The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-01
KNOXVILLE.
How Gen. Burnside Learned of the Approach
of Gen. Sherman.

of Gen. Sherman.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AS Com
rade Gee E. DoltOn's article in the issue oi
Dec. % is substantially correct as far as the
published records go, shall confne myself
principally to one pJint-as to how Burnside
learned of the approach of Sherman on the
Cd of December. aud ! think l can throw
true light on the subject.
Comrade bottoms theory is possible,
but somewhat improbable. Our army on
the north side of the river was closely
invested all around, and it would have
been difficult for a courier or trusted "
person TO get through with dispatches, as
abe enemy were not asleep. On the south
side the enemy'S lines were not continuous.
The Sevierville road, up the south side OF
the French Broad River, was opened all the
time and only occasionally infested by in
significant scouting parties of the enemy.
The Maryville road was not closed, but was
generally well watched and guarded by the
enemy.
To reach Burnside by the south side, Fos-
tiers. or rather WilcOxs, dispatch-bearer
would have been compelled TO make long
detour, crossing the HOlstOn and French
Broad both, no mean obstacles at that time
of the year Byrd's courier from Kingston
would have been compelled to cross the we'll
guarded Holston or make long and dan
gerous detour. The time from the 29th of
November to the I'd of December l think
was hardly sufficient 10 cover the distance
and surm0unt obstacles in the way.
But to the point. 1t was the last days of
the siege of Knoxville. The enemy, after
their severe castigation on the south side of
the HolstOn River on the 25th of November,
and their terrible humiliation in charging
on Fort Sanders on the 29tb, were no longer
seriously aggressive; but other dangers
stared us in The face. Our small bread IA
tions of ground corn cob and wheat bran
were growing meageIly less every day.
Would 10 God that the pension-haters were
compelled as punishment to subsist for a
year, for each Offense, on our bouniiful, deli
CiOus diet at Knoxville. But / am wander
ing. The horses on the north side had
"chawed up all the plank fences in Knox
vile; on The south side they had skinned
all the bushes and trees in their reach.
The edge of the HOlstOn River was lined
for hundreds of yards with dead horses dogs,
and hogs, hauled there in the earlier part of
the siege TO prevent intolerable stencil. But
the teams had become too weak TO haul them
10 the river, and they were now lying all
through and around our camps. Starvation
and a threatened epidemic or plague were
now imminent. Times were becoming criti-
cal How long we could hold out was only
aquestiOn of time, and very short time.
Gen. Burnside deemed it necessary to
send some competent officer with a force
through the lines to find out, if possib e,
should reinfOrcements be coming 10 our aid !;
for We had by some means learned on the
Both Of November of Grants glorious VIC
tory at Missionary Ridge on the 24th-27th
Of the month.
Several secret expeditions had been sent
through the lines on the south side to gain
important information, among which one
was sent out on the night of the Goth of No
yembef, under Lieut.. 7. E. Milchrist, 112th
ILL.,, who went as far as Maryville, returned
safely, and reported valuable information to
Gen. Burnside, which was not recorded in
official reports.
For the proposed critical expedition Gen.
Burnside selected Iieut.-Col. Silas Adams,
of the LIST Ky. Cav, at the time command
Ing First Brigade, First Division, Cavalry
Corps, Army of the Ohio. (WOlford had as
sumed command Of Gen. Sabders's Division
after that gallant officers heroic and tragic
death on the 18th OF Noyember)
Adams had won fame throughout the war
ss a discreet, daring leader of dangerous
night expeditions at The head of either a
large or small body of men. Gen. Burnside
allowed him his own discretion as to the
number OF men he should take
Adams decided to take 800 men of his own
selection. He considered this number to he
of sufficient size to contend with any ordi-
nary scouting party, and at the same time
not too large TO be cumbersome. He had
orders to 90 as far south as practicable,
and go until he heard something He got
out without mOlestaiion, though he went
very near the camp of regiment of the
enemy. He went as far as Maryville, the
Couniyseat of Blount County There he
either heard the firing of artillery on the
Tennessee River in direction of London, or
heard Of 1t from loyal citizens. LAS there
are no written reports Of this night expedi-
ton, memories may be a little deficient. }
The firing of artillery heard was a certain
indication that help was approaching.
Adams's mission was ended. He now
started in silence on his return march.
Some chosen men Of Co. led the advance
When within a mile or TWO of the fortified
nights south of the Holstou the advance
was halted. The enemy were waylaying
for them.
Who are youp" and "Who are you ?"
were handled back and forward several
times. AS the size of the force lying in
wait was not known, Adams sent a man Ia
notify the advance TO quietly withdraw,
and turned squarely TO the right through a
dense woods, without even a path to guide
him.
The enemy opened few shots on the re-
firing men, but Adams directed that they
must not be returned. They soon came Ia
a creek bottom. Somewhere on this creek
m humble cabin was found. A citizen was
captured and pressed in as guide, with the
cOnsoling assurance that if he led them
wrong bis life machinery would be instantly
stopped.
BY narrow by-ways, over rough, craggy
places, and up steep activities he guided
our men safely around our own as well as
the enemy's lines down TO the bottom oil
the HolSton. Adams reported 10 Gen. Burn.
side in person, received his hearty thanks
for the valuable information, and congratu-
laiions for his safe return.
As Burnside's instructions and Adams's
report were both verbal, there are no records
of this night expedition. / was clerk al
Col Adams's headquarters at the time, and
can remember the night ride, its object and
results, as well as if they occurred only yes.
ferday and had written the particulars fol-
work now in press. / showed C0mTadt
bottoms article 10 Col. Adams {now at home
from Washington, and he is confident that
be is the first one who informed the Com.
manding General Of the approach of the