General Longstreet’s plan of campaign was to move up the east side of the Holston, or, as it is now called, the Tennessee River, pass through Marysville, cross the river in the vicinity of Knoxville with his infantry, the cavalry to take possession of the heights above and opposite the city, thus cutting off the retreat of the Federals in front of Loudon, and capture the garrison in the city of Knoxville.  But he had no trains to move his pontoon bridge, nor horses to pull it.  So he was forced to make a virtue of necessity and cross the river just above the little hamlet of Loudon in the face of the enemy.  On the night of the 12th the boats and bridge equipment were carried to the river, the boats launched and manned by a detachment of Jenkins’ South Carolina Brigade, under the command of the gallant Captain Foster.  This small band of men pushed their boats across the river under a heavy fire of the enemy’s pickets, succeeded in driving off the enemy, and took possession of the opposite side.  The boats were soon joined together and the bridge laid.  The troops then began to cross rapidly and push their way out far in advance.  By morning the greater part of the army was on the west side of the river.

General Wheeler, with his cavalry, started simultaneously with the infantry, but on the east side, with the view of taking possession of the heights around Knoxville, which he partly accomplished after several severe engagements with the Union cavalry, in which the young Confederate cavalier came off victorious.

The next morning after our crossing the enemy showed some disposition to attack our lines, but did no more than drive in our skirmishers, and then began to fall slowly back.  Longstreet remained near the river constructing some defensive earthworks to protect the bridge, and to allow the supply train, which had been out on a foraging expedition, time to come up.  By his not making as rapid advance as was expected, the enemy again, on the 14th, returned to feel our lines and to learn the whereabouts of his foe.

On the morning of the 15th, just at daylight, we took up our line of march through a blinding mist or fog, our skirmishers not being able to see an object fifty paces in front.  Our line of advance was along the dirt road, on the west side of the little mountain range, a spur of the clinch, while the main body of the enemy kept close to the railroad, on the east side, and between the mountain range and the river, traversing a narrow valley, which gave him strong positions for defensive battle.  The mountain was crossed in several places by dull roads and bridle paths, and it was the intention of the commanding General to take possession of these passes and turn the enemy’s flank, or to move around the head of the mountain, where the two roads followed by the armies came together on converging lines, then to either close him in between the mountain and the river and give battle, or fall upon his rear and crush him.  Some few miles out Jenkins’ skirmishers came upon those of the enemy and a running fight took place, the Federals retreating through the mountain gap to the east side.