Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-04
THE sIEGE or KNoxvILLE.
Severe Criticisms to Which Gen. Long
street Has Been Subjected.

currences OF the late war have excited
more criticism than the siege OF Knoxville
by Gen. LOngsreet, That General has
been subjected to a general tusilade from
Confederate writer's. Possibly his politi-
cal affiliations have tended, in great
measure, to embitter ard prejudice the
tone Of remarks against him. He has even
been charged with reachery TO the cause
in whose behalf he had been a conspicn-
Gus champion. Such an accusation, am
satisfied, is unwarrarted.
The battle OF Chickamauga had seemed
70 give fresh confidence TO the waning
hopes of the Contederacy. That battle,
which resulted in practical victory to
the Confederate army under Gen. Bragg
and a corresponding Generalization Of
the Federal troops under Gen. Rosecrans,
stimulated tie hope on tie part OF the
ConfederStes of rescuing East Tennessee
from the grasp OF Burnside, who held his
position at Knoxville. Gen. Bragg, feel
IN relieved from MS own peril, detached
Gen. L0ngstreet and sent him to recap
ture knoxville, with force ample for tue
purpose. LOngslreet reached knoxville.
having driven back the FORCES OF Gen.
Burnside on his way, and sat down before
the city. Here is the point at which Gen.
LOngstreet suffered most in criticism.
When he stopped with his force two miles
west of Knoxville he could have entered
the city without the firing Of a gun.
Twenty-iour hours to Burnside with his
1000 troops was fatal to LOngstreeps eX-
peditlOn. After that he had no hope Of
capturing the city without a fierce as
saut. IL was to avoid the effects OF the
bombardment Of friendly town that Is
the charitable solution Of L0ngstreet's de-
law RnruEina fortified city
within night. His heavy artillery on
the heights south Of the river commanded
the approach 10 the city along the rivers
brink under the university hill. Col.
Poe, chief OF engineers, by notes in
the two creeks running through the city,
had by daylight flooded all northern APP
prOache6, aud within thirty-slX hours at
ter Longstreet's approach BuTnside's lit
tie army was safely entrenched. The as
sault upon Fort Sanders was one of the
most desperate Of the war. The Federals
had, by peculiar strategem, girdled the
Tort with telegraphic wires stretched from
stump TO stump Of the cedar trees they had
cut down, and thus the brave charging
force that mounted the hill at daylight
We're tripped and tumbled headlong into
the ditch, while haud-grenades with
4-second fuses were dropped upon them
from the DastiOn with deadly effect.
This charge upon Fort Sanders was Long
streets desperate and fatal effort.
Meanwhile the battle of Mission Ridge
had taken place; .Bragg's army was re-
pulsed; Gen. Grant mad come rapidly to
command at Chattanooga, detached Gen.
Gordon Granger's corps in pursuit of
Longstreet. That officer, bafiled by the
repulse at Fort Sanders, Was compelled
70 raise the siege and make a hastY exit
through upper East Tennessee. The de-
efense OF Knoxville under all circum-
stances was one OF the most gallant Of the
war. Notwithstanding its tragic results,
IL nevertheless has its ludicrous scenes,
Gen. Burnside became noted for his re-
gard Tor the Union element in East Ten
nessee. While he headed a sO-called army
OF invasion, he came with an intensely
friendly interest tor the people. He did
not regard himself as an invader, but a. a
'FescneT Of the population from oppres-
hfUn consequently ne manifested very
lively personal interest in such men as he
REGARDED as conspicuous friends TO the
Union cause, VINO might be subject TO e.
prisal on the other side as hostages tar
personal captiVes who had been sent as
political prisoners to Northern bastilas.
60 on the evening Of LOngstreet's APP
proach 10 Knoxville, anticipating his
probable surrender of the city. he directed
Gen. Carter, who was acting provost
marshal general, TO NOTIFY quite a number
OF such characters of the impending dan
ger.
The writer will never forget that night.
The rain fell in torrents. A messenger
reached him at his home from Gen. Car
ter, notifying him that the city would
probably be In the hands of the enemy BIZ
morning, and that all gentlemen who did
not feel like taking their chances with the
army had better make an immediate de-
parture Tor Kentucky. number of gen.
tiemen 10 Knoxville received a similar no.
Tlce, and under the circumstances. which
may net be considered as very cOmpii-
mentary 10 the personal Yalor of the party,
there We're soon cOngregated number Of
patriotic gentlemen, who had concluded
that their personal interests lay in the d.
rectiOn OF more northern latitude, OF
these / remember Col. A. A. Kyle, Col.
John Netherland, Judge 0. +. Temple,
Hon. w. q. BrOwnlOw, Chancellor Samuel
a. Rogers, Judge John Baxter, Thomas
a. X. Nelson, with several others, who
believed themselves OF sufficient impor-
lance TO attract the special attention Of
Gen. LOngstreet were gathered together
on Gay street prepared tor a hasty depart
ure. At that time no consideration of
patriotic interest or domestic regard op-
Grated 10 restrain the impending flight.
How they became so suddenly mounted
and upon such satisfactory horses is not
now recollected. 1t is we'll remembered,
however, that in spite OF the rain we
made hasty exit in charge OF staff officer
Capt. A. j. Kicks, who passed us through
The picket lines some eight miles from
Knoxville and babe us God-speed on our
way TO Kentucky.
That nights ride was peculiarly solemn
and ludicr0us. IL was known that the Con-
federate cavalry were operating in the up
per section Of the State, and the danger of
being Intercepted before reaching some
friendly gap Of the Cumberland noun
tains was too imminent to give restful
condition even to patriotic spirits 1t is
not my idea 10 attempt TO sketch all the
incidents, or any considerable part Of
them, Of that nights ride.
should probably state here that In
naming the distinguished gentlemen who
constituted that midnight cavalcade, my
motives are wholly unmalicious, and have
no fnrther scope than that Of perpetuating
~ sportye spirit memorable adventure.
j believe l have already mentioned that
Or. W. }. BrOwnlow, after Governor and
Senator, was one Of the ilustriOus vOy-
ayers. NO man appreciated practical
joke, even when specially affecting HIM
self, with kecner relish than he.
The alarm Of LOngstreet's approach had
spread like wild IRE toward the noun
tains, and the patriotic population were
aroused 70 a state OF Characteristic excite