Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-08

having secured that, he could fight or not as his
pleasure. IL -Uas soon on the way 10 GreenTlle,
the brigade accompanying it, but was halted ten
miles south OF the town, snG here preparations
we're made to return with all our fighting force, to
give battle TO the enemy, be their numbers what
they might -----r r
After rest Of few hours, we started ak four
O'Clock Of the morning of the Plat with but J. 200
men, al told, with the expectation Of giving fight TO
tnree times cur number. We found out though, be-
fore their fire opened that there were seven regi-
Q mental flags in the field. Since then we have re-
eeiVed reliable Information that there were 10 900
q men Of the enemy present We arrived about II
{ O'Clock within half mile Of town, and were i'm
mediately placed in posi1oR. Lows third regiment
with Jennings and Ripey's battalion, were posted
on the right Of Greenvile road, some three hun
dred yards in advance of the I'd ard 4lh regiments
which were on the left Of thekame, Our l2-pOunder
commanded by 1t Harris, was 300 yards in the
rear OF Lows position, at the edge Of wooded
hni. The three Founders were placed on or close
adjacent to the road After driving in their piekes
4 with Some skirmishers detached for that purpose
az about IL O'Clock they advanced in force, and
showed on the brow Of q hill, which held TIE town
from eur view. Soon their cannon were placed in
position and sent shot and shell in quick succession
snOEg u.s. Our II and little 6s replied MT PelIv and
caused quite stampede among their cavalry
which had showed incautiouslg I'M asses over the
hill top. Our 2pounder, several times during the
action, by its well directed discharges of crane
/ prevented their cavalry from making charge
down our centre upon our guns, (sixes,) During
| the While regiment Of their infantry advanced !
down the hill through the cornheld, Immediately in
front of Lows position; he lay concealed behind
! the fence that enclosed the field.
The enenys advance guard Of one company /
stopped when within sixty yards of our line when
after particularly cautioniDg his men to shoot low
and take deliberate aim, he gave the order 10 fire
when st least seventy of them bit the dust The
balance Of the regiment soon took their place but
in few minutes broke and fled to the rear of the
field. Again they returned but now two flags
denOting two regiments, came to the attack. but
again they we're compelled to give way before
the deliberate and careful firing Of our men, In
the early part of the action they overshot and orr
men sssert that they frequently fred at a ready
The nature of the ground somewhat favored our
men, the enemy being on he descending ground and
our men st the foot Of it. 1t was only When tbi-d
regiment was brought in the field against our little
band of only three hundred all told, that they were
able steadily to return our fire. About this time
the ehivalrlc Lowe was shot through the head
and sank to the ground without making a sign
Though many Of our men were by this time ont of
powder, they showed no signs Of fear and only
when the Lieutenant Colonel gave the order TO
fall back TO the woods in the rear of the I2pou9d
err did they move from their places In crossing the
open space IN the rear Is where we lost most, in
al sixteen killed. 4
These men with but few exceptions, rallied i'm.
meelately IN the rear Of eur lines, and in short
time afterwards were again under command In
eAAOt alu suGl1 were EAlleQ upon the
IL FOUNDER 80 fast tina. the timber soon broken
and the horses so repeatedly wounded that they
could not De held TO their places but ran away with
both It and the caisson. Every one about the gun !
mad elther LEFT or been wounded By this time, ex-
cept Lieut. Harris and his Sergeant. A few min
utes atte-, the latter was shot through the head
while attempting to mount his horse. Harris all
alone, yet fired his gun twice, Showering grape
among the close ranks Of the enemy they advance
ed upon him. Atlast his ammunition gave out and
as he stood resting against tree he received or
ders If ne could not bring of his gun, TO leave At
this moment Browns battalion, which had been :
placed IN the rear Of the gun, came on at q doubls
quick, to cover the retreat Of Lows command s
They attempted to take cf the gun BY hand, and :
actually did drag it up hill considerable distance
but were at last forced to leave it TO the tender
nereles of the enemy, as they received orders to y
axe ground to the rear and place themselves in q
ambush, while Farmers %, and Waughs 4th were =.
ordered to cover the retreat which was at this ~
ime commenced in good order.
Their cavalry attempted only once to charge but y
,aid so dearly for their temerty that they were -
lot heard from again; for Browns battalion, in -
mbush, with one volley NOV ed them down AZ with 70
scythe. Here fell their Major Garrett one can "
ain and four heutensnts, and thirty rank and file -
private of Bro WIS battalsn-Prophat by name ~
-lesped over the fence into the road and captured ~
be Majors swerd, but only after be had thrown e
lumber Of dead menOf his body the bullets raining m
Ound him the while. The enemy at this time had ~
utflnked US on the left cavalry having retired N
DO soon. But they did not appear in great num- en-
ers and seemed 10th to engage ct close quarters
Or our men kept excellent order, and no doubt
,oked too formidable to be trifed with They spen-
on US desultory fire at long distance to which So
re did not reply, but moved quietly and quickly m'
ut OF dagger. Co
The enemy is said to have followed US about ten So
IaH, to where trains had been left but which be
re the retreat had CONNIE iced were ordered TO de
love on, and was far the way to Greenve when ca
ar little band of heroes passed through, in most Or
Iceuent humor with themselves and well satisfied tn
18th the day 3 business. Drs Gsuding and Lamb Co
en-, who had been left with killed and wound Lar
], are just in, aud report that the my acknoW tn
ige having 900 infantry and two regiments of tn
lyGry, besides nine guns Col Ross was in com. OE
and; Colonel Scofeld had the artillery under thi
large and Col. Plummer was present with the 81
rceE from Cape Girardeau. One Of our men, lust of
from the neighbOrhood of Cape Girardeau, says by
at 500 men csms by the way Of that place. aud ly,
600 landed at St. GeneEeve and came by the way the
Perryville The balance of their forces came hiu
ON lronton. We lost three men dead, which we lat
fought 70 camp the balRnce-l7 killed, q HOul- be
d, and Is missing fell into the enemys hands. the
The enemy acknowledge 400 killed and wounded, bu
ID are much ehAgrined at the days results. They
sist that we must have had 1000 men. The dis 9
sltiOn of forces such as to lead them into
at error. Our doctors we're rather roughly me
ndled they were robbed Of all their money and sho
It their horses. Dr. G. ct one time was il arrest C
spy, and remained in durance vile several
VI tuIa HSSJ hO"SFeE3 aiteE OOL 1S0ss HaQ leIt,
y y Go!. CSClln was IN command; Eghs houses era
rived at our present camp the 2Tth, without lie
cOunterIDg further trouble and shall here remain @
few days to recruit Hoping this hasty account bo.
our movements will prove satisfactory, re The
lin, Respectfully, &c
j. P. PuRVrs, ASST Adj't Gen. OLE
anlZee War MInsfFeIsY-An English CriTI- We
eiams NIL
IT, D. -. - VII
Rmuae its English readers with what it calls