of East Tennessee “for their devotion to the Constitution and laws of the Government handed down to them by their fathers and the liberties secured to them by a war of seven long years of gloom, poverty and trial;” and concluded with his expectation of “exchanging with proud satisfaction the editorial chair and the sweet endearments of home for a cell in the prison or the lot of an exile.” Both these were not far distant from him. Entreated by friends to be absent for a time, he went with Rev. Jas. Cumming, an aged Methodist minister, into Blount County. Informed that Confederate cavalry were searching for him with deadly intent, he and others--members of the Legislature, preachers and farmers--fled into the Smoky Mountains that separate North Carolina and East Tennessee. There, in Tuckaleeche and Wear’s coves, they were encamped for days in concealment, but were at length driven by close pursuit to disperse in pairs, and he, with Rev. W. T. Dowell, went to a friend’s house six miles from Knoxville. From thence Brownlow addressed a letter on November 22, by Col. John Williams to Gen. W. H. Carroll, asserting his innocence of all complicity in the bridge-burnings; that he had kept the pledge he with other leading Union men had given Gen. Zolicoffer, “to counsel peace,” and he claimed protection under the civil law. To this. Gen. Carroll, on November 28, replied that Mr. Brownlow should meet with no personal violence by returning to his home, and if he could establish what he had said by letter, he should have every opportunity to do so before the civil tribunal, were it necessary: _Provided_, he had committed no act that would make it necessary for the military law to take cognizance. Gen. Crittenden had succeeded to the chief command at Knoxville, and to him, eight days before the above named letter of Gen. Carroll, the following was written: CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, RICHMOND, Nov. 20, 1861. _To Major General Crittenden_: DEAR SIR--I have been asked to grant a passport for Brownlow to leave the State of Tennessee. He is said to have secreted himself, fearing violence to his person, and to be anxious to depart from the State. I cannot give him a formal passport, though I would greatly prefer seeing him on the other side of our lines as an avowed enemy. I wish, however, to say that I would be glad to learn that he has left Tennessee; and I have no objection to interpose to his leaving if you are willing to let him pass. Yours, truly, J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. This advice was obeyed by the transmission of the following: HEADQUARTERS, KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 4, 1861.