from which Confederates were firing at Fort Sanders. The position was briefly taken, but the 2nd Michigan suffered heavy losses and was compelled to retreat. Armstrong Hill From early in the siege, the Confederates tried to find the most vulnerable point in Knoxville's defenses. Alexander believed that Fort Sanders was the weak spot and arranged his artillery to take the fort under crossfire. Meanwhile, Longstreet hoped to conduct operations on the south bank and on November 20 sent Bryan's brigade across the Tennessee River to Cherokee Heights. On November 22, Longstreet contemplated making an assault on Fort Sanders, but called it off. Instead, he sent the four 10-pounder Parrott rifles of William W. Parker's Virginia Battery across to Cherokee Heights. This would allow Fort Sanders to be shelled from the south, but only at the extreme range of . On November 24, Longstreet replaced Bryan's brigade with the brigades of Brigadier Generals Evander M. Law and Jerome B. Robertson, both from Jenkins' division. Bragg also decided to send infantry reinforcements and his chief engineer, Brigadier General Danville Leadbetter to Knoxville, so Longstreet decided to put off any immediate plans to attack Fort Sanders. Armstrong Hill was a wooded height that stood above the Tennessee River. It was east of Cherokee Heights and west of the hill where Fort Higley would soon be built. On November 25, Longstreet ordered Law to use both brigades to make a reconnaissance-in-force. Opposing Law's and Robertson's Confederates were, from right to left, five companies of the 24th Kentucky, eight companies of the 65th Illinois, and seven companies of the 103rd Ohio Infantry Regiments. The 103rd Ohio had just moved into position, was taken by surprise, and driven back. However, it quickly rallied, drove off Law's skirmishers, and regained the top of the hill. After holding the hilltop for 90 minutes, Cameron decided to launch his own advance. The 24th Kentucky and 65th Illinois advanced across the valley and gained a foothold in the woods at the base of Cherokee Heights, but the 103rd Ohio was held up by a log cabin that the Confederates used as a strongpoint. With help from the other two regiments, the Ohioans finally captured the log house. Later in the day, Wolford's cavalry joined the Union forces. The 24th Kentucky advanced partly up Cherokee Heights but was recalled by Cameron and all three infantry units re-established their original picket lines