ɪn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv, kɹˈʌtʃfiːld wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd ˈɔːldɚmən ɪn tʃˈætɐnˌuːɡəz pɹəvˈɪʒənəl sˈɪvəl ɡˈʌvɚnmənt, wˌɪtʃ wʌz tˈæskt wɪð ɹᵻstˈoːɹɪŋ ˈɔːɹdɚ tə ðə sˈɪɾi.
In October 1865, Crutchfield was elected alderman in Chattanooga's provisional civil government, which was tasked with restoring order to the city.