The New
Year of 1864 has begun with a small victory for General James
Longstreet near New
Market East Tennessee. On January 14, Union forces under Maj. Gen.
John G. Parke advanced on Dandridge, Tennessee, near the East
Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, forcing General Longstreet's boys
to fall back. Longstreet moved additional troops into the area on the
following day, January 15, to meet the enemy on his own terms and
threaten the Union base at New Market.
General Longstreet deployed some of his men forward, about four
miles from Kimbrough’s Crossroads. On January 16, Longstreet’s men
that were deployed forward caught sight of Yankee Cavalry riding
towards them. Our boy’s
began to scrap with the Federals, identified as Army of the Ohio with
Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis commanding the Corps of Cavalry,
intending on riding forward to occupy Kimbrough's Crossroads.
Longstreet’s men fell back in good order towards the
crossroads under fire by the Federals. As the Union cavalry neared the
crossroads, they were confronted by another of Longstreet’s infantry
divisions with artillery that had arrived, as ordered, today but one
on January 15. Our soldiers attacked the Federal horsemen as they approached
the crossroads with General Longstreet
leading one of General
Martin's
brigades in the attack presently.
The Union cavalry could not dislodge our Confederate forces, which put
up a determined fight so fierce that it compelled the Yankee’s to
turn and run to Dandridge. At about noon the next day, January 17,
Longstreet resolved to attack the Yankee’s where they stood.
The Federals had been alerted that our forces were preparing
for an attack thereby were formed up into line of battle when General
Longstreet advanced upon the Union line. It was late afternoon when
General Longstreet finally advanced whereby the fighting quickly rose
to a fury. With Longstreet’s attack mounted so late this January
afternoon, the battle would continue until after dark with the
Federals undaunted and unbroken occupying the very same battle line as
when the fighting started. Under the cover of night, the Yankee’s
finally broke and fell back to New Market and Strawberry Plains.
Longstreet was unable to press the fleeing Federals, due to lack of
cannons, ammunition, and shoes for his soldiers. For the moment, the
Union forces have left the area of Dandridge.
General Longstreet could claim a victory, but had failed to
destroy the Federal force or capture a single Federal soldier, as he
would have liked, but was satisfied with the effort his boy’s had
displayed. The late
afternoon’s fight was of little effect militarily, but the effect
upon the Confederate troops engaged was unsurpassed.
They had whipped the Yankee and he retreated from Dandridge at
a cost to the Federal force of 150 killed.
Closer
to home here in Virginia, our boy’s of Texas in winter camp earlier
this month, were upon the drill fields in grand style.
With new recruits just arrived, the veterans displayed their
marching skill as the new soldiers practiced the manual of arms and
how to fire a musket. First
Sergeant Joel Kelley drilled the veterans in formations.
The Texans were a grand sight with spirits high in the bright
sunshine and warm air of that early January day as they marched in
close order. Such
drilling is a daily routine when fighting is at a lull to keep the men
sharp and ready for the spring when the fighting will commence again. Corporal Stephen Gibbons drilled the new soldiers on
another section of the field. The
new soldiers, green and with wonder about their faces, loaded, fired
their muskets, reloaded and fired again as Corporal Gibbons gave his
lessons to the new boy’s. “Load
in nine times”, Gibbons shouted as his boy’s loaded and fired.
Some of the lovely ladies of Virginia’s higher class were
present waiving their handkerchiefs and lifting spirits.
It was indeed a grand day.
The soldiers of our grand Army Of Northern Virginia will be
ready for spring’s return of battle.
General Braxton Bragg has been seen in Richmond accompanied by
his close friend President Jefferson Davis.
General Bragg arrived in Richmond after being relieved from
command of the Army Of Tennessee at year’s end last, being replaced
by General Joseph Johnston. General
Bragg is said to be the Presidents next Military Advisor. When this
new assignment is to be is a matter for Mr. Davis to decide.
It is with joy that General Bragg be relived from command of
armies and placed in administrative quarters where he can be
controlled. Chickamauga
is a disgrace that any other man might find complete dismissal from
military duties for his part. Braxton
Bragg is not any other man, but friend of the Chief Executive thereby
being placed in such quarters as to receive warm comforts and soft
beds. Is it not for such
defeatists as General Bragg has hereby proven to be dismissed from
service instead of being placed in higher circles where more of his
unscrupulous ill founded advice can prosper? He has no loyal soldier willing to listen save for the
President. The man solely
responsible for the unfounded defeat that is Chickamauga now presumed
advisor in military matters shall surely find himself or the
destruction of our nation may rest upon his blooded hands.
Tom R. Grandy
Daily
Richmond Examiner