The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-06

fighting betwaen the diminishing lines
becsme very heavy, and was continued
al night we using artillery from Fort
Saunders freely al The time. a day
light Sunday morning, November 20, the
rebels had succeeded is driving in our
skirmishers, and immediately stormsd
Fort Sauders, defended by Benjsman's
and BBckley's batteries and the 10Th
New York; aod, although moved down
by our fire, the column never wavered
until they reached the base of the Fert.
Here we gave them such dreadful fire
Of mus6etry, and shells thrown among
them by hand, as even their stubborn
courage could not Withstand. Their
line wsvered, and they broke and fed
leaving their dead and most Of their
wounded, and 200 prisoners. Seven or
eight hundred wounded, many muskets
and their regimentsl flags are in our
handsl So desperate q conflict the war
has not seen since that day at Battery
RObinet, At Corinth.
One rebel regimentsl color bearer sue
ceeded in planting his flag on the
salient of the fcrt; being shot down an
other seizsd il, he fell, and the flag was
then dragged into the fort by cur gallait
boys,
The assault was made by the rebels
with seven picked regiments, and over
these we have gained q brilliant victory.
with a loss TO themselves of at least
1000 killed, wounded and prisoners. Our
loss during the assault was but 4 killed
81 II v.-ov,dad ar1 ill - .--...I
100 during the nights fighting. For this
victory the country is indebted to the
steady valor of the battle-scarred 9Th
Army Corps, by portion Of whom the
fort was defended. Immediately after
the battle, General Burnside sent flag
Of truce, proposing an armisiice, for the
purpose Of allowing the rebels to bury
their dead and remove their wounded.
1t was accepted by General Longtreet,
and a cessation of hoshlities until
3 P. N. of Sunday, and an exchange Of
the wounded during the siege was agreed
on. By this humane action Of General
Burnside, we have regAined possession
Of those of our wounded in the various
skirmishes who fell into the enemy's
hands.
Among our prisoners is Lieutenant
Colonel O'Brisn brother of Mrs. Brown
low
General Terrier in command of Fort
Saunders, was highly distinguished, as
also was Lieutenant Benjamau, Sd u. S.
Artillery, and Captain Buckley, I'd Rhode
Island Battery but when all did their
duty, / can not further particularize by
telegraph, bat will send foil details by
letter. EDWARD CRAPSEY.
Approved by Maj. Gen. Burnside.
CUMBERLAND GAP, Dec. rs P. M. On
Saturday last, Col. Lemet dispatched
force consisting OF 225 men of the 9th
Illinois Cavalry, in command of Major
Bears, Of that regiment and under guild.
ance OIL. f. Payne, Esq, Provost Marshal,
and celebrated scout to look after the
rebel force commanded by Col. Putmere,
that has been roaming on q mission OF
plumber through the adjacent portion of
Virginia. Thirty miles from the Gap,
near Louisville, Lee County, they found
the rebels drawn up in line of battle
over 300 strong. Major Bears at once
ordered charge, but this proved too
much for their pedal constafey, and
their well-ordered line was at once dis
solved into an aimless, fugitive mob. We
killed 81, wounded is, and captured 81.
The latter reached here this morning,
under guard of their captors, who aIfO
brought in so rebel horses and 100 guns.
The latter were picked up on the line of
rafra.f -, uaoof ,notoOoao ohe,rod oonI~.1
and capped. We continued pursuit eleven
miles, our loss nothing. Much praise is
due Col. Lemert for the Vigor displayed
in demolishing the guerrilla hordeJ that
have been prowling in this vicinity
Further intelligence from Burnside is
vague and conflicting. Col. Lemert re-
ceived intelligence that General Foster
had engaged Longstreet, this morn
ing, near Msynardsville. CanonadiDg
was heard for several hours to-day in
that direction.
/ conVersed this evening with citi-
zen who left Knoxville Monday morning.
The destruction of property was princi-
pally confined to that portion of the town
west of the Cumberland Gap Road, and
north of the railroad. About forty
houses, including the depot building. have
teen destroyed, The Crozier Bull ing,
on Gay street, General Burnside's head
quarters was made an especial target
by the rebel batteries. 1t was not hit
though a shell exploded within few
feet of General B. General Burnside, at
q number of times, personally sighted
and discharged guns on the battery. A
shell exploded directly over Parsonu
Brownlow's house, which is uniDjured.
The current rumor of Miss Brownlow's
illness is unfounded. My informant saw
her on the street on Sunday.
A brother law of Parson Brownlow,
OBrien rebel Colonel, was captured on
Sunday night. He represents that, as a
certainty, two brigades, the flower of
Longstreess army had been hopelessly
used up.
The rebels Unfortunately burned the
houses of residents on the line of their
approach t. KroxVil a1d htnc the town
was thronged with houselesJ families,
who have been subsisted by cur Commits
saries.,
The restitution of East Tennessee
families is distressing. g
A desperate effort was made on Sun
day night TO storm Fort Sanders By.
eight massed regiments. The emergency
at one time was so pressing that cur
troops tore the fuses with their teeth,
and ignited them, and threw shells among
the besieging host, The statements of
the losses on both sides are so conflicting
that l viii not venture on this point
CUMBERLAND Gar, Dec. 3. z P. NJ
There was fighting yesterday and to-
day at Walkers Ford, twenty miles from
the Gap, between our forces under Gen.
Foster and the whole of Longstreefs
cavalry. We attempted yesterday to
cross the river Clinch, but were repulsed.
Our loss al the close of yesterdays fght
was fifty. We captured four pieces of
artillery.
The above / get from one of General
Wilcox's staff, just in.
After the fight At Jonesville, Sunday,
of which telegraphed, the third bat
talliOn Of the 18th Illinois Cavalry left
their two surgeons back to care for the
rebel wounded. They Oere yesterday found
III