Showing posts with label Siege of Knoxville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siege of Knoxville. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Tuesday, December 1, 1863

In the morning issued rations to the 9th Mich. Sent Coats to see Fisher. Promised to send to me or come himself. Rebels reported across the river. Scout sent out. Maj. Gen. Foster arrived last night. Guns fired in his honor. Telegram from Leavitt to know about rations.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: December 2, 1863

Finished Burns yesterday. Pleased with him except that he tends too much to vulgarity. A good deal of wit. Firing all day in the direction of Walker's Ford. Infantry moved down. Cavalry obliged to fall back across the river. Commenced running mill at Big Springs. Fisher failed to return the meal. Teams sent back in evening. Put on my Regimentals.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: December 3, 1863

During the day was quite busy getting wheat, etc., together. Ordered to be ready to march this P. M. Got all ready but failed to move. Issued meal and flour till Tuesday. Wrote in the evening. Had some apples to eat. Boys played checkers. Two poor stoves.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: December 4, 1863

Considerable movement among the troops. Beers and Woods up from the 2nd Ohio. Played considerably at checkers with the boys. Saw paper of the 27th. Several scouting parties sent out and appearances of rebs leaving Tennessee for W. Virginia. Sent letters yesterday home and to Fannie.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99-100

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 26, 1863

I shall be glad when the suspense shall end and we can move forward or back where we can find plenty to eat. Had some hogs driven up for 9th and 2nd. Bought 5 head of cattle. Drove up 7 from near Gap. Infantry Brigade, Wilcox's, came up, still half starved. Jackson so begged that we lent him 1,200 Ib. of meal. Letter from Ella Clark. Answered it. Did me good. Hid a dispatch on a messenger.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 28, 1863

Have an old store for the Commissary, storehouse below and office above. Cleaned up and put up a stove. Looked about to get mills. Hear no word from B. — borrowed meal. Aggravating. Lewis not successful. Dan fixed up a very good desk from an old P. O. box. Read some in Burns. Settled some accounts.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 29, 1863

Started Theodore to find Leavitt and rations and to see Jackson. Also sent for salt. Read several chapters in Bible. Have neglected reading Bible too much since I have been in the army. Borrowed “English Orphans” and reviewed it. Good story. Mrs. Jones' Hdqrs. Two sons in rebel army.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 30, 1863

June came down looking better. No news of importance. Yesterday morning firing heard in the direction of Knoxville, very heavy. None since. Rebels thought to be leaving. Thede came back about dark with rations of sugar and coffee. Had a long jaunt of it. Went from T. to Walker's Ford.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 99

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 21, 1863

Raining heavily. Issued flour and beef to 2nd O. V. C. Robertson came down. Moved north of town and pitched tents and sent for forage. Two boys, "Shorty" and another, sat by the light and played "Seven Up." Became pleasant before night. Left flour for the brigade with Powers. All wonder at our movements.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 22, 1863

A bright pleasant morning and day. After breakfast went up to Col. Foster's. Telegraphed to Garrard whether to go to Command or remain at T. while the train went to the Gap. Ordered to report. Drew rations and moved to Sycamore. Saw the papers at the Col.'s Hdqrs. Talk of the paymaster coming. Burnside thought safe at K. Four men started for K.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 23, 1863

Went to mills and put them to running as fast as possible. Capt. Rankin in charge of two mills. June and Dan went to town. No pay. Read papers. Alarm towards night. Pickets fired upon. Some arms lost in the river. Pleasant day. Very strong position here at this gap.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 98

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 25, 1863

In the morning rode out and found the wagons 1½ miles from town. Had Dan and Lewis go with Lt. Leavitt 14 miles for flour and meal. Got back about midnight, clear and cold. One of the Drivers came down. No move today. Spent the day at the wagons mostly. Read some, pitched a fly and took our ease. Numerous reports as to Burnside.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 98-9

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 17, 1863

Sent Lewis to Russelville to see about rations. June came with load of flour weighing 4,000. 2nd. N. Carolina and 23rd Ind. Batt. in our Brigade drew rations. Saw post Commissary. No rations. Things begin to look a little dubious. Considerable running about for one day. Rode from Gap to camp with Lt. Pearson.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 18, 1863

Aroused early and notified that a general evacuation is to take place. Saddled, and so till noon. Train ordered to Rice's Lower Ford. Rode over hastily to St. Clair and notified Pearson when to cross. Got two teams to go to Kirkpatrick's mill. Some fast and hard riding. 2nd O. V. C. train ferried but the rest crossed at Cobb's Ford and trudged on towards Bean Station. Some mud. Good joke on 11th Mich. Batt. Sergt.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 97

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 19, 1863

About two stopped at a house and warmed. Got into a bed for two hours. Pitied some poor people. Gave a woman $22 scrip. Wolf and I went to a Mr. Tate's (rebel off the road) for breakfast. One very affected rebel girl with curls, perfectly disgusting. Train corralled near. One and one-half miles from Bean Station. Lay down and took a nap. Mack lost his horse last night, left him standing while he went to warm, walked 8 miles. Found him today. Pearson and men messing with us. Went with Mr. Berley to Div. Com. to sell him some beef and hogs. Boys came up before night. Sent Lewis back to see about flour and beef for Brigade. Moved about 8 P. M. — just settled for night's rest — to the foot of Clinch Mountain. Trains and troops crossing all night. Slept well in open air. Hired George

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 97-8

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 20, 1863

Troops still passing. Various rumors as to the position of Burnside in Knoxville. Got breakfast. 2nd O. V. C. came along. Nearly 20 ate with us. Moved on at 9. Got over the mountain nicely. Two wagons broken. Long hill and rather steep but smooth road. Went down into the valley and fed. Made me sad to see 6 mountain stragglers passing, all half famished and worn out — poor fellows, no rations and no prospect for any. Left flour for Command and 6 beeves. Moved on to Tazewell in rain. Went to Mr. Epp's, Union man, and heard some music. After supper remembered hearing Maj. Nettleton speak of him. Good time. Camped at T. Rained steadily all night. Many poor, hungry and footsore soldiers and citizens today and tonight.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 98

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Diary of John Hay: April 24, 1864

To-night Gen. Burnside came up with me from Willard's to see the President.  They talked about the opening campaign more than anything else. . . . He gave some interesting reminiscences of the siege of Knoxville (Tad laughing enormously whenever he saw his father's eye twinkle, though not seeing clearly why).

Burnside and Sigel are the only ones in motion in accordance with the Order for a general movement on the 23d.

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 182-3; Michael Burlingame and John R. Turner Ettlinger, Editors, Inside Lincoln’s White House,: the complete Civil War Diary of John Hay, p. 188.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: November 30, 1863 – Second Entry

Anxiety pervades.  Lee is fighting Meade.  Misery is everywhere.  Bragg is falling back before Grant.1  Longstreet, the soldiers call him Peter the Slow, is settling down before Knoxville.

General Lee requires us to answer every letter, said Mr. Venable, and to do our best to console the poor creatures whose husbands and sons are fighting the battles of the country.
_______________

1 The siege of Chattanooga, which had been begun on September 21st, closed late in November, 1863, the final engagements beginning on November 23d, and ending on November 25th. Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge were the closing incidents of the siege. Grant, Sherman, and Hooker were conspicuous on the Federal side and Bragg and Longstreet on the Confederate.

SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 258-9

Thursday, February 16, 2012

At First Light: A Painting of the Battle of Knoxville by Ken Smith


It was a cold Sunday November morning in 1863 when the Gwinnett Artillery lead by Captain Tyler Peeples fired the first shot at Fort Sanders. Cannons sounded and the men from Georgia signaled the beginning of the disastrous attack on Union-held Fort Sanders. Now on that same spot, later called Morgan Hill, the University of Tennessee is busy building a new sorority complex. Much has changed since the bloody 1863 battle. Where there were just hills of mud, now interstate highways and modern structures sprout from the landscape. And yet, with the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, those first shots on Fort Sanders are remembered and are depicted in At First Light by historical artist Ken Smith.

“It’s still hard to picture the Battle of Knoxville taking place in that denuded 1863 landscape with all the hustle and bustle of modern Knoxville covering every salient feature of the original ground,” said the artist.

During the excavation of what is believed to be the only known archaeologically confirmed Confederate battle site in Knoxville, Smith was commissioned by the University of Tennessee’s McClung Museum to paint what transpired on Morgan Hill on that infamous morning. This particular event was part of the Siege of Knoxville and ended with over 800 casualties for the Confederate Army, leading to the Confederate retreat from East Tennessee. A reproduction of the painting is currently on display at the museum’s Civil War exhibit and plans also include using the image on a historical marker at the battle site, where 60 feet of the original trench will be preserved once the complex is completed.

Using research from UT’s archeological team, Smith began recreating the moment using period maps and contemporary descriptions to recreate the landscape and conditions that Tyler Peeples and the  Gwinnett Artillery faced on that morning in 1863. The artist traveled to Petersburg National Battlefield (Petersburg, VA) to view and photograph one of only two functional Napoleon cannons in the Eastern US. And he recruited accurately garbed reenactors to pose as the Georgia artillerymen.

Smith currently resides in Pulaski, Virginia and is an assistant professor of graphic design at Radford University. Before this, he lived in the Knoxville area for over thirty years and is an alumni of the University of Tennessee. He also holds a MA from Syracuse University (Syracuse, New York), and an MFA from the University of Hartford (Hartford, Connecticut).

At First Light can be seen at the McClung Museum (Knoxville, Tennessee) or on the artist’s website at http://www.kensmithhistoricalart.com/. Limited edition prints are available for purchase. For more information, please contact Ken Smith at ksmith@kensmithhistoricalart.com

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Review: Knoxville 1863

Knoxville 1863: A Novel
By Dick Stanley

By late November 1863 the fate of East Tennessee was held in the balance. A detachment from the Army of Northern Virginia under Lieutenant General James Longstreet was sent to Knoxville to prevent the Union Army of the Ohio under Ambrose Burnside from moving to support the Union forces at Chattanooga who were besieged by Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Union Engineers constructed several bastioned earthwork fortifications around Knoxville. One of these was Fort Sanders. Directly west of town, it was a salient in the line of earthworks which surrounded Knoxville on three sides. The fort was protected by a ditch that was twelve feet wide and eight feet deep with a vertical wall of red clay that rose nearly fifteen feet above the ditch.

It is during this time and at this place that Dick Stanley has set his second book, the appropriately named novel, “Knoxville 1863.” Mr. Stanley has taken a unique approach to telling the story of Longstreet’s failed attack on Fort Sanders. His narrative follows the linear chronology of the attack on and defense of the fort, but the story is told from several different view points: inside and outside the fort, civilian and soldier, from both the Union and Confederate points of view. This method of storytelling is both the novel’s greatest asset, as well as its greatest weakness, as it gives Mr. Stanley’s readers a multilayered understanding of what is happening at all points, but there is no one central character to follow through the narrative, which can overwhelm and loose its reader.

In his afterward, Mr. Stanley, takes the time to point out the real historical characters and summarizes what became of them. He also includes a brief discussion of the sources he used in researching the novel. Mr. Stanley has certainly done his homework; his novel rests on a solid foundation of historical facts. It is well written & a joy to read.

ISBN 978-1451580310, CreateSpace, © 2010, Paperback, 230 pages, $7.98