Following are official correspondence all that mention Tazewell, Tennesse. Tazewell
was Headquarters of several Divisions of the Union Army during the Civil War
(some
records may be accessed by clicking on blue heading)
Chapter XXVIII. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION
HDQRS.
THIRD BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 23rd ARMY CORPS,
In the Field, 19 Miles southwest of Tazewell,
September 5,
1863-12 o'clock.
Lieutenant
Colonel GEORGE B. DRAKE,
Assistant-Adjutant-General:
Information
from the gap on yesterday that the rebels were still there, but expecting to
move two regiments of cavalry, and a small body of infantry are reported to
have been there yesterday. It is the opinion of the citizens along the road
that they are gone. I shall press forward until I receive definite information
as to their where-abouts, and will, if possible,
intercept them. I find a great quantity of corn on this road, considerable hay,
wheat, and rye.
I
am, colonel, &c.,
J.
M. SHACKELFORD,
Brigadier-General.
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 23rd ARMY CORPS,
South of Clinch River, 10 1/2 Miles of Tazewell, Tenn.,
September 5, 1863-12 p.m.
Lieutenant Colonel G. B. DRAKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
My advance is in Tazewell, Tenn. We met the enemy's pickets as the river. The advance, under Major
Carpenter, Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry, was fired into twice between this
and town. He found from 60 to 100 of the enemy in town. He dispatches me that
the Union citizens report from 3,000 to 4,000 at the gap, 2,000 being cavalry.
I shall move up at once to Tazewell, and dispatch you again.
I am, colonel,&c.,
J. M. SHACKELFORD,
Brigadier-General, Commanding, &c.
HEADQUARTERST
TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Knoxville, Tenn., September 10, 1863.
Colonel
FRANK WOLFORD,
Commanding
Independent Brigade:
The general commanding the corps directs
you to establish a courier line between here and Cumberland
Gap immediately, via Tazewell, the posts to be 10 miles apart, 3 couriers to be on each
post. The officer under whose supervision it is to be established you will
order to report here at once. The general directs you to send 3 men here as
soon as you can, to take a dispatch through to Cumberland
Gap.
I
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. B. DRAKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
HEADQUARTERS
NINTH ARMY CORPS,
Lexington, Ky., September 12, 1863.
Brigadier
General EDWARD FERRERO,
Commanding
First Division, Ninth Army Corps:
GENERAL:
The commanding general desires me to communicate the following orders to you:
It
is of the utmost importance that we move at once, and with as few wagons as
possible. The Second Division is now moving with but two wagons per regiment
including headquarters. As Soon as a wagon is empty send it back, and let it
forage its way. This will save much transportation.
You
should leave Crab Orchard with fifteen days' in wagon of light rations, and as
much as the men can well carry. Have beef enough on the hoof
so that in case of delay we can decrease the other rations and increase the
beef. We must depend on the country exclusively for coarse forage, and
to some extent for corn. Do not wait for trains if they are near enough to
overtake you. Take all the wagons necessary you can lay your hands on. It is of
vital importance that we move as soon as possible and press forward with all
dispatch. Have you not a larger ammunition train than is necessary? If so, turn
in surplus to ordnance officer at Crab Orchard.
Employ
such scouts and guides as may be necessary. Look out for attempts to cut off
your trains, particularly from your left flank. Move with as much dispatch as
you can without breaking down your men. Move on the route via Barboursville and
Cumberland Ford and Gap, thence via Tazewell
to Knoxville.
I
am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N.
BOWEN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
MORRISTOWN, September 30, 1863.
General
BURNSIDE:
At
1 o'clock this p.m. Colonel
Carter was at Bull's Gap, having halted there, whether with intention of making
a stand or rest, my informant did not know. Just received dispatch from
Lieutenant Ronder, commanding patrol, stating that
400 rebels, armed and mounted, were approaching Tazewell. Were mete by home guards, who
were skirmishing and holding them in check.
HOSKINS,
Colonel.
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President Confederate States.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA, October 19, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to receive your letter of the 16th
instant. I am doubtful as yet whether General Meade will remain on the defensive
or again make a movement upon Richmond.
I left him fortifying his line along Bull
Run, which extended northerly across the Little
River turnpike at Chantilly,
where he was constructing a redoubt in the yard [?]. Before a permanent advance
on his part can be made, he will be obliged to reconstruct the Orange
and Alexandria
Railroad from Cub Run to the Rappahannock.
I suppose a few days will disclose his intentions. Our cavalry is still north
of the Rappahannock.
If General Meade is disposed to remain quiet
where he is, it was my intention, provided the army could be supplied with
clothing, again to advance and threaten his positions. Nothing prevented my
continuing in his front the destitute condition of the men, thousands of whom
are bearfooted, a greater number partially shod, and
nearly all without overcoats, blankets, or warm clothing. I think the sublimest sight of the war was the cheerfulness and
alacrity exhibited by this army in the pursuit of the enemy under all the
trials and privations to which it was exposed. I now occupy the line of the Rappahannock.
I appreciate the advantages of regaining East
Tennessee, but fear the object will not be accomplished
by sending a portion of the army to General Samuel Jones. I do not know the
difficulties that he has ha to contend with, but at this distance it has not
seemed to me that he had done all that might have been accomplished with the
forces under his control. He ranks every major-general in this army, including
those in Longstreet's corps. I am not satisfied that
he knows the force opposed to him. His reports are rather conflicting. Before
sent back Core's brigade, I urged him to retain it, to concentrate his troops,
and advance to Knoxville, but he then thought that there was only cavalry in his
front, and that nothing could be accomplished. I do not now see the
necessity, even though five Indiana
regiments should have passed through Tazewell en route to Morristown,
for General Williams, abandoning Bristol.
Morristown
is 70 miles from Bristol
and about 30 from Tazewell. He might have at least
waited the approach of the enemy, who seems to have been a hundred miles from
him. If General Jones will concentrate his troops and march against the enemy,
he may repulse him. If the object of the latter be the destruction of the
salt-works, I fear no part of this army could reach there in time to prevent
it, as the distance is nearly 300 miles. Before it could reach East
Tennessee, I fear the season would be so far advanced
as to render all efforts unavailing. If re-enforcements are to be sent to the
West, I think it best that they should go to Chattanooga,
where a winter's campaign would be practicable. Although we might be able to
drive from Williamsburg,
Yorktown,
and Gloucester Point, we should have to abandon them, as troops could not be
spared for their defense.
The reported invasion of North
Carolina by General Foster ought
to be confirmed before moving troops so far to oppose it. Should such an
attempt be made, I would recommend that all the troops in that State and those
from near Richmond
be immediately sent to meet it, and I could replace
those taken from Richmond
by other troops from this army. I think it highly important to keep our troops
as active as possible, and to strike the enemy at every vulnerable point, and
should be very glad to use this army wherever it can be of most service. I
would not, however, recommend that it be too much dispersed until we have some
reason to believe that the army of General Meade, now greatly it superior in
numbers, has abandoned the contest for this campaign.
If you can give me any exact information as to the numbers and
position of the enemy at any pont where you think it
most expedient to send the troops, I shall be very glad to meet your views.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
NOVEMBER
19, 1863.-Skirmish at Mulberry Gap, Tennessee
Report of Brigadier General Orlando B. Willcox, U.
S. Army.
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, November 20, 1863.
I have the honor to report everything comes
through in good order. The rebel force that was at Kingsport
seems to have been concentrating several days toward Cumberland
Gap. At Mulberry Gap and Sneedville it is
reported that a considerable force was crossing Clinch
River at Walker's
Ford to-day, 7 miles above Sneedville. That is probably the force that moved
down toward Rogersville. A small scouting party, under command of Captain
Hammond, Sixty-fifth Indiana, mounted, charged through the camp of a rebel
regiment (Sixty-fourth Virginia), and scattered it at Mulberry Gap last night,
killing 3, wounding 1, capturing 1 prisoner, some horses, and arms. We now hold
Mulberry Gap, with small force. There are two rebel regiments at Sneedville. I
expect to move to Cumberland Gap
to-morrow.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
Major-General GRANT.
BEAN'S STATION, Tennessee,
November 20,
1863. (Received 6.40 p.m.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
I
was instructed by General Burnside that the security of the retreat of my
forces to Cumberland Gap was the first object, in case my
communication by telegraph was cut off from him. On the evening of the 17th
telegraphic communication was stopped. I was then at Bull's Gap. The time of
leaving there was left to my judgment. I made a demonstration of Rogersville,and sent scouting
parties on Greeneville, Snap's Ferry, and Bobb's Mill
roads, securing the ford below Rogersville with my cavalry,and
moved my infantry to Russellville, and at the same time ordered scouts and
telegraph-line repairers from Morristown toward Knoxville. I waited at
Russellville until noon of the 18th.
Reports were current that a heavy force of rebel cavalry crossed at Strawberry
Plains. I then determined to concentrate my forces near this point. I ordered
my troops to abandon Morristown, but the
telegraph-wires left connected at Morristown from Knoxville. Though still
cut off, on arriving here I found the line had been cut 6 miles from Knoxville and was
repaired. Sent a force, under Colonel Davis, to Morristown with an
operator, and established telegraphic communication with Cumberland
Gap and Knoxville. General
Burnside instructed me that while it was important to guard the Rogersville
road, it was more important to secure Cumberland Gap, and this has
determined my present move to Tazewell.
I hope it will meet with your approval.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
(Same to Grant.)
TAZEWELL, Tennessee,
November 20,
1863-9 p.m.
(Received 12.40
p.m., 21st.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
My cavalry penetrated the enemy's line of
pickets around Knoxville
this morning. From prisoners and other sources, they learn that the enemy made
an assault upon General Burnside's position yesterday and carried two intrenchments. The enemy lost heavily in the assault, our
men reserving their until close upon them. Our men
fought well and are still determined. Wheeler's whole corps and one division of
Longstreet's is reported this side of town. My
cavalry have been unable to effect communication with General Burnside. Firing
has been heard at Knoxville
to-day, but not as heavy as yesterday. The enemy have
blockaded the roads approaching from the north.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
BEAN'S
STATION, Tennessee, November 20, 1863-9 a.m.
(Received 5.10 p.m.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
My advance commenced moving on Tazewell at 12 o'clock last night. If
nothing happens, Colonel Foster will arrive there about noon. My movement to this
place from Bull's Gap was covered by a demonstration on Rogersville, which seems
to have checked the advance of the enemy on that road. I have heard of but two
regiments of the enemy moving down on the Rogersville road. Do not know where
the main body of Jones' cavalry is. A force reported at Bull's Gap yesterday; I
do not know how strong. Scouts from Cumberland Gap
on Jonesville road have not reported any movement in that direction yet. I
think the main body of Jones' cavalry, which defeated Garrard
at Rogersville on the 6th instant, is moving in a body, but cannot tell where.
At Knoxville
some shelling reported yesterday afternoon by the telegraph operator at 2 o'clock. I have no
particular. Morristown
telegraph station was abandoned by Colonel Davis last night at dark. Have sent
Colonel Graham to Blain's Cross-Roads, hoping to open communication with Knoxville
by cavalry, but a division of rebels is reported on the north side of Knoxville.
Cannonading was thought to be heard here at daylight in the direction of Knoxville.
Clinch
Mountain
Gap is very bad. The Clinch River
ford is bad, but I hope my rear guard will get over Clinch
River this evening.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
(Same to Grant.)
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, November 21, 1863-11.30 a.m.
(Received 5.10 p.m.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
Colonel
Graham, finding it impossible to communicate with General Burnside, has just
returned. He reports that General Williams has been ordered to Knoxville, and says
this is reliable. A rebel scouting party that came up as far as Maynardville,
told the citizens that as soon as Knoxville was secured
Wheeler was going to Kentucky, and that
they meant to capture this command. I shall leave in a few minutes for Cumberland
Gap. My infantry is nearly there.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
(Same to Grant.)
CUMBERLAND GAP,
November 21,
1863-6.30 p.m.
Captain
W. P. ANDERSON,
Assistant
Adjutant-General:
General
Willcox's command has reached the gap; his rear guard
at Tazewell. All quiet here. Hundreds of citizens fleeing from East
Tennessee. They report
the invading force to number 40,000 to 50,000, under Longstreet;
not reliable.
What
news have you in Cincinnati? I fear we
shall suffer for subsistence. To-night will exhaust the bread and flour. Small rations for eight days. Forage scarce. Confederate
General Wheeler's corps of mounted men is said to be intended for Kentucky. If so, I
think they will pass up via Big Creek Gap and Williamsburg.
W.
C. LEMERT,
Colonel, &c.
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, November 21, 1863-2 p.m.
(Received 10.55 p.m.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
Dispatches
just received from General Willcox. He was at Tazewell this morning, but retreating
toward Cumberland Gap. His cavalry attempted to
communicate with Burnside, but could not effect it. A
severe fight took place on 19th, enemy carrying two intrechments
with heavy loss. Our attack on enemy's right has not yet commenced. Troops have
been moving night and day ever since Sherman appeared at Bridgeport, but narrow
and bad roads have made an earlier attack impossible. Sherman's advance
division moved up to Trenton several days since, and advanced their position
south each day, keeping up their old camp-fires at night and building new ones
where they were, to give the appearance of concentrating a large force in that
direction. A portion of this division ascended the south end of Lookout Mountain. Owing to
heavy rain last night it will be impossible to attack Bragg before Monday.
U.
S.
GRANT,
Major-General, Commanding.
WASHINGTON,
November 21,
1863-4 p.m.
Brig.
General O. B. WILLCOX,
Tazewell, Tennessee:
As you are acting under special
instructions of General Burnside, based upon a condition of affairs of which I
am not well advised, it would not be proper for me to
interfere with their execution. Give General Burnside all the assistance in
your power, and if they can be subsisted, draw down to Cumberland
Gap re-enforcements from Kentucky.
Communicate directly with General Grant and department headquarters, at Cincinnati.
H.
W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
Chapter XLIII. CORRESPONDENCE,ETC.-CONFEDERATE
DUBLIN, November 22, 1863.
Maj.
Gen. S. JONES,
Care
of Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond:
The
following just received from Major-General R. Ransom:
The
enemy is reported retreating from Morristown toward Tazewell. The cavalry has been put in
motion to operate as directed.
R.
RANSOM,
Major-General.
Official Records : Page 311 |
Chapter XLIII.
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION
CUMBERLAND GAP, November 26, 1863-10.30 a.m.
Major-General
GRANT:
Another
of my couriers from General Burnside has just got in Tazewell from a house in the mountains where he lay concealed last
night. He learned from the family that the rebels when they had crossed the
mountain went toward Rogersville. This indicates rather a want of confidence in
Longstreet's success or a fear of movement on
salt-works. His dispatches from General Burnside are on the way to me.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
CUMBERLAND
GAP, November 27,
1863-11.30 a.m. (Received 7.20 p.m.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
In
accordance with General Burnside's suggestion, I have ordered cavalry down to harass
enemy's left and rear, and sent a brigade of infantry to Tazewell. The rivers are fordable again. No further news from Knoxville. No trains
have arrived here with subsistence. Troops and animals cannot be subsisted here
from the rear in winter. News of Jones' movements are
conflicting.
O.
B. WILLCOX,
Brigadier-General.
(Same to Grant.)
CHARLESTON, ON THE HIWASSEE, December 1, 1863-7 a.m.
Major-General
GRANT:
General
Wilson and Mr. Dana arrived last night and brought me yours of November 29. I have
already crossed the Hiwassee, and am
marching for Loudon and Knoxville. I have sent
a messenger down to mouth of Hiwassee to
communicate with Granger, but I think I can beat him in moving fast. I will
have, if possible, Burnside hear my guns on the 3rd or 4th at furthest.
Recollect
that East Tennessee is my horror. That any military man should send a
force into East
Tennessee
puzzles me.
Burnside is there and must be relieved, but when relieved I want to get out,
and he should come out too.
I
think, of course, its railroad should be absolutely destroyed, its provisions
eaten up or carried away, and all troops brought out. Cumberland
Gap should be held simply as an outpost of Kentucky, but Burnside
must be relieved first and these other things after.
Yours,
SHERMAN.
CUMBERLAND GAP, December
1, 1863.
Major-General
GRANT:
General
Willcox has just received from Colonel Graham,
commanding his advance cavalry force near Maynardville, a dispatch stating that
it is reported in that neighborhood that Burnside had a successful fight with
the enemy on the morning of the 29th, in which he inflicted severe loss upon
them. It is also reported that Buckner had joined Longstreet.
I give the reports for what they are worth.
A
brigade of General Willcox's cavalry moved within 8
miles of Knoxville yesterday,
but met the enemy in too strong a force to risk an engagement. All the
available infantry have moved from this point. I shall be in Tazewell to-night.
J.
G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, December 1, 1863-6 p.m. (Received 8.55
a.m., 2nd.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
The
report of scouts sent out from the advance cavalry posts indicate that General Longstreet has commenced to retreat from his position
around Knoxville. A large
force of cavalry is now advancing on Maynardville, which I think is the
flanking column of main body of Longstreet or Jones -
the main body probably moving off on the Rutledge road. If this proves to be
correct, I shall harass his flanks and rear as much as possible.
J. G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
(Same to Grant.)
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, December 1, 1863-8.30 p.m.
(Received 9 a.m., 2nd.)
Maj.
General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
Your
dispatch is received. Three messages have been sent through to General
Burnside, communicating full information of the troops marching to his relief
and enjoining him to hold out to the last extremity. Reports from the outposts
this evening concur, establishing the probability that Longstreet
is retreating from Knoxville toward Virginia. We will take
up a position to-morrow from which his flank can be harassed, or in which we
can defend ourselves to advantage in case we should be attacked.
J.
G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
CHATTANOOGA,
December 1,
1863-7 a.m.
Major-General
FOSTER:
Your
dispatches of yesterday received.
Move
as indicated in your first dispatch, or as may be modified by your own
judgment.
U.
S.
GRANT,
Major-General.
CHATTANOOGA,
December 1,
1863-9 p.m.
Maj.
General J. G. FOSTER,
Tazewell, Tennessee:
Troops
from here were crossing the Hiwassee yesterday.
They may be looked for confidently on the 5th, and I think the 4th at Knoxville. Be prepared
to give the best support you can.
U.
S.
GRANT,
Major-General.
TAZEWELL, December 2, 1863-7.30
a. m.
(Received 1.40 p. m.)
General
GRANT:
A
courier came in from the front last night with the report that heavy firing was
heard at Knoxville from 3
o'clock p. m. yesterday to the time he left. Can this be Granger
attacking Longstreet's rear?
I
am posting my small force on the Clinch River in good
positions for defense or offense.
J.
G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
CHATTANOOGA, December 2, 1863-8 p. m.
Major-General FOSTER, Tazewell,
Tennessee:
Sherman
will reach Knoxwille to-morrow or the day following.
His force is large, and Longstreet must retreat
before it without much fighting. I do not see how his route can be any other
than up the valley. You will no doubt be able to inflict a heavy blow upon his
retreating column.
U. S.
GRANT,
Major-General.
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, December 2, 1863-12 noon.
(Received 5.05 p. m.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
A party of 8,1 of whom is
an officer, have arrived; left Knoxville on Monday
night. They report that General Burnside was strongly intrenched,
sufficiently supplied, and confident of holding out any reasonable length of
time. Midnight on Saturday Longstreet made a desperate
assault on Fort Sanders with a picked command. The engagement lasted all night until 7 o'clock next
morning. The rebels were completely repulsed with a loss of 1,000 men, of whom
250 were killed. General Burnside lost 45 killed and wounded. Some of the
prisoners reported that Buckner's forces had joined Longstreet, whole entire
force is estimated at 38,000 men. One of the party brought dispatches to you,
which I have not yet seen, giving full report of operations up to time of
writing. The general impression I received from the officer who gives this
information is that General Burnside and his men are in excellent spirits, and
confident of their ability to defeat the efforts of the enemy.
J. G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
(Same to General Grant.)
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, December 2, 1863-9 p. m.
(Received 5.30 p. m., 3rd.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
Heavy skirmishing has been continued all day between
our advance cavalry and the enemy in the direction of Maynardville, which has
resulted in Colonel Graham, commanding the cavalry, being driven back to the
infantry supports on Clinch River, where all attempts to force a passage were
repulsed. Ransom's division of three brigades of infantry, en route to Knoxville, is reported
near Bean's Station.
J. G. FOSTER,
Major-General.
(Same to General Grant.)
TAZEWELL, Tennessee, December 2, 1863-12.10 p. m.
(Received 5. p. m., 3rd.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
Your dispatch received. My force is so small-being
only 5,000 men of the six-months' troops-that I shall
not be able to do a great deal. Still you may rely upon our doing something at
the right
TAZEWELL Tennessee,
December 3,
1863-3