The New York herald., 1863-10-27
REBEL ACCOUNTS.
Nevvs from Ease Tennessee.

tFrom the Richmond Examiner, Oct. "A
worthy citizen Of Bristol dated Abingdon October 19 We
have the only authentic account Of the last raid Of the
Yankees upon Bristol and the Virginia ard Tennessee
Raroad At the time OF the ncurson OF the enemy the
Telegraph brought the most alarming accounts stating
ihss they were sweeping everything before them and
were making their towards the salt works, which, II
..s very strongly intmated our troops would not be
Able TO protect, ss they had not been able, by
Son Of the overwhelming force Of the enemy, to
protect Bristol and the railroad. In two days
giving Information that the enemy had fallen back
70 Bristol, and were believed 70 be retreating. This
~s had been taught believe their rce was so superior
loours ~ 70 make next 70 madness for TO attempt 10
khsck their career
The extract we give from the letter above mentioned
VII explain why the enemy retreated why retrcsied
- Abngdon cannot We fear be satisfactorily explain
ID. We quote from tho letter.
returned Bristol yesterday evening The enemy
dld very little damage there, and e0 on Friday evening
ID through the town 10 pursuit of our men and 10 within
ssvcn miles Of Abingdon They left provost guard IN
.Sa 70 sdo nS S al
and burned several small bridges between this place
aud Bristol In Bristol they burned twenty-nve
end tore up . considerable extent OF railroad Thor
force, stated by straasers who were captured was
about three thousand This statement is confirmed
6y the actual count two citizens Bristol Our
was four thousand leave you to draw your own
burning the railroad bridge and tearing toe track At
Though another source we are Informed tina. our
sosces In that quarter having heard Of the blow inf cct
upon The enemy at Philadelphia by General Carter sts-
vsnss have puckcd up heart and vsptured again into
Our government do not seem alive The importance OF
retsisng his country Tho people Of the confcdsracy
we're sorey cast down by the loss q vcksours. The
value Of vcssburs 70 us was nothing compared with
that OF East Tennessee. Vcksburg Afforded nothing
from East Tennessee and the aicnt counties Of North
CAROLINA and Virginia we ae 10 draw the msat upon
which the army 70 bs fed during the current and the
- Ing years.
have seen, q day or two ago, 10 number OF the
Brdmn~ OF about the Goth OF August letter from Brs
to making csrtang structures on the oeer commanding
Al those strctures were based on mistaken premises
In several Instances the correspondent doubtless unwt
s'on sud take the liberty AZ correcting those statements
By showing briefly what hs true state state Of Affairs
On tho borders Of Virginia AID Eat IeDneffec AZ the
time. Our tovoss were disposed zoiicorcr and Car
ssrr depot, two points on the line of me Virginia and
Fast Tennessee Railroad the enemy Immediately
In cur front at thu latter pace. rhe cones7 fnf
OF tho Erdmtner states whgt he considers reliable
INF that the force In iron, than orr
own while through scouts we had every 10 be
tevc, and Is s the opinion o all the brigade o'lccrs
with whom have oonvsfsei th,t lhc enemy optnum.
bcred us effective strength and had ths advantage of
mobile force, snE o. cavry and mounted inialtry
which aQrded him rapidly q movomast and facility u
We have cavalry force guarding tho spproIoh 70 Brs
toi, place ten miles ia roar and o1c, as We sap
go.ea saaeen - give ilsy vnof r.s,,a ,hs
men rsn. Thar the efhcor commanding the department
ever received application for rcnforcemeuis ia tais dl.
Yec,ian 10 q m stake
You mey reldiy zee that, with in'aniry on the one
haod and cavalry and mounted tho other. iD a
country whcre roads branch every direction tho
imlos-buity Of tbs former forcs checking every small
raid the fanx or The ob " check the
done sucoess ally Certainly the sbs st 2oic .nded
IN rapid the part q the ~nemy and that
arnish occsrred the same day as Tho battle u
Chcksns IN, burnside could have received instruo
thuv TO fall back
win this rred s,atement and apologies for troubling
you, an, cir, kc., {.