The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-02-06
THE CAMPAIGN OF EAST TEN.
NESSEE.

THE CAMPAIGN OF EAST TEN.
| NESSEE.
1t is we'll understood at this Gate, tha
the passage Of Burnside's army into Eas
Ten nsssee, was one of the most laborious
difficult, and brilliant undertakings OF thi
war But Burnside's strength has hithsr
to been so oyerestimated, that much =
his army has been praised for courage a1s
all the active virtues of soldier, Il
wonderful endurance and sslfsacriies
have yet failed to be appreciated. s
Burnside never had more than 1500l
men in East Tennessee; he had ba
10000 in Knoxville during its seige. Am
this little band, part of them raw tyoops
fought successfully against three times il
number of rebel veterans-ths pickss
legions and pic,-ed commander of th
rebel army of the Potomac. .s--.sss@,ya I I
When Burnside entered East Tennessee
after scaling mountains to which th,
famous passage Of the Alps" was an cas-,
task, he divided iis forces; sending 400
to Loudon, under the gallant Gen. Juliu
White of Pea Ridge memory, aad order
ing about 600 to Knoxville, leaving 0
course a certain number to guard tha pas
ses and gaps OF the mountains. On tn
approach of Lengstreet from Chattanooga
White, and his force, were ordered to tn,
right bank OF the river. The pon.eoi
bridge which, owing to his foresight, hac
been TIN across IL at that point, wa
swung arouni 50 as to te inaccessible Il
the enemy, and the determination va
formed in the minds, a2plrc.tly, cf both
officers and men alik-, - prevent Long
street, at all hazard, from crossing tin
river Although there we're but seye.
thousand to Lopgstreet's forty thousand
/ yetthey felt ca serFa!ly coa:il len: that the5
could hold him at bay and keep the rive
mined a; all events to try it MeInwhil;
/ Knoxville treta b.ed, and Parson Brown
: low once more fed for his life
1t WAS at Hough's Ferry, that Long
/ street threatened TO cress, and there tn,
( little Federal army OF East Tennessee, haa
I concentrate d 10 d..pute his passage
/ Burnside came down from Knoxville il
! the cars and after some fighting in the
afternoon which was closed by the ap
proach Of night, the Federal general de-
termined on g night attack 10 commence
at twelve, midnight The word wen
around, and the men threw themselves o.
their aims 70 snatch what little reDose
they might in the interim Before the
hour arrived, however, courier broI "a
dispatches frum Grant, which changed
the whole face OF the campaign. the
orders from Grant were that Burnside
instead OF d,!v.ng Loag-treet back, should
decOy h.a. across the riyeI aGd up L
Knoxville. whore, Of course, he would be
seige that city. Grant, meanwhile, pso-
posed 1. attack Bragg. thus weakened 10y
Longstreet> absence, and when that bat
tie should be fought, and, God willing
gained, assured Burnside that reinforce
ments shcE.d be ssut 10 raise the seiss Q
kmoxTi.l-. G2i save the .rrny Of Els
/ Tennessee sssas.s-
The danger 70 Burnside. ani his army
/ in thi. new arrangement was three-told
/ The order found them in the field, face u
! face with I.ougstreet, and involved a Re
( tlea: tG Knoxville \ retreat i Away
I dancsIous-betore such a foe vita such :
disparity Cf numbers - his advantage, i
looked doubiy SO Bat. this danger
safely passed, and the Federal army a
! the height OF its hope JeieaEue.cd in Knox
! VILE, what thea, should Grant lo5e ~
/ contemplated battle instead OF gaining IL
/ Then Burnside and his army we're hope
lessly sacrificed And even should Gran
win the hoped for victory through the CO
/ operation furnished by Burnside in occn
/ pyIng LNa-street attention. there va
/ vet danger that Burnside. short Of pro
! visions. short ot everything, would b
obliged to sucCumb too sodn that h
/ would be overwhelmed by numbers, be
fore Grant could hare time 70 use III
promised reinforremen.s in lis owa con
| templated battle, and then det&ch al,
forward them 10 the relief OF Burnside,
The situation, with all Its possibilities
| was perfectly comprehended, aud cheer
fully accepted Possibilities which il
ve!Yed rot oaly starvation and the Libby
but such q fate TO Burnside personally
(beSides loss Of prestige at home.) as tn
/ Contederacy promises to our best patriot:
and to Butler and Burnside in particuia
The cheerful self sacrifice Of Burnsid
and his army in this terrible emergency
is not surpassed in history. When tn
story Of this war is written, Burnside
name will be found radiant on its page;
with the halo of an able general tru
patriot, and noble man His army w:
share his fame; and while all praise
given TO Grant and his troops for thei
victory at Chattanooga, postcrity will q
Justice to the important and as vet scarce!
-omprehended part played by the nobl
Burn -ide and his noble army, III the gain
ING of ti,st victory. Hooker thundere
mon the ensi.ly from the mountain TOP
Of Chattanooga; Burnside kept fort
thousand veterans alCof from that contei
bv allowing them TO thunder upon hm a
Knoxville. Who shall! say which d.
serves the highest praise
So, instead Of midnight attack, tn
little army of Burnside commenced
retreat The weather was cold and rain
Knoxville was i6 miles away; the troop
Lad had nothing to eat for twenty fau
hours, and daylight found them tollin
back through mud, rain, and wet, an
cold, and hunger-toiling back to Knox
Vile, to await their fate. Longstreet, c
course, crossed the river Immediately, an
was in their rear, If that expression can b
used Of an army that mIght be SAID
have retreated backwards, with its face t
the foe.
The mastery manner in which the re
treat was conducted, the gallhntry showf
and the brilliant fighting that was don
by our troops, have been chronicled in al
the eastern journals, aud are well know
to eager eastern readers. Illinois troop
bore large share Of the d Anger, did
large share of the fighting and leap
large share, also, of the praise OF tn
achievement. And, strange to say, VII
those troops were, and what galiantr