rifles from Roemer's battery. The infantry garrison consisted of 120 men from the 79th New York Infantry, 75 men from the 29th Massachusetts Infantry, 80 men from the 20th Michigan Infantry, and 60 men from the 2nd Michigan Infantry. In addition, 40 men from the 2nd Michigan manned a firing step in front of the northwest bastion; when pressed, they were intended to retreat from this position and enter the fort at the southeast corner. More than twice as many men as the garrison were probably able to deliver fire on any attackers of Fort Sanders. Counting the artillery crews, there were about 440 men manning the fort. Kingston Longstreet was anxious about the line of communication between his forces and Bragg's army near Chattanooga. He believed that the Union garrison of Kingston might pose a threat. Colonel H. B. Lyon and 320 Confederate cavalrymen erroneously reported that there were only two Union cavalry regiments in Kingston. Based on Lyon's report, Longstreet authorized Wheeler to take most of his two divisions to Kingston and wipe out its garrison. Leaving behind five cavalry regiments to screen the sector from Jenkins' left flank to the river east of Knoxville, Wheeler began his march on the morning of November 23. Wheeler's horsemen arrived near Kingston early on November 24, worn out from the march and lack of food. They were opposed by Colonel Robert K. Byrd's forces which included Colonel Samuel R. Mott's Federal infantry brigade (White's division), four regiments strong, plus the 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry and Captain Andrew M. Wood's Elgin Illinois Battery. In the Battle of Kingston, Wheeler's cavalry was unable to dislodge the strongly-posted Union garrison and withdrew at noon. Wheeler returned to Bragg's army and left Brigadier General William T. Martin in command of his cavalry corps. Martin and the cavalry soon rejoined Longstreet's forces. On the night of November 23, Jenkins advanced his skirmish line to the railroad north of Knoxville. This action prompted the Union soldiers to set fire to the buildings near the railroad depot, where a quantity of old ammunition was stored. The resulting pyrotechnical display entertained the inhabitants of Knoxville. On the morning of November 24, Hartranft ordered his troops to push back the Confederates, which was successfully done at the cost of 22 Union casualties. At the same time, Ferrero ordered a sortie by the 2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment against a position