| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| June 24, 1863 |
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| The attack on Knoxville |
| The pretty full telegrams from Knoxville
give us the particulars of the Federal attack on Knoxville,
Tenn., on Saturday last, and a letter from Chattanooga
enables us to supply the particulars of the movements of the Yankees
before the attack was made. The party was commanded by Gen. Carter,
the Tennessee
renegade, and numbered about 2,000 men. They penetrated into East
Tennessee through a gap in the mountains near Kingston, and marched on
London, a town of 1,500 inhabitants, on the East Tennessee &
Georgia Railroad, 28 miles west of
Knoxville, intending to burn the railroad bridge
at that place; but, finding the bridge well surrounded by stockades
and defended by artillery, they moved off to Lenoir, about seven miles
nearer Knoxville, on the same road. Here they burnt the mammoth
factory of the Lenoir Brothers, with all the out- buildings and the
residence of the owners, and tore up the track for several miles. The
54th Virginia
regiment, which had been stationed there, had just left that morning
for Knoxville, and the place was therefore defenceless. They told two citizens,
whom they captured there, that they were going on to burn Knoxville. The result of their going on is given in the telegraphic dispatches.
The raid came just as the section of country South of London had been
transferred from Gen. Buckner's department to that of Gen. Jackson, at
Chattanooga, and in the movement of troops consequent on the change several
places were left undefended, which would not have been the case if the
transfer had taken place a few days later or earlier. |
| It will be seen from the telegrams that
after their repulse at Knoxville
the Yankees came as far east as Morristown, on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad,
which is 88 miles from Bristol. There, it appears, they were likely to come to grief. |
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| The attack on Knoxville, repulse of the enemy with
heavy loss |
| Destruction of Bridges, &c |
| Knoxville, June 20 |
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| Six regiments of mounted infantry, one of
infantry, and a battery of artillery — in all three thousand men —
attacked this city this morning. Col. Trigg, of the 54th Va.
regiment, commanded our forces. After a spirited engagement of one
hour and a half our batteries drove the enemy from the field with
heavy loss. The casualties on our side were six killed and wounded.
Capt. H. McClung, of this city, was killed. The enemy have torn up the
railroad track and cut the telegraphic
wires some miles above here. |
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| Second Dispatch |
| Knoxville, June 22 |
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| The Yankee raiders left here on Saturday,
at 10 o'clock, and attacked Strawberry Plains, seventeen miles east of
Knoxville, at 5 P. M. After a brisk fire of half an hour, our troops
surrendered to superior numbers, and the enemy paroled 130 prisoners.
The enemy burnt the bridge over the Holston, the depot, and several
private dwellings, rifling several others. |
| Then they proceeded to New Market, eight
miles east of Strawberry Plains, and on Sunday to Mossy Creek, four
miles farther, where they burned the bridge, tore up the railroad
track, and cut the telegraph wire and poles. |
| On Monday, between Mossy Creek and
Morristown
, 42 miles east of Knoxville, they were confronted, in front and rear, by the commands of Gens.
Jackson and Pegram, and Col. Scott. It is rumored and believed that we
took all their artillery, and dispersed their whole force — our
cavalry pursuing and capturing prisoners. |
| In the fight of Saturday our loss was six
killed and nine wounded; the Yankees twenty one killed and wounded. No
injury to property here. |
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