John M. Sutherlin Letter
John M. Sutherlin wrote this letter to his brother, Virginia tobacco entrepreneur William T. Sutherlin, on May 3, 1862 from Knoxville. In it, he reports on sales conditions in the South during the Civil War, writing that "I came down here … to see what the chance was to get my tobacco through from here to Atlanta … I regard bringing tobacco through East Tenn. now like drawing it through a furnace of fire, there has been in the last few days a very heavy engagement between our forces and the Federals at Cumberland Gap but cannot learn any of the particulars except our forces still hold their position there."
Dates
- 1862 May 3
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
John M. Sutherlin wrote this letter to his brother, Virginia tobacco entrepreneur William T. Sutherlin, on May 3, 1862 from Knoxville. In it, he reports on sales conditions in the South during the Civil War, writing that "I came down here … to see what the chance was to get my tobacco through from here to Atlanta … I regard bringing tobacco through East Tenn. now like drawing it through a furnace of fire, there has been in the last few days a very heavy engagement between our forces and the Federals at Cumberland Gap but cannot learn any of the particulars except our forces still hold their position there."
Biographical/Historical Note
William Thomas Sutherlin (1822-1893) and John Marshall Sutherlin (1830-1881) were the sons of George Sanders and Polly (Norman) Sutherlin of Danville, Virginia. William became a prominent tobacco merchant and innovator, constructing a new tobacco factory (which eventually served as Confederate Prison No. 6) in 1855 and became the first person in Virginia to apply steam power to hydraulic tobacco presses. He also founded the Bank of Danville and was elected Mayor of Danville in 1855. He resigned in 1861 upon election as a delegate to the Virginia Convention for secession.
During the Civil War, William served as Quartermaster of Danville and ultimately rose to the rank of Major. When the Union Army invaded Richmond, Virginia in April 1865, forcing Jefferson Davis to flee south, William opened his house to Davis and his cabinet. Davis composed his last letter as President of the Confederacy in William’s home at the time of surrender. After the war, William’s business continued, and he was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 1871. He died in Danville in 1893 and is buried in Green Hill Cemetery. His home now houses the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
This collection was purchased by Special Collections in 2008.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository