Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-12


The Battle at CoIumbus--.AnOthsr De-
scripttOhs
LAGRANGE. Nov. s, 1s6l-EDs. APPEAL: I find, Mes
srs. Edito s. in your issue of this morning, tele
graphic dispatch copied from yesterdays extra Of
the Avalanche which does injustice alike to Gens.
Polk and Pillow. To Gen. Polk, because, although
the superior officer in commadd. be Is made to play
the part of subordinate; and Gen. Pillow, because
brave man, ia ever wounded by that which would
place % his brow the laurels Of q eemrade.
Norman fought more calamity than Gen. Pillow
in the sphere appointed him, while Gen: Polk was
a very Napoleon on every part Of the feld-direct-
ing every movement, crushing the foe, and driving
/ him, with resistless energy, under powerful COM
binations from the fed.
Allow me, then, in sheer justice. to review the
movements of the day. qtOrdm Pdrs fn, and if
cannot render q battle in music" will at least
| give you the truth.
| At an early hour in the morning Gen. Polk threw
over the river two regiments under command of
! Gen. Pillow, where another was already encampe5,
/ giving him about two thousand men and Wstson's
battery. While this movement progressed, Gen.
Polk with his staff was passing ON battery to bat
terry on the hills, advising his gallant officers in
command, and pouring a tremendous fire on the en-
emy's gunboats, which threatened to make point,
from which they could destroy Gen. illoWs troops
| in trdnSitu. Gen. McCown was the sole genius of
the Yankees at this Juncture and excited the admit
ration, not only of Gen Polk, but of the whole
my, by the sklful use Of his batteries. The bow
of gunboat, which had nearly attained the desired
point was shiyered, and away she went limpng
back to the transports. Another was racked dread
fully on the side and soon followed. Gen. Polk now
returns to the landing and sees the gallant Pillow
ascending the western bank-his line is formed and
soon disappears.
Gen. Polk with q Washington's precaution, now
forwards additional ammunition to Gen. Pillows
rear. and commands five regiments and battery to
hold themselves in readiness for transportation
Pillows brave boys are moving. The enemy, 5000
strong, are meeting him. The hustle and tnmult on
the wharf subsde, and thousands on the eastern
bank of the river are breaJhess, to catch the first
sound of the conflict. at this pause Gel. Polk es-
pied your humble correspondent and placed HIM
pro ten. on his staff. Bang bang bang! Another
and another volley Our pickets are driven in
Horses, with empty saddles, are dsshing in Wild
disorder along the western bank of the river. Gen
Polk orders another regiment to cross snC ere they
land one Of the most desperate battles ever fought
on the continent is raging
Pillow in an open corn field challenges the foe TO
an equal contest challenges with his pealing mus
kerry and Watsons Bettery-they answer spiteful-
w. but stick to the woods and an unseen foe, dOub
ling US in number pouFs his deadly volley on our
brave bOys-ean they stand before a superior
force, and that force covered by the WOOdsg Our
chief hope is now in the bat.ery-round after |
round now thunders on the foe but the air is vocal
with the messages Of death, snd we fall on every
side. A regiment to reinforce is ascending the bank
of the river in double quick time, and lting as
fire is making havoc with their comrades. They |
rush to the thinning ranks as you have seen them
on gala day. But courage is not omRipotent-
they must perish retire. Now they wsver. fall
b4ck-Whst, flying? Yes, must tell the truth, |
flying in fearful disorder.
But Gen. Pillow rallies sufficient force to pour
upon their left wing terrific volley. Our camp
is fre-our battery taken, and turned against US
they have planted their guns on the very bank
of the river and play on our Feinforcements Just
ahOut "a punhark from tho onDositn ehOrn-DIpnO1
after pigeon whirling the boats, and all
about Gen Folks staff, blowing the sand and
splashing the water their feet but leader
equal to the occasion. He ordered Gen. McCO WINS
heavy guns on the hill to open on their battery.
See the hopeful enemy are advancing their gun
boats from above, and open these thunderbOlts,
which our eagles hurl down with remorseless ven
gennce from above. Now he strikes the gunboat-
low the foemanis battery three cheers for Nc
Gown they are silenced.
Gen. Polk now orders Gen. Cheatham forward to
flank, and, possible cut of the foe, to land higher
up, and thus gain a mile two on him. (At whose
suggestion? Gen. PillOwsO Like Mcdonald" l
remarked to Gen. Chatham "you bear the empire
on your shoulders" His reply was short and Ia
comic, and in q moment his boats were throwing |
their spray behind them. Gen. Polk follows in |
another boat, with one regiment and determines to
rally the thousand men who had been exposed in the
cornfeld and forced to retire He directs his aids
to galop from rank to rank and resssure them.
I'VE have fresh troops, and Gen. Polk to lead US
will you rally under his banner ?" was shouted by
stentorian voices. Nobly did these brave fellows
respond.
Cheatham has dashed on. Bang bang bang
What rafting and roaring; what charging and
shouting! Gen Polk defiles further to the right, |
but still supporting him, captures Adj Gen. Boiler
and a stand of cOlOrs. The enemy is in full retreat
the ground is strewn with blankets, arms, KNAPP |
sacks-even boots are thrown away to facilitate |
their flight; and our three generals, Polk Cheatham
and Pillow, press them to their very boats.
ARIsTIDEs.
The New Orleans PicdDms and True Delta also |
contain Geographic dispatch from Columbus, |
dated the day after the battle, giving the de-
scription of the events that have heretofore been
published. This dispatch concludes with the follow
ing summary, which comedies the highest palm to |
our distinguished fellow -citizs9, Gen. B. F. CHEAr-
HAN:
We recaptured most of our men that were taken
Every officer behaved nlOst calamity and perform
ed prodgies 0 fvslOr. General Chesthsm OutshOne |
the rest in deeds of daring. Private dispatches
represent it bloody battle but brilliant victory
Defence OF Ihe State-The War Tax.