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Learning of the approach of Gen.
Breckenridge with his superior force, on
the 9th, a battalion of the Thirteenth
was sent out on the Jonesboro road as
far as Limestone Depot and a battalion
of the Eighth on the river road as far
as Broylesville; the remainder of the
Brigade falling back to Greeneville.
From this place Gen. Gillem telegraphed
to Gen. Ammen, advising him of the
approach of Gen. Breckenridge with a
superior force and asking his
assistance. Gen. Ammen had a number of
regiments under his command in the
vicinity of Knoxville, among these was
the 4th Tennessee Infantry, which was
anxious to come to our aid, and no good
reason has ever been assigned for not
sending some of them to the assistance
of our Brigade.
At about 9 P. M. of the 9th the scouts
returned and reported that Breckenridge
was advancing by the Jonesboro and river
roads towards Greeneville. The Brigade
evacuated that place at 10 P. M.,
falling back to Bull's Gap, which from
its position afforded better facilities
for fighting a superior force.
Bull's Gap is a depression in Bay's
mountain, the railroad and State road
running in a curved line through the
lowest part of it. To the north two
spurs rising rather abruptly extend back
a distance of a mile or more to the main
mountain. These spurs are separated from
each other by a deep basin or hollow,
making the sides of the hills quite
steep, and the summits vary in width
from 50 to ioo yards, and at that time
they were partly covered with forest
trees. On the south side of the railroad
the elevation was hardly so great.
During the 11th the defenses were
strengthened as much as possible and
preparations made to repel the assaults
of the enemy who was expected at any
time. Gen. Gillem again appealed to Gen.
Ammen for assistance and telegraphed Mr.
Brownlow to use his influence with Gen.
Ammen to send reinforcements.
In the afternoon Lieutenants Freels and
Northington were sent out in the
direction of Lick Creek with parts of
Companies H and I. They had not gone far
until they received a galling fire from
behind an old fence grown up with briars
and bushes, behind which the enemy was
concealed. Company H received the brunt
of the fire, having 7 men wounded out of
30. Samuel Thompson made almost a
miraculous escape. A shot took off one
of his fingers and struck his belt
buckle with such force as to knock him
off his horse just as the company was
turning to retreat. Lieut. Freels and
other members of the company stopped
under the heavy fire to assist Thompson
on his horse, and all retreated under
the guns of the fort. In this skirmish
Lieut. Freels was wounded in the hand,
the same ball cutting his bridle rein
and striking the pommel of his saddle in
front of his body.
The enemy was now seen in large numbers,
and it was learned that Gen Vaughn had
gone by way of Warrensburg to attack our
position in the rear while Gen.
Breckenridge would make the assault in
front.
At 4 A. M. on the 12th our men were in
line of battle, Major Wagner on the left
of the east ridge, Major Doughty
occupying an earth-works on the south
side of the railroad. Major Underwood's
Battalion was formed across the railroad
west of the two ridges and facing west.
Four pieces of the battery were on the
west ridge supported by six companies of
the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry under Major
Deakins; and two pieces in the earth
works occupied by Major Doughty.
At day-light on the morning of the 12th
the enemy opened a heavy fire of
artillery from a battery posted to our
left, and a demonstration was made on
the fort occupied by Major Doughty on
the south side of the railroad. This
force merely made a feigned
demonstration in that direction and
turning to the right made an assault -on
the left of the east ridge, while almost
simultaneously Gen. Duke led an assault
on the west ridge, occupied by -our
artillery.
After a gallant resistance against
overwhelming odds Major Wagner's
battalion had to fall back, contesting
the ground as it went, but before the
enemy reached the south end of the ridge
Capt. Wilcox, who had been on the south
side of the railroad, considerably west
of the hill, was ordered up and coming
at a gallop left his horses at the foot
of the ridge and went at double-quick up
the hill ; and about the same time Major
Doughty's battalion, which had been
ordered across from the south side of
the railroad, with Company D in front,
came at double-quick also, and the two
forces joining Major Wagner, the rebels,
who were coming on with a yell, were
halted and then driven back with a
charge. In the meantime Gen. Duke had
made a furious attack on the works
occupied by the Eighth under Major
Deakins. This assault being repulsed was
renewed two or three times the enemy
came up within a few yards of the
artillery but were repeatedly driven
back, our men finally driving them off
of the hill. While these charges were
being made and repulsed Gen. Vaughn
attacked the Ninth Tennesee Cavalry
under Col. Parsons in our rear on the
Knoxville road ; this attack was
handsomely repulsed, the enemy leaving 1
captain and 8 privates dead on the
field. Although artillery firing and
skirmishing continued during the day the
enemy did not renew the assault. While
these assaults were being made our
batteries were doing splendid work from
an open space on the west ridge. The
fight had been fast and furious. The
roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry
and the yells of the contending soldiers
and all enveloped in a dense smoke were
scenes and sounds not soon to be
forgotten.
In the last charge the enemy moving up
through a ravine made an assault upon
the battery that had done such good
service in sweeping the ridges to the
right, they reached within a few yards
of one piece and killed some of the
horses. They were under the hill so the
artillery could not be brought to bear
on them. Lieut. Patterson, placing the
limber of the piece on his shoulder,
thus depressing the muzzle, ordered his
men to fire. The rebound of the piece
threw him to the ground, but it sent
grape and canister into the ranks of the
enemy. This was repeated more than once
by this brave officer until the blood
streamed out of his nostrils, but it
saved his artillery.
General Duke in writing an account of
the fight since the war and speaking of
the men who withstood his assaults,
said: "The enemy were good fighters and
our loss was heavy." He said further,
"Col. Ward made repeated assaults on
their works ; he advanced within 30
yards of their works, the men were
staggered by their fire, halted and
could not be made to advance. The
Yankees sprang over their works and
advanced upon -us."
Early on the morning of the 13th the
firing began all along the line, but the
day passed without the enemy renewing
the effort to carry the position. We
were now short of ammunition both for
artillery and small arms. We had been
fighting for four days with scarcely
anything to eat and with no feed for our
horses. We were surrounded by a superior
force who were being daily reinforced,
and we could hear of no assistance
coming to our aid. We had repulsed every
attack and had inflicted heavy losses
upon the enemy, but it now became
absolutely necessary to attempt to fight
our way out and make our way to
Knoxville or remain there and for want
oi ammunition and subsistence, surrender
finally to the enemy.
A consultation was held with Gen. Gillem,
Col. Miller and all the regimental
officers present, and it was decided to
make the retreat that night, November
13th, 1864. It was a clear crisp
November night with the full moon almost
as bright as day. At 8 P. M. the command
moved out in the following order: Two
companies of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry
under Major Hornsby; the wagon and
pack-train followed by the remainder of
the Ninth, under Col. Parsons; the
artillery ; two battalions of the Eighth
Tennessee Cavalry bringing up the rear,
under Col. Patton. Col. John K. Miller
with the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry,
commanded by Col. Ingerton, and two
battalions of the Eighth Tennessee
Cavalry, were left at Bull's Gap to
prevent the enemy from obtaining
knowledge of our movements until the
train had got well under way. This
latter force was to leave at 10 P. M.
and act as a rear guard. In bringing the
artillery off of the hill that night it
seemed to make tremendous noise and no
doubt the enemy suspected that we were
preparing to retreat, for a continual
fire was kept up on the troops under
Col. Miller. The main command passed
safely through Whitesburg, and Gen.
Gillem learning that a train with
reinforcements had reached Morristown,
held the command at Russellville, having
ordered the reinforcements to move up to
that place and form at the intersection
of the Arnet road upon which the enemy
was now coming in pursuit, and that if
they (the reinforcement) were attacked
to hold the enemy in check, and that he
(Gillem) would attack the enemy both in
front and rear. With this plan in view
Gen. Gillem passed his force to the
front of the wagon train and moved on in
this order to Russellville. Hearing
nothing of the reinforcements upon
arriving at that place, and knowing the
enemy was in force upon his left flank
Gen. Gillem ordered Col. Patton, with 2
battalions of his regiment, to hold the
position at the intersection of the road
until the wagon train passed. The
command then moved on to Judge Barton's
place where another road intersects the
main road and Gen. Gillem was in the act
of placing the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry
in position here when the wagon train
was attacked at Col. Patton's position.
Col. Patton repulsed the enemy at first
but the attack was renewed with
increasing numbers, and Col. Patton fell
into some disorder after the wagon train
had passed on. The enemy came on with a
rush but met with a gallant resistance
by Col. Parsons with the Ninth Tennessee
Cavalry, who held them in check for a
considerable time, until his ammunition
was exhausted. In the meantime Gen.
Gillem learned that the reinforcements
that had been sent to Morristown
consisted of only 300 dismounted cavalry
and infantry under Major Smith, and that
officer did not feel justified in moving
the train forward or separating his men
from it, but finally agreed to move the
train a mile down the road and form his
men on the crest of a hill. This was
done and the artillery placed in
position commanding the road. Col.
Parsons' regiment having exhausted its
ammunition and being hard pressed fell
back in confusion, the enemy coming on
in close pursuit. Part of the Eighth and
Ninth Cavalry were rallied and formed at
this point, and the enemy coming through
the open field were received with a
deadly fire of artillery double-shotted
with canister, and by fire from the
infantry and dismounted cavalry under
Major Smith, lying behind a fence. The
enemy recoiled and fell back a short
distance but soon came on again with a
charge and yell and our men became
panic-stricken, and all efforts to hold
them in position were fruitless. The
artillery was now without ammunition and
useless and was ordered back. It had
only proceeded a few hundred yards when
the enemy charged and put to flight the
few soldiers now remaining. The men had
now became thoroughly panic stricken and
no threats or persuasion could induce
them
offer any further resistance. A large
number were captured but when the enemy
came on to the wagon train and commenced
looting it, many escaped. It was
certainly a night of horror for our
Brigade, but the scene was relieved by
many brave deeds of officers and men.
Heroic efforts were made by brave
officers to re-form at different points,
but the men out of ammunition and in
confusion had lost all confidence and
could not be prevailed on to make
another stand. In the first onslaughts
of the enemy all did nobly. At one point
when our men were firing on the enemy
the voice of Lt. Kelly, of Gen. Gillem's
staff, could be heard .shouting to the
men: "Shoot low, boys; shoot low." We
could hear some rebel officer shouting
"Close up, Major Day, close up!" Capt.
Patterson and his officers clung to the
artillery till the last moment. It was
said that after the rebels were all
around it and seeing it was hopeless to
remain longer Patterson mounted one of
the artillery horses that had been cut
loose and in the confusion rode away.
All the officers did every thing
possible to avert the disaster.
Col. Miller, who had been left with Col.
Ingerton and Major Deakin of the Eighth,
after expending what remained of the
ammunition, left the Gap at 10 o'clock
according to arrangements, with Capt.
Wilcox's company forming the rear guard.
We passed through Whitesburg, and the
head of the column reached Russellville
when a heavy fire was opened on us from
our right by Gen. Vaughn's brigade,
which had got between us and the main
command. Col. Ingerton was at the head
of the Regiment, and believing at first
that we were being fired on by the Ninth
Tennessee Cavalry through mistake —it
being night,—sent Adjutant Scott to
correct the mistake and have the firing
stopped. That officer, accompanied by
his orderly, John S. Hilton, soon
discovered that the force were rebels
and in attempting to escape from them
had his horse killed, but made his
escape into the woods on foot, falling
in with another dismounted comrade soon
afterwards. The Regiment being in column
was not in position to charge and was
thrown into confusion by this unexpected
attack. Reaching the west side of the
town, and the rebels coming on with a
rush and yell, our officers could not
hold the men together. Here the Regiment
turned to the right and for awhile the
greatest confusion prevailed, every man
acting at will and trying to take care
of himself. Vaughn did not pursue them
far but went on in the direction of
Morristown. The Thirteenth and Major
Deakins' two battalions, after reaching
the Holston river, all got together
except a few who had been captured or
dismounted at Russellville, and crossed
the river, and after procuring something
to eat, and resting and feeding their
horses, proceeded in good order to
Strawberry Plains and from there to
Love's Creek, 5 miles east of Knoxville,
where the Brigade went into camp.
The losses of the Brigade in this
disastrous affair were heavy, including
our six pieces of artillery with
caissons complete ; our entire wagon and
pack trains, ambulances and horses
together with small arms, colors and
about 15o prisoners. Sergeant J. A.
Shoun, of Co. D, was captured and
escaped by jumping off the train at
Carter's Depot and rejoined the
Regiment.
Gen. Breckenridge followed, threatening
Strawberry Plains and sending a force in
below that place burning the railroad
bridge at Flat Creek and threatening
Knoxville.
Gen. Ammen who had been so tardy in
going to General Gillem's aid, and who
had given as the reason for not sending
reinforcements, that he knew
Breckenridge had only 1200 men and
Gillem ought to be able to take care of
himself, was now thoroughly alarmed for
the safety of Knoxville and telegraphed
to Gen. Sherman that "Breckenridge is
said to be in command of from 2000 to
8000 men," and to Gen. Steadman that
"the enemy are 5000 strong," and again:
"The enemy is reported crossing the
Holston at Strawberry Plains with a
large force ; number not known. Will you
send me assistance if I need it?"
It will be seen that the enemy had grown
materially in the estimation of Gen.
Ammen since he told Mr. W. G.
Brownlow in the presence of Col. R. R.
Butler a few days before, when Gen.
Gillem was importuning him for
assistance that Breckenridge had only
1200 men. Gen. Ammen kept the wires busy
for four or five days wiring Gens.
Steadman and Stoneman about the
dangerous position of Knoxville.
On the afternoon of the 16th the
Regiment moved to the Fair Grounds two
miles east of Knoxville and went into
camp. On the 17th the enemy was reported
west of
Strawberry Plains and the Regiment was
ordered out to reconnoiter. We found the
enemy in force near the Flat Creek
railroad bridge which he had burned and
an engagement followed. The fighting
continued for two hours until almost
dark, our men showing no signs of the
demoralization of the stampede but
fought with their old time gallantry.
On the 18th the entire Brigade was
ordered out, but the enemy having
withdrawn from the rear of Strawberry
Plains we returned on the 19th and moved
our camp on to a ridge south of the Fair
grounds.
Gen. Gillem in his report to Governor
Johnson called attention to the
gallantry displayed in repelling the
assaults of the enemy at Bull's Gap on
the 12th by Col. John K. Miller,
Lieut.-Col. William H. Ingerton, Major
J. H. Wagner, Captain C. C. Wilcox, of
the Thirteenth, and also the officers of
the Eighth and Ninth and the Light
Artillery, as well as the members of his
staff, including Lieut. B. A. Miller of
our Regiment. |
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