ollows: Capt. R. C. Rankin, commanding the
detachment, Capt. Warren, Lts. Carr, Ketterman, Rich, Shuler, and Srofe,
left Somerset and joined Col. Sanders at Mt. Vernon. A day or two was
spent in making preparations for a raid. Everything being ready, on the
morning of the 18th we took up our line of march, crossing the Cumberland
river at Williamsburg, thence over Jelico mountains to Wartsburg where we
captured 105 prisoners, they being utterly surprised, having no knowledge
of our movements until we were upon them.

We also captured a supply train and destroyed a large amount of ordinance,
Q. M. and C. S. stores.

This being the point from which Gen. Pegram drew his supplies, he being
stationed at this time on the Cumberland river in front of Gen. Carter's
forces.

The prisoners being all paroled, their arms destroyed, we moved on toward
Kingston.

Considerable skirmishing occurred with the advance, when we made a sudden
move to the left, crossed the Clinch river and moved out toward Lenoir's
Station.

When within one mile of this place, we suddenly came upon a rebel camp at
daylight capturing their guns, a battery complete. The number of prisoners
captured there and at the Station were 132. We burned the depot which was
well filled with munitions of war of every kind and description.

Here I will relate an incident that took place: As the column moved by the
Station, owing to the bursting of shells and the explosion of powder in
the burning building, the command was compelled to take the fields to
avoid danger. Passing a man plowing corn with a fine mule, he said, "that
is one of your Yankee tricks, is it?" Yes, said a soldier with a worn out
horse, "and I will show you another." So dismounting, he put his saddle on
the mule and left him his jaded horse.

Being now on the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad, we commenced the
destruction of it by tearing up the rails, burning all the culverts and
bridges.

Reaching Knoxville after night, we moved around to the north side of the
city and attacked the place in the morning.

In this engagement, Capt. Rankin received orders from Col. Sanders to send
50 of his men out on our right to skirmish, and to support the artillery
with the remainder of his command, which was one section of Battery D,
First Ohio.

We fought until 9 o'clock, A. M., capturing 40 prisoners and killed 9
rebels, among them a Capt. McClung.

Our loss was two killed and a few wounded.

Then