The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-04-17

while deep ditch, almost impossible to leap
over, encrcled the fort. Lit was sad scene as
we witnessed those rebel troops hurled against
such a tower of strength, and felt certain it
could end only in disaster.
THE ATTACK.
Across the railroad, up the gentle slope, and
through the stumps they came, while our guns
were making havoc among their ranks. On they
came, never fal tering with that we'll known war
YELL the stumps that the wires were attached
to are reached, and down they fall amid
charges of grape and canister. while the steady
fire of the infantry from the adjoining rife
pits, although destructive, did not deter them
from rushing forward. They filled the ditch,
and every foot of grosnd gave evidence of
their great courage. Lighted shells with short
fuses and hand grenades were thrown over in
the ditch and in another moment through the
smoke we discovered another brigade closed
en- masse rushing on to meet the same fate as
our guns opened on them with renewed yigor.
Yells mingled with groans as they fell, and,
unable to stand such q scorching fire, they
broke and fled to the rear the few who re-
turned in safety were truly fortunate. One
or two leaped the ditch, climbed the parapet,
| and planted the eolors on the fort, but only
for moment as they were instantly hauled
in by our men. Such deeds of heroism are
rarely recorded and we could not help but
admire their pluck as they were marched off
as prisoners of war.
Before the smell of powder and smoke had
passed away, /, with q few others, passed out
of the fort over the ditch on aplank and looked
on that scene of slaughter. Such a spectacle
never again want to witness! Men literally
! torn to pieces lay all around-some in the last
/ throcs of death, others groaning and their
! faces distorted under the severe pains from
/ their CHASTITY wounds. Arms and limbs, torn
from their bodies, lay scattered around, while
j font fsn6 %oolc nf
| The ground also was strewn with split guns,
/ bayonets and equipments, not to speak of hats
and boots Over hundred dead bodies were
/ taken from the ditch alone while the vast
number of the wounded were being carefully
carried within the lines to receive the best
care in our hospitals; as they passed by us
/ on stretchers their meanings were pitiful to
hear. Three hundred prisoners fell into our
hands, representing eleven regiments, and it
was evident to US that the enemy had met with
q fearful loss, while ours was comparatively
! slight.
A flag of truce having been granted the enc
my until o'clock, burial parties were sent out,
and for an hour or two they were busy burying
their dead who were laid in rows and covered
over with the soil. At the appointed time the
signal gun from the fort was fired, the truce
was at an end, and Fort Sanders resumed its
| wonted aspect.
/ This was Longstreet's last attempt to carry
or dine in Knoxville and when he heard that
! General Sherman was coming to our aid with
1 $4,000 men, at once decided to raise the siege,
pass ON to Virginia, and join Lee.
/ Thus ended the siege of Knoxville, after
| a period of six weeks, and, few days
after, that section of the country was again
free from the presence of the enemy. Our
little army, divided In squads marched out in
- mn afc 0ola xear
oyertaken and captured and when we reached
the log hut of some poor but loyal settler,
| the welcome we received vas both genuine
and hearty. Those who had been obliged To
| surrender their homes as a military neees-
sity now returned, only TO find them thor
oughly ransacked or pierced with bullets and
| shells like sieve. Their fences and piazzas
had been turned into fuel to warm their enc
mics, their shrubbery tranpled under foot
while their once happy homes were almost
wrecks.
Such were some of the sufferings of the loyal
people of East Tennessee, but many of them
kept up strong hearts, buoyed with patriotism
through all their troubles.
1t so happened that during the six or even
weeks of the siege many visitors from ada
cent places were shut up in Knoxville and
could not return to their homes. The news
came SO suddenly upon them that the Union
army had fallen back upon the town and were
intrenching themselves as to give them ns
time to return; others fyere afraid TO ven
ture out and place themselves between tht
lines of both armies. These persons were
obliged to accept the Inequalities of then
friends until the siege was raised.
A PLEASANT SURPRISE.
One loyal man thus kept from his home
stopped with friend directly opposite oul
headquarters. We all became quite intimate
with him. After the siege we marched east
ward to Strawberry Plains and Rutiedge leay-
ing our baggage and camp equipage in charge
of an officer IN case We returned. Our division
commander, fer some reason, wanted one of hi:
staff TO 60 back to Knoxville so | volunteered
Mounting a fresh horse, and taking an orderly
with me, we started about an hour before dark
and ere we had gone five miles binding
snow-storm set in, aud | decided not to try /,
reach Knoxville if we could find good aceonmo
dation On the road. At the first house we came
to We applied for supper and lodging, and mag
Inc my surprise to find III the head Of the bous.
the very man | had met SO often and was 81
} friendly with during the siege. 1t seemed iik'
nesting an old friend and in five minutes h.
made us feel as though we belonged there. Th,
, horses were well foddered and bedded for tn,
night, while the orderly and myself enjoyed
good hot supper preparatory to sleeping on
feather bed for the first time since | left home
Just before retiring this kind-hearted MAJ
took us IN an adjoining bedroom, and IN thu
bed lay wounded Confederate, who had beer
taken in and cared for. Here was fallen foe
yet no one could see his pale and emaciated fac
} and his forlorn condition, away from home ant
friends, and separated even from his comrades
without feeling pity for him. Our host told u
that wounded soldier on whichever side h
fought, was welcome to food and shelter as Ion,
} as he had it to share.
The next morning we rode into Knoxville
: passing the division of Gen. Gordon Granger
who came so quickly to our relief and VIII
took our places while we followed Longstree
eastward Hero it was / first saw Gen. Phi
Sheridan, who was then a division commando
under General Granger, and at that time hal
: acquired but little fame. A few months late
he was the hero of Winchester.
Burnside continued following up Longstree
until he had driven him into the mouistsins O
East Tennessee, and here the campaign ended
Our men were sorely in need of clothing AM
. shoes, and were living on the scantiest of fare
3 Rations of coffee had given out several day
! before, and when at Rutledgc bin of rye wa
q found and quickly confiscated, the men parch
ing it and using it as substitute for coffee.
With all these discomforts, adding theret
r the bitter cold weather, with ice and snow al
{ about US, the spirit of the men was surprising
and soon after, when the question of re-enlist
:, ment arose, whole regiments with uplifte
Q hands, swore to serve their country still longer
Twenty years have passed since then, an
4 the number of participators III this campaig
are gradually dwindling away. Those who ca
still answer the roil-call and who by chanc
9 should peruse this sketch, will, no doubt, re