's Weekly for May 15 1865:

  PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S AMNESTY

  By his proclamation of the 8th of December, 1863, President LINCOLN granted a full pardon – with certain exceptions which we will presently state – to all who had been in rebellion, with a full restoration of all rights of property except in slaves and in cases where the rights of third parties had intervened, and upon condition of taking and subscribing and keeping in-violate an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the Union under it, and to abide faithfully by all the laws of Congress, and by the proclamations of the President in regard to slaves, so far as they are not repealed or declared void by the Supreme Court. The persons excepted from this amnesty were all who are or have been civil or diplomatic officers and agents of the rebel Government – all who have left judicial stations under the United States to aid the rebellion – all who are or have been military and naval officers above the rank of colonel in the army or lieutenant in the navy – all who left seats in the United States Congress, or resigned commissions in its army or navy, and afterward aided the rebellion – and all who have treated colored or white soldiers and sailors of the United States otherwise than as prisoners of war.

  On the 26th of March, 1864, President LINCOLN by proclamation defined that the amnesty was limited to those who were not prisoners of war, but who, being free from any arrest, voluntarily took the oath.

  On the 6th of December, 1864, in his last annual Message to Congress, the President said that when he issued the amnesty he stated that the excepted classes might still be within special clemency. "During the year," he continued, "many availed themselves of the general provision, and many more would, only that the signs of bad faith in some" led to precautions. Special pardons had also been granted to persons of the excepted classes. "The door has been for a full year open to all." But he adds, " The time may come, probably will come, when public duty shall demand that it be closed, and that, in lieu, more rigorous measures than heretofore shall be adopted.

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  During the Civil War, federal officials recognized a need for new laws to deal with rebellious acts of members of the Southern population. Because treason seemed too strong an offense, and death too severe a penalty for many of the acts in support of the Confederate cause, the Congress passed acts of July 31, 1861, and July 17, 1862, that fixed penalties for the lesser crimes of conspiracy and rebellion. The latter act also provided for future pardon and amnesty.

  On December 3, 1863, President Lincoln offered in the Proclamation and Reconstruction of Amnesty, a pardon to all citizens with some exclusions, who would take the oath of loyalty to the United States. That also, as soon as one-tenth of the citizens had taken the prescribed oath there in any state, there could be re-established a state government.

  The Oath and Parole reads:

  I do solemnly swear, in presence of Almight God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all acts of the Congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified or held void by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme Court; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion, having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court,--- So help me God; and I give my solemn parole of honor (to be enforced according to military law,) that I will hold no correspondence with, or afford any aid or comfort to any enemies or opposers of the United States, save as an act of humanity, to administer to the necessities of individuals, who are in sickness or distress; and I solemnly declare that this Oath and Parole is taken and given freely and willingly, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever, and with full intention to keep the same.

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  President Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865, and died the following day. Vice President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee succeeded to the presidency. On May 29, 1865, President Johnson issued a proclamation granting amnesty to all of the citizens of the southern states, a pardon on condition of their taking an oath of loyalty, with certain classes of individuals being exempted as ex-officers of the Confederate forces and those having taxable property in excess of $20,000.00, even these were to be pardoned under proper petition.

  The final oath of allegiance to the United States following the Civil War reads as follows:

  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  I, _________ of the County of_________, State of ________, do solemnly swear

  that I will protect and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that I will bear true faith, allegiance, and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution or laws of any State, Convention, or Legislature, to the contrary notwithstanding; and further, that I will faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of me by the laws of the United States; and I take this oath freely and voluntarily, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Services.

  Chattanooga History Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

  Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

  Tennessee State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath for his explanation of Cherokee herbs and their medicinal uses.

  Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

  Dr. Beth Lynne, BZ Hercules Editing

  Tbird Trenda London, ItsYourStoryContentEditing.com

  Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc., www.gobookcoverdesign.com

  Photographs and Maps

  Chattanooga History Center, Collection of Matthew C. Miller.

  Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Services.

  Library of Congress.

  All photographs and maps are Public Domain or property of the author, unless otherwise noted. Citations are available upon written request.

  Follow Hunter S. Jones on these sites:

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  More Books by Hunter S. Jones

  Phoenix Rising

  The Fortune Series

  Fortune Calling

  Fortune Brawling

 

 

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