The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-09
FROM EAST TENNESSEE.
Battle BETWEEN GILLEM AND
BRECKENRIDGE.
Gillem Defeated and his Army
Routed.
Capture Of all our Artillery and
Trains.
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Times.
THE DISASTER IN EAST TKNNEssRE-FUIL
PARTICULARS.

Correspondence OF the N. Y. Times.
THE DISASTER IN EAST TRNNEssRE-FUIL
PARTICULARS.
NASHVILLE, Nov. 18.-It becomes my
cad duty to chronicle Federal reverse in
East Tennessee, of somewhat disastrous
character. After his decisive victory over
Vaughn, Gen. Gillem pursued the broken
columns of the enemy forty-four miles,
and upon the Sd inst, made bis headqusr-
ters at Limestone, small town ninety
eight miles east of Knoxville. The enemy
did not Immediately confront him; but,
making good his escape, halted at Bristol,
one hundred and thirty miles from Knox
vile. While Gen. Gillem was at Lime
stone, the Ninth Michigan and Twelfth
Chic cavalry regiments were detached
and ordered to the rear. About the 9Th
of the month learned that Breckenridge
had visited Bristol and promised Duke and
Vaughn reinforoements, adding, as wrote
you once before, that Gillem should be
wiped out, and the assassination of John
Morgan be avenged. On the 9TH large
squads of the enemys cavalry lowered
about our tanks, and on the next day
several regimrnts of infantry presented
themselves upon our immediate front.
From this fact Gillem deemed his situa-
ton precarious, (made doubly so by the
late withdrawal of two veteran regiments,
one of which was armed with the Spencer
rifle, } and he ordered retirement of his
entire command towards Bulls Gap, which
commenced on the night of the 9Th inst.
The enemys advance skirmished with
our rear the next day, and on the 10th
several trifing encounters took place
along the road between Greenville and
Bills Gap. On the morning of the 18th
an immense force dashed into our works
at the Gap, aud attempted to carry the
position by storm, at the same time an
nOying US upon both TANKS. After two
hours fighting the enemy abandoned bis
attempt to carry the place by assault, and
retired in the direction he came. In this
affair We lost eight killed and nineteen
wounded, while the enemys loss was
much more severe. On the next day, Sat-
urday, the 18th inst, the enemy appear
ed in great force upon Gillem's left flank,
evidently endeavoring to get between our
force and their base Perceiving this, and
realizing the great disparity of numbers
between his and the attacking army, Gil
lem ordered the retreat to be conducted
as rapidly as due precautiOn for safety
and discipline would allow. While this
retirement was being conducted, the ene-
my followed up at a respectable distance,
occasionally firing few shots, but other
wise acting in decidedly undemonstrative
manner. The next day. Sunday, the / 9th
inst, q few more miles were made Knox
ville-ward, the enemy, as heretofore, still
acting slyly. On the night of the 18th
our little army, composed of the 9Th, 9th
and 18th Tennessee cavalry Regiments,
and battery of six parrot guns, under
Lieut.. Patterson, encamped at q place
called Panther's Greek, near Morristown,
forty-two miles east of Knoxville. The
exact number of men under Gillem was
less than 2,4OO, but as he had sent to
Knoxville tor reinfOrcements on the 10th,
he fully expected assistance before morn
ing. 49,,
About 10 o'clock Sunday night, Gillern
became aware that the picket line of the
enemy was being urged forward, and he
placed ore third of his command-the
Eighth Tennessee, Col. Patton-on picket
and ordered his artillery and trains to be
fully prepared for motion or action at a
moments notice.
At precisely midnight a crash took
place, and at one fell swoop, Gillem's
command was attacked upon both TANKS,
and his center pierced and broken. Ac-
cording to dispatches received in this city
by the Governor, Adjutant General and
myself, giving full details of tie terrible
attack, the scene which Immediately en-
sued, beggars description. Dukes bri.
gade advanced in front, and fired volley
into the ranks of the Eighth Tennessee,
nearly all the horses of which were new,
..odncinr tha widest nanin in,an;nohlo