Jenkins kept up his advance (not following the enemy, however, over the mountain), with Alexander’s Battalion of Artillery, while McLaws followed closely, with Leydon’s Battery as a support.  Thus the march was continued all day, taking up camp at night far in advance of the enemy on the other side o:  the mountain.  Jenkins was ordered at midnight, with a part of his command, to take possession of a gap in the mountain, and at daylight throw himself across the line of the enemy’s retreat.  But for some unforeseen circumstance, or treachery or ignorance in Jenkins’ guide, he failed in his undertaking, and the enemy passed in safety during the night beyond our lines to a place of comparative security.

Early next morning the army was in motion, but instead of an enemy in our front we found a park of eighty wagons, well laden with supplies of provisions, camp equipage, tools, etc., deserted by the retreating column.  The horses had been cut loose, still this capture was a very serviceable acquisition to the outfit of the army, especially in entrenching tools.  Jenkins followed close on the heels of the retreating army, occasionally coming to a severe brush with the enemy’s rear guard, using every exertion to force Burnside to battle until McLaws, with Hart’s Brigade of Cavalry, could reach Cambell’s Station, the point where the two converging roads meet.  McLaws marched nearly all day in full line of battle, Kershaw being on the left of the main thoroughfare and under a continual skirmish fire.  But all too late.  The wily foe had escaped the net once more and passed over and beyond the road crossing, and formed line of battle on high ground in rear.  Longstreet still had hopes of striking the enemy a crushing blow before reaching Knoxville, and all he desired and all that was necessary to that end was that he should stand and give battle.  The attitude of the Union Army looked favorable towards the consummation of the Confederate leader’s plan.  Our troops had been marching all the forenoon in one long line of battle, near a mile in length, over ditches, gullies, and fences; through briars, brambles, and undergrowth; then again through wide expanse of cultivated fields, all the while under a galling fire from the enemy’s batteries and sharpshooters, and they felt somewhat jaded and worn out when they came upon their bristling bayonets, ready for combat.  A great number of our men were barefooted, some with shoes partly worn out, clothes ragged and torn, not an overcoat or extra garment among the line officers or men throughout the army, as all surplus baggage had been left in Virginia.  But when the battle was about to show up the soldiers were on hand, ready and willing as of old, to plunge headlong into the fray.  McLaws was on the left wing and Jenkins on the right.