--The Yankee raiders who went to
Knoxville, Monday, numbered about 3,000 mounted infantry, under
Carter and
Bird.
They came out of a little Northeast of Sparts, in
White county, and came through
Kingston, in Roane county, where
Bird formerly resided, and where he captured some artillery, The
Bristol, Tenn.,
Advocate, of the 25th inst., says:
‘
When they reached the bridge at Strawberry Plains on the E. T. &Va.
R. Road we understand that they met with some alight resistance before they succeeded in burning it. --Our forces there, however, succeeded in making their escape, losing their artillery (five pieces) and a portion of their small arms.--After destroying the bridge at the plains they came on to
Mossy creek and there destroyed another bridge.
Here they resolved to rest a while, turning, their stock, into the grain fields adjacent thereto.
Learning, by some means that our forces were advancing upon them from both East and West, they saddled up on Sunday night and struck direct for
Kentucky.
The last we heard of them they had crossed
Clinch river with
Gen. Pegram's forces in pursuit of them.
’
So soon as
Gen. Jackson learned of the advance of the enemy he made a call upon the true men of
upper East Tennessee to rally and assist in driving the enemy back, and we are proud to know that old
Sullivan nobly responded to his call.
Near 500 of her citizens repaired to
Zollicoffer for the defence of the bridge at that place, on Sunday and Monday last.--Nearly every male citizen of
Bristol who was able to bear arms responded to the call.
None could be found who betrayed the slightest disposition to shrink from duty.
The number of negroes and horses and other property stolen by them as said to be immense.
The public must wait a day or two to learn the fate of the raiders.
They may escape, but some one will be hurt in their egress.
