As key battles continue in Virginia and Georgia, the news this day emanates from the United States capital of Washington, D.C.
Yesterday Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase submitted his resignation … for perhaps the dozenth time. But whereas President Abraham Lincoln had in previous instances rejected Chase’ resignation, yesterday the president, to the surprise of many, accepted the offer.
Lincoln’s reversal of course comes in the face of a depleted national treasury, a perilous situation as the United States makes a concentrated effort to successfully conclude the War Against the Rebellion. In the place of Chase, today the president appoints William Pitt Fessenden of Maine, long-time chair of the Finance Committee of the Senate.
Although Fessenden accepts the appointment with reluctance, his work in the months ahead to shore up the nation’s finances proves crucial in negotiating a bond issue that provides the Union with the necessary funding to defeat the Confederacy.
Meanwhile, today’s Memphis Daily Appeal offers glimpses into life in Tennessee, a long-divided state now largely under Union control and in the process of being reconstructed even as the war continues.
The Chattanooga Gazette learns that Rev. W. McNutt, formerly pastor of the Baptist church at Cleveland, has been arrested by the military authorities, on account of rebel proclivities.
Two women were detected placing torpedoes on the track of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. They were allowed to take a few articles from their house, when it was fired.
The Misses Wade, daughters of a respectable citizen of Rutherford county, who went South on the arrival of Yankee troops some time ago, returned to Murfreesboro’ the other day.
The Nashville market is well supplied with vegetables. Peas sell for 30 cents per peck, beets, 10 cents per bunch; onions ditto; fresh potatoes, $1.25 per peck; chickens, 35 to 50 cents each, and raspberries, 40 cents per quart.
The crops in Rutherford county are said to be quite fair. . . .
Brigadier General Paine had nine bushwhackers shot on the public square in Lynchburg, Lincoln county, Tenn., and several in Fayetteville. Among the number was Brigadier General Massey, C. S. A., who superintended all the guerrilla operations in Middle Tennessee.
Gen. Paine told the citizens that if they wanted to fight the Government, to go and join the rebel army under Joe Johnston. If they staid inside the Federal lines, they might think, feel, die secesh, but if they talked or acted treason he would make them houseless, homeless and lifeless. . . .
Sources: “News from Tennessee,” Memphis Daily Appeal, July 1, 1864 (link); “William P. Fessenden” (link); Francis Fessenden, Life and public services of William Pitt Fessenden : United States senator from Maine 1854-1864, secretary of the Treasury 1864-1865, United States senator from Maine 1865-1869, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907 (link)
