網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

stroying the railroad in their flight. Knoxville, from the danger to which Sherman, the next morning, set out in he was exposed.* "The way was now pursuit by way of Chickamauga Station thrown open to Atlanta," as Col. Baon the Dalton Railroad, while Hooker deau remarks, "and all the rich counmoved toward Ringgold. At this place, try in its rear; the very heart of the the rebels under Cleburne made a fierce rebellion was laid bare; the great bui resistance; but though our men suffer-wark of the would-be Confederacy was ed severely, it was of no advantage to broken down, was become, instead, a the enemy. Had it not been for the sally-port for the national armies; the necessity of caring for Burnside and rebel hosts, that had stood in the way, Knoxville, Grant would have followed were thrust aside, and Chattanooga, Bragg and probably destroyed his army thenceforth, was as terrible a menace entirely. to rebellion as in times past it had been defiant to loyalty."

Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing was reported to be about 5,600. Six thousand prisoners were captured, and a large number of the wounded was left in our hands. Forty pieces of artillery, about 7,000 small arms, and a large train, were also taken from the rebels. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was over 2,500, beside more than 6,000 missing.

Burnside (see p. 347) was busily occu pied, meanwhile, in securing, to the fullest extent in his power, the defence of East Tennessee. He held firmly the railroad and the line through Cumber land Gap, and he protected the left flank of Rosecrans and foiled the rebels in that quarter. Grant having assumed charge of the new department, inGrant's dispatches during the battle cluding Tennessee, Burnside was conare marked by brevity and point; the tinued in his command, and urged to concluding one, on the evening of No- exert all his ability and energy toward vember 25th, is worth quoting here: securing a decisive victory over the "Although the battle lasted from early enemy. Bragg, as has been noted (p. dawn till dark this evening, I believe 358), detached Longstreet, at the be I am not premature in announcing a ginning of November, to march against complete victory over Bragg. Lookout Burnside and drive him out of KnoxMountain-top, all the rifle-pits ville. Some unimportant engagements 1863. in Chattanooga Valley, and occurred, and our forces suffered severeMissionary Ridge entire, have been ly at Philadelphia and Rogersville; carried, and are now held by us. but the campaign did not open till have no idea of finding Bragg here to morrow." It was even so; Bragg decamped with all speed, and the Chatta nooga campaign ended in rescuing Kentucky and Tennessee from the rebels, and in affording the means of immediately relieving Burnside, at

I

[ocr errors]

Considering the strength of the rebel position,”

says Halleck, "and the difficulty of storming his entrenchments, the battle of Chattanooga must be condid the officers and men exhibit great skill and daring in their operations on the field, but the highest praise is due to the commanding general for his admirable

sidered the most remarkable in history. Not only

disposition for dislodging the enemy from a position

apparently impregnable."

CH. III.]

SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF KNOXVILLE.

363

about half the circuit of the town, upon the northern, western, and southern side. Communication with Cum berland Gap was cut, on the night of the 16th of November, by the enemy's cavalry, and by the night of the 18th, the siege was well established. On Burnside's part, every care was taken to strengthen the fortifications, so as to resist any assault which might be made. Grant's dispatches to Burnside urged anew the necessity of his maintaining his position, and promised succor at the earliest possible moment.

Longstreet and his men seemed to be of opinion that, in a brief space of time, they could starve out Burnside and compel a surrender; but although his communications had been cut, and supplies were growing less and less, still

about the middle of November. Longstreet, with a force of 20,000 men, advanced by way of Loudon and Lenoir, and crossed the Tennessee, on the 14th of November, near the former place. The advance of Longstreet's force was met with great courage and determination by our men, and was driven back two miles to the river. Following the directions of Grant, Burnside deemed it best to retire to Lenoir, and thence to Campbell's Station, twelve miles from Knoxville, a point of considerable importance to make a stand at, in order to secure the passage of the trains and provide for the defence of Knoxville. The battle at Campbell's Station illustrated the best qualities of our officers and men, and though they were as saulted with great fury by the rebels, they succeeded in inflicting a damaging the brave commander in Knoxville blow upon Longstreet's force. During the night of the 16th of November, Burnside drew off to Knoxville, and the next day placed his troops in position in front of the city, and prepared for the siege which was to follow. On the 18th, the rebels made a fierce attack, intending to push back our cav. alry and enter the town as victors; but they were completely repulsed, after an obstinate struggle, and fairly forced away from our lines. The loss, on our part, was severe, particularly in the death of the gallant Gen. Sanders, who, as Burnside said, "left, both as a man and a soldier, an untarnished name."

held firmly to his post. In consequence
of Grant's brilliant success at Chatta-
nooga, Longstreet's position became
critical, and as he disliked exceedingly
to give up and leave Knoxville in our
hands, he resolved to make a final effort
to carry the works by assault. Early
on the morning of the 29th of Novem-
ber, the assaulting column, composed
of three brigades, made their appear-
ance. They approached to within 100
yards of the fort unharmed. Then com-
menced a series of desperate and dar
ing attacks, stubborn resistance, death,
and carnage. Hour after hour was it
kept up, this deadly struggle, and the
ditch was piled with the dead and the
dying. More than a thousand
killed, wounded and prisoners,

Knoxville was now closely besieged by Longstreet, and preparations were made to carry the works by regular was the approaches. The investment extended | Sanders.

1863.

cost of the assault of Fort Nobly did it sustain the

reputation of its namesake and avenge his fall!* The loss in the fort was less than twenty. Burnside offered the rebels the privilege, between ten, A.M., and five, P.M., of burying their dead and removing the wounded, which was thankfully accepted. In a congratulatory order, on the 30th of November, Burnside highly praised his troops, "for their conduct through the severe experiences of the past seventeen days," and assured them "of the important bearing it had on the campaign in the West."

With this last effort, Longstreet felt it necessary to give up the siege of Knoxville. His position was now be coming perilous by the advance of Sherman, who, after the defeat of Bragg at Chattanooga, was sent with his own and Granger's forces into East Tennessee to cut off the rebel general and relieve Burnside. In anticipation of his arrival, Longstreet broke up his camps, and retreated on the line of the railroad toward Virginia. On the 4th of December, Sherman's advanced guard reached Knoxville, and the same night the rear guard of Longstreet's forces abandoned their works. Two days later, Sherman had an interview with Burnside in Knoxville, at which it was determined to be inexpedient to attempt any formal pursuit of Longstreet. Willcox, who was in charge of operations in the Upper Valley, did excellent service in holding Cumberland Gap and preventing troops from Vir

* For a more full account of the Siege and Defence of Knoxville, see Woodbury's "Burnside and the Ninth Army Corps," pp. 327-351

ginia joining the rebel commander; but Longstreet continued through the winter to annoy and harass our force in Tennessee, and in the spring joined Lee for the campaign of 1864.

Sherman, having left Granger and his men at Knoxville, returned with the rest of his command to Chattanooga; and Burnside, at his own urgent request, was relieved from further duty in Tennessee. On the 11th of Decem ber, he formally transferred the com mand of the Ohio to Gen. J. G. Foster, a personal friend and brave and distinguished officer.

President Lincoln, in view of the brilliant success of the campaign, not only sent Grant and the army his spe cial thanks and congratulations, but also recommended a thanksgiving day for the people's observance. Gen. Grant issued a congratulatory order, December 10th, and bestowed upon the brave officers and men under his com mand the highest commendation in his power. "The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you,' he said. "Their hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy rebellion are daily with you. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be an swered."*

* Mr. Lincoln also the next day sent Gen. Grant the following letter:-"Understanding that your lodg ment at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I

wish to tender you and all under your command my more than thanks-my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage and perseverance with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all! A LINCOLN."

[blocks in formation]

--

Admiral Foote's appointment and death-The rebel ram Atlanta attacked by the Weehawken, one of the monitors-Capture, after brief contest - Admiral Dahlgren appointed to command the South Atlantic fleetOperations on Morris Island-Gen. Gillmore's dispatch on the subject- Alarm in Charleston, and strenuous efforts for defence - Gillmore pushes forward operations - Assault on Fort Wagner - Details - Heavy loss and failure-Conduct of rebel authorities as to exchange of negro prisoners - Gillmore's batteries Tremendous force and power- Fort Sumter bombarded, August 17th-24th-Result-Beauregard and Gillmore-Fort Wagner pressed - Rebels evacuate Morris Island - Attempt to gain possession of Fort Sumter repulsed-Severity of the bombardment of Charleston - Its virtual reduction and non-importance -Rebel view - Other operations in the South and West - Expedition under Gen. Franklin to occupy Sabine City-Report of the expedition, which was unsuccessful-Gen. Banks sails for the mouth of the Rio Grande- Enters Brownsville — Gen. Steele in Arkansas — Takes Little Rock - Union strength in the state-Quantrell and his band of ruffians-Attack on Lawrence, Kansas - Murders and destruction of property-Cabell's force of guerrillas, Indians, etc. - Detachment under Coffey routed -- Quantrell attempts to seize and murder Gen. Blunt Prospect ahead.

Just before Admiral Dupont retired from his position as commander of the squadron, he was able to report the gratifying intelligence to the govern ment of an achievement worthy of note by one of the monitor vessels in the department. This was the capture in Warsaw Sound, of the rebel ram Atlanta, formerly a Clyde-built steamer, and prepared with a ram and iron plating of the most formidable description. Having completed her armament, consisting of two 7-inch and two 6-inch rifled guns, and taken on board an ample supply of ammuni tion and stores for a regular cruise, with a complement, officers and men, of 165, the Atlanta left Savannah, on the even ing of the 16th of June, by way of

WITH the appointment of Gen. Gillmore to succeed Gen. Hunter we closed, in a previous chapter, our record of affairs in the department of the South (see p. 297). We now resume the narrative at this point, and ask the reader's attention to the siege of Charleston, which was conducted with so great zeal and ability on the one hand, and resisted with so much stubbornness on the other. At this same date (June, 1863), RearAdmiral A. H. Foote was appointed to succeed Rear-Admiral Dupont in command of the South Atlantic blockading squadron; but, while on his way to enter upon his duties, while passing through New York, he was seized with that fatal illness which resulted in his death a few days subsequently. He died on the 26th of June, and passed Wilmington, for Warsaw Sound, fully away acknowledged by all as a "gal- prepared to attack the blockading lant and self-sacrificing Christian sailor squadron. and gentleman."

1863.

In anticipation of this attempt of

the rebel vessel to get to sea, Dupont On the death of Admiral Foote (see had dispatched, some days before, the p. 365) Admiral J. A. Dahlgren was Weehawken, Capt. John Rodgers, from appointed to the command of the South Port Royal, and the Nahant, Command-Atlantic fleet. He was the inventor of er J. Downes, from North Edisto, to the gun which bears his name; and in the assistance of Commander Drake, consequence of his scientific reputation, who, in the Cimerone, was maintaining it was deemed advisable to send him the inside blockade at Warsaw Sound. to Charleston to co-operate with GillAt six o'clock on the morning of the more, and to bring all the resources of 17th of June, the Atlanta came in sight, science to bear in order to reduce that accompanied by two wooden steamers, rebellious city.. He proceeded at once filled, it was said, with spectators from to Port Royal, and on the 6th of July, Savannah who had come out to witness took command of the squadron. a certainly expected victory. As the Atlanta was bearing down, reserving her fire for close quarters, she was anticipated by Rodgers, who at once engaged her with the Weehawken. Eleven shots were fired in all-five by the Weehawken and six by the Atlanta. The first 15-inch shot fired by Capt. Rodgers took off the top of the Atlanta's pilot-house and wounded two of her three pilots. Another 15-inch shot struck half way up her roof, killing one and wounding seventeen men. In consequence of these injuries, the Atlanta grounded, and immediately after surges, on Folly Island, adjoining Morris rendered. The whole action occupied only about fifteen minutes, and the Weehawken sustained no injury of any sort. The Atlanta, not seriously damaged, was speedily brought, with her officers and crew, to Port Royal.*

[blocks in formation]

The attack by the fleet under Dupont, in April of this year, on the works in Charleston harbor, not having met with the success which was expected, (see p. 295), it was now deemed most advisa ble, as preliminary to further offensive movements, to effect a lodgment on Morris Island, on the northern side, where batteries might be erected of suf ficient force, with the new ordnance, for battering down Fort Sumter, and thus opening a way for the operations of the fleet. Concealed batteries were erected by the troops, under Gen. Vod

Island, on the south, which effectually commanded the entrance to the ship channel on that side. On the 10th of July, the needed force having arrived, the batteries opened upon the enemy, and when their guns were silenced, a charge was made by the infantry, who had crossed in boats, and the works were captured. Gillmore's dispatch in regard to these matters was as follows: "I have the honor to report

have had of withstanding our naval power by naval means." Rodgers was soon after raised to the rank of commodore.

« 上一頁繼續 »