Year: 1863

The Assault on KnOxville-Yankee account


OF the GaIlantry the COnfederates.


The New York papers contain a long account Of
the assault made by portion of Gen. Longstrect's
force on Knoxville. The night had been very cold,
and at dawn next morning the Confederates were
seen advancing in three lines to the assault. A
heavy artillery fire was Immediately opened upon
them. Despite the storm of canister, which howltd
around them on came the rebel host with brigade
'front.' slowly pouring over the railroad cut and anon
quckening in motion as the ground presented less
obstruction until at last emerging from the nearest
timber, they broke into


THE CHARGE.


Across the open space which interVened between
the timber and the fort and which was crossed with
legs and the stumps of feled trees, they now came
at impetuous speed. The first check was given when
the foremost column stumbled over a line Of tele-
graph wire, which had been strerched through the
low brush and cOiled from stump to stump out of
ordinary view. As they halted here momentarly,
one falling over another, until the cause of the ob-
structon was discovered, our batteries i'll the fort
had full play, and Berjamin Buckley, and Roemer
poured in their rounds quick and fast while the in
fanry of Ferrero kept up CALLING fire from musket-
ry. The embrasures of the fort and the whole line
OF the parapet bazed at once with discharges Still
the rebels pressed on their battle flags of red with
cross of blue floating above their heads, over the
serried line of bayonets. Rallying over the tenn
porary obstruction, leaping the stumps and logs,
and pushing through the brush, they were within
pistol shot of the fort Our men during the last few
minutes, had received orders to reserve their fire
until each could single out his target at close range
while Benjamin treble shotted his guns and Buck
ley loaded with his terrible canister.


THE REPULsE, ROUTE, AED RETREAT.


And now, together, all launched forth. The
effect was terrific, Broken in their line, few of
the more desperate of the rebels spring into the
ditch, clambered up the gacis, and almost side by
side with the flag of the Union planted the banner
of treason. But, confused panic stricken, the rear
| Of the column gave way and retreated down the
hill Others again. afraid to advance retire in the
face of what was certain DEATH and appalled, by the
heaps of slain which strewed the field, threw down
| their arms and surrendered. The most desperate
and gallant band they were-remained fast by
their officers, who valiantly kept the lead to the
very fort itself, and following them they jumped
into the ditch attempted to scale the gacs, each to
receive his death wound as his head appeared above
the parapet. captain, IN words which would
sound oddly at so thrilling moment, and in Ian
! guage more forcble than polite, demanded the sur
render of the garrison he pushed his body through
one of the embrasures and faced the very muZZe OF
| the cannon. His answer was the discharge Of the
| piece, when, rent limb from limb, his mangleG
| corpse or what was left of it, was hurled outward
into the air. His comrades, still lurking around the
! corners of the trench essaying by every means to
get within the work. were row subjected to the fire
Of hand grenadcs, which Lieut.. Benjamin extempo-
rized by cutting short his uses which he lit when
| he tossed the shells over the edge of the parapet-
Baffled at every point, and finding themselves
supported by the rest Of the charging column, they
surrendered, and were hauled within the fort,
though not until the trench was piled with the dead
| and dying.


As the main body gave way and fell back the
carnage among them was fearful. Their dIsordered
line at length disappeared within the timber, while
wild huzza went up from our victorious boys. A
few struggling shots around the angle of the fort
and in the trenches, mingled with the heartrending
means of the wounded and dying, and the fight was
over. The grand assault had been made and re-
pulsed; the Storming party which had advanced so
lately in all the pride and confidence of veterans,
| had met an enemy their equal at least and was now
I scattered mob in the woods beyond. In short,
| Knoxville was still ours!


TRUCE-BURIAL OF THE DEAD.


And now, how sudden the transformation of man
from fiend to angel! The agonizing cries of the
wounded and dying called out the better feelings Of
humanity, and on the very spot where an hour
before the combatants were struggling in deadly
strife, they now commingled in the Offices of char
! ty. The wounded in the trenches were first re-
leved by Captain SwinScoe and Lieutenant Benja
min, who went to their immediate assistance with
canIeens Of water and liquor. The trench presented
CHASTITY sight with the mangied bodies and pool:
of blood, while the field beyond was strewn with
the same terrible objects. Coonels Bowen and
Babcock, Of General Potter's staff, soon after mad
| their appearance with formal flag of truce, ant
passed out upon the Kingston or Loudo1 road, unit
halted by the enemys skirnish line, They were
met, after brief delay, by Colonel Sorrell of Gen
eral Longst-eets staff wien cessation Ofhostilitie
was agreed upon, to last until 8, p. m, to permi
the nterment of the dead who were lying along Ou
lines, and the exchange of the wounded.