Siege of Knox-Vegas

By The Bruahs

This is the story of a group of ordinary young people who matriculated on the campus a typical historically Black college that is situated in the heart of an average poverty stricken neighborhood. These youngsters hail from the urban core of several American cities where crime, drugs and violence is common. However, the accomplishments of these students would be uncommon, above average and extraordinary. They united to achieve success socially, financially, spiritually on an astonishing level.

There are many life lessons, humorous anecdotes, entertaining episodes and shameful acts in this version of accounts that took place in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The authors hope that the reader would draw the following message from the time invested in combing through the pages of this book:

The youth (then and now) are capable of accomplishing greatness, when they focus their energy and collectively strive toward a common interest.

There have been many stories embellished in barbershop, books written and fictionalized, movies and videos documenting the escapades of delinquent youth brought up in urban areas across America. The intent of this work is not intended to glamorize the dope game or to write another inner-city drug kingpin saga. The market is already saturated with that story. Instead, The Siege endeavors to address the unique situations, challenges and opportunities that young adults face when leaving their home town to “attend college.” More specifically, attending a historically black college or university in the southern United States.

However, mentioning the “students” involvement with drugs, violence, poverty, gun-play, self-preservation, greed, death and incarceration is unavoidable. The story cannot be properly conveyed without incorporating these issues that plague African American communities across the nation and abroad. So prepare yourself to be exposed to an unadulterated excerpt of what a group of ordinary young people experienced in becoming Men.

The authors hope and pray that you enjoy. The interpretation of these events that are based on truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781514468104

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Copyright © 2019 by The Bruahs.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/11/2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1) A sign and not a Coincidence

2) Reminiscing

3) The Tone on Campus is Set

4) The Decision To Go Back

5) All That Doesn’t Kill us Makes us Stronger

6) Hommme Coomminn

7) The Opportunity

8) The Lier

9) The Beef

10) The Purpose

INTRODUCTION

Mechanicsville is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, located northwest of the city’s downtown area. One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, Mechanicsville was established in the late 1860s for skilled laborers working in the many factories that sprang up around Knoxville’s suburbs. In the early twentieth century, Mechanicsville developed into a primarily African American neighborhood, and was home to the HBCU Knoxville College, and several early black entrepreneurs and professors. During the Siege of Knoxville, in which Confederate forces surrounded Knoxville in hopes of starving out Union forces occupying the city, Confederate lines criss-crossed at Mechanicsville. Several Confederate batteries, providing the artillery barrage during the Battle of Fort Sanders, were situated in the hills where Knoxville College is now located. In attempting to take Knoxville, the Confederates decided that Fort Sanders was the only vulnerable place where they could penetrate Union Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside’s fortifications, which enclosed the city, and successfully conclude the siege, already a week long. Knoxville was a vital location for both armies. It was the shortest route from Richmond to Chattanooga via railroad. If the Confederates lost the East Tennessee city, supplies and information would have to travel a much more circuitous route through Georgia. Major General Ambrose E. Burnside [US] was determined to hold the city.

Lincoln had ordered the Union commander to liberate the pro-Union city in September, 1863 partly because it would provide a good route to Rosecrans Army of the Cumberland, then approaching North Georgia. With some 5,000 men, Burnside marched into Knoxville. Opposing Burnside was Lieutenant General James Longstreet and 20,000 Confederates recently detached from Bragg’s Army of Tennessee. Union troops prepared for the approaching Confederate Army by building a string of earthen-walled forts around Knoxville.

The west side of Fort Sanders was built parallel to 17th St. (near the old Kingston Road). The front stretched almost 300 feet between Laurel and Clinch Avenue. Union sharpshooters inside the fort were protected by bales of cotton placed in the top of the ramparts. The Union Engineering officer used stumps to string the barrier of telegraph wire. Confident of a victory in Knoxville, Rebel hopes were dashed in the early morning hours of Nov. 29. As the Confederate soldiers charged the fort, they slowed at the telegraph wire and were killed by shots from the Union Army or found themselves trapped in the ditch around the fort.

After 20 minutes Longstreet gave the order to withdraw, but many of his dead and wounded remained near the fort. Burnside gave Longstreet time to pick up his dead and wounded. In all, the Confederates suffered 813 casualties. On Dec. 4 Longstreet withdrew. Knoxville remained in Union hands for the rest of the war. This became known as The Siege of Knoxville.

Mechanicsville experienced a decline during the second half of the 20th century as Knoxville’s middle class moved from urban areas to suburbs on the city’s periphery. A number of old homes were demolished to make way for the construction of the expressway that would eventually become I-40, and others deteriorated as they were converted into low-income housing apartments. College Homes, a public housing development, was built as an urban renewal project near the commercial center of the neighborhood, northwest of Knoxville College. High crime rates continued to drive residents away, however, leaving many homes vacant.. History tends to repeat itself The following pages describe how in the late 1980’s an ambitious group of college students would descend on the city and seize the town again. The battle stricken hills of Knoxville College and the Mechanicsville neighborhood would again be the stage for a second coup de main.

CHAPTER ONE

A SIGN AND NOT A COINCIDENCE

YAYA is a native St. Louisan, a proud alumni of the historic Vashon High School and in the eyes of young people he has impacted through coaching, mentoring and leadership, he is a hero.

But to his peers, he’s YaYa; the coolest character this side of the Mississippi River and the best weed man this side of the Delmar Divide.

YaYa’s whip is a fully restored, Royal Blue 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass. A St. Louis Classic, with white leather interior, dark tinted windows and 20-inch chrome rims. In homage to his alma mater, to which he was fiercely loyal. One late Saturday morning, YaYa is cruising the streets