Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-15
MOreester Daily SPY
THE DAILY SPY.
BurnsIde,s Advance in Tennessee.


10th. His command was to march in three
columns, one via London, under himself; the
second, consisting of the 23d army corp, un-
der Maj0r-Gen. Hartsuh via Somerset and
the other under Gen. Julius White via James
town. Gen. Burnside marching via Danville
and Stanford, reached Crab Orchard on the
goth. On the 22d he marched to Mount YER
non, 20 miles, and on the following day to
London, 20 miles. On thu oath me made
Williamsburg, 30 miles further south On
the 25th he was joued by Gen. Hartsutf, with
the 23d corps, at Chetwood, % miles from
Williamsburg. The enemy being reported
near he directed cavalry regiment To re-
connoiter toward ,lackborO. 1t met a superior
rebel forced ana routed it, capturing forty
five prison, rs. From Chctwoud the march
was continued across New river up the Cum
berland mountains to Montgomery, situated
forty-two miles distant on the summit of the
range, where the column arrived on the Both
Here it was met by Gen. Whites command.
Col. Burt having been sent forward with
cavalry brigade, reported that Gen. Pegram
with 1000 cavalry, held a very strong posi-
ton at the gap near Emory Iron Works
leading into Clinch river valley. Additional
troops were sent forward with the expectation
OF battle on the morning of the 3lst, but
with daylight it was discovered that the enc
my had fed.
With the possession Of this gap tine road to
Knoxville was open. Having reached Emory
river seventeen miles from Montgomery,
Gen. Burnside ordered Col. Foster, with a
mounted brigade, TO make forced march
over direct road to Knoxville, while he adj
vanced with the main force to Kingston, six
miles further. Being anxious to save the
most extensive and important bridge over
the Tennessee at Loudon, twenty miles from
Kingston, Gen. Burnside directed Gen.
Shackeltord, with his cavalry brigade, to
push on to it as rapidly as possible. Upon
arriving within three miles Of the bridge,
regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and
quickly drove the enemy beyond their rifle
pits covering the approaches to the bridge
They retreated. hastily across it, closing the
gate behind them. The entire structure being
prepared with turpentine and shavings, for
immediate destruction, it was wrapped in
flames in few seconds. Gen. Shackelford
finding it impossible to save it. moved off to-
ward Knoxville, after driving the enemy from
the opposite bank with shells and musketry
Col. Foster reached Knoxville on the Ist
Gen Burnside LETT Kingston on the 3D. and
entered Knoxville on the Sd. Both received
perfect OvatiOnS upon their entrance. The
town was decorated with flags hidden for more
than two years, and cheering people lined the
streets. A large meeting was held on sub
sequent day, and addressed by Gen. Burnside
and several leading citizens. The latter con-
graduated themselves in the most enthusiastic
terms upon their deliverance from rebel OPP
preston. On the day after Colonel Fosters
arrival, procession of women, whose hus-
bands and relatives were mostly in tic Union
service, came in from the country. 1t was
nearly mile long. All along the route OF
our troops the same unmiStakable evidence OF
all but universal loyalty on the part of the
population, became manifest. Young men
seemed to be mostly absent, but the old ones
and women by the hundreds received our
troops with flags and refreshments on the
roads.
great many men that had lived in hiding
places for months, came forth and joined their
deliverers. Very valuable machine shops
and tOunderes belonging to the rebel govern
ment were found in Knoxville; also two mil
lion pounds of salt, il large quantity of wheat
(the fruits of the tithe-tax), ami many thou
sand bags. Three locomotives and number
of cars were likewise captured. Gen. Burn
side took for his headquarters the residence of
fugitive rebel leader.
Before leaving Kentucky, Gen. Burnside or
dered Col. De COurcy, witha brigade Of intan-
try to march upon Cumberland gap by the di-
rect route, through LUudon and Barbuursvile
Learning, on the 4th, that the rebel force de-
Tending the gap was strong, and likely to offer
resistance, he dispatched Gen. Shackelford,
with his brigade, on the 9th, from Knoxville
with instructions to seize all avenues of es-
cape to the south. He followed himself, with
another body Of infantry and cavalry, on the
9TH, and arrived within four miles of the gap
on the 9th, after forced march of sixty miles
De Courcy and ShackelfOrd had both made
demands for surrender, which Gen. Frazier
declined. Upon his arrival, Gen. Burnside
renewed it, when the rebel commander offer
ed to surrender upon condition that his Off
GERS and men were paroled An unconditional
surrender being insisted upon, he yielded.
His force consisted of the "a North Carolina,
lst Virginia, LIST Georgia regiments, and sew
era companies of artillery. The Georgia
regiment was 500 strong, and was one before
captured by Gen. Burnside at Roanoke island.
The prisoners are now on their way north.
In explanation of the extraordinary isoa-
ton Gen. Frazier was left in, rebel officers as
serted that Gen. Bragg had peremptorily or
dered him to remain. On the night OF the 9TH
two companies Of our troops stole their way
through the rebel piclets, aud burned "a mill
that had supplied the rebels with NEAL in the
very sight OF the enemys camp. This neat
performance helped much to hasten the sur
render Gen. Burnside was to return to
Knoxville on the l0th where he will remain
until the decision of the war department in re-
gard to his resignation is made. Our troops
have made excursions to MorristOwn, thirty
miles east of Knoxville. A few small bodies
OF rebels are still in the state near the Vir-
ginia line, but they will soon be driven out.
The saltpetre works, which the rebel govern
ment worked with several hundred men, are
within our lines. Ready communication is
had with Gen. Rosecrans.
For quickness of movement and complete
success without buodshed, Gen. Burnside's
operations are the most noteworthy of the
war. All OF his troops marched $50 and a
large portion OF them over 800 miles, and thew
averaged twenty miles a day, although they
moved over the most difficult roads, crossing
several high ranges of mountains and numer-
Gus deep streams. The infantry marched adj
mrably, without the least struggling. Gen.
Burnsides plans were SO well conceived, and
the movements OF his different columns so
well masked and executed, that Buckner was
not aware of his approach until twenty-four
hours before Knoxville was occupied. lie
had not time to transfer all of his force by
rail to Chattanooga, but had to send portion
of il east. His command cannot have been
large.
Between the Cumberland river and the
mountains our troops suffered a good deal
from the scarcity OF water, but ON tho south
ern slope of the mountains everything was
found in abundance. The valleys of Clinc
and Holston rivers abound with splendid
crops Of corn and vegetables. OF these and