[
171]
Chapter 6: siege of Knoxville.--operations on the coasts of the Carolinas and Georgia.
- Burnside in Knoxville, 171.
-- siege of Knoxville, 172
-- attack on Fort Sanders, 173.
-- siege of Knoxville raised, 175.
-- rejoicings of the loyal people, 176.
-- the author's visit to Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and the battle-grounds in the vicinity--177, 178, 179, 180.
-- Confederates active in North Carolina
-- movements by General Foster, 181.
-- Union raiders in North Carolina, 183.
-- siege of little Washington, 184.
-- preparations to attack Charleston, 185.
-- seizure of the planter, 186.
-- operations on James's Island, 187.
-- battle of Secessionville, 188.
-- expedition against the Charleston and Savannah railway, 189.
-- destruction of the Confederate steamer Nashville, 190.
-- raid on the National blockading squadron, 191.
-- land and naval expedition against Charleston, 192.
-- the defenses of Charleston, 193.
-- obstructions in Charleston harbor, 194.
-- attack on Fort Sumter, 195.
-- character of the battle, 196.
-- repulse of the National squadron, 197.
We left
Burnside in
Knoxville, closely besieged by
Longstreet.
1 His Headquarters were at the pleasant brick mansion of
Mr. Crozier, on Gay Street, in the central part of the town.
During the dark days of the siege il his bearing toward the citizens and his soldiers — kind, generous, and humane — won for him the profound respect of all, even the most rebellious.
He visited the families of
Dr. Brownlow,
Mr. Maynard,
Colonel Baxter,
Colonel Temple, and other prominent citizens who were then exiles from their homes, and gave them every comfort and encouragement in his power; and at the office of the
Knoxville Whig,
Brownlow's newspaper, through which that stanch Unionist had so long and effectively fulminated his scathing thunderbolts of wrath against secessionists and rebels,
Burnside's orders, and other printing, was done by willing Union hands.
In the lurid light of the
Civil War, that long, low building, in an obscure alley, looms up into historical importance.
Who shall estimate the value of the influence of that sheet, which went out daily from its walls, to the cause of the
Union in
East Tennessee?
Burnside's forces, as we have observed, were well intrenched, and he had. little to fear, excepting a failure of his supplies.
He was cheered with hope, because of his confidence in
Grant, that aid would come before they were exhausted.
Longstreet, doubting
Bragg's ability to cope with his new adversary, anxiously pressed forward the siege, with the mistaken idea that starvation would compel a surrender in
a few days.
He was diligent in closing every avenue of supply, and in
