wˌɛn tˌɛnəsˈiː sɛsˈiːdᵻd ɪn dʒˈuːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn, hiː ɹᵻtˈɜːnd tə hɪz ɹˈɛzᵻdəns æt tʃˈætɐnˌuːɡə, ɹᵻfjˈuːzɪŋ tə tˈeɪk ˌʌp ˈɑːɹmz ɐɡˈɛnst ˈiːðɚ sˈaɪd, ðˌoʊ ˈɔfɚd ɐ kəmˈɪʃən baɪ bˈoʊθ.
When Tennessee seceded in June 1861, he returned to his residence at Chattanooga, refusing to take up arms against either side, though offered a commission by both.