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 us to fall back.
The command fell back by the way of Rogersville to Bean’s Station and thence over Clinch Mountain to Sycamore creek, where the Seventh camped a few days, doing picket duty on the Clinch river and all the roads leading eastward.
We lost several men on picket at Clinch river.
While stationed at this place, Serg’ts. Little and Davis carried dispatches through the rebel lines to General Burnside, in Knoxville, at different times.
From this, the Seventh went to Taswell, remained there a few days and moved out on the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap road, crossing Clinch river at Walker’s Ford.
The siege now being raised at Knoxville, and the rebels moving up the railroad eastward, our cavalry was engaged in annoying their flanks, up to Beall’s Station.