Here's what East Tennessee Samuels Scott and Angel had to say in their History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U.S.A.:
"There was a 'Contraband Camp" at Gallatin and it looked as if all the colored people in the country had gathered there. The Northern soldiers, who had preceded us at this place, had made the 'colored man and brother' think he was the whole thing. When we first went there our men had to give pavement to these 'Contrabands,' who did not seem to think they had anything to do but parade the sidewalks. Our men soon concluded they needed good strong walking sticks. Provided with these the colored gentry soon found it convenient to vacate the sidewalk in ample time when he saw a 'Thirteenth' soldier approaching. These mountaineers had known the colored man only as a slave and had lost little sleep over him in any way; they were not fighting to free the slave but to restore the Union. He might be free for all they cared, but his place was not in front; he must 'go way back and sit down,' and not be 'sassy." (141)