Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/395

 The Siege of Knorville. 389

A list of casualties in this affair is herewith submitted. Among the wounded was Lieutenant Wade Allen, who was struck while bearing a message from me to Captain Nance. I regret to state that he fell into the hands of the enemy when we retired from Knoxville. On the morning of the i8th, by order, I took my position in line of battle, and after marching near to Mr. M. M. Armstrong's house I was halted in a ravine to the left of the road, where I remained until late in the afternoon. During the whole day there was heavy skir- mishing in front and considerable cannonading from our batteries, the effort being to carry a high hill on the left of the road, and just to the southwest of Mr. M. M. Armstrong's house.

I received an order about 4 P. M. from General Kershaw, through Lieutenant Doby, A. D.C., to carry the enemy's rail defences situated on this hill, but not to advance beyond them. I was told that the line of these works was indicated by two cedar trees on the top of the hill, and I directed my men not to stop short of these trees, but not to go beyond them. We then advanced in excellent condition, under heavy fire, until we reached the cedars. But perceiving that the trees were short of the works, I urged my men forward by every means in my power, but perhaps because of the general direction, "not to go beyond the cedars," and on account of having once halted and the difficulty of renewing the advance under such a terri- ble fire, there was some hesitation, which was further increased by the regiments on my right failing to come up in time on account of natural obstacles encountered in their advance. At length the left of the regiment reached the breastworks, when cries of " we surrender " issued from their ranks. I ceased firing and went forward to receive the surrender, but, upon being fired on, I immediately renewed the firing and soon took possession of their works, after killing about seventeen of their men and taking several prisoners, a few of whom were wounded. It is but truth to state that this was the most desperate encounter in which my command was ever engaged, and as it was perhaps one of the most brilliant charges of the war, I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of my comrades. In reference to the alleged bad faith of the enemy in pretending to surrender, it is a charitable construction, and perhaps not an unreasonable one, to sup- pose that they did not understand each other, rather than that they intended to deceive.

A list of casualties from this assault is herewith submitted. Among the mortally wounded was First Lieutenant D. S. Moffitt. Circum- stances had often thrown him in command of his company for long