American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-24
The Assault on Knoxville.

ton Of the gallant charge of the Confed.
crate troops upon the enemy's works at
Knoxville. He says:
"To the left of Knoxville, on high
hill, is large dirt fort, smounting six
guns, which commands all approaches
to it, for more than mile. In its front
and tanks was once thick field of pines,
which were cut down by the enemy, the
tops falling in all directions, making mass
of brush and timber almost impassable.--
In addition to this they had wires netted
all around their works, and ditch from
four to six feet deep corresponding with
the irregularity of the ground, the ex-
treme slope of the parapet wall making an
acute angle with the fall Of the ditch
Immediately in their front, for two or three
hundred yards, all brush and rubbish were
removed, in order that the grape and can
lister might have clear sweep at the at
tacking column. This fort, Bryan's, Hum
phey's and part of Wofford's brigades,
were ordered to assault at daylight ON the
morning of the 29th of November.
Through the rugged fields of obsta-
cles, before day, Bryan's brigade felt its
way, with many a fall and many bruise,
yet quietly, uncomplainingly, the men fol-
lowed the dark figure of their leader gui-
ding us through the gloom, to the line Of
the sharpshooters stationed at the edge of
the clearing. Each man pressed his cap
more firmly down his brow, and, with lips
compressed and steadfast eye, waited for
the word to move, while Gems. Bryan and
Humphrey glided noiselessly through
their commands carefully examining the
ground before them.
"All was quiet as the grave, suddenly
the stiffness was broken by the sharp crack
of Mimic rifle, when Up boys charged
was given by our commanders. The brave
fellows springing up with shout, on they
pressed to the fort, through a murderous
fire of shot and shell. Owing to rain
the day before, and frost on the night of
the attack, the earth gave away from un-
der our gallant men as they climbed upon
he shoulders of each other, enlelvoring
to reach the parapet, and down they would
tumble into the ditch. Hand grenadoaf
ter hand grenade were thrown upon them.
and yet they still remained climbing and
falling for over an hour, while the air
sparkled with whistling fuses and inces-
SAINT rolls of musketry from the walls
Finding all attempts to scale the sides of
the fort impossible, (only one man, Sergt
Maj. Bailey, of the 10th Georgia, reached
to the top; he, poor fellow, was killed i'm
mcdiately;) we slowly withdrew, under a
terrible fire from the en4y.
1t was sight long to be remembered
to see Gen. Bryan, at the head of the col
umn, leading and cheering his men, Civ
ing his orders in a calm and selfpossessed
tone. Indeed, he seemed to bear charm
edlife While hundreds around him were
killed and wounded, he was untouched
and when the assault failed, walked away
crying, Rally, boys, rally; we are not
whipped we could not climb the fort
that's all ? The men all stopped at his
command, and pressing forward to shake
hands in grateful delight at his safety
One of the Colonels scolded him severely
for exposing himself SO recklessly.
Many sons of our Sunny South red
dened the fields with their hearts blood,
while not Yankee, could see was slain !.
Oh it was sad sight to see those two old
warriors-Gens. Bryan and Humphrey
who essayed to speak to each other after
the fight, but could not. They turned
their heads and wept-yes, wept bitter
tears to the memory of their gallant dead.
Never did men go so boldly up to death.
The enemy run up flag of truce, and
acted very humanely to our wounded,
sending all who could be moved, to US
The Yankees say it was the charge of the
war, and none but Longstreet's corps would
ever have made it"