Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
[E,a.;5|k}bKITLES and LEADERS q mt OWL
When Longstreet Besieged Burnside in Knoxville

left. the mountain they were still as
lively as ever.
It was at last decided by Gen. Bragg
not to attempt to maneuver Rosecrans
out of Chattanooga, but to detach Long
street and send him to try to capture
Burnside, who was at Knoxville with
force Of about 1000 effective men. On
the night of November 4 We withdrew
from Lookout mountain. and the next
day marched to Tyner's station, few
miles east Of Chattanooga, whence with
Longstreet's two divisions of infantry.
Hoods (under Jenkins) and McLaws',
about 10000 infantry, we were to be taken
by rail as far as Sweetwater. Tenn, sixty
five miles northeast of Chattanooga and
about thirty-five miles southwest of
Knoxville. The infantry was sent in adj
vance, and the railroad was so taxed to
do this that we were detained at Tyner's
until the 10th, and meanwhile nearly
starved, as rations had been provided for
only half that time.
~
At length, about noon on the 10th,
train of fiat cars came for us and the
guns and men were loaded, the horses
being sent afoot 1t was cold and windy
night, and we suffered a great deal on
the open cars. There was very insufff-
cient water and wood supply on the road,
and the troops had to bail water and chop
up fence rails for the engine. The jour
ney of only sixty miles occupied the whole
afternoon and night. On the 18th we
moved from Sweetwater with the infan-
try and a pontoon train and our artillery
was reinforced by Leyden's battalion OF
twelve guns, giving us in all thirty-dve.
Owing to the scarcity of horses We were
compelled to use oxen to haul the Gals
sons.
We encamped near Sweetwater for two
days, while secret "Reminiscences were
made of the enemy's position across the
Tennessee river at Loudon, ten miles dis
tant, and commissary. quartermaster ana
ordnance trains were organized and
equipped. On the 18th. Friday, we march
ed to Huffs Ferry, about two miles by
land below Loudon, which point had been
selected for our crossing.
Everything was kept out of sight OF the
enemy, and soon after dark some pom
toons were carried by hand to the river.
a half-mile below the ferry, and party
of infantry ferried over. to try to sur
round and capture the Federal picket
which was posted on their side. This
part of the program, however, failed,
from the vigilance of the Federal sentries.
They all escaped, and probably carried
the news to Burnside that we were cross
ing In force, for early next morning a
strong reconnaissance was pushed on US
by the enemy as the last OF our troops
were crossing the pontoon which had been
constructed during the night
~
We drove it back, and, organizing a
strong advance guard. we pushed forward
vigorously in the effort to bring Burn
side to bay and defeat him before he
could get back and concentrate behind
the Notifications about Knoxville. This
he had set out to do as soon as he ap-
preciated the situation. sending his trains
ahead and covering them with his whole
force.
For three days there ensued a sort of
running skirmish covering the whole dis
lance to Knoxville, about thirty miles. 1t
was not rapid progress, but the days were