Lot 156: C A Haun Redware Pottery Jug, Greene County, TN

East Tennessee, Greene County, earthenware pottery jug by Christopher Alexander Haun (1821-1861), Greene County, Tennessee. This is the only known marked jug example, with one row of stamping on the shoulder including the letters "C A Haun" and star or sunburst stamp, with a green copper oxide glaze. 8 1/4" H. Historical Note: Christopher Alexander Haun was a Union sympathizer during the Civil War and participated in burning a Confederate railroad bridge (Lick Creek) in Greene County, TN. This important event in East Tennessee's Civil War history was initiated with a campaign by Union loyalists to burn 9 bridges. It was led by William B. Carter and strongly supported and encouraged by President Abraham Lincoln. Several potters from the Pottertown, TN area were among the men who conspired and succeeded in burning the bridge. The potters decided not to capture or kill the Confederate bridge guards but allowed them to go free based upon their solemn promises to not reveal their identities. Union troops did not materialize as promised, and the Confederates were able to pursue and capture some of the perpetrators. The Confederate guards, who were allowed to live, were the very ones who served as witnesses to implicate the five men who were hung, four of them potters. Among those sentenced to hang was the potter Christopher Alexander Haun. In his last hours, Haun wrote to his wife and said "have Bohanan, Hinshaw or Low to finish off that ware and do the best you can with it for your support". On December 11th, 1861, Haun was hung from the gallows in Knoxville, TN. CONDITION: Handle missing, some scattered losses to glaze. Losses to lower body.