They were seen in the thicket by our battallion, but were supposed to be the Tennessee homeguards.
At the same time a charge was made front and rear.
Finding the command attacked on three sides, each force equaling our own in numbers, there was no alternative but to make our way across the Holston river at the nearest ford.
This being done, the regiment was formed in line on the opposite bank of the river, but the Seventh had already lost over 100 men, and the Second Tennessee over 500, and both sections of the artillery being captured, the command fell back to Morristown, a distance of 30 miles.
In the meantime, the scouts who were sent out to Jonesville, returned to within three miles of camp, and on hearing of the disaster, turned north, pa.s.sing Clinch Mountain, through Little War Gap, coming down Poor Valley until they struck the c.u.mberland Gap and Morristown road, and joined the regiment at Morristown the next day.
In this affair, the Seventh lost everything in the shape of books and papers, camp and garrison equipage, all the train and everything but what was carried away by the men on their horses.
Capt. Rankin having joined his regiment, as before stated, was ordered to take two hundred men and reconnoiter as near Rogersville as he deemed safe.
Finding nothing in his way, he entered the place, the rebels having retreated immediately after paroling the sick and wounded, which the Captain found in as good condition as circ.u.mstances would admit.
The regiment resting at Morristown two days, then moved eastward through Russelsville and camped near that place a few days, and leaving this camp they went on up the railroad, through Bull"s Gap, and on toward Greenville.
About this time, Longstreet beseiged Knoxville, and the rebel forces under Jones and Williams moved down from Virginia, compelling us to fall back.
The command fell back by the way of Rogersville to Bean"s Station and thence over Clinch Mountain to Sycamore creek, where the Seventh camped a few days, doing picket duty on the Clinch river and all the roads leading eastward.
We lost several men on picket at Clinch river.
While stationed at this place, Serg"ts. Little and Davis carried dispatches through the rebel lines to General Burnside, in Knoxville, at different times.
From this, the Seventh went to Taswell, remained there a few days and moved out on the Knoxville and c.u.mberland Gap road, crossing Clinch river at Walker"s Ford.
The siege now being raised at Knoxville, and the rebels moving up the railroad eastward, our cavalry was engaged in annoying their flanks, up to Beall"s Station.
On the morning of the 12th of Dec., 1863, the Seventh O. V. C. and the Ninth Michigan Cavalry, with one section of artillery, under command of Col. Garrard, moved in the direction of Morristown, and when within one and half miles of that town we met the enemy, and after some skirmishing, the Seventh was dismounted and thrown forward to engage them, who were strongly posted on a wooded hill, with artillery commanding the approach.
After an engagement with them, which lasted nearly an hour, our lines moved forward gradually through open fields until within one hundred and fifty yards of their lines.
Meanwhile, the Ninth Michigan Cavalry was moved down a ravine and around a hill out of sight of the enemy, attacking them on their flank and rear, compelling them to scatter in great confusion, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands.
Our command pa.s.sed on, driving the rebels beyond the town.
The enemy lost heavily in killed and wounded, and among them a Lieut.
Colonel.
Our loss was one man killed; Sergt. Newport, of Co. H, Seventh regiment, with several wounded.
It now being quite dark and no support near, the command fell back to Beall"s Station.
On the morning of the 14th, Col. Garrard"s brigade again advanced on Morristown, but finding no enemy there, moved on toward Russelsville a few miles, drove in the pickets and moved forward, and when near Russelville, found a large force of the enemy drawn in line awaiting our approach.
The Second and Seventh O. V. C. were at once ordered forward to attack them, the Ninth Michigan being held in reserve.
We fought them till near dark, and failing to accomplish anything and losing several killed and wounded fell back to Beall"s Station.
On the 16th, we fought Longstreet"s force at Bean"s Station, also on the 17th, and at Rutledge on the 18th.
Our troops falling back all the time toward Knoxville, the cavalry doing the fighting, losing several men killed, wounded and captured.
We fell back to Stone Mills, camping there a few days.
Here the regiment was paid by Major McDowell.
Leaving this point, the command crossed the Holston river, struck the railroad at New Market, and from there went south to Dandridge on the French Broad river.
On the 24th, we had a spirited engagement with the enemy and was compelled to fall back toward New Market, losing one man killed and several captured.
On the 27th, we moved up the railroad to Mossy creek, and from this period up to the 24th of January, had continual fighting and skirmishing, driving the enemy a few miles toward Morristown and in turn being driven back by them.
On the morning of the 14th of January we moved again to Dandridge, and on the 16th moved out on the Morristown road, having sharp skirmishing, losing near 50 men out of the Brigade. Fell back again to Dandridge.
On the following day a general engagement took place, which lasted from nine o"clock a. m. until late in the night.
From causes unknown to the writer, (who had charge of the advance posts), at 12 o"clock at night the 7th which was on the front line, received orders to commence falling back in small detachments, when a retrograde movement commenced, in which retreat our forces lost several hundred, princ.i.p.ally infantry, of which we had a large force which seemed to have been there for some other purpose than fighting, as they were never brought into action.
We crossed the Holston river and continued our retreat to Knoxville, the enemy following to within a few miles of the city.
From here we crossed the river moving south-west through Seviersville, and on up the south side of French Broad river, capturing two pieces of artillery at Fair Garden, when we fell back through Mears and Tuchalechy cove, to Little river, where we camped near one week, during which time a detachment of the brigade were sent into North Carolina to capture Thomas" Legion, which was made up mostly of Indians, (Thomas being formerly an Indian agent.)
The expedition was successful, they brought back 50 prisoners, but not without heavy loss on our own side.
In the meantime one battallion of the 7th was sent back through Mears to Tuchlechy to create a diversion and hold the Gap while the expedition was being made.
Our camp was then moved to Maryville where we remained a few days scouting and skirmishing continually.
From here we moved back to Knoxville, making scouts occasionally on the south side of the river toward Maryville and on the north side as far as Strawberry Plains.
After remaining here about ten days the regiment moved out to Buffalo creek a distance of forty miles.
As we had to subsist exclusively off of the country for forage and provisions for men and the horses, and the supply becoming exhausted our horses were reduced to skeletons and were no longer able to do duty.
Fifty of the strongest horses were selected from each Regiment accompanied by Col. Garrard and moved east as far as Russelville, where they remained two weeks scouting and skirmishing continually, having in some instances hand to hand engagements.
In the meanwhile the regiment returned to the vicinity of Knoxville and from there went out Clinch river to Wallace"s road, remaining there a few days it returned to Knoxville, being joined by the 50 men above mentioned.
We left on the 24th of March, 1864.
It is conceded by all parties that the campaign in East Tennessee, under Gen. Burnside was the hardest campaign that has been experienced since the commencement of this great struggle for the perpetuity of our nation.
The regiment reached Paris, Ky., April the 5th, camping in that vicinity a few days, and then moving to Nicholasville where the work of refitting was commenced.
Major Gen. Stoneman commanding the cavalry in this department.