New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-16
The Siege OF Knoxville.
g,su, Our Special Correspondents,
KNOXVILLE, Dec. ., 1853.
ElGHTRENTH DAY.

s,sy received here via telegraph aud courier from
Cumberland Gap with that recnforceInents
are 1urrying forward has been announced to the army
and has produced great citation Of spirits and confidence
now IL general that the time for successful assault
upon and cspturo Of this place by Lonssroet is past
Yesterday the enemys camps were visible the
Kingston Road his cavalry were moving TO and fro
On northern border and the work of iatrenohiug
scemied to he going steadily forward TIE enemy.
Asweyer. have not had any plekets. or other force on
cur extreme right this side the for several days
On the extreme left where Lieut. Rhodes with O
ton Of Buckley's Rhode Island battery ia stationed
sAe enemys pekots made attempts yesterday morning
70 advance his pits. and pushed skirmshors.
At 70 o'clock tie Lieutenant gave them couple o.,
guns. driving them away from unfinished rifepit,
when men opened On them as they fed. was a,
The moment boxing down upon that part
Of the field from the cupola Of the College where Capt
Daniels with his associates OF the Signal Corps.
making observations. The firing for few moments
We quite active producing impression that tie
snery about attacking in force About tie same
ur.e l0pound Parrot shell from the enemys battery
., Armstrong; house exploded within few yards Of
Capt Roemers battery close TO- end at the le Of the
College The Captain busyilg himself by firing the
Hi battery the river. The firing ceased and
af8irs resumed the usual quiet Assuming that Long
is OF the large rceDforcemenis marching
his together with the defeats be has suffered here
end at Kingston. have naturally reasoned that 10
would make his final attack once. ese retreat.
stack expected by many last night early this
morning and some important preparations and changes
made meet IL. The evening the night, and the
morning alike very smoky, though the burning u
house on the north eide. lit up the Whole
ylateau in front and prevented surprise.
Heavy reserves In readiness at the threatened
points. and vigilaDt watch wa Kept. The night
ANatN damn a uaFl A
picket firing. Refugees from the Rebel lines have
Gonght frequent information OF their movements.
ssr. Whee i lately m the Rebel cav airy Sss
beed captured. along with three, trains Of carr %
S5ss Te n se At ngSn ey vent
confident Of capturing our forces wa compete lb'y
found our little army ,nele ana ., i' re
Higgins commanding tie Rebel cavalry: pas severely
wounded beside many other oiheers ihey we're com
vened retire and returned toward knoxyile snere
They divided their sending part 10 tie 90 II
sde OF the Holster and afierward recalling them With
sut accomplishing anything. 1t Is apparent the severe
reverse s1fcred by Lonestree On Sunday. TIE os Of
time The advance Of reeniorcements and toe acS
Of regular train and supple. Tor BIS aIge co5a a.
beard every day for sweek past, OF his declaring IN
the most resolute terms tia, be would have Knoxville
n il cost every in his army. bat these things
have ceased TO alarm There u.s. today large mum
Der who believe that the Rebel army is getting
away" and that there is nothing but the shell OF
the force in front which attacked us on sunday
Observations Of tie signal officers late IN The day so 70
confirm. somewhat. this view. Where there WAS a
larce Rebel camp 20 The len Of the Kingston road
tsrday only struggling parties caD be seen to-day tic
great portion Of the force have either concealed them
selves under the hills. or moved around to our rgh
rninished but large ~ ever Is observed over
sgaHst center. An this time the pckets have kept
unsafe 20 show ones head over the rocks or %
move within sight OF range OF Their rihe-
E ..eor s' vhd %as riding ss0 a q rof Sander
wss tilled today Another person was badly wounded
by rife sho. in the yard Of the asylum hospital Ia
view Of the great importance which they attach to the
Yeoocupaiion OF East Tennessee. which implies
pusion from Knoxville. have steadily believed that we
should yet lave bloody struggle TO hoid our s4tion
Ilaye now doubt 10 the result, lot the assault
come how aud when 1t may
Reports from deserters represent that the Rebels are
:cattered widely over The csnn'y 'iagg s l"r lcea
tte Of clothing, shoes and blankets and woe ~ tie
Yankee who falls into their hands, The country from
here toward Cumberland Gap bas been made desolh-
ton Peopls have fed In terror from their dwellings,
and the road In almost without Inhabitants Of either
Rebel or Union procliVi1es.
1HY JAIL SFr on YTRy
About midnight the Jail where tie Rebel prisoners
ara confined was set fire. for the purpose a. WIZ
supposed. Of enabling the priscncs to escape Cspt
Dotge, commanding the city guard had tho building
eurrounded with orders 10 shoot any one attempting ~
escape and succeeded in extDgushng the fire. There
Is suspicion that the &C. was done a. part OF pre-
aoncertd' signal for the assault 10 begin when the
prisoners escaping from confinement oDud eet nfs 70
other parts Of the town. and thus cooperate WIN ef
Ia kept on their nOyemonu
7 learn that Gen. Shackleford to-day announced 10
his command over the river that Gen. obernlN nhu
crossed the Little Tennessee. on his way " our Te.i
ard That large cavalry foroe under Ges GranSor was
ON the way from Kingston
NINETEENTH DAY.
Dee. 3.--The nineteenth day OF the siege, ana
1--WE etil i've" The weather Is frosty but healthy for
those who have fuel for the hearth and stomach There
"a no dearth OK human aliment. and there nl wood
enough within lines TO last ayear. Thus we arc
making toeraby comfortable Siege Of IT, but the nov
IT. ~ The thing IL beginning 20 off, end we would
10 willing 20 change our situation Tor niue NOR ea
no The febe intend 10 keep us Gagged as long AZ we oa
tbSn Al Ycksburg and bring IA 10 grief ana ratons
mule beef Not II one-bai we hear from our hieAas
D,,ng ,se night tire enemys pickets fred an coca.
sonsl shot and heavy guns gave tnem usso 90
o2t "a Eort Ssnderson lines of skrrnishers ana those
of the enemy are within fifty feet Of eacn otne ,a 10
nm sdes OF the railroad cut each party IN rue
pitt They pass the time by balooiny 70 eacn o.noI
on various tpcs. but TOO near !" snow 'nei 'o"'
70 each other.
In front Of Col woofords Idciets south side coz,
versation sprung up between ono Of ours ana ieo'
pcket. As related 70 by Col Lcye Of the Ito hsh'
tocky Cavalry. II ran follows:
/" Halo there. Yank have you got chew tobacco 9
Yea:-lay down your sh"otin iron and L VIII "iiH''
Inc next moment they together IN earnest con.
versstion, sitting tie ground socially aoy two
S3sDds.
40 70 % w Ps''y-.tsll l.peass ~ }&E'y ds'"