The Portland daily press., 1863-12-31

ndu MOI escaped toW;iu Noith Saroiiia as IL
was rumored.
The cavalry captured the piekets and
dashed on towards Loudon with great appar-
ent boldness till they came near the town,
| when apieee OF artillery opened fire. and they
| came to a sudden stand still, commander and
all.
Aregiment or two were dismounted and
sklrmished little, aud word was sent to the
rear of the state of things. Darkness came on
aud the cavalry was still maneuvering and
had not got the town. The 18th corps also,
had already marched % miles, and owing to
the hours delay deep darkness had set in,
and their advance was three miles from town.
One OF their batteries was sent forward but Of
| course could not be used after dark. SO moth
ing was accomplished, save the demonstration
that the cavalry commander was unfit for the
| business he had undertaken, to say the least
| Great fires were seen in the night, aud when
| Gen. Howards command reached the place at
daylight the next morning Vaughn and his
| brigade were safe across the Tennessee. The
| bridge had been destroyed, and besides it was
ascertained that Vaughn had burnt forty-two
cars loaded with stores and ammunition, and
three locomotives, tumbling them down fifty
feet iuto the river after they were set on fire.
Notwithstanding this wholesale destruction.
1t was our good fortune TO find confederate
flour aud mead enough for several days, and
that captured at Charleston was now well
nigh consumed. Some hard bread and other
valuable stores were also found. Troops were
immediately put across the Tennessee in
boats, and driving before them the rebel cav
airy took -four rided cannon which it seems
Vaughn had not been able to take with him in
his hasty flight to Knoxville.
As VIC had no means OF crossing the Ten
ressee, it was determined to march TO Knox
vile on the south side of the river especially
since il was known that Burnside had pom
toou bridge across the Holston at Knoxville.
SiN miles from Loudon we would strike the
Little Tennessee, which Is fordablc for horses
and wagons. above the mouth of the Little
Tennessee the river is named the Holston, SO
tilat The tennessee proper begins only some
SIX or eight miles above Loudon.
In turning to the right, as Gen. Howard's
command had pushed forward TO the river at
Loudon, IL now became the left of the army
Gen. Howard was put 10 command of the left
wing aud ordered TO move on the enemy
wherever he should find him and attack him
without delay.
The same order was given TO Major Gen.
Granger who had now Joined Sherman and
commanded the center. The same also to
Gen. i. i. Blair, who had the right wing.
The two latter crossed the Little Tennessee at
Morgantown, but Gen. Howard made his own
bridge at Davis Ford, using some twenty con-
federatc'wagons wehad captured for two thirds
OF the distance, and constructing trcstles for
the remainder. This was all accomplished
during Friday night, and marching from Lou
dou at \. M. Gen. Howard's column reached
the bridge and commenced crossing by day
light. The planks for the bridge were taken
partly from neighboring FARMS partly con-
tributed by Union citizens who seemed de-
srous OF lending a helping hand, grontily
given up by rebels, but no less scrviceabe
At Loudon We found some Is rebel wound
ed rom whom, as well as from citizens, We
learned the particulars of Sundays fight-that
Longstreet was routed with the loss of a
Thousand men and had not made second trial
We kept hearing, however, that Burnside
was completely invested. IL was not till Sat
urday night when we reached Louisville, after
forced march, within about dozen miles
OF Knoxville, that we learned that Lonystreet
had retreated. tlt seems his pickets were
Withdrawn the very night OF Nauglin's escape
from London.) There We found little boy
lson OF Mr.. Foot, an ardent Union mani who
had just returned from Knoxville having sue
ceeded in making bis way through previously
with message TO Gen. Burnsidc--the same
message having been conveyed some Is miles
by his aunt and across the Tennessee, and
first having been committed to her by his
father who had received it from an officer at
Kingston. MIR. Foote was q refugee from
home and the sister living north of the Ten
nessee volunteered TO carry the dispatch
rather than allow him to risk his life She
proceeded ia the night
On our arrival at Louisville, being nearer
to Knoxville than either Of the other columns,
Gen. Howard communicated with Gen. Burn
side. sfst.tss.t m
The next day, Sunday, Dec. 9th, just one
week from the day we started, and Just two
weeks from the day the l1th Corps entered
Chattanooga, Gen. Howard and escort rode
TO Knoxville, meeting and accompanying Gen.
Sherman on the way. All the troops were
allowed day of rest, which they could most
assuredly appreciate. Gen. Burnside expressed
deep-ielt gratitude for the timely aid brought
him by our forces. He gave letter of thanks
to be published to the troops.
No military movement was made on Sunday
except by the Cavalry. Some thought they
were little apathetic at Knoxville after the
long siege But they have since moved out
In pursuit with Longstreet only l6 miles
ahead, aud il is hoped cut off by Foster COM
ing either upon the front or flank with 5000
men from Cumberland Gap. Granger takes
Burnside's place at Knoxville and TO support
him if necessary. We made our way back
using all the tirist mills and consuming the
eatables OF this rich country like an army of
locusts. Whether VIC will take another whack
at Braggs army lnow commanded by Hardee
remains 10 be seem
Our neD are very destitute OF shoes. We
have been compelled TO organize tame and
sore.fJoted squads TO march in the rear Some
have made themselves moccasins of raw-hide.
We captured u small quantity Of leather which
Rebel citizen had hidden away and which
was disclosed by loyal colored citizen. This
we are having made into shoes using all the
shops aud tools that can be found. One true
toyot heart, M. GriGt of Unitia, ,rhen a
borc.footed soldier came and asked hin, 10
sell him q pdir of shoes, took The last pair he
had, from off his feet, and GAGE them to him
dhI Toutd not dccept any pay.
All we have accomplished has been, l be-
lleve, according 10 the plans of Gen. Grant
We hear of u recent fight below between
Dalton and Ringold. Perhaps we may have
more work of this kind TO do yet before re-
turning for change OF clothing, a new pair
of shoes and rest for the weary limbs.
IL is now the third t3dl Sunday since we
left our baggage. Three weeks is a long time
TO 80 without a change and with tho hard
work, fighting and hard marching our men
have accomplished. Yet | have heard no
complaint and if old UNCONDITIONAL SUR
BESDSR requires another weeks work to per-
feet his adnii8blc plans for disc0mfiting and
defeating our eonntry's foes, neither Gen
Howard nor his troops nor, in fact, any OF the
command OF the indomitabe Sherman will be
found wanting.
have already pTnlongcd this letter beyond
readable length, but, one word about the
uniniktakable Union sentiment of East Tenn
essee There never has been the like before