Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-01

strUctiOii.
Fox the truth OF the facts here stated,
refer you - tiic testimony of Capt. Holt
Eont- Ford, and adiuialit Stephens, taken
ectore ,'le court ct enquiry: as likewise
colone. Caldwell, ofthe Louisiana militia,
WHO bad tic ground measured. On the
right OF .he Kentucky line, thus scattered
along a ditch, there was still srace OF
crcn ground, several hundred wards, un-
defended sy any, where the enemy might
and did pass 10 their rear. no attempt
was made, 10 order given Ia support the
! kentiickians by detachment from the
| brcaStwcrh-yhen they might have been
well spared, for it is III proof, that the G.
ncmy's line, approaching The brcaStworlz
on thr lcvee, was repulsed by our artillery,
| and fell back nor did they advance a
! gam untllthe right of our line was tarn-
| ed, and the breasiwofk abandoned. Thus
| then. we find 500 men of the Louisiana
militia. completely defended by breast
| work IN front aud supported by several
! pieces Of artillery. defended on their right
| by the Kentucky detachment, who, al
, though, few in number, and badly armed
were left 10 beat the whole force Of the e.
Denly, or retreat from inevitable dcs,ruc-
ton. TO the retreat of that small corps
has been attributed tle disgrace of thar
day. Mere, sir; it las been represented
i.y letters from this place, published III
Tennessee, and Throughout, the union, ~
fhe shameful. cowardlv fight Of q sirong
detachmento Of Kentuchians, without fir
ing gun. This caIumny, false and ur-
founded rs IL is, has gained credit q
broad. from your eXcellency's ofllc.ai
communication of The 9Th January, 10 lie
secretary at war. In that YOU designate
the Kentucky troops with Gen. Morgan,
~ 60 a. \. ~ {.
they ingloriously fled, drawing after them
the rest of the troops. You will not Tor
moment believe. that can mean any the
slightest reflection on your conduct by
thus bringing into view your official let
ter. well know k0f communication, 10
we'll as every other from YOu, was predl-
Gated on tie reports made from different
parts Of tic army under Your command.
But Won viii agree with me, that those
reports were not always vel founded; C
that, from various causes, it vas oiten
difficult for on to obtain any report, dur
ing t!r q; Y, # The transactions that took
place on the night previous. In your let
te OF the 9th January, you say You re-
ccived brt little additional strength from
the Arrival nf' the Kertuckians, but few OF
TINT detachment heing armed and a.
gain, speaking Of the,moripg of the Sth.
YOU say, the orenv was reVulsed by the
troops under Generals Carrel and Coffee,
and r'fpisicu al tie KfmfHciy miatsa.---
This, fskNn with Other parts of that conf
municaion in which tie Kentucky froe ps
are mentioned has given rise 10 an onInI-
on in manv parts of the union, that but
few of The Kentucky men fought on the
lines on f'c morning of the Sth. Your re-
port, strictly true, so far as relates TO the
arrival of the kent'ickv troops. and TO
thoir situation on your lines or the 5til az
Gtb OF January, not more than $50 OF
them being armed until the evening of
tho 9TH, vet has tendency TO mislead as
10 their numbers on the 9Th On The 9TH
received from corps of exempts in the
civ. betv cen 4 and 500 muskeis and bay
onets, on loan for three days; with this
timely supply of arms, we were enabled
to bring on Tie lines on The morning OF
the stli. fully one thousand men.
This corps was stationed ayr eably to
your order, some distance III Tie rear of
the breast work with the sole view that
they might lie led to the defence ofanv
part OF the works where their services
might lie more useful and necessary. To
this wise order and arrangement, was il
owing, hat 1000 men in addition 10 Ire
useful defence on the lires, was brought
to meet TIE cHcmys strong column, and
I'D ptliO$t WITH THINKS OF from SIX 10 eight
deep his most daring and desperate attack
Ito This disposition of the troops. we av
IN great decree attribute the unparallei-
ed destruction that took place in the CO.
lunn Of the enemy on That day. ] thus
bring IN yOnr TeColect on facts ard cir
Gums tanceS, which, although they foole
place under Your own orders, nav in lie
hnrry ami confusion Ofthc noment have
escaped your notice: and the more so.
rs no report was called for on the stll
from flIc officers commanding separate
corps. The court OF Enquiry ordered 10
investigate ll'e affair on the west side of
the river, have hv their report acuuitied
Col. DAVIS Of all blame or censure. and
have said the retreat OF the keniuckians
may bc excusable. from their positior
want Of arms Re. The language IN
wliicil this opinion is couched 10 which
refer yOu, rs not such as can ~atiscV ihc
pride of q soldier, who. ha, inr done his
duty faithfully, has been siandered bv
| tlloSe who have been more To blaloc tl,sn
| himself AZ the request of nv fellow ynl
| cicrs from Kentucky who have had thc
honor Observing, and we trust of having
! done Their duty under vour cor mand in
| iiiS last periloms but most glorious cam
! Daigp ofthe war, I have been Induced
| ~ make this appeal 10 vour Justice. for a
more explicit approval of their conduct.
| and. If ihev are entitled 10 If, for smcly
! m one as viii enable them 10 meet fbrit