The assault on Knoxville--a Confederate account.
--A correspondent of the Augusta Constitutionalist writes an interesting description of the gallant charge of the Confederate troops upon the enemy's works at Knoxville. He says:‘ To the left of Knoxville, on a high hill, is a large dirt fort, mounting six guns, which commands all approaches to it for more than a mile.--In its front and flanks was once a thick field of pine, which were cut down by the enemy, the tope falling in all directions, making a mass of brush and timber almost impassable. In addition to this they had wires netted all around their works, and a ditch from four to six feet deep, corresponding with the irregularity of the ground, the extreme slope of the parapet wall making an acute angle with the fall of the ditch. Immediately in their front, for two or three hundred yards, all brush and rubbish were removed, in order that their grape and canister might have a clear sweep at any attacking column. This fort, Kryan's, Humphrey's, and a part of Wofford's brigades were ordered to assault at daylight on the morning of the 29th of November.
’ Through this rugged field of obstacles, before day, Bryan's brigade felt its way, with many a fall and many a bruise, yet quietly, uncomplainingly, the men followed the dark figure of their leader guiding us through the gloom, to the line of sharpshooters stationed at the edge of the clearing.--Here the command rested, waiting daylight. Each man pressed his cap more firmly down upon his blow, and with lips compressed and steadfast eye, waited for the word to move, whilst Gens. Bryan and Humphrey glided noiselessly through their commands, carefully examining the ground before them.
All was quiet as the grave; suddenly the stillness was broken by the sharp crack of a Minie rifle, when. Up boys! charge! was given by our commanders. The brave fellows springing up with a shout, on they pressed to the fort through a murderous fire of shot and shell. Owing to a rain on the day before, and frost on the night of the attack, the earth would give way from under our gallant men as they climbed upon the shoulders of each other, endeavoring to reach the parapet, and down they would tumble into the ditch. Hand grenade after hand grenade were thrown upon them, and yet they still remained climbing and falling for over half an hour, whilst the air sparkled with whistling fuses and incessant rolls of musketry from the walls. When finding all attempts to scale the sides of the fort impossible, (only one man, Sergeant- Major Bailey, of the 50th Georgia, reaching the top; he, poor fellow, was killed immediately,) we slowly withdrew, under a terrible fire from the enemy.
It was a sight long to be remembered to see Gen. Brian at the head of the column, leading and cheering his men, giving orders in a calm and self-possessed tone. Indeed, he seemed to bear a charmed life. Whilst hundreds around him were killed and wounded, he was untouched, and when the assault failed, walking away crying "rally boys, rally, we are not whipped, we could not climb the fort, that's all!" The men all stopping at his command, and pressing forward to shake hands in grateful delight of his safety. One of his Colonels scolded him severely for exposing himself so recklessly.
Many sons of our sunny South reddened the field with their hearts' blood, whilst not a Yankee, that I could see, was stain! Oh! It was a sad sight to see those two old warriors--Generals Bryan and Humphrey--who essayed to speak to each other after the fight, but could not. They turned their heads and wept — yes, wept bitter tears to the memory of their gallant dead. Never did men go so boldly up to death. The enemy run up a flag of truce, and acted very bunely to our wounded, sending all who could be moved to us. The Yankees say it was the charge of the war, and none but Longstreet's corps would ever have made it.
