Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-13
BONE EXPLANATION OF TIE AFFAIR AT BRIDGE
PORT, TENSES EE
CHATrsOos., hsy Sh, 1889
DrAR srN:

DrAn sn;
Kso Gsueral F. K. Smith was suddenly called hepes
to the defence Of Cumberland Gap Leaving Bdssd!er
General Lesdbsttsr with two Georgia regiments 70
defend this position, expressing tn, opinion that the
eny at Huntsville wcu move westward rsltsT iAsl
eastward bat ordering that Il be should march on Chat
tInoosa We should fall back burning all bridges o. 100
way unit! We could made saad except that par: OF
the bridge Bridgeport the main branch OF Tea
urssee river, one sp.n Of which 20 be boWn up.
Tae.diy last Gsn. L. Bridgeport, -ith al the
aEab!e foce under his comm and, 6em LsI thu FIVE
hundred men, untTained and recently srnot. Tno ere
my approached with over eleven huedred men and two
Parrot grns When the alternative vas Presented Of
losing his command or falling back.
II he had awaited al attack his men would have been
dispersed by the Shells and then pieces 10 passing
the bridge and tresse-One and quarter mil s--raktd
by tie enemys gans, sRi the bridge would have been
s,zsd perhaps with the best part OF the mea Gu. a.
Jus in time 10 avert such results Geo. L. ordered tie
detschmeu. to fl back the bridge projected 81
one hundred men, whom he pS,,d al its head under
partial cover. AL passed oT,r In coed order exc p!
some pickles last arrived from bd,E, WOO seemed
wiling to risk pss-gI over the snds- der tic guts
Of the enemy, although the resr guard had 81 pifssd
when they sryed. Alter Al had issed he ts, end Of
the main bridge save the pixies who hsd ordered
ann, Oh the west back, neral l. vim e1lenkrt Mar.
grave, OF ssppers AID Miners man remained TO
arrange mine under span, aud waited 20 lo FOR
tie pickets to that they obliged N srort
ell the fuse to proven. tho enemy from pui:ing l. bS
tore exp osioa Having fred il snsy followed ibs :OepI
over in rear of these troops was car losted Eiit
-.
lag the o,ussway over the island between the tso
bridges. Tbs CIR without bfsks. and when Il go:
upon the grade near this cad OF the hr5go g.
ca1ei the control CT the men In Oh rge ana ton over
several caught by IL o. the track
In pa sirg tie p,rl Of GAe tEidgs TIA, over
the smaller branch Of the rver Gen. L. Orris 81 Il g b.
dred, and recalled part OF the forces to quad e Ill Il
should be fully il flames.
Hs then came bs.k TO the train, HhcI be- igr1I Cited
with men in u.Gcr disorder rhes he go i, pri.
to Withdraw them 10 this place, r,4cG. sr1 WITH
soms expected r,!9ofcemcrs, and CgI.n -4-.n;e 70
meet tbs enscy bs'teT gsound.
b. drecs=i TIE Cfi;e.s lefi With the mrc, sho roui
not get tho tFaa 70 keep their .ases ., ".4
possible, sud await mother ~hiet &c would iss.
pa.Ch on bic srIivAl Ct ChsttaIoogs,
Tbs train he cent back as coon 6 pga55l5; b.,
laeau.ime, al our men had scattered ed fcl.wed
afoot leaving all shsir baggage. The At day Co nj
Reynolds sent eosa vi AL The force thai co., DO
gathered 10 oIect tho baggage and watch the enema.
Aboa; 10 P N. Oh Friday, G.n. l. received telegram,
a. iol.ovsi
waiTssiDrs, TSEs
GEs. LEADsSrTER Scout came 10 from .ly's Farm,
reported On reliable information tia. the enemy Eve
thousand strong, had crossed Shell Mound.
(5iytsd) A.W. RrMoLDs, Col ComGg.
To which this aUsFsr was sent ia nediitely
BDqas Lar BNGApE E.sT TKST.
Cnat!sn,og NAY -, Is62
GES. A. ". REYsoLps,
Wbitesidss II you are ss'bA.d your Information Is
reliable burn all the bridges TIE railroad and country
round, and fall back With your command to L Ok 1t
dountain. will meet yeu there With CoIoIs GItuLs
Regiment.
j. guedj D. LIAPErT.EE. Brig Gen.
They met OF west eide Of ok Hoautalp, sh,FS
all roads of vicai'y converge. and thence order
was sent to h, Lieutenant in command of adyaics
guari to burn the BRIDGES In ql,stIGn The pekes
Nigh, he driven In.
After the enemy bad retired, and after We had return.
cd TO camp the pickets returned sLo the bridge
Lookout; this -iie OF the coal Mines burned by The
Lieutenant ia dialsIy Ia command, before slared,
uuder the prots. e n Coop.r, who had Just rersed
orer the road Goo: from Shell Aoud and assured lin
that there enemy between the Two places Tile
burning vas unf0rtunsieWss he result Of nisrrrehcG
son and the il Try ordered DO remrd.td -
known.
reed not say to you that the TpuationS uPo5 Ger.
LIS loyalty sni sobrey are utIsry slsnderou aud
without even color Of truth.
Very respectfully, your est sv't,
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