On the 16th, we fought Longstreet’s force at Bean’s Station, also on the 17th, and at Rutledge on the 18th.
Our troops falling back all the time toward Knoxville, the cavalry doing the fighting, losing several men killed, wounded and captured.
We fell back to Stone Mills, camping there a few days.
Here the regiment was paid by Major McDowell.
Leaving this point, the command crossed the Holston river, struck the railroad at New Market, and from there went south to Dandridge on the French Broad river.
On the 24th, we had a spirited engagement with the enemy and was compelled to fall back toward New Market, losing one man killed and several captured.
On the 27th, we moved up the railroad to Mossy creek, and from this period up to the 24th of January, had continual fighting and skirmishing, driving the enemy a few miles toward Morristown and in turn being driven back by them.
On the morning of the 14th of January we moved again to Dandridge, and on the 16th moved out on the Morristown road, having sharp skirmishing, losing near 50 men out of the Brigade. Fell back again to Dandridge.
On the following day a general engagement took place, which lasted from nine o’clock a. m. until late in the night.
From causes unknown to the writer, (who had charge of the advance posts), at 12 o’clock at night the 7th which was on the front line, received orders to commence falling back in small detachments, when a retrograde movement commenced, in which retreat our forces lost several hundred, principally infantry, of which we had a large force which seemed to have been there for some other purpose than fighting, as they were never brought into action.