The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-08
SAVING The NATION.
The Story Of the War Retold for Our
Boys and Girls.
LXXV.
BY CARLETON"
lCoPYEIGuTED.-ALL RIGHTS Reserved

| HOlSton, with numerous smaller streams, all
together forming Tennessee River, which flows
| long distance southwest, through Northern
Alabama, then cuts across the States of Ten
| nessee ana Kentucky and joins the Ohio.
! North of the Tennessee is the Cumberland, riS-
| ing in the Cumberland Mountains and running
| through the State of Kentucky to the Ohio.
! One of the rivulets has its rise in the depres-
sion of the mountains known as Cumberland
| Gap through which Daniel Boone, away back
before the Revolutionary War, in 1859 with a
| party of hunters passed-the first white men
| that ever looked down from the summit upon
| the beautiful valley stretching far away to the
| fertile grounds where the deer We're feeding
upon the luxuriant blue grass growing in the
| open spaces of the forest.
| In this region of mountains and streams the
| people loved the old flag. They owned small
farms. Cotton would not grow in the noun
| tain valleys, where in Midwinter the snow COW
| cred the hillsides. They earned their own
| bread. There were few slaves. Why should
the free and independent farmers turn away
| from Government which never had oppressed
| them? From the outset they opposed secession.
| When the war broke out the Secessionists used
| every argument to induce them to join the
| Confederacy, but they resisted all persuasion.
| Then came persecution. Confederate troops
took possession of Knoxville and all the large
| towns arresting the men who loved the old
| flag, putting them in prison, whipping and
maltreating them.
Some were put to torture many were hung.
! Men who called themselves the police rode
through the country, coming upon people who
| lived in OGt-of-the-way places suddenly, hang
| ing them to the nearest trees. Many of the
! Union men escaped to Kentucky and Ohio,
| others fed to the mountains and lived in caves.
| going stealthily back to their homes by night
| to see their suffering families.
The history of the war in East Tennessee, if
( IL pnTYlH no pnrraoflv vrOr,16 ha a
sad one But no persecution, no hanging, could
bring the loyal mountaineerS to willingly Join
the Confederate army. 1t was the duty of
Abraham Lincoln, as President, to do all in his
power to relieve these loyal men.
BURNsIDE's ARMY OF RELIEF.
Not till after Vicksburg had been taken by
Gen. Grant could troops be spared for move
ment for the relief of these people Gen. Buck
ner, with several thousand COnfederateS was
at Knoxville. The troops of the Twenty third
Corps, under Gen. Burnside were to drive him
out and hold the railroad leading from Virginia,
over which the Confederate troops could pass
from west to east, or east to west, as needed.
By holding that railroad the Confederate army
would be greatly embarrassed. If East Ten
nessee could be gained and held, it would be
great gain. Gen. RosecranS was to advance to-
ward Chattanooga at the same time that Burn
side was to move for Knoxville. You have
already seen how Rosecrans compelled Bragg
to retreat to Chattanooga; how beautifully
Rosecrans then manuvered him out of Chatta-
nooga, but how Bragg gained the great battle
Of Chickamauga.
On Aug 81, 1863, we see Burnsidesa rmy adj
vancing in two columns-one under Gen. Hart
suf, moving through Somerset, i'll Kentucky,
near the battle-ground of Mill Springs; the
other through Jacksboro, under Gen. Foster.
There was body of Confederates at Cum
berland Gap, and Burnside, to conceal his real
movement, sent COL DeCOurcey in that direc-
ton to attract attention, as ifhe were about to
move his whole force to gain that mountain
gateway.
The army left all heavy baggage behind.
The troops were to AXE not the great travelled
roads, but roads little used. The baggage was
taken on pack mules Wagon trains were to
follow on the great roads.
For IA days the troops marched, starting
early in the morning and keeping on till the
stars appeared at night. The men were
stronger than the mules, for hundreds of ami
mails dropped by the roadside, while the men
moved on, climbing the rugged hillsides, drag
ging the cannon when the horses gave out
1t was surprise to the Confederate army
under Buckner at Knoxville, who hastily left,
retreating into Georgia to join Gen. Bragg. not
even notifying the commander at Cumberland
Gap. In IA days the troops marched $50 miles,
and gained possession of East Tennessee with
out battle.
How the people welcomed them, Wherever
they appeared the old flag, which had been con-
cealed under carpets, or sewed up in feather
beds, or buried in the ground, was once
more flung out to the winds Tears of
joy streamed down the cheeks of old men,
while the young men were ready to enlist in
the service, to fight those who had made life so
bitter. The housewives kept their ovens glow
ing day and night to bake bread for the soldiers.
Nothing was too good to give them. Between
Kingston and Knoxville, at a cross roads, stood
20 women and girls with bread and fried
chicken, waving the Stars and Stripes and
shouting Hurrah for the Union!"
The advance of Gen. Burnside was so rapid
that Gen. Buckner did not have time to destroy
the Confederate arsenal, machine shops, loco
motives and railway material all of which fell
into Burnsde's hands. On Sept. he entered
Knoxville amid the shouts of the people-took
possession of the line of railroad leading to
Virginia From that day ON the old flag was to
wave in triumph above the town.
CAPTURE OF CUMBERLAND GAP.
1t is so miles from Knoxville to Cumberland
Gap. The route is across mountain ranges. On
the morning of Sept. L. body Of Union troops
under Gen. Shackelford, was sent toward Knox
vile. Gen. Burnside followed. Two days
later the troops were closing in upon Gen.
Frazer, commanding the COnfederates in the
fort. They could not escape and on the 9th
rendered his $500 troops, IL cannon. and a
large amount of ammunition. By rapid march |
ing, quick action, and admirable strategy, East |
Tennessee was recovered to the Union without |
q battle.
But the following week came the battle of |
with its train of disasters, and |
Burnside, instead of moving. as he had planned, /
to strike second blow, was put upon the defen- |
sive.
CHATTANOOGA.
You have already read about the arrival of /
Gen. Grant at Chattanooga; how the army there !
was having hard time. with very little to eat, |
the horses and mules all dying, the hospitals |
filed with sick; how Hooker with two army
corps, cannon, horses, equipments was trans
ported in week from the Rappahannock in
Virginia more than 900 miles to the banks of
the Tennessee; how Sherman came from Vicks-
burg marching ali the way from Memphis
how Bragg, commanding the Confederates, sent
Longstreet to check Burnside and how Grant
organized the movement against
him, swinging Hooker over Lookout Mountain,
sending Sherman to pound against the northern
end of Missionary Ridge, and lanching Thomas's
troops like a thunderbolt against it, driving
Bragg at every point, capturing many OF his
cannon, and winning great victory.
LONGsTREET'S MOVEMENT.
We have now come to LOngStreet's move
neut against Burnside at Knoxville. If you
we're to visit Knoxville yOu would see pleasant
own, beautifully situated on the north side of
The Hoston River, the main branch of the Up
Der Tennessee. 1t winds southwest through
beautiful valley with the railroad running
,oroer f,raap folds aInnO ire portbarp hapE |