The late advance towards Abingdon.
--The
Bristol (Tenn.) Advocate gives us some further particulars of the second occupation of that place on the 15th ult. Writing on Thursday last, the editor says:
‘
The enemy advanced from
Blountville on Thursday morning and entered
Bristol at about 12 o'clock. The enemy from
Zollicoffer formed a junction here about the same time and immediately pursued our retreating army in the direction of
Abingdon.
They only followed us some six miles, when
Col. Witcher's cavalry met them and gave them battle.
They thought they had run against a large army, and, alter exchanging some twenty or thirty shots from their artillery, retreated in this direction, saying that the rebels had been reinforced by at least 20,000 men. In this skirmish we killed three and wounded ten of their number.
No casualties on our side.
’
Had our forces then turned upon them, as they should have done, we could have killed and captured hundreds of their fleeing forces; but instead of this we
imagined that they had a force of 20,000 and continued our retreat on to
Abingdon.
The skirmish took place at or near
Col. John Preston's. From there to this place they tore up the railroad and burnt every bridge, some six or seven in number, most of which are small ones and can be rebuilt in a few weeks.
We learn from
Mr. Minor, the agent of the road at this place, that the cars will run here again in the course of two or three weeks.
On the retreat of the enemy from
Bristol back towards
Blountville and
Zollicoffer, they were followed by
Cols. Bottles and
Witcher, who harassed them considerably.
On Monday last they charged a company two miles from
Zollicoffer, and captured 27 of their number and wounded some.
In this engagement
Col. Bonles was severely wounded.
We learn this morning that he is better, and it is thought will recover.
On the same day
Capt.
or
Lieut. Fitzgerald, assisted by our gallant friend,
Lieut. O. C. King, with seven privates, charged a company of near 200, in the neighborhood of Banghman's Ford, and captured four of their number, killing some three, also-- then made his escape by cutting his way through them with his sabre.
Cols. Bottles's and
Witcher's commands have captured, since the retreat of the enemy from
Col. Preston's, six miles above here, some 40 or 50 of the invaders.
Among them we may mention one of the murderers of
Lieut. Tipton, one deserter from the 24th Virginia regiment, and one young man that had enlisted under their banner from near this place the day before.
The last report we hear of the enemy is that one brigade is at
Jonesborough, while the others are on the march for
Greenville.
It is reported that they have left some three or four companies at and around
Rogersville.
The whole force which came to this place would not reach over 4,000 men. They were commanded by
Gens. Shackleford and
Sam. Carter, all mounted infantry, save one regiment.
