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Civil War
Nashville and Travellers Rest
John Overton, Jr.,
the son of the Judge, had opposed secession for
Tennessee when the state took its first vote in February 1861.
However, with the firing on Ft. Sumter and President Lincoln’s call
for 75,000 men to put down the rebellion, Overton, like many other
middle Tennesseans, switched when a second secession vote was taken in
May.
 With Tennessee leaving the Union, Nashville became a prime
military objective of the Federal army. In February, the city became
the first Southern capitol to be captured. Lincoln quickly appointed
Andrew Johnson Military Governor of the state. Johnson was determined
to reconstruct Tennessee’s political class. He ordered those
supporting the Confederacy be seized and imprisoned until those swore
loyalty oaths to the Union.
Overton refused, and a bounty of $5000
was issued for his capture. Harriet Maxwell, Overton’s wife, operated the
plantation in his absence. Throughout the war she, her sister, and
two of her sister’s children made Travellers Rest their home.
 When
the Confederate Army of Tennessee returned to Union occupied
Nashville in December of 1864, Travellers Rest served as
headquarters for Confederate General John Bell Hood for two weeks
prior to the Battle of Nashville. John Overton, Jr. returned
with Hood to the house for what is believed the first time since
he fled the city in 1862.
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