Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-09-09
Of the Third Tennse-
- see Cavalry. :
BY ADJUTANT WILL. A. INTER-.
s5sss NO. XVII.
s suaRENDER OF ATHENS.

Elliott. were sent IIon 0SOseuA ~
reinforce the command at Athens.
When morning came Forest was close
around the fort with large command
and he opened fire vigorously for
time. then sending Ia flag of truce
demanded O surrender, which was not
acceded to. A sharp firing again fol-
lowed, aud again fAg OF truce was
sent In and Cnlonel Campbell invited
out to inspect the armies of the
enemy. He accepted the invitation.
Meanwhile the achievements under
Col. Elliott were fghting their way
into the fort, cutting passage through
one line after another until they were
within musket range OF the fort.
Many brave eel Of the 18th MICHIGAN
and 1921 Ohio fell 10 these desperate
assaults that they might relieve the
men in Athens. Among them the
brave Col. Elliott himself fell mortslly
wounded and enly survived q
few hours. Imagine the ehsgrin
of these heroes when within gunshot
of the fort, the Stars and Stripes were
lowered. Colonel Campo II returned
from the rebel lines, and contrary TO
the ptoteststions and egen threatened
mutiny Of bis men. tsmely surren-
deren. will alloy others who we're
there to give. their own account OF the
sffsir, as I chance to have cory
while In prison. FH&G EE
"ENTERPRIsE, Miss, Oct. IL, 1864.
We, the undersigned, officers OF the
rendered to Msjor General II. B.
Forest, OF Athens, Ala, on the 24.h
day of september, 1884, by Col. w.
Campbell, commanding the post. We
feel It incumbent upon us to make
Known to the public the precise 81 ua-
ton of sffairs Ia the fort at the time,
10 erdey that the responsibilities may
rest Upon the proper person. anu also
TO place upon record our Judgment IS
to the necessity of the surreUder.
The fort was . strong Que, we'll built.
one thousand three hundred and ffty
IcSS EePGnlt&0- IS6tg
from the bottom OF the ditch to the
top Of the psrspet, and encircIed by
both palisade and an abattis of felled
trees. II Was considered by inspecting
officers to be the strongest work BE-
tween Nashville aud Decatur.
The garrison a. the time OF the sur
render consisted of detachments OF
the 106th, 10th aud 1llth Regiments
II Init VoI@ t. g,
boring Ia the aggregate 464 effective
meni IN ADDITION 10 The colared tr0Qps
there were $50 men belonging 10 the
Third Tennessee Cavalry, and two IL
pound howiisers.
On the nightof the 23d and morn
ing of the Gath. the Colonel comma
ing caused nearly, il not quite all, the
com missary stores at the post to be
moved into the Qualifications. These
| ores were thought ample for siegs |
81 two DAYS; veil In the fort afford
ng a sufficient supply of water. AS
for the ammunition, there were at the
ime about 10 900 rounds of e. b
ang az ample supply for
The carhines Of the cavalry men. For
the howilzers, there were 100 rounds
each. s 3 e e saw 1881
Our pickets we've driven In at half. |
past s %. %. on the % /, and from that |
lime until long after dark. there was
rood deal of skirmishiDg; the night /
vas passed In making preparations to
eceiye the enemy and getting pro-
'isions into the fort. On the morning /
II the "A b, about O'Clock, the enemy
opened ou the fort, throwing solid |
hpt aud shells fr6m battery planted !
IN the Buck Island road. Shortly |
#; er they opened upon rs another bat |
cry from the Browns Ferry road. |
From these two batteries the enemy |
threw fifty Ave or sixty shots. OF
shese "a struck in the fort. or buildings |
% the 'faft, causing the death Of one |
nan only q non CON bsiant) aud |
one soldier AT 8 N. the |
enemy sent in a q az OF truce demand |
ng surrender of the place. This |
vas refused by Col Campbell. Gen.
Forest then again demanded the sur
ender az the place, stating that he
lad suf4loiens forge TO take II. and Of
cred to show bis force 10 Col. Camp: |
,ell. Col. Campbell then called q |
oupsel of officers commanding de |
Ia which council we were |
informed but two officers voted in |
aVor of q suErsnderl neither OF. them |
ad q com mand in the fort &C the time |
his council was held. But eight were
consulted. and OF these eight there |
we're several who had no command |
present with them in the fort, while |
Ulcers who had the largest commaHds |
were excluded. Ter .-fsr
e Col. Campbell, after reviewing the
forces of tie enemy. returned ~ the
fOrt, saving that the iiU In rn-n III |
down the h4e ~ thus 81 irendsr .nv
the best ferHfications on The nae Of
the Nashville and Decatur Railroad.
We sisO feel tt our duty to make
mention Of the bearing and DISPOSE
ton on the part of The men to surren.
der, or to avoid a fight. It was just
the reverse. Officers had TO exert
BILL their authority. even To threaten to
'hoot their own men to restrain them |
rom exposing themselves.
The soldiers Were anxious to try |
with Gen. Forrest, beliv- |
ug in such q work that they could |
rot be taken by ten times their num-
Der
When told that the fort hal been |
'urrehdered and that they we're psis->
laeFs, they could scarcely Give them. /
,tives, but with tears demanded that |
he eight should go on, preferrine 10 I
lie in the fort they had made, to being
iansffrred to ths teuder mercies Of |
Zen. Forest and is'meu,
Another thing should be taken into |
viz: That We were on
be point of receiving reinforcements.
While the truce WAS in operation
nd during the time occupied by Col.