New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-23
rRom cEN. nURNsrDR's ARMY.
Rsxsevv or che East Tennessee Campaign


The efforts of your correspondent to keep you
advised Of important events occurring in this oep"'
ment have been made under difficulties. large pro
portion Of all the conriers sent from Cumberland "aP
and dispatched to that point from this place have been
captured; 50 that much that have seat Ior"~u ms
doubtless fallen into Rebel hands. This danger has
obliged me to write with much crcumspeeuoh 10 "'o1
the giving Of valuable information to the enemy so that
have omitted many things wmch ma! he'Sa''' 10
safely communicated TO the pubhc.
No army since the beginning Of the war has been
mora critically situated or has had more delicate or
important. part to act in great campaign than this,
aimee the passage of the Tennessee by Longsreet's
CORPS; and whom tie history Of these events shall be
written. the country. have doubt. will award to
ths brave and skifl officers and mon commanding the
Army Of the Ohio place second TO in tho achieve
pents Of the month of November 1855.
Longstreet with his corps cI veteran troops no d0ubt
expected e.sy victory over On army which he est
mated greatly inferior in numbers 20 his own. Ills
expectation, no doubt, was that Burnside would
dispute his passage Of the Tennessee or az least
give him battle so near ,hst point that after he had de-
feated destroyed US he would have ample ue to re-
turn and Join Bragg IN The battle before Chattanooga
But acting on tie maxim Of the old parson Who said II
was ALWAYS safe find ont what the Devil wants yol 10
DO end then not do it, General Burnside cs soon as he
had BY fcgned opposition 10 Longstreets advance en-
ticed him across the river. Immediately fell back,
choosing place and time TO fight the enemy whore he
could do il with comparative safety. be accordingly
made stand at CanpbeilS Station Of tho junction OF
the roads leading 10 Kingston and London Here on
the 10th of November, Of the most interesting en-
gagements Of the war was fought. Our pcsfuon was
eeected with admirable Judgment, sad when the battle
sN% .ss Sy ne SDsy oaS a SS ssls
and infantry. The troOps were also han
died with such oonsumsie skill ond GOODNESS that
was defeated. A terrible punishment was inflicted
upon the Rebel army which gave him o severe check
Sending everything to the rear which could OF al in'
pede his march Gen. Burnside at the proper moment
again fell back reaching Knoxville al midnight, where
preparations made for the most vigorous defense
In almost incredibly short time under the prompt
and able management OF Capt Zoe. his chiei OF Eng
neers system Of defenses vas instantly Planned a.
rapidly completed. which soon rendered hnox'h
smos impregnable. Thus, while the enemy were rest
ing for few hours from the fat,gues OF RAPID
march in pursuit of our Tetreating forces. pre-
paratory to walking triunlphsntly into hrol
Vile" our army. equally exhausted ~ battles
and marches and wi, bout having had Whole nights
rest for over week went heoicoly 10 voIk 20 fcrfy
the place. Every hour might and day, vas improved.
Capt Poe had laid out each part Of the entire Inc and
assigned TO each brigade the particular isrt oi the
work il bad ~ do so thai not an hour as bst Mean
time on the 18TH the enemy attacked us IL front on the
Kingston Road not rile ia advance oi the town
His force wGs large eth confident. and fought despe-
rstely The heroic Sanders TIE head q BIS three
regiments of Ilhncis, Kentucky, and Ohio troops held
the poeon against OyerPowcing odds unt late IN The
day when, In the midst Of furious onset oi tie enemy
WHO brought ba.tery Of eight guns 10 bear upon his
men he was MORALLY wounded. and our mon fell back
20 q second line OF defenses. The steady Spartan couI
ore of men staggered the enemy that nOtWlih-
standing he had carried tie position their success was
30 dearly purchased IL compelled the enemy 10
pause In his onset, mature lie plans ana 70 take meas
ures for lis own defense while prosecuting the siege
against u.s. Rebel citizens of the tow were posted on
house and top eagerly watching the tide Of battle.
and confidently expecting u Welcome thoif husbands
brothers and lovers 10. in largo numbers. refugees
from Knoxville were also watching the Struggle rom
The of tho Rebel Army no doubt patient OF the
delay Rebel families cooked warm nbttr, aud spread
chosoe yisnds for The eatel tannenl W tcr returning
victorious friends. Aiss. Low many visions Of heppi.
Of Joyous greeting Of the ~DiO er lTsce Oated
IN their VIVID iuingHsIons None but thnse who wit
messed that first dave struggle and eit how much the
town with it's garrison ana noble arils-yes tho whole
Of East Tennessee Cep lded upon the result prop
ery estimate the LerVei-m OF TIE lew mel who bled
along the fiery of tba HILL say to day hos much
Oge ~ them FOR tie sIs siOl Of the rtgte.
The Rebel dinners got cold While waiting for the
peced guests DISAPPOINTED at tie character " Ia.
ception extended 10 him at Knoxville. and rendered
more cautious by repeated rcbuts the " be
gan . careful system Of approaches Hc throw up
strong breastworks In his irOnt 20 secure himself
against sortie from the Union forces ana advanced
LIS Icke.s under Of flteyits, Until after two
weeks Of digging and skirmishing hc reached fcs.
ton 10 near main position that DC considered safe
10 make the final assault. Tins time be certain Of
his object. Fort Sanders ia his psses. ION the
frightened Yankees would run ont Of II Ike sheep
avail; guns would b. turned upon lie town. ard
the victory be complete. Tie bTavest composing
Longstreets army were organized st0Iniag party.
II
The hour fixed. klocs inside u the Town had init
nations Of the coming u and more hot din
prepared iOr TIC slnment Of Gen Long
street and his stan They had sent private but posi-.
tive that they would dine with tier friends
on Sunday.
simultaneous attack was ordered at midnight slorg
whole line with The view Of diyerti4g attention
from the real point Intended for the tnel assault Seven
veteran regiments OF AiabaDa Georgia ana Missis.
sppi troops in the OF tie .nornng under Of
O dense smoke when obscIIcd their appearance
MAJ "a
long slope al the soutwes angle oi TIE woIks They
advanced IN line VI battle charge bsyon9is deliver
ing rapid ire, and Pressing steadily W MI hlCry
studded with stunps Vi trees oyeriaen logs ad under
brush until within 10 yaTds OF the breast Ks when
they were met By deadly discharge Of r pe and can
lister from Bucklcys Ba,Iy when thinleG cir ranks
but did not stop their G' On they came cheer.
Ing aud waving Their batii,iags, until ~Itl4n q yards
OF the fort, when whole i1topAs tIlJ-ed up by
continuous line Of te. graphic wire which eLcirclcd
that tina; part ~ the ground. ara hundreds e prenI
Ing, with their IDussets thrown f1 Wafa, uJOn the
ground. Msby OF them never roe. The RITZ pits nov
began dreadful havoc among them. more tau Gecl-
mating tneiI Tanks, ana staggering the 4clg col
The color bearers 81 tlrec regimen r-gIi!ng
their feet still becsOncd the desperate charge and
80 escaping the deadly shower OF Dueis ana con
roD shot reached the ODt OI TIE HOIks WAeft % their
horror VIDE deep ditch confronted lien Ityoe IN
tho advance tainy attempting 70 Lat, were rushed ia
by those behind ana tue rear column fu4ilg escaDe
impossible. many jumped ~ after their fellows 10 AVOID
Tue mTderous me iron the iOrt. The ether stIag
ged back. or tel down Lind the stuDps aud ols Tor
cover from our tho. Al tus iafiani L.eg DeaJ4Iuin
beiIilg some Of his - pound shell aid cutting the
fuses close up for three seconda hgited them
with his cigar ana tossed tito deadly Inist.es
over the paIspet into me angling the ditch
hat are you DONG down tne4ef As cried out az be
lhrew alter another over the works. InsuntancOus
explosions Of thunder rOuAd followed accompanied hy
the shrieks Of the wounded and outated Rebels below
with outcries fur mercy and OILERS surrender fS
tlsabefod up the enbaukenI by ad o. their bayOnels
and we're scaling Tie works or craving through the
embrasures. One nan was sctG0Ly se41cd with the
Han ~
VI the fot. and mado prlsyaeI. Surely no Drawer men
ever led cllargs upon any he'd. The enemy finally