New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-05


There was a general engagement expected
over tho river tbs morning and at daylight your cor
respondent was on the su rrs 10 witness and record
events On reaching the front some sght skirmisbing
was going on our advance pckes occupying the POSI-
ton from which the Rebels were driven last evening
bout o'clock the enemy made an attempt apparently
20 form but as soon they discovered our bat
tcres opened upon them. aud they soon retired again
under cover Of the woods. Subsequently force OF
slrmshcrs noticed passing 20 the left under cover
Of tho opposite bills; but igfce Is stationed al
the junction Of tho seyiervillo road. IN which
direction 1t was supposed tho enemy would at
tempt flank movement. General shackeiord
cent out regiment 70 feel for the enemy. but no con
siderable force could DO discovered. At noon oil re-
NAMED quiet the 9th Kentucky cavalry occupied the
hin 20 tho left and Of tho batteries where log
brcastwork was constructed. The Cd Brigade. Col
Cameron, continued duty. his force being judoious
y disposed 10 meet and resist attack IL snow APPARENT
that the Rebels expected 10 drive w into knoIylc
aud then shell rs out Of tho town Upon finding that
preparations were ready 10 meet them. and that our po
sion was strong one they concluded 20 ian back or
Wal, the movements Of the cooperating column upon the
opposite side OF tho river Tho troops arc IN good
spirits and evidently ready TO try their hand II neoes'
sary with the Rebel forco in front. Toward evening
there IL no Rebel force to be found aud it Is thought
they have fallen back
kfgrdqy . o'clock D. m.-Gen Burnside. IL is said n
ceiyed dispatch from Gen Grant yesterday, at Lenor
stating that Gen Sherman had arrived with his com
mand in Braggs rear, that he had thrown hoayy col
umn between Bragg and Longstreet. AID that II wo
could hold our position until Wednesday all would DO
we'll The substance u this message was, learn read
n tho troops and caused much enthusiasm.
Since this, however aairs have been steadily grow
ing worse. Longstrcet whose whole division crossed
the Tennessee Saturday nghthas been steadily and
boldly crowding troops who have had to fall back
toward Knoxville. An hour ago wagon'inastcr re-
ported to Gen. ansen that tho entire wagon train Oh
Tho 23l Michigan had been abandoned and destroyed
This report has grown into the alarming ono that
the whole wagon train, amounting % obont seyonty
ieam. had TO be burned TO prevent them from falling
into tho hands Of the enemy. Some cannon havo also
been captured. Our 9th Army Corps arc reported al
p o'clock to be within fifteen miles Of Knoxville, closely
followed by tho Rebel army.
There IL, OF course. great excitement hero. The
streets crowded with citizens who have Hooked IN
from the surrounding country; the road out OF town
thronged with vehicles Of every ehSacor and descrp
tion conveying away tho families ~ Union people and
their household goods The suffers arc in great tribu
lation, and vainy trying to escape from impending
wrath Tho soldiers only laugh ut their calamity, ana
mock when their fear cometh The Rebels who have thus
far Kept shady stand Grnning along the sides OF tho
streets maniiosting their rrepressibe pleasure ut the
prospect Of our being driven ont who the little Rebel
widows inpadeatly laun their white feathers a'onS