| Report of Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Carter, U. S. Army,
commanding expedition |
| |
| Lexington, Ky. |
| January 9, 1863 |
| |
| Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger |
| Commanding Army of Kentucky |
| |
| General, |
| I have the honor to submit the following
report of the operations of the expeditionary force to East
Tennessee, which was intrusted to my command: |
| Although a movement on East Tennessee
was proposed as early as November 25 last, it was not until December
19 that arrangements were completed and the necessary orders given
for the movement of the troops. It was hoped that the force to be
sent on this hazardous, but most important expedition would have
been much larger than that which the commander of the department
felt could be detached for such service when the final arrangements
were made. My original design was to have divided the force into two
columns, and strike the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad at two
points at the same time, distant 100 miles apart, and, by moving
toward the center, have completely destroyed the road for that
distance; but, on the junction of the different detachments, I found
that the number was too small to risk a division, and I was
reluctantly compelled to keep them united, or within easy supporting
distance during the whole of my operations. |
| ***** |
| At daylight on the morning of the 30th
we reached the town of Blountsville, Sullivan County, East Tennessee
***** We were informed that at Bristol, 8 miles distant, there was a
large amount of stores, besides the meat of a considerable number of
hogs, belonging to the rebel authorities, but as the place was
guarded ***** by a regiment of infantry, ***** said to be 900
strong, a cavalry force ***** and a battery, we were reluctantly
compelled to leave it to our left and move toward the railroad
bridge at Union, 6 miles from Blountsville. ***** I found the town
in our possession, and the railroad bridge, a fine structure some
600 feet in length, slowly burning ***** |
| The stores, barracks, tents, a large
number of arms and equipments, a considerable amount of salt, niter,
a railroad car, the depot, &c., were destroyed, and also a wagon
bridge across the river, a few hundred yards below the railroad
bridge. As soon as the work of destruction was fairly under way, I
dispatched Colonel Walker ***** toward the Watauga Bridge, at
Carter's Depot, 10 miles west of Union. On their way they captured a
locomotive and tender ***** |
| The railroad bridge across the Watauga
River, some 300 feet in length, was soon in flames, and entirely
destroyed; also a large number of arms and valuable stores. The
captured locomotive was run into the river and completely
demolished, destroying in its passage one of the piers of the
bridge. ***** |
| I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant |
| S. P. Carter |
| Brigadier-General of Volunteers |
|