TNGenWeb Project/TNGenNet, Inc., (a Tennessee nonprofit public benefit corporation). "The Howard-Smith Collection" Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved. The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville. This file is in text format. Please use your browser's "back" button to return to the previous page. ******************************************************************************* Document in the case of The State of Tennesse vs. Gen. Robert Ransom, Maj. Thoms P. Branch, etc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State of Tennessee Be it Remembered that at a regular term of the Circuit Court begun Hawkins County and held at the Court house in Rogersville in the County of Hawkins aforesaid within the first Judicial Circuit, in said state, on Monday the 2nd day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the Eighty ninth. Present the Honorable R. B. Butler, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court, in the State of Tennessee, and assigned to hold said Courts in the first Judicial Circuit in said State. The grand Jury Headed by their foreman appeared in open Court with the following Bill of Presentment. State of Tennessee Circuit Court Hawkins County October Term 1865. The grand Jurors for the County and State aforesaid having been duly summoned, elected, empanneled, sworn and charged, to Enquire for the body of the County and State aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, present and say, that Gen. Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P Branch, Daniel Sheffey, Thomas J. Lee, William B. King T. F. Hobbs, William Reynolds, & James K. Simpson-Col. Hart, late of said County, Laborers, being inhabitants of, and residing within the Limits of the State aforesaid, and under the protection of its Laws, and owing allegiance and fidelity to the State aforesaid, not regarding the duty of their Said Allegiance, nor having the fear of God, in their hearts and being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil wickedly, and traitorously devising and intending the peace and Tranquility of the State to disturb, and to stir, move and excite Insurrection Rebellion and War, against the Said State of Tennessee on the _____ day of _____ in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty _____ with force and arms in the County and State aforesaid, falsely, maliciously and traitorously did imagine and intend to raise and Levy war, insurrection and rebellion against the said State of Tennessee, and in order to fulfil and bring to effect, the said traitorous imaginations and intentions of them they said And they the said Gen Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P. Branch, Daniel Sheffey, Thomas J. Lee, William B King T. F. Hobbs, William Reynolds, James K. Simpson, and Col. Hart, afterward to wit on the day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, in the County and State aforesaid, with a great multitude of Persons, whose names to the Jurors aforesaid are unknown, to with thirty persons and upwards, armed and arreyed in a warlike manner, that is to say, with guns, pistols, and other warlike weapons, as well offensive as defensive, did falsely and traitorously join and assemble themselves together against the State of Tennessee, and then and there with force and arms, did falsely and traitorously, and in a hostile and warlike manner array and dispose themselves against the State of Tennessee, and then and there on the day and year aforesaid, and in the County and State aforesaid, they the said, Gen. Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P. Branch, David Sheffey, Thomas J. Lee, William B. King, T. F. Hobbs William Reynolds, James K. Simpson, & Col. Hart, with the persons so as aforesaid traitorously assembled, armed and arrayed in manner aforesaid, did ordain, prepare, and Levy open and public war against the State of Tennessee, Contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid do further present that the said, Gen Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P. Branch, David Sheffey, Thomas. J. Lee, William R. King, T. F. Hobbs, William Reynolds, James K. Simpson, & Col. Hart, late of said _____ Laborers, not Regarding the duty of their said allegiance, nor having the fear of God in their hearts, and being moved and seduced by the instigations of the devil, wickedly and traitorously intending as aforesaid, on the day and year aforesaid and in the County, and State aforesaid with force and arms, wickedly maliciously and traitorously did knowingly and willingly aid and assist the said traitors so assembled, and gathered together as aforesaid, Contrary to the form of the Statute, in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid do further present that the said, Gen. Robert Ransom, Maj Thoms P. Branch David Sheffey, Thomas J. Lee, William B. King, T. F. Hobbs, William Reynolds James K. Simpson, & Col. Hart, Late of said County, Laborers, not regarding the duty of their said allegiance, nor having the fear of God in their Hearts, and being moved and Seduced by the instigations of the devil wickedly and traitorously intending as aforesaid, on the day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, wickedly and traitorously, did furnish and supply, and cause to be furnished and Supplied, The said false, traitors so assembled and gathered together as aforesaid, with provisions, to wit with Bacon, flour, meal, and other Provisions, of the Value of Five Hundred dollars, For the aid and, Comfort of said traitors so assembled and gathered together as aforesaid Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present, that the said, Gen Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P. Branch, Daniel Sheffey, Thomas J. Lee, William R. King, T. F. Hobbs, William Reynolds, James K. Simpson, & Col. Hart, Late of Said County, Laborers, being Inhabitants of and residing within the Limits of the Said State of Tennessee, and under the protection of its laws, and owing allegiance and fidelity as aforesaid being Citizens of the United States and of right owing allegiance thereto, not regarding the duty of their said allegiance, nor having the fear of God before their eyes, and being moved and Seduced by the instigations of the devil, wickedly and traitorously intending as aforesaid, on the day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, wickedly, and traitorously did knowingly, and willingly aid and assist, the said traitors, so assembled and gathered together as aforesaid, By joining the armies of the So Called Confederate States, and holding Commissions under said Rebel authority Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and Provided and against the peace and dignity of the State. Endorsed Presentment, The State, vs. Gen Robert Ransom, Maj Thomas P. Branch, James K. Simpson, & others, B. Dodson Foreman S C. Davis, Wm. H. Johnson, John Fletcher, B. Rogers, A. Kinkead J Herd, B Harrison, Wm Barr, Isaac Philips, M. White, M Davis J. H Fletcher, Summon for the State, Charles J. McKinney, A. P. Caldwell, John J. Walker. James Britton A.G. State of Tennessee Hawkins County I, Wm M. Piper, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hawkins County, State of Tennessee do certify that the foregoing Presentment as a true copy of the original on record in my office. Given under my hand and seal of office at in Rogersville this 14th day of April 1866. Wm M. Piper Clerk. I, ANDREW J. FLETCHER, Secretary of State for the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that W. M. Piper, whose official signature is subscribed to the above certificate, and whose seat of office as Clerk etc. is affixed thereto, was at the time the same were so subscribed and affixed, a legally elected, qualified, and commissioned Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Hawkins in said State of Tennessee. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my official signature, and, by order of His Excellency the Governor, affixed the Great Seal of the State of Tennessee, at the Executive Department, in Nashville, on the 31st day of May, 1866. A. J. Fletcher SECRETARY OF STATE.