Greensborough Patriot (NC)

January 8, 1863

Page 2

BURNING OF BRIDGES BY THE ENEMY IN EAST TENNESSEE—On Monday last, a body of Yankee Cavalry, variously estimated as to numbers made a raid into East Tennessee and destroyed two important Bridges on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad—one across the Holston and the other across the Watauga. The Bridge over the Holston at Blountville was guarded by some two hundred of our cavalry, who it is said were completely surprised and made prisoners without resistance. The enemy’s force came to within six miles of Bristol, but retired without visiting the place. At the Watauga bridge a small party of citizens hastily organized, came upon the enemy when a skirmish took place, one of the Yankees was killed and two taken prisoners. They belonged to a Pennsylvania regiment, and report their force at five thousand. The Lynchburg Republican says:

“The enemy first entered Virginia between Cumberland Gap, and Pound Gap, and passing through Esteville in Scott County to Blountville, fulfilled their mission of Bridge burning and made a demonstration as if it were their intention to visit Bristol. This as before stated, they failed to do, fearing, doubtless, to venture so far. They continued in the direction of Jonesborough, but it is stated by our scouts, who came into Bristol on Tuesday night, that they were retreating over the same route in which they had advanced.

The distance from the point at which they entered the State Line to Jonesborough is between ninety and one hundred miles, and the raid is certainly a most daring one, and argues an audacity in the enemy which they were not supposed to possess. They are supposed to have been piloted by a Militia Colonel of Washington county, Tenn., by the name of Ward, who left his home on Friday, and met them at the mountains.

The damage done the Railroad is serious, as besides burning the Bridges named, the track is torn up in many places and the sills, and the iron burnt. The distance between the Watauga and the Holston Rivers is nine miles, and the burning of the bridges across the above named streams involves a loss of that distance in our Railroad communications. It will take several weeks to repair the damages, and they come at a time when the Road is taxed to its utmost capacity.”

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]