The National tribune., 1898-08-11

serenade his colleague Judge Maynard, who
was staying at the house of a loyal citizen,
opposite the Courthouse, having been robbed
of house and home- After The band played,
the Judge made little speech, saying
that since he came home some of his
secesh friends complained to him about the
soldiers taking their corn, hay chickens, etc.
But" remarked Mr.. Maynard, II told
them that two years ago they voted in favor
of having soldiers come here, and / voted to
keep the army away; now feed them. /
have seen here Union men, women and
children hung up and beaten with the lash,
till almost the last breath was gone before
they were let down, simply because they
were devoted to the Constitution of the
United States, and refused TO dishonor her
Flag"
Even as Gen. Longstreet was LAYING his
plans how with his 80, 900 vets he ID besiege the
city and starve Burnsides garrison OF between
$4,000 and $4,000 men, we soldiers were re-
ceivingh lesson to let come what may, loyal
East Tennessee must not be abandoned.
Some 5000 sick and wounded men were in
the hospitals, with hunger staring US in the
face. On Nov. II the siege began, lasting
till Dec. 5, when the Fourth Corps. under
Gen. w. T. Sherman, came from Chattanooga,
and Burnside's army and East Tennessee
were saved to the Union. History records
the terrible assault made on Fort Sanders,
Sunday a. M Nov. 80, resulting in the loss
of about 900 killed. wounded and prisoners
of the Johnnies
We followed the enemy, fording the Hol-
sten River while freezing cold, Dec. Z,
marched to Strawberry Plains, where we re-
crossed the same river. A few days after, at
Beams Station, our forces briskly engaged the
enemy, who finally made good their escape
toward Virginia Below are extracts of a
letter written home, dated Dec. 81, '63.
''After the siege of Knoxville we followed
the rebels some so miles, when they flanked
us; so we retreated to near Cross Lanes, about
% miles from Knoxville, where we're forti-
flying. However, / am inclined to think
that Longstreet's forces hadn't better fool
with buzz-saw, as during the siege, when
they tried to capture the fort from veterans
of Ferrero's Division of the Ninth Corps. 1t
is beyond pen to describe the sufferings Of
our little army the past month, and it seems
there is still more in store tor US. !"
Since leaving Kentucky we'd drawn no
clothing Ours had served very well in the
heat OF summer, but were now, in the begin
ing of Winter, worn almost to shreds; so just
about the Winter sOistice we were marched
back to Strawberry Plains and placed on re
serve. For want of forage several of Shack
elfords regiments were dismounted, their
horses sent under escort to Kentucky. and
they came into camp with us. As provisions
were like at Knoxville, getting scarce, We
were now put ON half rations OF everything
but beef, which, for the want OF nutrition,
the boys named Jerk" Soon we were re-
duced to the last hardtack for day IS rations,
occasionally getting pint of meal, then
down to half-pint, and which the boys
gladly ate, without salt. Thus having been
fortunate in buying an ear of corn for %
cents we come down to hardpan on the last
day of 1851. F. BECKER, Clinton, o.