Knoxville, November 9, 1861
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| J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War |
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| Dear
Sir, |
|
I have just time to say that the bridge at Charleston over Hiawassee
River, on East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, was burned last night
by the Lincolnites, and that the bridge at Strawberry Plains, on
East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, over the Holston, was set on
fire and the guard badly, if not mortally, wounded. It shows that
there is a concerted movement among them to destroy the railroad
bridges and cut off communication from one portion of the Southern
Confederacy with the other. A worse state of feeling never prevailed
in East Tennessee than at the present moment. The belief that the
enemy are about to enter our borders has emboldened them to such an
extent that there is no telling what damage they may do. I believe
it important that you should have this information at once. On this
account I have thus hastily given you such information as I have
obtained. |
| Very
respectfully, |
| R G. Fain |
| Brigade Commissary |
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