Biography
Thomas Amis Rogers Nelson, a leading East Tennessee Unionist elected to the United States Congress in 1859, was arrested by Confederate cavalry in August 1861 as he tried to make his way north to take his seat. Taken to Richmond, he was released only after publishing an address agreeing to submit to the Confederate government — a pledge he gave under duress to protect himself and the Unionists of East Tennessee. He later served on the defense team at Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial.
