ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv, wˌɛn ɪt wʌz ɹˈuːmɚd snˈiːd wʌz ɡˌoʊɪŋ tə tˈeɪk ðɪ ˈoʊθ ʌv ɐlˈiːdʒəns ænd ɹᵻtˈɜːn tə nˈɑːksvɪl, bɹˈaʊnloʊz sˈʌn ænd səksˈɛsɚɹ æz wˈɪɡ ˈɛdɪɾɚ, dʒˈɑːn bˈɛl bɹˈaʊnloʊ, kˈɔːld ˌɔn jˈuːniən sˈoʊldʒɚz tʊ ɐsˈæsᵻnˌeɪt snˈiːd.
In 1865, when it was rumored Sneed was going to take the Oath of Allegiance and return to Knoxville, Brownlow's son and successor as Whig editor, John Bell Brownlow, called on Union soldiers to assassinate Sneed.