BLAIN'S CROSS-ROADS, December 17, 1863-11.30 p. m.

Yours of 8.25 just received. By the river road, I mean a road parallel to the Rutledge road, and on the north side of Holston-one of the many roads not indicated on our map.

The point where this road crosses Richland Creek (Stone's Mill) is still held by Spears' brigade. I have reason to believe that there was no infantry appeared against him this evening. The last report from there was all quiet. In fact, the enemy's advance had retired and were followed by our skirmishers. How far they pursued I cannot say. No report yet made. I presume not far. My impression about Longstreet massing on the river road was not confirmed by the observations from our signal mountain. No large camp fires were visible, nor large smokes seen in our front on either road at sundown. In fact, I am now inclined to believe that there is nothing but cavalry in our immediate front. Shall I send an ambulance to Strawberry Plains for you? There is a very good one here that Colonel Babcock, of the Ninth Corps, has suggested to send. JNO. G. PARKE, Major-General.

Major-General FOSTER.

BLAIN'S CROSS-ROADS, December 21, 1863-8 p. m.

(Received 1.15 a, m., 22d.)

As soon as I had received the report of the raid to Graveston, I had a brigade of cavalry moved, and Colonel Foster is of opinion that it is now so posted as to prevent a repetition. Colonel Capron, commanding the brigade, is directed to keep up communication with General Willcox.

JNO. G. PARKE,
Major-General.

General E. E. POTTER.

BLAIN'S CROSS-ROADS, December [21, 1863]-7 p. m.

(Received 1 a. m., 22d.)

We have now pretty reliable information that Longstreet's headquarters were last night at Shields' house, some 2 or 3 miles this side of Bean's Station. This information is given by 3 men, paroled Vicksburg prisoners, whom the rebel cavalry arrested near Buffalo Creek, on the river road. They were taken up to Rutledge, and then had a pass given them to their command, Vaughn's, at Rogersville, a mile or two beyond Rutledge. They turned off the road, and during last night they returned to our lines. They saw no infantry in Rutledge or this side excepting a few stragglers beyond Rutledge. They saw extensive camp fires. This is confirmed by our signal officer's report of this evening. We have also reliable information that two brigades, rebel cavalry, are encamped on the river road near Buffalo Creek and Indian Ridge, some 6 or 8 miles in front of General Spears. The citizens report that Ewell has re-enforced Longstreet. This, I think, is the old report, and not entitled

to credence. That also states that an infantry force has crossed Clinch. This also needs confirmation. I will send this to General Willcox. General Cox has arrived, and takes command of the Twenty-third Corps.

Major-General FOSTER.

JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General.

BLAIN'S CROSS-ROADS,

December 22, 1863-8 p. m.

Nothing new has transpired to-day. The enemy's position remains about the [same.] The signal officer thinks the fires have somewhat increased in the direction of Buffalo Creek. The enemy picket Powder Spring Gap and other points on Clinch Mountain. Parties sent on the north side of the mountains to gain heights as lookouts returned unsuccessful, the enemy seeming to watch the position closely. In reference to General Manson, General Cox informed me this morning that he had gone to Knoxville to arrange some papers appertaining to corps headquarters. I was told last night he was going, but presumed he would get permission before leaving. I find it difficult to get any information in reference to action or movements of enemy beyond line of Bean's Station and Morristown. It is very important to know how far this side of Bristol the railroad is in running order. Cannot this information be acquired by parties sent from Knoxville? JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General FOSTER.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS,

Blain's Cross-Roads, December 23, 1863-2 p. m.

(Received 25th.)

About midnight last night I was informed by a scout that the cavalry on Buffalo Creek were saddled up and moving either across the river or up the river road. I sent this at once to General Sturgis, who had informed me of his move, and suggested a demonstration up the Rutledge road. I ordered Colonel Capron to send this morning a scouting party up Flat Creek to Powder Spring Gap, General Potter to make a reconnaissance up the Rutledge road, and General Spears up the river road. I have not heard from Capron or Spears. General Potter's advance is about 6 or 7 miles up the valley, and report no enemy in sight, and that citizens report Powder Spring Gap evacuated. Deserters report that the cavalry has crossed the river. A negro has just come in; says he left Bean's Station last night; that the cavalry was all moving; also that the infantry had gone; but on this point he was not clear. I have just received the accompanying dispatches* from General Willcox.

Our cavalry movements have evidently produced a commotion in the enemy's camp. I expect soon to hear from some of our own scouts in reference to the movements and position of the enemy's infantry.

*Not identified.

A colonel of Tenth Tennessee (rebel) Cavalry told a citizen yesterday that our forces had crossed the river, and they feared we would get in their rear.

Major-General FOSTER, Knoxville.

JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General.

No. 10.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Robert B. Potter, U. S. Army, commanding Ninth Army Corps.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,

Knoxville, Tenn., November 18, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of the movements of my command since the 13th instant:

At an early hour on the morning of the 14th, my command being then at Lenoir's Station, I received notice that the enemy had crossed the river below Loudon, having thrown their bridge at Huff's Ferry. At the same time I received orders to hold myself ready to move. At a later hour, in accordance with orders, I disabled the mills and factories in my vicinity, destroyed a pontoon bridge over the Holston, and started my train from camp for Knoxville under a strong guard.

About 9 a. m. General White, with his command, arrived from Loudon.

After the arrival of the commanding general, about midday, I received an order to support Chapin's brigade, of White's command, in a movement against the enemy. I accordingly sent Ferrero with his division and a battery on that duty. About 4 p. m. we met the enemy's skirmishers; Chapin formed his line of skirmishers and moved forward rapidly, driving them handsomely for a mile and a half or more. Night setting in very thick and dark, and a dense wood, compelled us to halt, not, however, until the enemy had opened their artillery.

During the night I moved Sigfried's division, with Benjamin's battery and three guns of von Sehlen's battery, to a point upon the river opposite Loudon.

The

At or soon after daylight on the 15th, in accordance with my orders, we began moving back to Lenoir's. On the arrival of the column near the Loudon road, I ordered my artillery back to Lenoir's, sending Ferrero to the same point, with orders to cover the various approaches, and ordered Sigfried to replace Chapin, of White's command, who was covering the rear of the column. enemy made no effort to push Sigfried, and he remained where he was until 2 p. m., when he fell back quietly to Lenoir's, the enemy having first moved a heavy column to his right. The enemy's skirmishers in strong force appeared before our position at Lenoir's about 4 p. m., and seemed disposed to push us in, but were checked by a shell or two from Roemer. About this time Colonel Biddle reported with 500 or 600 mounted men and Gittings' battery. I ordered him back to seize the junction of the Kingston and Loudon roads near Campbell's Station, and to station a small force on the roads to Clinton and Concord.

Hartranft having reported for duty, I ordered him to move to the same point with what force I had of the Second Division and the seven guns of Benjamin's and von Sehlen's batteries. Buckley's battery had already started for the same point. Hartranft started about dusk. I soon received a report from Biddle that the horses in his battery had given out; that he had dismounted some of his cavalry and put the horses to the guns, but owing to the fearful state of the roads he could make no progress. Hartranft soon after reported that he could not move his artillery, although he had a brigade of infantry assisting; had destroyed some ammunition and temporarily abandoned limbers and caissons. About 10 p. m. the enemy attempted to drive in our skirmishers, but were repulsed.

Between 4 and 5 a. m. I received a number of mule teams from General White, which were given to the artillery, and it at once began to move.

At a quarter past 6 a. m. of the 16th, Ferrero's division began to move from Lenoir's after White, with Humphrey's brigade, of Ferrero's division, covering the rear. The enemy followed at once, but showed no force or disposition to press us until within 2 miles of Campbell's Station, when they began to press heavily on the rear, but were held in check by Humphrey. Meantime, Biddle and Hartranft had arrived, and Hartranft had placed Biddle and Sigfried, with a section of Gittings' [battery], in position on the Kingston road. Hartranft's pickets along the river had joined him, and a company of cavalry at Low's Ferry moved to Knoxville.

Hartranft, after securing all the roads, sent a force of about 200 mounted men of Biddle's along the Kingston road with orders to move forward till they found the enemy and then attack. They found them about 2 miles out and, deploying the whole force as skirmishers, attacked at once. The enemy's advance, evidently (as intended) supposing them the cover of a larger force, did not attempt to drive them until a considerable force came up. At 11 a. m. the enemy were pressing us heavily on both roads and turning Hartranft's right. Humphrey charged and drove them back on the Lenoir road, Hartranft's forces holding them back on the other. All the artillery and trains having passed the junction of the roads, and White being in position beyond the creek, at Campbell's Station, in accordance with orders, I prepared to withdraw, having first placed Morrison's brigade, of the First Division, below the junction of the two roads, with its right and left extending to them, and sending Biddle and Gittings' section of battery to the rear, followed by the troops of Ferrero and Hartranft not in position.

Having all the troops remaining now on the same line, I ordered them to retire, and they fell back slowly to their new positions; Humphrey first, on the left, followed by Morrison and Sigfried, which, in our new position, placed Christ's brigade, of Ferrero's division, on the extreme right, with Morrison next, and Humphrey in support of batteries, General White holding the center. Hartranft was placed next, holding the left, with one regiment in support of batteries and one in reserve, out of ammunition.

Benjamin's battery was placed on the right of the Knoxville road, with Gittings on his right and von Sehlen and Buckley in the rear, Roemer's battery being on the left of the road. The enemy attacked here at 12 m. Shortly after opening fire the rifled guns were moved to the left of the road, Benjamin being nearest the road, with Gittings

on his left, the three guns of von Sehlen on his right and rear, and Roemer to the left and rear of Gittings, in reserve.

The enemy now annoyed Christ's right so much that he had to change his front in that direction. Buckley, executing the same movement, commenced shelling the wood on the right, with good effect, and the enemy's progress in that direction was checked.

At this time, by direction of General Burnside, I sent Captain Coddington, one of my aides, with two companies of mounted men to reconnoiter on the right. He passed along the skirt of the woods and over the hill to the right to a point where he could see the next valley. Finding nothing, he returned, leaving his men behind the edge of the woods to the right. I also sent two companies of the One hundredth and twelfth Illinois Mounted Infantry down the Concord road, which, running beyond our left, entered the Knoxville road in our rear. The enemy having established his batteries, shelled us severely. General White's batteries being about out of ammunition, were withdrawn and placed in position on a hill to the rear by Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen, of my staff.

About 2.30 I received a report from the mounted force sent on the Concord road, that they had met the enemy's pickets, and that the enemy were crossing the road and moving through the woods to our left.

I shortly after received an order to prepare for withdrawing to a more favorable position on the hill in our rear. I first sent Buckley and von Sehlen, with his three guns, to the rear, followed by Benjamin and Gittings, who were placed on the right of the road, Roemer returning the fire of the enemy. The troops in reserve were also sent to the rear.

As soon as Benjamin and Gittings opened from their new position, I ordered Ferrero and Hartranft to retire on the right and left, while Chapin's command, relieving on the center, covered the movement. Roemer's guns were withdrawn at the same time.

These movements being executed at our leisure, although under a hot fire, occupied considerable time, and our new line was not established until about 4 p. m., Ferrero being on the right of the road, with Hartranft on our left, with Roemer's guns and a regiment of White's between his right and the road, the rest of White's command being in Hartranft's rear. Hartranft had scarcely formed his line and thrown out his skirmishers when he received a fire from the woods on his left in his flank and rear. He at once changed front with his left, throwing some skirmishers in the woods. At this moment the enemy were reported getting a battery in position on a high hill on our left, with which to enfilade our line. Simultaneously, a considerable force of the enemy came in sight, moving across some cleared ground about half way up the hill. Roemer, who was just getting into position, changed front to the left and opened a hot fire on them. They immediately fell back precipitately and in confusion, and were followed by their skirmishers, who ran out of the woods to our left. The enemy's infantry now seemed to have come to a halt, and made no further aggressive demonstration, their batteries, however, keeping up a hot fire until sundown. Just before sunset General Burnside ordered me to retire to Knoxville, sending Ferrero forward, followed by the artillery and wagons, with Hartranft next, and I was also directed to send Biddle, with his mounted force and a section of artillery, under Lieutenant Bartlett, Third U. S. Artillery, to report to General White, who, it was under