The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-02

ducive with his own safety, and to intercept
Longstreei's rear, until be Grant repuised
Gen. Bragg, and that if he (Burnsde) got into
trouble he would assist him. Gen. Burnside
ordered me 10 retreat the army to Lenoir's
Station Nov. -. At II o'clock midnight. he
ordered the retreat to Campbell west of the
railroad station. at which place be ordered me
to assume command ofthe advance line of bat
tie TO intercept Gen. Longstreet's advance.
After the battle, Nov. 16, he ordered the retreat
TO Knoxville, where the army arrived at
daylight Nov. II, 1863.
Capt. Z. 81. Poe, Engineer in Chief OF the
Army Of the Ohio, consisting of the Twenty
third and Ninth Corps, assigned the troops
their respective positions on the line of defense
around Knoxville, the Second and Third
Divisions, Twenty-tbird Corps, on tho north of
the city, from the railroad to the Tennessee
River. Upon this line of defense was the fort
on Temperance Hill. occupied by the oath Ind.
and the Elgin (Ills.) batteries. The Ninth
Corps was on the west and southwest of the
city, while Gen. Sanders's dismounted infantry
were On the south, their left resting On the
right Of Fort Sanders; Lieut.. S. n. Ben
jamin's Regular battery, u. S. Art, to Fort
Sanders; Maj. Roemers battery (L) to the fort
on College Hill, east OF Fort Sanders which
completed the investment Of the city south to
the river. These two forts were situated on
the eminences south of Run No. 2, and were
formidable structures for military defense,
commanding all the approaches of the south to
the city OF Knoxville.
1t was in tho advance, and to the right of
Fort Sanders that Gen. Longstreet's advance
attacked Gen. Sanderss forces on the 18th and
18th Of November, ia which assault Gen. San
ders was killed HIS force was then roin forced
by Col. Ferrero's Brigade. consisting of the
10Th \. Y, the 69th Pa, and the 18th Mass, of
the Ninth Corps, and Col. Ferrero. with tue
rank Of Brigadier- General, was assigned TO the
command of the consolidated division by order
of Gen. Burnside.
/ still seemed to have been considered by
Gen. Burnside as general rcustabout on the
lines OF defense. At 9 q. m. November %, /
was orderdered TO report in person TO his
headquarters. After aseertaining the condi-
ton and vigilance of tho lines. their ability to
resist an assault. he informed me that he had
received unofficial information that Gen. Grant
had repulsed Gen. Braggis army at Chatta-
nooga, and Gen. Sherman, with his command,
was en- route for Knoxville; that if Gen. Long
street was not already informed of the result
he soon would be- and would surely attack
Knoxville before Gen. Sherman could arrive.
The conversation turned upon the probable
point OF attack, and Gen. Burnside strongly
asserted il would be at the river either north
or south of the city; that Fort Sanders being
the most available for Gen. Longstreet TO con
centrate his forces upon, it most likely would
he the point of attack, and the for. mast be re-
inforced, and that he had some doubts of the
propriety of trusting SO important a command
to so young officer as Lient. BENJAMIN.
i then yentured the query whether he had
any Regular officer in his army, with expert
euce in the field in command of artillery. to
relieve Lieut. Benjamin. 1t being decided
that Maj. Roemer could not be relieved from