Affairs in the West.
the Lincoln raid at Big Creek Gap — Tennessee river--Federal outrages, &c. we get the following intelligence from the latest Tennessee papers received:The affair at Big Creek Gap
The Knoxville Register, of the 18th instant, says: ‘ The account of the capture of a large number of our cavalry by a Lincolnite force at Big Creek Gap. which appeared in our paper on Sunday last, has been shorn of its startling proportions by later and more authentic information. It turns out that the first reports brought here by the fugitive cavalrymen from Jacksboro' were either greatly exaggerated or confused. The Confederate loss has dwindled down from the capture of four cavalry companies to eight men and a few horses. We give below the statement of Lieutenant Brittain, of Captain Brown's company, an intelligent and reliable officer, who arrived in this city on yesterday morning: ’ I see a statement in your paper of the 16th, concerning the skirmish at Big Creek Gap, between the Federal and Confederates, which took place on last Friday morning.--The article referred to is erroneous. I herewith submit a brief statement of the whole affair. We had pickets stationed all along the mountain; and I, being officer of the day at that time, visited the several pickets between midnight and day, and found them all at their posts. I returned to my quarters at 5 o'clock, A. M. At three quarters of an hour after 5, and before the men had got up, the enemy made their appearance from behind a hill. Their force consisted of one regiment, our force 85 men. The enemy were within one hundred and fifty yards of our handful of men before we discovered them. Their column extended half round our encampment. They began firing on us before any considerable portion of our men knew they were present. Lt.-Colonel White was present on the occasion, and the night previous he cautioned me to have the mountain, &c., well picketed, which was faithfully carried out on my part. Our little force retreated after emptying the contents of their guns into the ranks of the Federal. Had they remained five minutes longer the Federal would have captured them. Our force was composed of 40 men belonging to Capt. Brown's cavalry, and 45 belonging to Capt. McClary's 1st regiment Tennessee cavalry. The Federal report is, one Confederate killed, five wounded, and seven captured, including the wounded. We lost 15 horses killed and several captured. My own horse was shot under me whilst I was within 80 yards of the enemy. They captured our tents, old tin pans, &c.P. S.--Since the above was put in type, a citizen of Campbell county, in whose statement the utmost confidence may be placed, has arrived in this city. He went to Jacksboro', not knowing what was going on, was arrested by the Lincolnites, and released on parole. He states that the Federal forces consisted of Colonel Carter's regiment of East Tennessee renegades, part of an Indiana regiment, and a cavalry battalion; these had left Cumberland Ford with four day's rations, and made a forced march to Jacksboro'. The whole force amounted to about 1,500. They retired from Jacksboro' on Saturday. They had Lieutenant-Colonel White of our cavalry, and Captain Winston of the Sappers and Miners, prisoners. This is probably the same force that, according to our correspondents, some eight or ten days ago exhibited themselves in view of our garrison at Cumberland Gap. They seized 1,000 pair of shoes at Jacksboro', and cursed other commissary stores before retreating. They had, when they left, thirteen Confederate prisoners; had killed two, one of whom was a citizen. One of their men had been killed in the attack. The Register, of the 19th, says: ‘ We have no intelligence from Jacksboro', except such as confirms our yesterday's account of the Lincoln raid at that place. The enemy has probably deemed it prudent to beat a hasty retreat. The number of prisoners they took with them we hear variously estimated from ten to twenty. We can venture to predict there will be no repetition of their exploits in that quarter. There is but little doubt that their force numbered fifteen hundred. ’
