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One of the architectural landmarks in Chattanooga in 1861 was the Crutchfield House, located on the site of today’s Read House. The hotel was built by Thomas Crutchfield, a brick contractor from Greeneville, Tenn. In the 1850s, Crutchfield moved to Chattanooga with his family, including his sons Thomas and William, who were the operators of the business in 1861.
William was described by a sympathetic contemporary as “eccentric and peculiar beyond description. He was vehement in manner and impetuous in action.” But he was brave and firm in his convictions. When the issue of secession was debated in the early weeks of 1861, William became “fearless and outspoken” in his opposition to disunion.
The circumstance of William’s quirky personality and his strong Unionist position intersected with that of a prominent visitor to Chattanooga in January 1861.
Earlier that month, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union. Sen. Jefferson Davis accordingly resigned from the U.S. Senate and was traveling back to his home in the Magnolia State when he stopped at the Crutchfield House the night of Jan. 21. He was asked to speak by some of the leading citizens of Chattanooga. Standing on a chair, Davis spoke on the issues of the day for about 20-25 minutes. Witnesses indicated that the speech was moderate in tone and not offensive in nature.