I'd have to agree with Gerald Hodge on his summation.

You would do well to check on Unionist Oliver P. Temple's contemperous book East Tennessee and the Civil War.

I would also suggest you study East Tennessee newspapers.
I obtained from the Tennessee Library and Archives in
Nashville, the microfilm files of the Athens Post, Athens,
Tenn. for the war period.

Suprisingly, they covered the pre-war build up period
in a straight forward manner, presenting both sides.

I also have rolls for The Knoxville Whig and the Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventiator, both published by the infamous Parson Brownlow. These would also be of interest.

I would love to obtain similiar rolls for the Cleveland
Banner. But, alas, they do not seem to be extant!

Much background on Brownlow is available at the McLung Library in Knoxville. I'm not sure of the spelling or
the exact citation. Perhaps it may be found in the East
Tennessee Historical Society in Knoxville.

My interest is in the Confederate side and I have been for a number of years researching my ggrandfather's Confederate
East Tennesse regiment and am in the process of writing it's history. I invite you to visit my website at:

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~gmartin55

The Unionists suffered during the first two years of the
war, but more than made up for this affront thereafter and during Brownlow's reconstruction.

Good hunting,

George Martin
Sparks, NV