E 475 .85 .W74 Copy 1 m ®v April 3rJ>, 1912 JOSEPH W. WILSHIRE Captain 45th O.V. I. V Pap^r (if OIItc A;inl 3xh. 1312 JOSEPH W. WILSHIRE Captain 45th O. V. I. Gill HAY 13 \9\k A REIMIXISCENCE OF BURNSIDE'S KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. On a bright beautiful morning", early in the month of Septem- I^er, 1863, a party of horsemen in military array, were gathered in front of a large, plain brick building, known at that time as the University of East Tennessee and located on the crest of one of the numerous hills, which characterized the topography of the surrounding" country. In front of them, and beyond an inter- vening ravine, through which a sn"iall stream, known as Second Creek, found its way to the Holston River, stood the picturesque little city of Knoxville. Not unlike that ancient Metropolis of the Roman Bjnpire, Knoxville was founded upon a hill and only awaited the growth and development of years, to become the mis- tress of the seven hills by which she was surrounded. The party referred to consisted of General Samuel P. Carter, con"imanding the Cavalry Division of the 2;ird Army Corps, to- gether with his stafif, of which the writer was then a member. Our Division constituted the advance of Burnside's Army of the C)hio, in the Knoxville campaign. And now after a tiresome, rough and arduous march of 250 miles, through a country, whose so-called roadways were impassable to anything on wheels, practically cut off from our base of supplies and subsisting en- tirely upon the nieagre forage which that mountainous and un- productive country afforded, without baggage, save that upon our backs, or strapped to the saddles of our horses, the Mecca of our Crusade at last lay invitingly before us It was indeed a charm- ing and suggestive scene that confronted us. Visions of the much needed rest in con"ifortable quarters, throughout the ap- proaching winter, together with the anticipated enjoyment of the many gf)od things of life, ran riot in our imaginations. 3 The six months just passcf |)hysical manlmod .-md with that perfect grace and ease of horsem.'inshi]). which characterizes a \\ e^t Point gr.iduate. This hill hiter on became the location of the nio.st pron.iinent work in the defenses around Knoxvi'ile and was named in honor of this same Col. Saunders, who was killed in its defense, Nov. 18, 1863. I'oe and Saunders did not return directly to us, for from their position they had discovered Burnside and his StaiT ai> proachmg" on the Kingston road, and they rode to meet them. Burnside with his brilliant Cavalcade soon joined us, and then we began our advance upon the city. At the bridg'e which crossed Second Creek, we were met by a large number of citizens who gave up a loyal welcome. The negroes were wild with joy which they manifested by singing hymns, shouting and indulging in antics so peculiar and character- i'^tic of their race. Gen. Carter and his brother. Col. Carter, were native-born Tennvsseans, and whil? they had many friends and asquaintances who were enthisiastic in their greetings to these two officers, yet it soon became evident that Gen. Burnside was the hero of the occasion, at least as far as the mass of the people was concerned. Entering the main street of Knoxville, Burnside and Carter rode side by side. This street was filled with people, and every window in the houses on either side was filled with faces on most of which beamed happy smiles and expressions of cordial welcome. When the feeling of awe and uncertainty with which the dignified and impressive presence of Gen. Burnside seemingly influenced the populace at first sight, was dispelled by that bright smile and cordial greeting which ever made Gen. Burnside so gracious and easy of approach, then it was that the people be- came most demonstrative, shouting and crowding up and around the General to take his hand and with tears in their eyes, hailing him as the deliverer of East Tennessee. Men and women, black and white vied with each other to gain the General's hand, l-'inally. in front df an old h6tel, or tavern, the thronging mnlti- tude compelled us to come to a halt. A brass band at the head of a delectation, or committee of some sort, "was trying to make its wav (low II an intersecting street, but the band could make neitlur progress nor nnisic, although it was struggling hard to do I.oth. As the panting musicians paused for breath, a manly, bright, animated looking man forced his way to the foreground, and, ])ausing before the general, announced himself as the assistant editor of the Knoxville Whig, a partner and co-worker with Parson P)rownlow. In a few w^ell chosen words this gentleman, whose name I cannot now recall, welcomed the Union Troops into Knoxville. I remember that he seemed to be greatly surprised at the number of people who had turned out to receive the troops. He could not understand where the\- all came from, for when the rebels were in possession of Knoxville. not only the streets, but even the houses themselves seemed to be deserted, and the town was to all intent:^ and purposes dead and depopulated. As for the ne.^rr)es. Genera! Iluckner. the l\el)el Gommander. had re- jMjrted to the War Department at Richmond, that his engineers, had been compelled to abandon the work on the intrenchments and other defenses of Knoxville by reason of the absence of negro labor, which the most diligent search failed to tind in all lui^t Tennessee. "And now. .^uh, for (iaud's sake just look at 'em." >aid our friend the |ourn;ili>t, p lintiiig to the hundreds of laugh- ing, happy, black face> that showed up in every direction. 8 While we were still waiting in Main Street, Capt. Franklin, of Gen. Carter's Staff, returned from his search for quarters and reported that he had secured a fine large residence, completely furnished, but recently vacated by the family and at present in ch.arge of the servants. Gen. Carter seemed to have personal knowledge of the resi- dence and explained to Gen. Burnside the advantages it possessed for headquarters, and at the latter's suggestion, it was arranged that both Generals, each with his personal staff, should occupy this mansion and grounds. Most of the party had dismounted in the meantime. Some were chatting with the citizens and mingling with the crowd, while others had w-andered off and were being entertained with meat and drink in the surrounding houses. It was now late in the afternoon, and the red September sun was just sinking behind the University Building, in front of which we had stood that morning. Suddenly the mellow notes of a bugle sounded the call to mount. As the last echo of the bugle notes died away a solemn stillness settled over all the multitude, broken by a single voice which rang out strong and clear upon the even- ing air,, yet with such wonderful melody and pathos that all were impelled to listen. On the roof of a little one-story frame build- ing, clinging to the projecting eaves of the adjoining house for support, and overlooking the surging crowd in the street below, stood a young negro woman. Small of stature, black of face, homely in figure and in lineament was this girl. Yet never be- fore and never since have I heard a voice that could thrill me with such mysterious power as hers, as it floated softly but with com- n.lling power upon the evening air. The words she sang I can- not recall, but the refrain that was chanted in swellings chorus by the concourse of neg^ro nien and women in the street below her, ring^s in niv ears tonight, after a silence of half a century: '"What )OU do wIkii de Redeenicr comes heah on de earth? Is you ready fob de questions what He axes you siio? Has you 'creased dem Talents what he gib you at your birth Stead ()' buryin' "em in de groun under de old cabin flo?" The last stanza had been sung, and the weird, plaintive cadence of the refrain was dying away when a grizzly-headed old negro stepped out from among the singers and in a deep powerful voice called out. "Our Redeemer is heah at last, Marse Burnside is our blessed Redeemer. Washed in de blood ob de Union. 1 'raise ye de I.ord." Burnside, mounted on his horse some little distance from where the old darky stood, had turned in his saddle as the old man began to speak, but these words were too much for him. Hastily glancing at Gen. Carter and then at others of the staff around him. he started his hor>c sharply forward, and we all fol- lowed in the direction of our new quarters. The Crozier man- sion we found to be most inviting to tired, hungry men, and that night after a good supper, eaten while sitting at a table with a white cloth, witii china (li>hes, knives and forks, something that we had not enjoyed for many a day, we sat on the front porch or strolled around the grounds, smoking and congratulating our- selves on the comfortable quarters and the easy restful time in store for us during the coming winter. (len. Burnside and his staff occupied the lirst lloor of the house, while (len. Larler with his staff c)ccupie(l the second tloor. It was late when my bunker 10 (Lieut. Rhodes, of lOord Ohio, who was also an aid on Gen. Carter's staff) and myself had finally turned in, as we fondly imajxined for a ^ood night's rest. I had, as it seemed to me, just fallen asleep, when I was awakened by Parks, Gen Carter's ser- vant, who said the General wanted either me or Rhodes to come into his room at once. I think Rhodes must have heard the mes- sage first, for when I had aroused myself sufficiently to take in the situation. Rhodes was to all intents and purposes dead and snoring "to beat the band." So I hustled into the General's room, and soon learned that a courier had arrived from Shackelford near Cumberland Gap, with a message reporting the Gap to be still in possession of the rebels under Gen. Frazier, with DeCour- cty in camp to the north. DeCourcey's force was not of sufifi- cieiit strength to take Cumberland Gap by assault. I was in- structed by Gen. Carter to ride at once with a message to Col. Byrd, who was reported to be in the vicinity of Cambell's Station. The purport of this message (being in part verbal) was to have Byrd's Brigade move at once towards Cumberland Gap, and to re- port to Gen. Shackelford at the earliest possible moment. It was about three A. M. as I cut across the lawn, through the sharp frosty air, towards an open field adjoining the Crozier Mansion, where the Headquarters Escort and Orderlies were in camp. I found Captain Pike of the Escort, in an ambulance, sound asleep, but soon had his promise to have two men from his Troop report at the iiouse, ready to accompany me at once. Returning to the house, I found my horse saddled and ready to mount, and still more to the point. Parks, that good old soul, the General's servant, awaiting me on the front porch, with a big tin 11 cup filled with hot coflFee and a liberal chunk of corn pone. Dear, kind, faithful old Parks, how the remembrance of that kindly black face, the quiet, soft voice and j^^entle manner comes back to me, through the lapse of these many years! It is truly a grateful memory of many good thoughtful acts, such as miglit be shown to a young and careless boy, by one much older and with a fatherly interest in his welfare and comfort. Spiritual, as well as lx)dily, was this fatherly interest, for Parks, like his master, Gen Carter, was a most devout and sincere Christian, who hid not his light under a bushel, but let it shine forth at al! times, both through spirit and song. As for the General, his Master, it was invariably "Grace he- fore Meat" with him. Whether in quarters, on the march or in the field, we of the Staff never sat down at mess, or even partook of a hasty snack, while ou the uKive. with the General present, that we did not await the uncovered and bowed head of our Chief fol- lowed by an earnest supplication for grace. A graduate of the Xaval Academy of Aimapolis. ( ien. Carter at the beginning of the war of the rebellion was serving as a Lieutenant in the V. S. Navy. East Tennessean by birth, de- sci-iided from that little band of Huguenots, who many years ago settled near the border of East Tennessee and North Carolina, Lieut. Carter, true to the S])irit and I*"aith of his people, obtained from the Xavy ne])artm(.nt permission to offer his services in be- half of the loyal element of his Xative State. Carter then raised and organized two regiments of Infantry and one regiment of Cavalry in I'la'^t Tennessee, and later was male a Brigadier 12 General of Volunteers. Gen. Carter was indeed a fine character, a courteous. Christian gentleman, courageous and fearless at all times, a strict disciplinarian, yet just and dispassionate even to evil doers, and to the unfortunate or those in distress, as tender and sympathetic as a woman. It was with keen regret, that a few days later, I said Good-bye to my General and kind friend, in order to join my regiment, never to see him again. But to take up the thread of my story, after a sharp ride of several hours I found Col. iixrd with his I'rigade not at Campbell's station, but at Lenoirs on the Railroad near the Holston River. As I rode into his camp, I heard firing ofif towards Loudon, and the 4r)th Mounted Infantry .was just moving out at a trot in the direction of the firing. Learning that Byrd was quartered in an old farmhouse near at hand, I caught him just as he was going to the front, delivering my message from Gen. Carter as I tode with Col. Byrd down the Loudon road. Very early that morn- ing Byrd's pickets had been fired on, and after a brisk skirmish they were now being driven in, and the 45th was ordered out for further developments. At the outset of this attack, a battalion of Wol ford's 1st Kentucky Cavalry was sent out to support the p'ckcts. It was this detachment that were now being driven back. Col. I'jyrd had been instructed previously to hold the line of the Holston River below Knoxville, and it had been thought that he would have little or no trouble in this, as Buckner's troops were wcH on their way to join Bragg on their retreat from Knoxville. But as it afterwards developed, Maj. Gen. Sam Jones, with about eight thcusand rebel Cavalry Infantr}-, had entered the upperi 13 Tennessee Valley from Virginia and a portion of this force had worked its way down the valley through Sevierville, the ohject being to harass our right and interrupt any attempt to form junction with Rosecrans. and at the same time divert attention from Cumberland Gaf). and thus permit of Gen. Frazier either being reinforced, or at least extricated from the position he was now in, being practically shut up in the Gap. So the question that now confronted Col. liyrd was whether under this unexpected turn of affairs, which in all probability was unknown at Head- quarters in Knoxville, he should be expected to strictly obey this recent order. In the meantime the }r)th Ohio had dismounted, and their skirmish line was already scattering away in a fringe of bushes that bordered a little stream that ran across Kingston road, .\fter some discussion in which several of llyrd's officers took part, it was very wisely agreed that Col. iJyrd should hold hi.s present position if he could until I had returned to Knoxville and explained the situation to Gen. Carter. In order to facilitate communication with l'>yrd's command, a detail from the 11 ^th Ills. Mounted Infantry, consisting of eight men, was ordered to report to me. and I rode on my return to Knoxville. This detail was stationed at intervals of about five miles apart as a courier line and instructed accordingly. It was early in the morning of the next day when I rode up to hcad(|uarters, tired, hungry, and sore of body. My horse had stumbled and falLn, in descending a hill, and 1 had gone over his hoatl. and in conse(|uence was considerably shaken up and not a little bruised. 1 made my report to Gen. Carter, who took me at once to see Gen. liurnside. The latter did n(»t seem micli sur- W prised at the news I brought, as he had a few hours previously received word from Shackelford of Sam Jones' arrival in the up- per Tennessee Valley^ and he had already given orders for White's Division of "^Ijrd Corps to proceed by forced march to Cumber- land Gap. This movement was carried out promptly, Gen. Burn- side himself leaving for Cumberland Gap the next day, where three days later Gen Frazier surrendered the Gap and 2500 men with a large amount of stores and ammunition to him. When after a bite to eat and a few hours sleep, I appeared on the front porch of the Crozier Mansion later in the day, I found that three messages had been received from Col. Byrd by Gen. Carter over the courier line. The sum and substance of these was that the fight of which I had seen the opening the day pre- vious had not been very much of an affair, that the rebels had been driven back across the Holston River, and that Byrd's coinmand was now encamped at Lenoir's Station with the River Fords well guarded, and where he was instructed to remain pending further orders. Before leaving for Cumberland Gap, Burnside appointed Gen. Carter, Provost Marshal General of East Tennessee, with headquarters for this department established in a large and com- paratively new building, erected and formerly occupied on the ground floor by the Bank of Tennessee, the upper floors being intended for offices and Masonic Lodge Hall. This building stood on Main street, and at that time was regarded as very modern and quite imposing in appearance. Gen. Carter, on entering upon his new duties, announced that he wished to re- 15 tain his personal staff to aid in the work of this new Department. Col. Saunders, who had re(,'entl\ been i)ronioted to Brij^adier General, was now assigned to command of Carter's Cavalry Division, and was preparing to take the field at the head of this Command, (ieji. Shackelford was temporarily in command of the 2:5rd Corps, and the two Divisions of the !Uh Corps, under Gen. I'arkes. were en route to Knoxville from \ iokshurg. Shackelford's llrigade was to report to Gen. Saunders from the Watauga \ alley, where they had been ordered, after the sur- render of Cumberland Gap. serving as part of the F^orcc with Gen. lUirnside. The rebels under Sam Jones, who had been a source of much trouble and damage in that vicinity. Iiad tina'ly been driven across the llolston Mountains into X'irginia, l)y l!iu"n- side. Carter's and P.yrd's r)rigades were now in Camp at Camp- bell's Station, about six miles south from Knoxville. soon to be joined by Shackelford and bond's iJri^ades recently assigned. These four j'.rigadcs of Mounted Infantry and Cavalry were to form the I'ourth, or Cavalry, I3ivi;Mon of the "ilrd Corps under rien. W. ['. Saunders. A ])ontoon bridge hat! been tlir(nvn across the flolston at the mouth of hirst Creek, in Knoxville. and it was now generally understood around beadcjuru ters, that ( ien. Saund.'rs was to move across the river with his division for the purpose of opening the wav for ri junction with Rosecrans at Chattanooga. While at I.uioir's with a message to Col. r>\rd, 1 bad met the .\