Asa Napoleon McClain’s home place was what we know as the Bruce and Pearl Rutherford home and farm on old Highway 33 at Maynardville. Asa was a carpenter and built the two-story weatherboard home. The house is gone, but the spring house is still there. Asa McClain enlisted in the Union Army at Williamsburg, KY on April 11, 1862 and served under Col. Ausmus. He died May 20, 1864, probably of pneumonia; he was buried in College Hill Cemetery at Nashville. He married Elizabeth Rooks, and they are my great grandparents.
(See also Our Union County Families, p. 111.)

ASA NAPOLEON MCCLAIN'S LAST LETTER TO WIFE AND CHILDREN--Harlan County, Ky., Camp Morgan, Cumberland Gap, Ky., September 3, 1863

Dear Wife and Children,
My letter leaves me in feeble health at this time. Hoping same will reach you and the little children all in good health, for which we should thank God for his abundance and mercy and goodness.
I started to Williamsburg the 1st day of June last and left this the 8th day of August and landed at Cumberland Gap 12th day of same month and I lay 27 days with the fever. On the 2nd day of July I got crippled, slowed me back for sometime. Then I taken a bad case of the Jaundice that kept me back for some time, and I had the mumps on a light scale, and after all and through God's mercy I am safe in the Army at Cumberland Gap. I am in the Hospital in the care of Thos. B. Walker. I am at this time very feeble and weak and by no means able for the service. Since I came to the Gap, my flesh had taken to swelling to such an extent that it disturbs my breathing. Some days I am better than others, and again I am worse and it goes on and has been the case for several days. But my appetite is good, and my diet tastes sweet to me. In fact I can eat more meat at one meal than I did at home in three meals. I hope by taking some time in rest and moderate exercise that I will be restored to a state of good health again. But I don't think I will be a stout man anymore.
I want you to do the best you can for yourself and the little children. If you have any opportunity, try to send the children to school. I can't tell you at this time when I will be at home. There is a large army at the Gap and they are prepared to give a fine number of rebels their "southern rights." It has been expected for some time that a general battle would be fought at the Gap, but I doubt it. The way the Yankees have arranged their batteries and dug their rifle pits, 50,000 Rebels can't take it by a mile at one time without being cut to pieces. Indeed I wish they would try it one time for the Gap is the place to get their money back.
I want you to give my best respects to Mrs. Johnson's whole family, and tell Sterling's wife I have not seen Sterling since sometime last April, but understand he went to Roane County. Brother Charles Rooks is here in the Army. He is well and doing tolerable well. He is the Hospital Steward of the 3rd Tennessee Regt. His salary is $21 for one month.
Save your fodder all good and clean and take good care of all your garden vegetables and potatoes. Make all the molasses you can. If I could get a furlough to come home at this time I should be afraid to risk myself among Rebels, but you may rest well assured I will come as soon as I can come honorably. I hope the time isn't too far distant when this wicked and unholy rebellion will be crushed out and sink back into its native hell from whence it all come.
I must close by saying to you that I hope and pray God to rest His blessings and heavenly protection around you, and He will direct by kind providence in such a manner that you will rest safe among your enemies.
Farewell to Elizabeth.
/s/ Asa McClain

oOo
THIS LETTER IS FROM GEORGE PETERS OF LUTTRELL TO HIS AUNT FANNY PETERS (WIFE OF JOHN PETERS). These are my late husband's family members who lived at Luttrell.
Camp near the River
July 9th 1864

Dear Ant
I am seated to write a few lines they leave me well. I hope they may find you in the same state of health. I received your letter today and was glad to hear that all was well but sorry to hear of the Rebellion that is getting up. I think they might get along without that. I think if us Soldier boys was up there we would not have any difference about the ladies. I have no news of importance to write. We have a pontoon (bridge) across the river and the 3rd division has crossed. I think we will cross before night. We have not had any fight since the first of month. I will say that you can make up your company if you want to, but if we was to come back we would have other business to tend to. I will try to finish. I have crossed the river. The river is very warm down here at present. The wheat is all cut that is fit to cut. We do tolerably well for rations though they are scarce sometimes. We have captured a good many prisoners since we come down here. All we lost has been killed or wounded. We have lost no prisoners that I know of. We are in 12 to 15 miles of Atlanta. I think we will take the place though it may be some time first we have about 35 men in our company and when we left the plains we had about 60. A good many have taken sick. Well, I am doing very well at present and I hope I have seen my hardest time though I can't tell. I hear fighting in the front at this moment. It may not last long. I will close for the present by saying I hope this war will soon end and all return to their homes in peace. Give my respects to all the friends. Write when you get the chance.
Yours,

To Fanney Peters
From George W. Peters.

John is with the train and as well as common.

After the War, George Peters ran a small mill and went to work for a Mr. Bradley on Broadway at Knoxville. He later became a partner and then owner of Peters and Bradley Mill. This mill closed in 1956, but at the time of operation is said to have been the largest milling operation east of the Mississippi. The Peters home is still standing at 1311 Grainger Avenue at Knoxville. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. George was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Sharp Peters of Luttrell. After Nathaniel and Elizabeth died, George bought the log house from his siblings and gave it to his sister, Cordelia Peters Parker, and her husband Elvin Parker. The house is now located at the Museum of Appalachia.

When John Peters, George Peters, Elvin Parker and Pryor Booker went into service they all traveled by night by way of Cumberland Gap into Kentucky to join the Union Army. John enlisted as a Private in the 253-3, Co. F, 3rd Tennessee Infantry; then served as a Corporal in the 4th Infantry. He served February 10, 1862 to February 23, 1865. George Peters became a Captain in the 12th Infantry. This John and George Peters were brothers, sons of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Sharp Peters. Elvin Parker and Pryor Booker were the Peters’ brothers-in-law. See also Union County Faces of War, pp. 18-54. These men are Great Uncles of Jim Peters of Luttrell and the late Sam Peters.

Picture captions: 1. Asa Napoleon McClain
2. Peters and Bradley Mill