Hamblen County Civil War Page

We are in search of any information, photos or letters pertaining to the Civil War and Hamblen County. If you would like to share what you have, please e-mail the County Coordinator.  You will retain all rights to your data and receive full credit for your contribution.

Union Civil War Flag

National Flag of the Confederacy

Tennessee Civil War Flag

Morristown was greatly effected by the Civil War.  In fact there was a battle fought and many men died. When the war started, most of the businesses became paralyzed. Some stores remained open but most only sold the necessities such as sugar and coffee.  The citizens were routinely harassed by "bushwakers" who were constantly stealing from homes, breaking into shops and destroying everything. The bushwakers were people of the community, derelicts and runabouts. After the war and the men returned there wasn't a bushwaker in sight.  W.M. Evans received a letter that stated the following: 

My grandfather, Joseph CHAVIS was born in Hamblen Co., 06 September 1877, son of Josiah (Joseph) CHAVIS and Louisa Eliza LEDWELL. His father, Josiah, who was born 1838 in Randolph Co., NC, enlisted in Union Army at Bull’s Gap, Hawkins Co, TN 16 August 1864. After the war Josiah went back to his home in North Carolina, but several years later returned to Eastern Tennessee. The family lived in Hamblen Co., for a time, but sometimes on censuses they appeared to be in Hawkins Co., and on Josiah’s civil war pension records.

Josiah CHAVIS and Louisa Eliza LEDWELL had a large family, but they were poor, partly because Josiah was an invalid after the war. Josiah died on Easter Sunday 05 April 1890 in Hawkins Co., on a farm owned by the deceased Dr. John Rader.