A Visit to Parson Brownlow by Annie Wittenmyer
Annie Wittenmyer visits Parson Brownlow at his Knoxville home after railroad travel is restored. She finds the East Tennessee leader living beneath a Union flag that has flown from his porch throughout the war. Brownlow speaks quietly on ordinary matters but fiercely condemns those who suppressed loyal feeling; he shows her the prison where he was confined while neighbors displayed hidden Confederate flags. Mrs. Brownlow and her daughter recount their own defense of the flag, as Miss Brownlow drove away men sent to remove it with a drawn pistol. The family guarded it until Union troops, inspired by the solitary Stars and Stripes among Confederate banners, charged and captured the town. Wittenmyer praises Brownlow's courage, convictions, eloquence, and commanding presence, believing they saved him from enemies who meant to kill him.
By Annie Wittenmyer · First published 1895 · Genre: Civil War nonfiction, Historical sketch, Biography · 841 words
First lines
The Confederates had been driven back from Chattanooga and Knoxville, and the lines of railroad travel had been re-established. I had occasion at that time to go to Knoxville. The journey was a dangerous one; but the mission was important, and I took the chances. I was delighted to learn, after reaching Knoxville, that Parson Brownlow, the hero of East Tennessee, was at home. It was afterward arranged that I should meet him at his own house.
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Genres
- Civil War nonfiction — The work recounts a firsthand-era visit to Knoxville after Union advances during the American Civil War and centers on Unionist resistance in East Tennessee.
- Historical sketch — It is a brief, descriptive account of a historical figure, his home, imprisonment, family, and political significance rather than a sustained narrative.
- Biography — The portrait of Parson Brownlow emphasizes his appearance, temperament, rhetoric, courage, imprisonment, and enduring influence on Tennessee.
- Memoir — The narrator presents her own journey, meeting with Brownlow, observations, and lasting personal recollection of the visit.
Tags
American Civil War · Union loyalty · East Tennessee · Knoxville, Tennessee · Chattanooga campaign · Civil War home front · wartime travel · first-person reminiscence · biographical sketch · Union flag · Stars and Stripes · patriotism
What this Textopian page supports
A Visit to Parson Brownlow is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Annie Wittenmyer, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Annie Wittenmyer
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Civil War nonfiction, Historical sketch, Biography, Memoir, Personal recollection
- Length: 841 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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