Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-30

CdlmIy OH WullG tue eHGLQy lIUm N1I- ginia reveled in the fat of the land. Tn fact, they needed some of the good things themselves. being far away from their supply depots, with rugged noun tains intervening. Troopers in blue kept at the heels of Longstreet's rear guard, and as the Confederates went into permanent camp forage between the lines soon gave out. By the middle of January the Federal draft animals were dying for lack of forage, and the men were living on part rations, hauled from Chattanooga by wagons. The rich country south of the French Broad was as yet untouched by foragers, and General Foster decided to march his whole army into that region. Grant had ordered him to drive Longstreet out of east Tennessee and keep him out. Foster thought that his advance up the south bank of the French Broad would force the enemy back toward Virginia.
 On the 18th of January three Fed eral corps, preceded by cavalry, ad- vanced across the Holston at Straw berry Plains into the angle between that river and the French Broad, in- tending 10 cross the latter southward on floating bridge. Longstreet's cav airy under General Martin detected the move of the enemy, and Longstreet chose to fight rather than turn his men out of their comfortable winter, huts and retreat, as he must do if the Fed erals gained his flank south of the riv- CT. With two divisions he marched to give battle at Dandridge, but Foster promptly retreated and took up win ter quarters at Knoxville.
 Meanwhile the Federal cavalry corps under General s. D. Sturgis, three divi- sions strong, had marched from Knox vile across the HoIston up the south side of the French Broad, living off the country and only sparing what was necessary to support the inhabitants who were friendly to the northern flag. Getting news of this new danger on his southern flank, Longstreet sent General Martins cavalry across the French Broad and ordered Armstrong s division to follow and get in the rear of the Federals. As there was not
 enough corn and wheat in the land to feed two armies, Sturgis decided to fight the newcomers.
 General Martin first fell upon the
 isolated brigade of Colonel Campbell of McCooks division with Morgan's command Sturgis hoped to destroy ] Morgan before Armstrong's men
 reached the field and, leaving strong guards to hold the road against Arm strong, threw his whole command, con- sisting of McCook's, Woolford's and l Garrard's divisions, into the fray near 1 Fair Garden. Campbelrs brigade was l roughly handled, but Colonel La Oranges brigade galloped to the scene
 and beat the Confederate troopers back until it reached an open field which
 was raked by the enemy's battery. Halting his line under shelter, La
 Grange formed for a grand rush. A I column of dismounted men advanced to within 150 yards of the battery, and l the Fourth Indiana cavalry charged ] forward in column of fours. Seeing the
 danger, the battery limbered up and moved back through the line of mount. l ed supports, which opened right and
 left to make way for the guns. The l Confederate supports outnumbered the | Indianians, but the Hoosiers were bent
 upon capturing the guns. Two compa- I nies dashed on after the fleeing bat.
 tery, and Major Leslie wheeled four
 companies against the supports, who
 made stand around Morgan's battle l flag. This band was routed and the
 flag captured, with many of its defend
 CTS. The gallant Lesslie, however, was
 killed in the charge.
 Meanwhile the two companies over. l took the battery, sabered the drivers and stopped the running teams. Seeing l the small force of Federals with the l guns. a battalion of Confederates 1 turned and advanced to recapture
 them, but the four companies of Indi