Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

November first, at six o'clock in the morning, our brigade moved out into town, but every thing not being ready, we were ordered to return to camp and wait till twelve o'clock. At two o'clock we moved out, crossed the river on the pontoon — the same bridge we had at Loudon — marched to Rockford, a small town on Little River, and camped for the night.

November second, crossed Little River and marched to Maryville; went into camp and remained there till the morning of the seventh, during which time we scoured the country as far down as Little Tennessee River, where Lieutenant McAdams, of the First Kentucky cavalry, gained a glorious victory by drowning, killing, capturing, and completely routing twice his own number. On the morning of the seventh, General Sanders's cavalry corps fell back across Little River to Rockford, where we remained till the morning of the fourteenth.

November fourteenth, early in the morning, the rebels made a dash on the pickets, and captured part of the Eleventh Kentucky cavalry. They soon began to press our lines all along the river with a heavy force — Wheeler's and Forrest's. About nine o'clock General Sanders ordered our forces to fall back. We fell back to Stock Creek, skirmishing all day. In the evening our regiment was put on picket, extending from Frenche's bridge, across Stock Creek, on the Martin Gap road, along the creek to its mouth, where it empties into Little River; a distance of about five miles.

November fifteenth, early in the day, the enemy made his appearance along our line, and, after several hours' skirmishing of both artillery and musketry, General Sanders ordered our skirmishers to fall back gradually. When the enemy felt our line give way he seemed to double his ambition. I was on the post at the bridge. We sent a courier to the road to get orders when to go in. After the courier arrived at division and regimental headquarters on the Maryville road, the rebels rushed in between our post and the road, so our courier could not return. After waiting full time for his return we started another. In a short time the latter returned, stating that we were entirely cut off. We struck out in a direction to strike into the Maryville road ahead of the fighting. We (sixteen in number) met an old citizen, who said he would pilot us through. Away he went through the mountains, and in the course of two hours hard riding we got into the Maryville road just in time to get in ahead of the rebels, crowding on the rear of our marching column. Our regiment had covered the retreat all this time, and having stood picket all night, and as much as a company two days and nights, were becoming very much fatigued — were relieved by the rest of the brigade, the Eleventh Kentucky and the Forty-fifth Ohio mounted infantry. Just before reaching the heights south of the Holston, the rebels made a furious charge on the two regiments, running into their ranks and shooting them with pistols. We fell back to the heights, where four guns of our battery were in position, supported by three regiments of infantry. Our cavalry force dismounted and formed in position. The battery then opened. Our regiment was ordered by General Sanders to take position on a very high hill on the right and near the river. After gaining its summit, and throwing forward skirmishers, we halted to take a moment's rest, when Lieutenant-Colonel Ward, walking along the line, remarked that he was proud to see the regiment get together in such good order after having fought part of two days at such intervals, and not a man hurt. Here we might note the daring courage and art as skirmishers of a number of our line-officers, shown all the way from Rockford to the Holston. On the first day, that of Lieutenant Higdon was admired by the regiment. Of to-day, that of the abovenamed lieutenant, Captain Hammer and his First Lieutenant Roff, who are not surpassed on the skirmish-line. Also that of Captain Ragsdale. I think General Sanders is well pleased with the officers and men of our regiment for to-day's work. It is said by some of the boys that the General remarked in the morning, that his dependence for the cover of this retreat was in Pennebaker's mounted infantry brigade. At the opening of our battery, the rebs, seeing our position and readiness to receive them, fell back. After dark our regiment moved from the hill to the rear of another hill nearer the pontoon-bridge. Here we drew rations and camped for the night.

November sixteenth, we moved forward a few hundred yards, and threw up a temporary breastwork of timbers. After dark our brigade moved across the river, through town to the Tazewell road, to our horses that were previously sent over. About midnight we mounted; moved through town to the Loudon road; had not gone far till we met General Burnside; turned back and came back to the Tazewell road; bivouacked till morning.

November seventeenth, our brigade moved through town and out on the Winter Gap or Clinton road. Here we met the enemy, and skirmished some all day; heavy skirmishing on the Loudon road. We lay in line all night; no man allowed to sleep; no fire and very cold.

November eighteenth, skirmishing commenced at daylight. The rebels made several charges, which we withstood and repulsed. In the evening they charged upon us with overwhelming numbers. The right of our line swung to the rear, the left fell back a few hundred yards till our line became parallel with the railroad and in the suburbs of the town. All in good order and to keep from being flanked. Here our line established itself perfectly secure from any flank movement by the enemy. During the day our regiment lost in killed, Orderly Sergeant Judd, company F, and Sergeant Meader, company B. Four wounded.

November nineteenth, we still maintained our line under a heavy fire, and returning the same with our long-ranged Enfield rifles, that kept the