DENNEY OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE DURING THE CIVIL WAR
 
During the 1863 and 1864 Civil War, an unknown Union officer stationed at
Carthage kept a record of at least some of the Confederates that were forced
to swear the oath of allegience and post a bond that they would not aid the
confederacy. The record was kept on some blank pages of a store ledger that
had been confiscated and the individual dates of each event were not
recorded, although the first pledge was listed as October 6, 1863. The men
included were residents of Smith, Jackson, Putnam, and Dekalb Counties.
Included were several individuals who might be of interest to this group
 
John L. Huddleston of Putnam County [son-in-law of Zachariah and Catherine
Stallings Denney. Huddleston is thought to have died during the war during
Confederate Service so he may have broken his oath]. Bond for $5000. His
securities were Jesse Pickard and Jonathan Denney of Putnam County [Denney
was Huddleston's brother-in-law and son of Zachariah Denney].
 
William Haynes of Putnam County. Bond for $5000. Securities were Jesse
Pickard and Jonathan Denney of Putnam County.
 
Daniel Brown of Putnam County. Bond for $5000. Securities were Jesse
Pickard and Jonathan Denney of Putnam County.
 
Jesse Pickard of Smith County. Bond of $5000. Securities were Jonathan
Denney and Daniel Brown of Putnam County.
 
Jonathan Denney of Smith County. Bond for $5000. Securities were Jesse
Pickard and Daniel Brown of Putnam County.
 
Timothy Denney [also son of Zachariah Denney] of Putnam County. Bond not
specified. Securities were Jonathan Denney and Jesse Pickard of Smith
County.
 
 It is interesting to note that several of these men were listed as both
of Smith and Putnam County. They lived in Buffalo Valley very near the line
between the two counties. This area was particularly dangerous and was the
local of severe guerilla warfare.
 
Also listed in the oaths was Brown Denney. You may remember that Brown
Denney was the great grandfather of Vice President Al Gore. He became a
very popular Primitive Baptist Minister and bragged often and loudly in his
latter years that he never took the oath to the union. Well, this list
would seem to prove otherwise.
 
Brown Denney of Smith County. $1000 Bond. Securities Wiley Denney and
Franklin Denney of Smith County [these men were Brown Denney's father and
brother] I suppose that Brown may have reenlisted in the service of some
Confederate unit after this oath was taken but he apparently did swear an
oath at some time.