"For a number of years I have been attending 'Old Jonesborough Days' and have enjoyed the different programs of the festival; however, for the last few celebrations I have been disappointed in the presentation of the Civil War period of Jonesborough and Washington County. This year it became more evident to me that the Civil War presentation did not represent Jonesborough or Washington County's history at that time. When I saw the Confederate soldiers marching in the 4th of July parade, I thought there should have been Union soldiers marching also. Northeast Tennessee was noted for being against the separation of Tennessee from the Union and against slavery. Since the early 1800s the Quakers, the Embree Family, influenced the thinking on slavery of many Jonesborough and County residents. The result was a number of its citizens freed their slaves. These records can be found in the courthouse, and on microfilm in the Washington County Courthouse, Jonesborough Library and Sherrod Library at ETSU.

"It is important to remember that Elihu Embree published the first abolitionist newspaper in 1819 in Jonesborough. Should not the leaders of 'Old Jonesborough Days' bring this to the attention of our citizens and visitors? Many of the slaves in the County were young women who cared for children and lives in the family's house.

"The Confederate Army before and during the war compelled many Washington County men to enlist and fight with their army. Some of these men were able to leave their Confederate unit and join the Union Army when engaged in a battle, thus serving with both armies. Also during the war, Daniel Ellis, the Union scout from Carter County, led many Union men to Kentucky to join the Union Army.

"If one reads the 1860 and 1870 census of Jonesborough, it is evident that the names of the Jonesborough citizens changed during this period. Most of the people left Jonesborough and never returned because of the Confederate occupation and their treatment of its citizens. The Union Army controlled Jonesborough only a small portion of the time during 1861-65. Their camp was in the county near Bowmantown and Yankee Camp Road. The Union Flag, a newspaper owned and edited by George E. Gresham after the war, shows how bitter the Union supporters were, and as a result drove out of the county the Confederate supports, including the Harris and Gen. A. E. Jackson families for their part in starting and carrying on the war. It took many years for the bitterness to disappear.

"Is it not possible for the 'Old Jonesborough Days' leaders to recognize the truth concerning the Civil War in Jonesborough and Washington County? The Union supporters and their views were in the majority, not the Confederates and their views. "I cannot remember when the Union Army had an encampment in Jonesborough and marched in the 4th of July parade. What has caused this unfairness in the planning and carrying out of 'Old Jonesborough Days'?

"Would certainly appreciate your attention to this complaint with appropriate action to include Union Forces in the parade and encampment.

"Sincerely yours,

"[signed]Mildred S. Kozsuch
"Washington County Historian

"Copies to:
"Mayor Toby Bledsoe
"Alderman Jerome Fitzgerald
"Alderman Larry Countermine
"Alderman Mary Gerhart
"Alderman Chuck Vest"

"in response to a letter addressed to Alderman Mary Gerhart, Rachael Conger and Melilnda Copp, dated July 11, 2008:

"Part I

"Mary Gerhart gave me a letter by Mildred Kozsuch concerning the Jonesborough Days parade and East Tennessee during the Civil War. I do agree with some of it. East Tennessee had a strong support for the Union, especially Carter County. However, there was also support for the southern cause. The late Paul Fink showed me a company size roster of a Confederate unit from Jonesborough called the 'Little Rebels.' Also please note that General A. E. Jackson's family is back in Jonesborough, starting and carrying on the war! He was my great-great grandfather and I will try to follow in his footsteps. I might add that A. E. Jackson was the only general from Washington County on either side.

"I don't think Mildred should criticize any re-enactment unit for being in the parade with the gas crunch in mind. They are doing you a big favor. What if you had to hire actors? I doubt if they would be as good. The Confederate troops in question were the 19th Tennessee Infantry. They all were authentic, correct to the period. From an historical point of view they had every right to be here. Several men of the Deaderick family, from Washington County, served in that very same regiment. They did not desert or change sides. They fought the Yankees to the bitter end and the carpetbaggers that came after them. I can say the same for my great-grandfather, Joe P. Lyle, also from Washington County. At 16 years of age he served with distinction in the 63rd Tennessee Confederate infantry. In combat he was shot through the hand by a miniball. If it had hit him in the head, I would not be here.

"If Mildred wants a Union Army presence, let her try to get the 79th New York to come up from Knoxville and pay for the gas. Keep in mind that small town parades are not a high priority for most re-enactors.

"Much more attention should be given to the authenticity of other members of the parade. There was a color photo of the Joensborough Days parade on the front page of the Johnson City Press. Mayor Toby was a Native American, Jim Ryan and Bob Browning were 18th century civilians. All three were carying plastic water bottles. No re-enactor would ever make such an un-professional mistake. Both men were wearing modern sunglasses. In that timeframe sunglasses were the result of treatment for a social disease. A most painful injection treatment of mercury made the eyes hurt in bright sunlight. I doubt that this is the social image these men want to project. It is just a matter of doing your homework. Sunglasses only became cool in the 20th century.

"Part II

"To answer Mildred's question as to when Union re-enactors marched in a Jonesborough parade, it was back in the late 1980s. I was responsible for getting Union re-enactors and marching in a Christmas parade with the 8th Tennessee U.S. This is the only re-enactment unit that represents local men of Washington County who chose to join Mr. Lincoln's army and wanted their Tennessee state identity kept.

"Doug Newton called me and told me that the town wanted our Union re-enactor group to be the official 'Honor Guard' for Jonesborough and would I put it together for him? We were to be the center of the parade and fire a volley in front of the Courthouse. A city official would come out to present the title to our unit.

"I contacted all members and we got a drummer to practice a formal guard mount right out of a period drill manual. We were toally squared away, brass polished and leather shined. At the appointed time, they came in from all over the Tri-Cities area, some from Marion, Virginia, and Knoxville.

"In the area where the parade was forming up, Doug Newton was nowhere to be found. In his place was a large, unpleasant woman who was in charge of the parade. She said she did not know or care about any "Honor Guard," and we could not fire our weapons, it was Christmas and we had guns that scare the children. This was a huge embarassment for me. The unit decided to go through with the marching in the parade, but they would never come back to Jonesborough.

"Members from Greene County quickly got Greeneville to give us the title of "Honor Guard." The 8th Tennessee worked with the Park Service in doing living history at the Andrew Johnson home.

"The commander, Tom Kirkland, wrote Bob Browning a letter of protest. This letter was not answered, and Browning was not available for comment.

"The re-enactment community is a small, tight band of brothers and a few sisters. Word gets out. As to finding the ideal Union regiment, made up with East Tennessee men, the 8th Tennessee would be the first choice. I put the ball in your court, and you fumbled.

"August 11, 2008
"John Lyle
"Jonesborough TN"

"in response to Mildred S. Kozsuch's letter to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen dated July 11, 2008:

"I need to add my voice to those other Jonesborough residents who believe Civil War reenactments during Town festivals should include representations of both Union and Confederate sympathizers and participants to accurately reflect the history of this area and the nation. Either that, or no reenactments of that period at all. The Town's history of supporting abolition and the Union is a valid source of local pride and fame that might be capitalized upon successfully in an era that increasingly celebrates multi-ethnic freedom, diversity of expression and experience, and tolerance and understanding of cultural traditions other than Caucasian European.

"I hope the Board and Mayor will consider positively reflecting those directions in future public events sponsored by the Town, mostly regional businesses, and some area individuals.

"Personally, being from an old New England family, my heritage is Union but, having lived in the South for many years, I have acquired sympathy for Confederate soldiers and families affected by the Civil War. 'Reconstruction' as enacted was a terribly mistaken undertaking from which we finally learned our lesson in dealing with defeated Nazi/Axis countries in the aftermath of World War II.

"August 11, 2008
"Jeannette Harris
"Jonesborough TN"

"Not having Union re-enactors is like attending a dance without girls." John Lyle, a recently retired university art and asian art history professor, explained in person that the re-enactors are a tight group of people who study and enjoy their research and acting adventures, and that they play different sides depending on who's available. He personally has acted as a Union soldier during battlefield dramatic representations, although he prefers to enact Confederates as that is his family history and inheritance.