One of the party of refugees from Knoxville, as Longstreet approached it, relates: “The attention of wayside inhabitants, on the occasion of this escapade was the sharper, because the news of Longstreet’s advance had already spread through the country; and many were the questions with which the excited and curious population plied the fleeing party; such as “What is the matter,” etc., etc. The discomfort of the travellers was especially relieved by the tongue of an elderly woman whom they encountered. In order to relish the amusement her sallies afforded them it should be remembered that “Parson Brownlow” as he was often called, not only had great popular notoriety, but was as highly esteemed by one party to the strife as he was intensely hated by the other. By the rebels he was thought to be, “The very head and front of their offending.” By the Union people he was everywhere known as their fearless and indomitable champion; and the idea of his giving way before the coming of their foes, could find place in their minds only along side of a desperate emergency. As we plunged along with the north star for our main guide, we were continually hailed to know what was the trouble, and what was the state of things at Knoxville? It is specially remembered that just after entering Anderson County, we were saluted by one of the numerous families peculiar to that region, headed by the matron, torch in hand: ‘What in the name of goodness does all this mean? and where are you men going? Is Burnside retreating? or who are you any how?’ It was mildly answered to her by one of the more polite-mannered gentlemen of the party, that Gen Burnside, so far from being able to retreat, was in all probability a prisoner with his whole army. ‘And are you running,’ exclaimed she, ‘without firing a gun?’ ‘Oh no!’ said an elderly gentleman; ‘we are simply retiring in good order, to save the country.’ ‘Yes!’ said she, as she flamed her torch with a sort of patriotic fierceness; ‘I expect the next thing I’ll hear will be that Old Bill Brownlow is running too!’ At this juncture, the reverend gentleman so irreverently referred to, in a subdued tone of voice, remarked: ‘Gentlemen, this is no place to make a stand; I think I’d rather encounter Longstreet’s army, or Vaughn’s cavalry, than that woman.’”[65] Capt. A. J. Ricks, the military escort of the party says: “One man of the group, from the beginning of the hazardous ride, impressed me with the coolness, judgment and courage, with which he confronted dangers, and advised as to the best means of avoiding them; and it was soon apparent that the distinguished band looked to him as leader and adviser. And when, at an hour that all agreed my orders required me to leave them to their own chances and I parted from them with many misgivings as to their safety, I noticed that they all instinctively turned to John Baxter, as pilot and commander.”