One of the associates of Parson Brownlow, of Tennessee, both in religion and patriotism, is called “Old Clift.” The Nashville correspondent of the New York Tribune gives the following account of him:
“One of the most eminent and interesting actors throughout the Union drama in Tennessee is ‘Old Clift,’ a Methodist clergyman, living near Chattanooga, well known for integrity and righteousness of purpose throughout the eastern and middle districts. From the very outbreak of secessionism, he opposed it with a zealous vigor and consistency. At the Union Convention, held at Knoxville last summer, he made a violent speech in favor of a separation of the loyal from the disloyal counties, and the formation of a new State. This movement having failed, he went home and commenced active defiance of the rebel authorities by organizing the Unionists of his vicinity into companies and regiments. As late as September, there was an encampment of several hundred under his command in the mountains of Bradley county, over which the stars and stripes floated with a sword underneath. It was afterward broken up, but he managed to keep up and extend a secret organization, notwithstanding the constant efforts of the rebels to capture him, and being notified of the intentions of the bridge-burners, he had nearly a thousand men assembled under his standard in the middle of November. Seeing no prospect of Union support, he again disbanded his force. Upon the news of the fall of Fort Donelson, he immediately gathered a band of several hundred with whom he made his way to Gen. Carter’s command. He is now at the head of a newly organized regiment.”
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 14, 1862, p. 2
“One of the most eminent and interesting actors throughout the Union drama in Tennessee is ‘Old Clift,’ a Methodist clergyman, living near Chattanooga, well known for integrity and righteousness of purpose throughout the eastern and middle districts. From the very outbreak of secessionism, he opposed it with a zealous vigor and consistency. At the Union Convention, held at Knoxville last summer, he made a violent speech in favor of a separation of the loyal from the disloyal counties, and the formation of a new State. This movement having failed, he went home and commenced active defiance of the rebel authorities by organizing the Unionists of his vicinity into companies and regiments. As late as September, there was an encampment of several hundred under his command in the mountains of Bradley county, over which the stars and stripes floated with a sword underneath. It was afterward broken up, but he managed to keep up and extend a secret organization, notwithstanding the constant efforts of the rebels to capture him, and being notified of the intentions of the bridge-burners, he had nearly a thousand men assembled under his standard in the middle of November. Seeing no prospect of Union support, he again disbanded his force. Upon the news of the fall of Fort Donelson, he immediately gathered a band of several hundred with whom he made his way to Gen. Carter’s command. He is now at the head of a newly organized regiment.”
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 14, 1862, p. 2
