Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-16

could we bring more than FIVE pieces into action,
to return the fire of the enemy's eight; yet that
fire was returned, and that with much spirit and
energy, as to make this EGrtilleTy duel" rendered
peculiarly interesting by the character of the field
and its mountain surroundings, ever memorable by
those who beheld it. That the casualties among
our cannoneers should have been so few, is q sub
Ject of siRcere congratulatioa. and is very much
ascribable to the sound judgment Of Capt. Shuma-
ker who repeatedly changed the position Of has gun
when those Of the enemy had obtained his range
For minuter description of the action in this its
most striking phase, take great pleasure in re,
ferIing to the report of thatconsummaely cool AID
skillinl officer. From it you will learn why it
was that our pieces, at the close of the four hours
Interchange Of fire, were temporarily Withdrawn,
inducing our friends upon our extreme left and ey
identity the enemy, to suppose that they had been
silenced
At about half past nine O'Clock a strong column
OF infantry was seen to move towards our left flank.
Having crossed the so called river lin fact shallow
stream of about twenty yards in width near the
point designated on the map by the capital letter
"a" it undertook to turn position in that di-
rection. Soon. however, it encountered portion
of the 81 Arkansas Regimen, which drove it pre-
cipitately back, with destructive fire. The enemy
subsequently turned two of his pieces upon this
portion of our left wing, pouring out canister and
she'll in large volumes; but fortunately on account
of the protection afforded by the woods, with but
little execution
simultaneously with this movement towards our
left, another column Of infantry assembled the
wooded hill, before our right wing, at the point
designated upon the map by the capital letter 'B
Having become at its head involved in a slight skr-
mish with one of our picket guards it was immedi-
ately and strongly reinforced. Subsequent TO the
rspulse the column from the left flank it proceed
ed in the general direcuoB, ascending the hill
at the point designated by the letter &C, swellin
the force, which now began to threaten seriously
ourfront and right, to some four thousand men.
They moved along the side of the bill, opening upon
our lines desultory fire Of rifle and musketry,
which was continued till the close of the action.
So soon as the designs of this column were fully
take position near the stream. where q small de-
tschment of it under Lieut.. Dawson had already
been posted with instructions to engage the enemy
whenever he should attempt to cross IL. From the
fact that this movement Was made in full face of
largely superior numbers, armed with a superior
weapon, and protected by cover of the forest, il
was made with an alacrIty and regularity which
deserve high commendation ; as does also the cool
determination with which this command, protecting
itself, as best it might against the enemy's fire,
received it, but returned scarcely shot. Not long
thereafter l ordered Capt. Shumaker TO open upon
the same column directing his fire to where he sup
posed the head of it to lie. This be promptly did
with two of his pieces, and effectively, that In
short time the unmistakable evidence of their rout
became apparent. Distinctly could their officers be
STRANGE and enreaty, attempting to rally their bat
talions into line and TO bring them to The charge;
but they could not be induced to reform their
broken ranks, nor to emerge from the cover of the
woods In the direction Of our fire. Rapidly and in
disorder they returned into the turnpike, snd soon
thereafter the entire force Of the enemy-artlery
infantry and caYalry-retreated in confusion along
tbs road and adjacent fields, leaving behind them,
at different points, numbers Of the killed, guns,
knapsacks, canteens, ETC., etc. Among other trO-
phies taken we're q stand of United States colors,
which held subject TO the order of the command
ing General.
This engagement lasted from seven in the morning
to hafpsst two O'Clock in the afternoon, at which
time the enemy, who had come with artillery to
lombard and demoralizs US, with infantry TO storm
cur camp, with cavalry TO rous and destroy u.s. and
with four days cooked FdtioRS in his haversaeks, to
prosecute rapid march either towards Stanton
or towards HunteIsville, in precpitate retreat
back to his Cheat Mountain fortress. And 1t Is
tainly mAtteT not unworthy of mention, that, while
his first nsOlent advances were received with def.
ant cheers running from end to the other Of
line, he was permitted to take his departure under
the simple reports of our pieces, firing upon him so
long as be continued within their range The rela-
tive weakness of our force and the entire absence
Of cavalry, prevented our pursuing him, and there
by realiz the legitimate fruit of our trib mph.-
His ioss in killed and wounded is estimated at from
two hundred and fifty to three hundred, among
them officer Of superior rank. Our own, l am
happy to say, was very uncomfortable, not exceed
ing fifty in all. This most gratifying result is to be
attributed, in = great degree, TO the remarkable
GOODNESS of regimental and company officers, who
never seemed for . moment to lnse their presence
of mind-neVer allowed their men unnecessarily to
expose themselves, and prOfted by every advantage
Of ground and position to shelter them from danger
In conclusion, l take great pride IN saying that
tn bearing OF ali the troops, both officers and men,
with but few exceptions was highly ereditabls to
themselves and to the army. Among those who
enjoy ed the opportunity coveted by all Of attract
ing special nouGe in addition 10 the name Of Col
Johnson would mention those of Capt ShpmAker,
who was wounded ct his battery, to when have
already had repeated occasion to referi Of Capt.
VIM. Fl. Rice, OF whom Capt Shumaker speaks In
the following emphatic language: He mad been
working lis piece beautifully for two hours, and
two much praise cannot be given him for the de-
li5erate manner with which he loaded aud fred his
piece loading and firing by detail for hour in the
midst of storm Of shot and shell from the enemy"
until he was strcke to the earth severely wounded;
of Capt. Deshler, who directed = rapid fire with
marked effect; and Of Sergeant Graves, who fell
mOrtally wounded in the cool and daring discharge
Of his duty. PecuiLr,y distinguish among he ad
Vauced guard, where all were distinguished mus
be recOrdrd the names Of Lieut.. Gibson of the 81
Arkansas Regiment, the officer in immediate
command; Of private SlaytoD, of the Slst Viz
ginia regiment Sks Sss severely WoUnded;
and Of private J. W. Brown, Of company 7.
lst Georgia regiment who, upon hearing the order
to fall back, exclaimed, Il will give them more
shot Eefore leave" am, while ramming down his
18th cartridge fell dead at his post. Nor can om
the mention, in this connection, of Lieut. Colonel
Barton, who, in the absence of engineer staff off,
Gers, designed aid was in active prosecution of the
works to Whics We are so much Indicted for the
defence Of our position, and ySho has shown him
self at all times prompt to render cheeEful and
efficient service. 1t is hardly necessary to add that
Col TalisferFO, whose marked GOODNESS and energy
could not fail to inspire his men and Col Rust, in
command Of the let wing, from which the enemy
was irst repealed discharged their responsible duty
and well
Finally, my own thanks are especially due tn ny
Aids, Major F. S. Bloom and Lieut. w. d. Hum
phries c. s. A., for the gallant and efficient manner
In whlOh they responded to the peculiar and expos
ing calls made upon them. 1t ia but justice to add
that Cadet Henry Jackson, Q. S. A, drew notice to
himself by his gslantry under Ar0.
have the honor to enclose herewith list of
casualties.
sH, sir very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
HENRY Z. JACKSON,
Brigsdier General Commanding.
THE map referred to in the above report repre-
sehts two curylnear ranges Of hills, lying nearly
parallel to each other end stretching towards the
left hand, first Southwest, then West then North
w t. The valley bet Eeen is traVersed by the Green
Brier river. It's course is here very circuit Jus,
forming almost semi circle. Where it comes up
On the map it is close against the RortheFa range
Of hills, it then the valley disgonal j, and
mpinges against the Southern range about the cea-
re of the map. just here it is crossed st right
angles by the turnpike road. The river thence
lows along the foot Of the Southern range
Dur troops were posted On tbs South
IRA range on both sides the tuI upike yOSd.-