Doc. 188. General Carroll's proclamation.
Martial law in East Tennessee.
Headquarters rifle Brigade, camp Lookout, Nov. 24, 1861.
Martial law having been proclaimed at this post on the 14th day of November, by order of Colonel S. A. M. Wood, the officer then in command, many disaffected persons were arrested and placed in custody of the proper military authorities for trial.
The larger portion of these have voluntarily taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government and were released and returned to their homes.
Those who were organized for active hostilities have, for the most part, been dispersed and driven beyond the limits of the State, thus effectually breaking up the conspiracy recently existing in this portion of the State to resist the authority of the Confederate States Government, and thereby restoring peace and quiet throughout the country adjacent to this post.
The commanding General being satisfied, from the evidences of loyalty (upon the part of the people) now before him, that the necessity for the enforcement of martial law does not now exist, orders that the same be no longer in force.
It is not the purpose of the Commanding General at this post to impose any restrictions, or enforce any law not required by stern necessity.
Those persons who remain at home, submitting to the established laws of the country, will not be molested, whatever their previous political opinions may have been, but those found in arms against the Government, aiding or abetting its enemies, or in any way inciting rebellion, will be visited with all the rigor of military law. --Richmond Dispatch, Nov. 28.