Friendsville in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Underground Railroad

Friendsville Quakers and Cudjo's Cave

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 29, 2013

1. The Underground Railroad Marker

Inscription.

The Underground Railroad. Friendsville Quakers and Cudjo's Cave. Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) came to Blount County in the 1790s looking for a place to worship in peace. Hardworking and industrious, opposing war and slavery, they developed the land and founded the prosperous settlements of Unity (now Unitia) and Friendsville. During the Civil War, Friendsville Quakers participated in the Underground Railroad to help conscientious objectors, Unionists, and runaway slaves flee to the North. The Friends raised money at their meetings to help slaves escape to freedom. , After the passage of the Confederate Conscription Act in 1862, Friend William J. Hackney began using a cave near his house to aid these efforts. The cave, across the creek from the meeting house, remained undetected because the entrance was beside a little-used road and was hidden by thick overgrowth. The narrow opening led to a large room that could accommodate about 50 people. A nearby spring provided water, and Hackney supplied bedding and provisions for his guests. His wife shared her husband’s faith and supported his humanitarian efforts by cooking meals and assisting the travelers., After the Federal army occupied East Tennessee, Hackney was offered a reward for his services and a position on the staff of Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside in Knoxville. Despite assisting more than 2,000 people, Hackney refused all honors. Although Confederate soldiers confiscated the Friends’ horses, fodder, and other supplies, the pacifist farmers continued to treat both the Federals and Confederates with equal kindness., (sidebar) , While Burnside’s guest in Knoxville, Hackney described the cave and his work to writer John Townsend Trowbridge. Trowbridge based his popular 1863 novel, Cudjo’s Cave, on this account, and since then the Friendsville cave has been known by this name. , (captions) , Escaping slaves, 1864 - Courtesy Library of Congress , Friends Meetinghouse, by John Collins, 1870 Courtesy George B. Henry Collection , John Townsend Trowbridge Courtesy Library of Congress , Cudjo’s Cave Courtesy George B. Henry Collection

Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) came to Blount County in the 1790s looking for a place to worship in peace. Hardworking and industrious, opposing war and slavery, they developed the land and founded the prosperous settlements of Unity (now Unitia) and Friendsville. During the Civil War, Friendsville Quakers participated in the Underground Railroad to help conscientious objectors, Unionists, and runaway slaves flee to the North. The Friends raised money at their meetings to help slaves escape to freedom.

After the passage of the Confederate Conscription Act in 1862, Friend William J. Hackney began using a cave near his house to aid these efforts. The cave, across the creek from the meeting house, remained undetected because the entrance was beside a little-used road and was hidden by thick overgrowth. The narrow opening led to a large room that could accommodate about 50 people. A nearby spring provided water, and Hackney supplied bedding and provisions for his guests. His wife shared her husband’s faith and supported his humanitarian efforts by cooking meals and assisting the travelers.

After the Federal army occupied East Tennessee, Hackney was offered a reward for his services and a position on the staff of Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside in Knoxville. Despite assisting more than 2,000 people,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Hackney refused all honors. Although Confederate soldiers confiscated the Friends’ horses, fodder, and other supplies, the pacifist farmers continued to treat both the Federals and Confederates with equal kindness.

(sidebar)
While Burnside’s guest in Knoxville, Hackney described the cave and his work to writer John Townsend Trowbridge. Trowbridge based his popular 1863 novel, Cudjo’s Cave, on this account, and since then the Friendsville cave has been known by this name.

(captions)
Escaping slaves, 1864 - Courtesy Library of Congress
Friends Meetinghouse, by John Collins, 1870 Courtesy George B. Henry Collection
John Townsend Trowbridge Courtesy Library of Congress
Cudjo’s Cave Courtesy George B. Henry Collection

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Peace • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism, and the Tennessee Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 35° 45.674′ N, 84° 8.219′ W. Marker is in Friendsville, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is at the intersection

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 29, 2013

2. The Underground Railroad Marker

of West Hill Avenue and Church Street, on the right when traveling east on West Hill Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 503 W Hill Ave, Friendsville TN 37737, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee,

in the Great Smoky Mountains,

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Friendsville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Friendsville Marble Industry Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cloyd's Creek Presbyterian Church (approx. 4.6 miles away); Sam Houston American Giant Homesite (approx. 5 miles away); The Marcus Warren House (approx. 5 miles away); Medal of Honor 17th Michigan Volunteer Regiment (approx. 6.8 miles away); The U.S. Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); Samuel Henry's Station (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Friendsville.

Friends Meetinghouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 29, 2013

3. Friends Meetinghouse

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,307 times since then and 191 times this year. Last updated on March 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.