Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-29

ton of his command on the enemys flank, preparatory
to the movements but Lopgstreet preferred to await the
arrival of hcLavs who was approaching on parallel
read. Valuable tire thus consumed during which
the FedeIas opened with their batteries and killed and
wounded about two hundred aud fifty men. Our own
artillery got into action, however, ssnced the enc
mys guns and forced the Yankee lines from the posi-
ton they bad assumed. By the time McLiws had ar
rived his line Of battle had been formed, and ad.
vaDced against the Federals the latter fell back ADD
under cover Of night resumed their mach to Knox
vile where they arrived at two o'clock the morn
ing Their loss during the day waS three hundred aud
eighty-four.
Thus bsflsd second time, General Lon gstreet had
other resource but to proceed lesurey to the city
We reached the suburbs at two O'Clock the following
day. Ksrshaws brigade skirmishng with The .enemys
rear guard considerable portion OF the way. Here
another golden opportunity, not known TO be such at
the time however, presented The presence OF
army had created in Knoxville the utmost confusion
The Federas bad not prepared to receive batteries
we're not in position the Notifications we're unnamed
the Yankee wagons parked in the streets ready
AZ at moments warning, and soldiers and people were
rushing wildly TO and fro exchanging farew els and
Wonde ing where next they seoud nett By them O
surrender deemed inevitable and there Ia doubt
that had LoDgstreet been advised of this condition of
affairs, vigorous charge would have then given tho
city with comparative little loss of life. But these facts
all unkJ own aud accordingly sat down to the
process a regular siege.
TIE Yankee forcs in Knoxville consisted Of the h
and 2Srd Army Corps or ebout fifteen thousand men.
They Were however, short both of ratiouB and
niton and from he beginning had cirefuly husbanded
their resources Their position was naturally stroug-
In fact il was second Chattanooga Gordon Of hills
encrcled the town. between which chains OF ca
trenchments, two and three deep. The Forts were
known follows Thst to the left of tie main road by
which had advanced Fort Sanders Loudon to the
left of this Summit H. next on the left Temperance
Hill, while folio wing the circle had Mabry's Hill and
two three other positions the opposite side OF the
river with whose names not fam lar. In front of
Fort Sanders wGs Tape Hill Against this Kershaw's
Brigade advanced Wednesday sfternoon about three
o'clock Tee attack WAS preceded By b.ik artillery
duel, under cover Of which our men went forward
changed the position, encountered several regiments
cap ured eighty or ninety OF the enemy, killed and
wounded large number, and drove them from their
ertrenchments. The whole affair did not occupy more
than three qu1r Of an hour, during which We lest
about enc hundred and twenty FIVE men. Among our
killed or Gist. Of the 18Th SouIh Carolina Req
ment, and amocg tbs wounded, Col. Kennedy, OF The
2ud South Carolina. and Lieut..Col. Rice, Of James
Battalion Mems of these fell into the hands OF the
Federhls. The fighting was Of the most desperate
character and for several minutes at distance Of not
more thsa PAGES apart but IL contest too ter
rble to be long maintained by eith.r party, and the
Feder1Is finally broke in disorder and fed precptatey
in the opposite direction
Among the officers shot was Captain Winthrop, act
young Engshman who joined cause to see sIrvice,
ard has bthlved with great gaantry in several battles
Supposug that our troops had been checked by the
heavy fire to which they exposed in stormi4g the
height he dlshed the fsld horseblck in the
very tech OF the enemys guns, to assist in rsyng the
men, but he scarcely reached the front, when bali
Stuck h;ua the neck aud fractured his collar bone
He horne from the field believed, in dying
condition, but ia now rapidly recovering.
The Yankee loss, estimated by themselves was about
two hundred ireludng Gen. Lander whose death cast
gloom the Whole Federal army.
Fem the 18Th to the oath, little done by
forces except nohing,. advancing 'front.' changing
lines, and sSirmsbing with the Gnsmy's Pckets- By
DO h Fedras and Conederates an immense amount Of
labor was performed, and much of it under FIRE.
ne flaiy succeeded in obtaining strong position
on range OF bills in front of Knoxville where at any
moment could throw shells into the very heart Of
the city. Our chief obstacles however, the enc
mys 70 tdca ions, which prevented dash into town,
and their ca ly growing strength discouraged an attack
directly upon them. The Federals were at this time
livrg upon quarter ratons, and Iervous. lmid,
aud strictly on the defensive. +. g. de +.