Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-21
From the Twenty-FIrst massachusetts
NekiInc 1t.

From the Twenty-FIrsL MasSachusetts
Regiment.
correspondence of the Worcester Daily Spy.l
KNOXVILLE, EAST TENNESSEE, Oct. l.
Friend BaldciR The old and well-tried
2lst has at last found resting place, at least
tor a few days, among the fertile hills and
valleys OF East Tennessee, and the present
time finds us encamped just outside of the city
Of Knoxville. On the 18th OF September we
left Camp Nelson, Ky, being transferred from
our old second brigade to the first, which is
composed of the following regiments :--2lst
Massachusetts, ID Maryland. aud 18th Penn
sylvania. We reached Cumberland Gap on
the 10th, passing over the famous "Wild Cat"
mountain, the first battle ground IN Kentucky,
and the Cumberland river at the ford. another
historic place in the annals Of the rebellion.
We have had our anticipations more than
realized in viewing the strongholds at the re-
nowned Cumberland Gap, and if not acquaint-
ed with the circumstances of the surrender by
the rebels, would wonder that it fell so easily
into our hands. SO difiicultis the ascent to the
Gap, and circuitous its route, that the many
batteries and rifle pits situated upon the high
cliffs and pinnacles hundreds of feet above, if
manned with few resolute men, could ami
hilate a large army in almost a moment of
time. All the guns in our army might, if
possible, be brought to bear upon these nat
ural, formidable and numerous fortresses that
line the Gap upon both sides, without effect.
Besides the Publications, am told by one
of the garrison, that immense tables of rock
were so suspended by chains on the cliffs
above, that they could easily be made to fall
upon body of troops below in an avalanche.
The way Burnside devised to capture success
fully the rebel garrison of twenty five hum
dred men, and the Gap, without firing a gun,
| am informed was this: Colonel DE Cossy,
with small force of troops, approached the
Gap from the Kentucky side, displaying them
so as to appear to the rebels as as an innu-
merable body. At night three companies of
East Tennessee mounted infantry dashed by
the pickets and guards and fired the mill that
supplied the garrison with their flour and
meal. This struck such CONSERVATION among
the rebels that they left their lower works and
fled up the sides of the mountains in great
haste. The next day the place was surren-
dered. The Gap was garrisoned or held by
the 9th Georgia, Goth Virginia, and the 64th
North Carolina regiments and they were all
armed with the new Austrian and Belgian
rifles.
Tazewel, Tennessee, was the first town of
any size this side the gap we entered; and the
appearance of this place testifes truly of the
effects Of this sad war in the south. The best
part Of the town lies iii ruins, caused by the
righteousness OF the convalescents of Bragg's
army giving as reason for their conduct,
mistreatment while sick in the hospital |
found a majority of the inhabitants imbued
strongly with secesh proclivties, declaring
they would neither give nor sell anything to
the ''Yanks." | look notice before we left
the next morning that the boys in the 2lst
were not lacking OF a good share of nice
peaches, melons, apples, &C., equal to the
best in market. From razewell we proceeded
ma suutheasterly direction, instead of the d.
rect route for this place. This diversion cost
us only about forty miles extra travel,
besides having to cross the noted Clinch nv
er by tording, and the more notorious Clinch
mountaineering severest Jaunt of our whole
journey. Our teams in passing over this
mountain had to be let down with ropes, in
OlueT ludI Tue poor lluleS uhlSnl nave soHle
degree of equilibrium, and the wagons be
made safe transports OF what little OF bacon
sides and hard tack we possessed. AT Nor
ristown we struck the railroad OF East Ten
nessee and Virginia
understand the object of our march to
tlllS place was to assist in gobbing up force
OF johnny rebs encamped at Bristol; but be-
lore we reached Morristown the .sbird had
flown, and, without days rest, we had to
content ourselves by making our way along
the almost intolerable dusty road to Knox
yille-a distance of forty zone more miles
from Morrlstown. Much has been said in
regard to the almost WORKOUT railroads of the
south. Lnoticed that this one, once the nr;n.
cipal avenue Of the south, was in very good
repair; many Of the rails, l should Judge.
were new English rails. The large bridge at
Strawberry Plains, destroyed last summer by
QUO forces during a raid, has been rebuilt,
and two large and unique forts erected to