[A Mother’s Plea for Justice] [by Theodore Urbanski--- tedsuedoghouse@earthlink.net] [with permission, 4 Jan 2002] 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. ***The 9th and the 11th Tennessee had been consolidated during the war to organize into one unit to become the 9th Tennessee Cavalry U. S. A. under the command of Colonel Joseph Parsons. ***The above story is true and was obtained from Private Ethelbert Crozier military record File Card # 336 Microfilm roll # 36 National Archives and Records Administration 1985 ***Tennesseeans in the Civil War Part 1 Civil War Centennial Commission of Tennessee Reprinted by The University of Tennessee Press 1996 tju 12-20-2001