Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-29
FROM EAST TENNESSEE.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE VIII

LoKGsTREET's CORPS NEAR RoGERsvIILH, E T.,
Dec. 8, 1853
This ex'gercitS of war have not only compelled a
cessation of my correspondence, but hs destruction OF
several letters which up to late date, would have in
formed you Of le'ineresting operations OF our
pagn in East Tennessee Therefore propose to briefly
rehearse the principal even Of the LIST thirty days in
two or three communications which shall prepare be-
fore leaving for home. make here however the pre-
fAtory remark, that our army il now restDg from its
arduous laboIs 10 position Of great strength t9 faIks
proS cted on the one hand by the Cl.nch River and
Mountains the other by the Holston River aud in
front and by ranges Of hills which admit of easy
defence. The spirit Of the troops is admirable en4
broken their physical condition, with the exception OF
about thirty five hundred bare.fooied men, to whom
shall aLuie hereat is e1celent and in every respect
they ripe for the "Iudy riot of battle" as they
have been at any time in their CHI q1ered career under
the happiest dspenfa.Ons of generous Providence.
To begin the story, however On the h of NOv:m-
Der, Longstreets Corps composed of hcLlws and Jen.
kins' formery Hoods) Divisions, left its encampment
in froAt of Chattanooga, and by rail procstde1 to
sweetWater, on the East Tennessee Railroad, sixty
miles nOrth-eas: OF Chckamshgl OSiDg to various
moro occupied in obtaining ratons and organizing
for the long march to Knoxville Two brigsdes from
the division Of Gen. Cheaiham, of the Western Army,
aud another under the command of Gen. Stevenson,
had preceded US several weeks but without accomplish
ing aly object; these recalled by Gen. Bragg
and contrary TO his understanding with the Commander
inChe Longsreet was left to pursue his way without
solitary reinforcement save force of cavalry ulder
Gen. Wheeler and his able Eeu:enAnts Generals Mar
tn and Armstrong.
The object Of the expedition threefold The cap
ure Of Knoxville and the establishment there of base
for the winter; secondly the eopeniDg of conn III
cations nth Lynchburg via Bristol above aud with
Dalton via Charleston Ceseland, and SEeetWater be-
low; ara finally to secure position in Elst Tennessee
where having WTested It from the grasp Of the Federas
should be pr pared a. the most favorable opportu-
nifty either to cooperate with Gen. Bragg or to make
| q demonstration westward that would cause a Ietogade
OF the enemy from Chattanooga and thus remove the
pressure from Northern Georgia.
We marched from STeetwster Oh the .lS.h encsmped
thst night New Philadelphia, on the railroad, and
tue next day at halted within three miles of Lou.
don end the Tennessee river. hcLaWs had meanwhile
branched of to the right to make demonstration
above and for similar purpose and The additional one
OF crossing the liver at ford and capturing party of
Fedetals, Wheeler, with bis cavalry, proceeded To-
point still beyond. The diversion succeeded almra.
bly,, and tie enemy were fairly non-plussed by our
movements.
train of cars bearing pontoons having been cert
forward from SWeetWater TO our biVouaC, they we're
detached from the engines, and, under cover Oh the
night, silently pushed forward by hand to The river
Here they were borne 10 the bank and the process OF
laying the bridge commenced Two companies from
the Palmetto ShsrpIhooters, Jenkins brigade under
command OF Captain Foster crossed the Tennessee in
boats and occupied the opposite bank to protect the
operations OF the pontoones, while the divsol moved
up after dark to be in readiness to crossas the
/ work was completed.
| At four o'clock the next morning, November 10TH
the TROOPS passed over the bridge formed line of bat
/ tie six hundred yards from the river and threw up
temporary entertainments. Soon after daylight Col
Walker, with the Palmetto Sharpshooters started on
reconnaissance in force, skirmshed with the Yankees
for three miles or more discovered their line Of battle
at that distance and fell back He had clrcely re-
turned when the Federals in turn felt" of our lines
bringing 10 the work one two regiments These were
met by our skrwishers alone, who whipped them back
after brisk iuslade Of half horr. The shades Of
night put end to further operations The eneuys
loss as SUI seqaen y ascestaned from prisoners was
between hundred aud fifty and two la adred prin-
cipaly in the 18th Kentucky regiment. Our own casu-
allies were less than thirty, OF whom the principal su
| erers we're In the regiment Of Col. Walker.
The next morning. November l6sh, the army re-
sumed It's onward march. Our skirmshers we're under
the command Of Lieut. Col Logan, of the Hampton Le
gion-Hho, by the way has proven himself Of the
most daring ard efficient, though one Of The Youngest
Office in the seFvice-and by him and his veteran
marksmen the FEDERAL rear pefseVeringy pressed.
The enemy made several stands, but only for mo-
ment. They always took refuge in hgh; at the frat
symptoms Of charge On Of theee occasions they
abandoned caisson and fed with the artillery which
enihusias 10 boys the point of capturing
Fighting continued necessarily, but without causing
| single halt to the main body all day.
That evening We arrived within three miles of lie.
nors Station, on the East Tennessee Railroad where
we received Intelligence that the Fsaerals were await
ing in line of battle Dispositions were accordingly
made for an engagement on the ensuing day; but, on
ordering skirmsheis to advance at four o'clock the
next morning. it found that the enemy were again
IN full retreat. Entering the village, discovered
every evidence of hasy departure. Parked together
stood between seventy and eighty wagons Loaded to the
brim with edibles drnkables private clothing books,
medical, quartsrmaster's and commissary stores, and
every variety Of supplies imaginable Camp fires
still burning, and the ground with Letters
papers and baggage Lenois S alton wus intended as
winter gu rters for considerable detachment of the
Federal army, and hundreds Of tuts nearly completed
atested the comfort upon thu possession OF which they
were about to enter Some eighty prisoners including
wound d. here fell into hands, number Of swords
and three four regimenial flags
Our troops pissed without haltipg-Jenkns, who
held the advance pressing the Federal with all bis
might. The skirmiahers moved rapidly, always at a
quick STEP and sometimes double quick, but it was
until ABOUT that the excitement OF the chAse
gave place to the soberer promise OF battle. On
emerging from the Uoodsat this hour the enemy we're
discovered 10 be in line of battle across broad plateau
their batteries 10 position and everything apparently
ready for bloody work; while struggling up the dsi4nt
hills only mile and a half away, we're yet visible the
long wsgon tra making their hurried escape from our
clutches It was evident that the FecerAls had made
stand to save their art cry and ranporaon jenkins
was now anxious to attack promptly aud threw por-