Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-12-04
SITUATION AT KNOXVILLE

A correspondent Of the Atlanta "Confcdera-
cIy," writing from Headquarters Morrisoa'a
Cavalry brigade, before Knoxville gives the,
following particulars:
After leaving T.oudon. we marched to with.
in two miles Of Knoxville, on the. East side
Of the Holston river driving Wo!ford and
Saunders before us,unsil they ensconccd them
selycs behind their works on the hills opposite
Knoxville. Al Rockford and Maysyills we
captured two hundred prisoners, and consider
able stores. This novel suppose wasintended
US feint, to facilitate Iongsirect's crossingsat
London, for as soon Us wo. heard his guns at
Lenoir's we tackled back and forded Holsten'
(Which was very deep ss Louisville-movcd
round to tho Northwest of Knoxville, where
we have been ever since. Longstreet's forces
completely invest the city, even SO that cat
coudnot c-eepia or out without being seen
by some enc. Ga the evening of the Goth our
guns were put in position with the intention
Of charging thedepot and capturing tho en-.
g!nes and cars that are there, but by some
"dovilish cantrip slight" they learned our
intention, ard Get on fire seven large houses.
as near as possible to sheir entrenchments and
radoubts. l was two miles from the city,
and could easily read letters made with
a pencil. The night wss very dark, and the
eject of the coofagration was magnificent be.
,youd description. The wind was blowing
S uthwarj and great clouds of white smoke,
hedeckcd with glowing cnGers, rising to the
height of two hundred feet from each building,
were massed in ono and Blown to the South rs fur
Us the eye could reach, whilst ever and anon,
the crash frazier, roof, or joist, would send up
avolume oftlame that seemed to reach tho very
clouds themselves. With this was the noise of
al hundred tlings-mules and trumpets bray.
ing, pigs squcnling, cocks Growing, men
whooping, hammers. saws, axes, picks, drums,
flies, cymbals, rattle Of wagons and artillery
carriagcs-altogcsher making such ''fuss"
as that OF Babel was mere whisper to.
watched the flames until the darkness mas
tered them and listened to the confusion until
al was silent save the occasional crack of n
picket's rifle, or the sound of some drowsy
sentinel's challenge, when ."fell back" to
where Col. Morrison and staff were restlessly
dreaming on the sod, to WOO myself Us best I
could in tired natures sweet restorer"
We have reinforcements coming. helr and
hsve no doubt we will take the place with all
the troops and stores The boys have mnde SONS
pretty good haus already in the way of suffers
wagons.
We have scouts from Big Creek Gap, who re-
port $1,000 head of hogs at that place and the
scout of eight meu drove 5000 of them through
the gap this way. and put them in lot.
We are ordered 10 cook up two days ratious
and Isuppose wa are to 60 after these hegs
The roads are in very had condition. bat tho
weather bids fair to be fair for some time, and
hone to see them good again.
Our boys are in fine spirits. though they aro
living on parched corn and apples: have not
had one meal per day since we left London. If
had Marion's dish guaranteed u no every day''t