USA > Indiana > The soldier of Indiana in the war for the union, Vol. II > Part 42
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General Burnside was now able to concentrate near and below Knoxville, preparatory to a withdrawal from East Tennessee. But it was too late. The battle had been fought and lost. There could be no retrieval of the great defeat on the Chickamauga, even by the sacrifice of East Tennessee. Accordingly he remained and returned to his previous style of operation, scattering his command, in divisions and brig- ades, over the territory he desired to hold.
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The first week in October he was reinforced by the Ninth corps, with a new division, under General Wilcox. Beside a Michigan and an Ohio battery, Wilcox's division consisted entirely of Indiana troops,-the six months' regiments brig- aded together, under Colonel Mahan, the Twenty-Third bat- tery, the Second and Third battalions of the Sixth cavalry, and Companies L and M, of the Third cavalry, sent, for the first time, into the field, although organized in Decem- ber, 1862.
Meantime General Jones returned to the valley, from which, by the battle of Blountsville, he had been expelled, and established himself at Blue Springs, near Bull's Gap. Here he was soon confronted by General Burnside, with the newly arrived reinforcement, and a large cavalry force; but he was willing to fight, and held his ground. Engaging his attention by skirmishers, Burnside directed Foster's brigade to move by way of Rogersville to Rheatown, in order to cut off his retreat, and after the lapse of a sufficient time, made a heavy attack. He gained a decided advantage, but the enemy effected a retreat during the following night, Foster withdrawing his small and fatigued force from attack, except the Fifth cavalry, which, having been thrown forward, came severely in contact with the retreating Rebels, and fought several hours with great bravery. Colonel Foster followed the enemy beyond Bristol, in Virginia, skirmishing with his rear.
The Union loss at Blue Springs, and in the pursuit, was about one hundred, twenty-eight of whom belonged to the Fifth Indiana. One hundred and fifty Rebels were cap- tured.
About the middle of October Bragg began demonstrations south of Knoxville, up the railroad as far as Sweetwater. On the twentieth a large body of cavalry and infantry pressed unexpectedly and heavily upon Colonel Wolford, who, with a force of two thousand, including the Fifteenth and Twen- ty-Fourth Indiana batteries, was in and near Philadelphia, not far from Loudon. Wolford kept his ground several hours, hoping the sound of his guns would bring reinforcements, but he was at length forced to retreat, with the loss of many men
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491
BURNSIDE SPREADS A NET.
by capture, beside a number of wagons, and three guns. Near the same time a body of Union cavalry was routed at Rogersville.
General Burnside's isolated and inaccessible position be- came, with each day, more precarious. President Lincoln, General Halleck and General Grant were filled with the deepest solicitude in regard to it, especially the two first. "Hold fast, even if you should lose half your cavalry," was the sum of Grant's orders, and he seemed to have every con- fidence in Burnside's resolution. The President and Halleck, on the contrary, could not rest, and constantly expressed their anxiety.
Nothing was further from the thoughts of the deliverer of East Tennessee than retreat or surrender.
Early in November General Longstreet, with Hood's and McLaws' divisions, Wheeler's cavalry and eighty guns, reached Sweetwater, whence he approached Loudon, driving the Union outposts from the hills on the southern side of the river.
General Grant, well pleased by the decrease of the force in his front, directed Burnside to hold Longstreet engaged, yet well aware of the increased danger of his subordinate and coadjutor, he repeatedly and emphatically promised re- lief within a week from the fourteenth of the month. Ac- cordingly Burnside prepared to allure the advancing Rebel General to the vicinity of Knoxville, and hold him there un- til the arrival of assistance. He said: "If we concentrate in the neighborhood of Loudon, the enemy will have the ad- vantage of being able to reinforce from the rear, whereas, if we concentrate near Knoxville, not only the present force of the enemy, but all reinforcements would have to march forty miles (from Loudon) before fighting. Should he cross either river, and move to attack us in this neighborhood, he will be so far from the main body of Bragg's army that he cannot be recalled in time to assist it in case Thomas finds himself in condition to make an attack after Sherman comes up."
At nine at night of November 13, Captain Sims, of the Twenty-Fourth battery, informed General White, in com- mand of the Second division of the Twenty-Third corps, on
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THE SOLDIER OF INDIANA.
the heights opposite Loudon, that the Rebels on the south- ern hills were stirring as if largely reinforced, and on the point of an important movement. Before midnight it was discovered that they were building a pontoon bridge a few miles below. General White immediately withdrew six miles, to Lenoir's Station. He had not halted when he was ordered to face about by General Burnside, who also marched southward with the Ninth corps to hold the enemy in check until the safety of the trains was secured. Rain poured down in torrents, but over rocky hills and through muddy gullies artillery, cavalry and infantry toiled fourteen miles. They met skirmishers at four, and pressed them until they reached the enemy's position at dark, when they formed their line and stacked their arms. The night was so unfavorable that the enemy ventured no attack, and the troops slept on the soaking ground undisturbed, except now and then by the firing of a single gun. At daylight of the fifteenth, as quietly as possible, they set to work at the tedious and hazardous task of drawing the enemy on. Early in the afternoon, at Lenoir's, they were compelled to make a stand, while a body of mounted infantry, with artillery, hastencd toward Knoxville to seize the junction of the road from Lenoir's with three or four other roads at Campbell's Station. The enemy, anx- ious to gain the same point, pressed hard on the line during the afternoon and evening, endeavoring especially to strike back the left flank; but he met with no success. In the long and bitter cold night which followed, utter darkness and per- fect silence were maintained. Not a fire was kindled, not a word was spoken above a whisper. To guard against even the possibility of a sound which might betray the position, the canteens and tin-cups of the soldiers were put in their haversacks. At daybreak such transportation, ammunition and private property as had not been moved were consumed, and the retreat was resumed. On reaching Campbell's Sta- tion, which the mounted infantry, by hot haste and with great difficulty had gained and now held, line of battle was formed on a ridge, Ferrero's division on the right, White's in the centre, and Hartsuff's on the left, with cavalry on both
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LONGSTREET BELEAGUERS KNOXVILLE.
flanks, light batteries between infantry and cavalry, and heavy artillery in the centre.
The Rebels, in greatly superior numbers, pressed hard and close, extremely unwilling to lose a point for which they had reserved their strength. They made repeated charges, turn- ing from right to centre and from centre to left, but not hav- ing been able to bring up their artillery, they were worsted by artillery at each onset. Late in the afternoon, by the arrival of their batteries, they were able to advance in tre- mendous force toward the left. Burnside baffled them by withdrawing to a second ridge. Here he held his own until night, when again he took up the march. Knoxville was sixteen miles off, the road was muddy, the night was dark, and both men and horses were oppressed with sleep and fatigue. They could scarcely lift one foot after the other. Nevertheless the hard march was made.
At four in the morning, the advance began to arrive, the soldiers falling asleep as they entered the streets. But it was no time for sleep, and they were pitilessly aroused to take position and to dig intrenchments.
The Ninth corps was posted on the west; the Twenty- Third corps was stationed on the north and cast, and a large proportion of cavalry south of the town on the south bank of the river, with batteries at intervals. Von Sehlen's battery was on the right of the Ninth corps, supported by Hartranft's brigade. Captain Sims' battery and one section of Captain Thomas', Wilder battery, were on the north-east, and with two other batteries, were supported by White's and Hascall's divisions. Two sections of the Wilder battery, with other artillery, were posted on the heights south of the river.
The enemy appeared at noon of the seventeenth, but was held in check by cavalry until the next day, when fortifica- tions, built by soldiers, with the assistance of citizens and negroes pressed into the service, encircled the town. As the cavalry fell back the Rebels established their lines within rifle range of the defences. During several following days, with the exception of slight skirmishing, both armies occu- pied themselves in strengthening their position. The Reb- els converted four hundred acres of timber into breastworks
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THE SOLDIER OF INDIANA.
and fortifications for rifle pits, making about two and a half miles of permanent works to command the north and west of the city. They built log huts and made themselves com- fortable, as if they meant to stay during the winter, and were entirely oblivious of the necessities and condition of the great army from which they had been detached. .
Of the defenders of the besieged city each man and officer was on picket duty every third day, twenty-four uninterrupted hours, being detailed the morning of one day to remain on post until the morning of the next. When not on picket every man was in the trenches, where, at night, one in four, sometimes one in three, was kept awake. Biddle's batallion, beside making reconnoisances of the enemy's lines nearly every day as cavalry, performed duty as infantry on the skirmish line. As the place was not supplied for a siege, coffee and sugar soon disappeared, and bread made of mixed meal and flour with a small allowance of fresh pork, formed the sole articles of food. On these short rations the soldiers were active scouts, vigilant sentinels, and patient laborers. Reminded by General Burnside of the trying times in which the forefathers instituted the national Thanksgiving, they ob- served the appointed day, the twenty-sixth of November, eat- ing their corn bread with gratitude. Citizens were not behind in loyalty. An elegant mansion, the parlors and halls of which were still under the hands of fresco painters, was thrown open by the owner, Mr. Powell, to the officers and sick of a regiment on duty at the point. But this was not sufficient, and it was occupied by two companies while its two fronts were loop-holed. "Lay it level with the ground, if it is necessary," said Powell.
Burnside confined his operations mainly to defence, but now and then he assumed the offensive. The Wilder bat- tery rendered good service by moving at night in sections close on the enemy's lines, and keeping up an incessant fire.
The enemy was also tireless, especially in efforts to gain the south bank of the Holston, in order to cut off foraging parties, and starve the town into surrender. So the days wore on. When thirteen had passed Longstreet brought affairs to a crisis by an assault on Fort Sanders, which, on a
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BURNSIDE AND HIS STAFF.
hill in the north-west of the town, commanded the approaches in that direction, and which was the most formidable point in the defences. The assault, undertaken with reluctance, and only at the instigation of imperative necessity, was an utter failure. It cost the besiegers nearly a thousand men, while not a hundred of the defenders fell. Burnside offered Longstreet an armistice in order that he might bury the dead. In consequence the day passed without further fight- ing. The next day brought a courier with tidings of the vic- tory at Chattanooga, and with the already oft repeated prom- ise of speedy reinforcements.
The first and second days of December passed with no further tidings. The sun of the third sank in gathering gloom; but that night a body of forty troopers, almost dead with fatigue, announced the approach of General Sherman. Still another day the besiegers held their line of investment intact; but before the sun of December fifth rose they ex- changed it for the line of retreat. General Sherman arrived on the following day.
Few operations during the war were so creditable to offi- cers and men as the retreat from Loudon and the defence of Knoxville. The troops admired the bearing and emulated the spirit of "Old Burnie." "On the retreat," writes Frank B. Rose, a private in our Fifteenth battery, "his towering form could be seen at all times where the fire was hottest. Only for his good example, all would have been lost. And his staff officers did not exhibit their gallantry in the rear, but came among the men and remained with them. During the worst weather, in the siege, and in the most trying en- gagements, the General was always on the ground, cheering on his men and encouraging them by his noble example. It was well known that his own mess never had any better fare than that of the private soldier. Where is there an In- diana soldier who would not face certain death in so noble a contest, with such a leader as General Burnside?"
Major Burrage, of the Thirty-Sixth Massachusetts, refers to Burnside with exactly the same feeling: "The noble bearing of Burnside throughout the siege won the admira- tion of all." In a speech at Cincinnati, a few days after the
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THE SOLDIER OF INDIANA.
siege was raised, with that modesty which characterizes the true soldier, he said that the honors bestowed on him be- longed to his under officers and the men in the ranks. These kindly words his officers and men will ever cherish, and in all their added years as they recall the widely-separated battle-fields, made forever sacred by the blood of their fallen comrades, and forever glorious by the victories there won, it will be their pride to say, "We fought with Burnside at Campbell Station and in the trenches at Knoxville."
General Sherman examined Burnside's fortifications about Knoxville with curiosity, and declared that they were a "wonderful production, for the short time allowed in the se- lection of ground and the construction of work."
General Burnside's entire loss during the retreat and siege was less than a thousand, while Longstreet's loss was more than two thousand, perhaps amounted to three thousand.
The Indiana troops which were in Knoxville during the siege have been mentioned, except the Eightieth infantry.
General Burnside had ordered General Wilcox to with- draw the troops who were in the upper part of the valley of East Tennessee, to Cumberland Gap, in the event of Long- street's advanee. Accordingly Wilcox withdrew when the Rebel army began to appear above the Tennessee. His in- fantry force consisted mainly of the Indiana six months regi- ments. His cavalry constituted two brigades, under Colonel Garrard, and Colonel Graham of the Fifth Indiana. He had four batteries, one of which was the Twenty-Third Indiana. On the approach of Sherman toward Knoxville, he left the gap, and marched down to annoy General Longstreet. Colonel Graham had advanced ten miles beyond Clinch river, skirmishing, when, being warned of a large force, he fell back at night, almost to Walker's ford. The next morn- ing he was heavily attacked. After several hours of brisk fighting, he was falling back for want of ammunition, when, about eleven o'clock, the brigade of infantry, under the command of Colonel Jackson, came to his relief. The One Hundredth and Eighteenth, under Lieutenant Col- onel Elliott, was the first to approach. It waded across, formed in line on both sides of the road, and advanced, not-
497
THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN RANGERS.
withstanding that the enemy pressed on both its flanks and made a charge on its right. Near noon the One Hundred and Sixteenth waded the river in the face of a musketry fire, and held the enemy in check while the troops previously engaged retired. The Hundred and Sixteenth remained confronting a whole brigade till nearly dark. It then re- gained the northern bank of the Clinch, under the protection of the Twenty-First Ohio battery. In the engagement at Walker's Ford, the Fifth was under the command of Lieu- tenant Colonel Butler, and the Sixty-Fifth, of Captain Hodge. Both regiments were handled skillfully and be- haved gallantly.
The cavalry now moved along Clinch river to Bean's Sta- tion, where, on the fourteenth of December, a sharp engage- ment took place, lasting from noon till three the next morn- ing. At Powder Spring gap and Skragg's Mills, the affair was repeated, the troops acquitting themselves at each place gallantly, and bestowing severe rebuffs on the enemy.
Meantime the One Hundred and Seventeenth, delayed at a ford near Tazewell long enough to build a foot bridge, the enemy having destroyed all ferry boats, was pushed across to Clinch mountain gap on the road to Bean's station, with in- structions to repair the road that trains might the more easily pass. A member of the regiment writes:
" Longstreet's army had retreated on up the valley, and our troops, under command of Shackleford, had possession of Bean station, and beyond. The One Hundred and Seven- teenth had been for some days at work in the gap in fancied security, and under instructions paying no atten- tion to the movements of the troops on either side of us, when, during the afternoon of December 14, we were ap- prised of the fact that Shackleford was engaging the en-
emy, not by him, however, but by our own eyes. From our elevated position, from which we could survey the country for miles, we could see down in the valley the bursting of shells, but could hear no report. Toward evening these gradually neared Bean's station, and it became evident that Shackleford was losing ground. Bearing in mind our in-
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THE SOLDIER OF INDIANA.
structions to pay no attention to the movements of troops on either side of us, we continued our work until near dark, when information was brought Colonel Brady that the train at the foot of the mountain, toward Tazewell, and which had just gone into camp there, was attacked by the enemy. Colonel Brady immediately sent his Adjutant to inform General Shackleford of the fact, and marched down with four com- panies to the relief of the train guard. Before he was half way down the mountain, the train was captured, and a body of men reported marching over a by-road to the summit of the north or east peak of the mountains which formed the gap. Ordering the four companies to return to the gap, Brady hurried back in person and despatched company G, Captain Woodmansee, to the top of the peak. Happily it reached its destination just in time, and after a brisk fight in the brush for a few minutes, retained possession of the posi- tion. It was now dark, fortunately for the One Hundred and Seventeenth. The Adjutant had returned with the in- formation that he had run a narrow escape, for the enemy was in possession of Bean's station, and a regiment was al- ready en route for the gap from that direction. This was confirmed by some men of Shackleford's who had been cut off and now joined us. Here was a quandary. The enemy in our front, our rear, and upon one flank that we knew of. Calling the commanders of companies together, Brady gave it as his opinion that there were but two things to choose be- tween-stay where they were and be captured at daylight, certain; or take their chances for an escape over the moun- tains. They thought anything better than capture. Accord- ingly, destroying what we could not carry, leading all the animals present in camp, at about nine in the evening of the fourteenth of December, the regiment clambered to the sum- mit of the south peak of the gap mountains, and took up its line of march toward Knoxville. The summit was very broken-now a fissure in the rocks that had to be leaped by men, horses and mules, now an abrupt rock, jutting up, that had to be flanked, broken trees and undergrowth that made the route almost impassable. It was not long before the ma- jority of the horses were left behind, some tumbling over the
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SHERMAN'S MARCH FROM THE HIAWASSEE.
mountain side down into the darkness, others refusing to make the leaps necessary to get along. The regiment was compelled to march the greater distance in what is called 'Indian file,' one behind the other, as the boys said 'holding on to one another.' Below us on either hand the valleys were lit up by countless fires and formed a magnificent sight. Under ordinary circumstances one might have gone into ec- stacies over it. But the march was slow and painful, while we were in constant danger of discovery. We continued thus upon the mountain tops until eight or nine in the morn- ing the next day, when, upon our left, we discovered what proved to be General Hascall's division. Reporting to him, the One Hundred and Seventeenth was immediately as- signed to a position in the line of battle. We were received with every manifestation of delight, for Shackleford had re- ported that it was impossible for us to escape, and word had been forwarded to General Wilcox by General Sturgis, com- manding the army then confronting Longstreet, 'that the One Hundred and Seventeenth was undoubtedly captured.' We were looked upon as the dead returned to life."
The One Hundred and Seventeenth was now assigned to Gilbert's brigade, of Hascall's corps, and remained with it, taking part in all the skirmishes and battles that ensued.
Although Burnside was reinforced by the Fourth corps, from Sherman's force, he was too poorly provided with hor- ses to follow Longstreet many miles. At Blain's Cross Roads, and at Rutledge, the enemy's rear was forced to fight.
December 7, President Lincoln officially proclaimed that the enemy had retreated from Knoxville, and recommended that all loyal people "do assemble at their places of worship and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause."
It is necessary now to follow the march of General Sher- man. The Chattanooga campaign, closing the last day of November, left him on the banks of the Hiawassee, ready to precipitate his command into the Knoxville campaign, for the relief of his twelve thousand beleagured comrades. Bridges were laid in the night and a crossing was made in the morning. "March" was the uninterrupted order of the fol-
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THE SOLDIER OF INDIANA.
lowing days. As the weather was inclement, the roads were in a most wretched condition, the streams, many of them deep and broad, were unbridged, clothing was exceedingly scanty, and the delivery of rations was absolutely at an end, the order was not easily observed. As far as possible, as- sistance was rendered by the inhabitants of the country. Though smarting under the late infliction of the enemy's passage though their farms and barns, they opened hidden stores. They brought out, also, long concealed flags and added every word and act of encouragement inventive love could suggest.
Beside the troops from Chattanooga, forces which had been engaged in Middle Tennessee, marched toward Knoxville, joining Sherman. Among these was the Second Indiana cavalry, which crossed Caney Fork of the Cumberland river in two small flat boats, and served in the duty of ferrying other regiments over. Unhappily the boat upset and twelve men belonging to the Second were drowned.
Two days from the Hiawassee brought Sherman to the Lit- tle Tennessee, where he was delayed by the necessity of con- structing a bridge. Never for a moment forgetting the peril of Burnside, he despatched, on the night of the second, a picked body of cavalry with orders to push into Knoxville at whatever cost of life and horse-flesh. The distance was forty miles, and the hills over which the wretched road wound were long and stony, but the troopers scarcely drew rein, until, having run through the enemy's lines, they deliv- ered the welcome intelligence of the approach of powerful assistance.
Sherman crossed the Little Tennessee the night of the fourth, and the next day reached Marysville, twelve miles south of Knoxville. Here his progress was arrested by the announcement of Longstreet's departure. He visited Knox- ville, and on his return sent Wood's and Sheridan's divisions to reinforce Burnside. He then started back to Chattanooga. Cold rains, which were falling at the start, gave place to bit- ter winds and snows. The soldier's haversack contained only corn-meal and coffee. His single shirt scarcely held to- gether. His pantaloons were torn. His shoes were ragged
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