that side.

As they approached the camp, Col. Garrard had the train on the road,
headed toward Rogersville, and the brigade drawn up in line, artillery
placed in position on an eminence, commanding the approach from Kingsport.

While in this position we were attacked in the rear by the force coming up
the valley.

At this instant, the force before mentioned as being secreted in the cedar
thicket, being in close proximity to our left flank, poured a volley into
the battallion of the Seventh, being not more than fifty yards distant,
and made a simultaneous charge upon the wagon train and capturing it.

They were seen in the thicket by our battallion, but were supposed to be
the Tennessee homeguards.

At the same time a charge was made front and rear.

Finding the command attacked on three sides, each force equaling our own
in numbers, there was no alternative but to make our way across the
Holston river at the nearest ford.

This being done, the regiment was formed in line on the opposite bank of
the river, but the Seventh had already lost over 100 men, and the Second
Tennessee over 500, and both sections of the artillery being captured, the
command fell back to Morristown, a distance of 30 miles.

In the meantime, the scouts who were sent out to Jonesville, returned to
within three miles of camp, and on hearing of the disaster, turned north,
passing Clinch Mountain, through Little War Gap, coming down Poor Valley
until they struck the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road, and joined the
regiment at Morristown the next day.

In this affair, the Seventh lost everything in the shape of books and
papers, camp and garrison equipage, all the train and everything but what
was carried away by the men on their horses.

Capt. Rankin having joined his regiment, as before stated, was ordered to
take two hundred men and reconnoiter as near Rogersville as he deemed
safe.

Finding nothing in his way, he entered the place, the rebels having
retreated immediately after paroling the sick and wounded, which the
Captain found in as good condition as circumstances would admit.

The regiment resting at Morristown two days, then moved eastward through
Russelsville and camped near that place a few days, and leaving this camp
they went on up the railroad, through Bull's Gap, and on toward
Greenville.

About this time, Longstreet beseiged Knoxville, and the rebel forces under
Jones and Williams moved down from Virginia, compelling u