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

winter quarters.
General Wise's stand on Sewell mountain, togeth.
err with the repulse he gave the enemy before rein
forcements arrived has thus resulted in the SAFETY
and protection Of Lewisburg; and his judgment in
taking position at Sewel mountain is now fully vim.
dictated by the retreat of the enemy.
Battle OF GreenbFIer RiveP-OfFIcIaI he
port OF GEN. Jackson
CAMP BARLOW, GREENBRRR RIVER,
October 9TH, 1861.
Colonel G. l.. STEVENSON, Adjataat General, North
1UssteTH Arg1y:
COLOSEL--In my note OF the 81 instant l gave
you brief account of the attack made that day
upon our position by the enemy.
Advancing along the turnpike with heavy cOlr
umn-compOsed of artillery, infantry and cavalry,
numbering, at safe estimate, from six to seven
thousand men--he drove in our advance pickets az
an early hour in the morning. About seven O'Clock
he encountered the main body Of the advanced
guard reinforced TO about one hundred strong, and
posted on the right aide of the turnpike one mile
from our lines, by Colonel Edward Johnson of the
18th Georgia Regiment who took command In per-
son. You will find this position designated upon
the accompanying map, by the capital letter "E."-
It is but justice TO the sgPerior officer and to
the gallant band, whose movements he directed,
to say that it would not have en- possible
for so small force TO have been more skill
fully handled, or to have exhibited more obstinate
courage in the face of numbers 80 overwhelming.
They held the column of the enemy in check for
nearly hour pouring into the head of it CALLING
fre-ros Withdrawing till six pieces of artillery had
opened briskly upon Them and full batt&liOns of
infantry were outfankinR them on the right, and
then retiring in such order and taking such Gdvan-
tsge of the ground as to reach eur camp with bat
triAing loss. To this brilliant skirmsh in which
Col. johnson had his h0rse killed under him. is
doubtless to be ascrided. in measure. the eXhile-
rated spirits manifested by our troops the remain
der of the day. Before taking leave of it, and re-
ferring to former dispatches would here beg once
again TO direct Col. Edward Johnson the special
attention of the commanding General. net simply
for this pecu iary brilliant service but for his gal
liant and efficient conduct throughout the entire en-
gsgement.
So soon az it had become apparent that the enemy
contemplated systematic attack upon our camp, l
disposed of my entire force to meetit. To convey
correct idea, not simply of that disposition but Of
the subsequent action. must pray reference the
accompanying map, for which am indebted to
Lieutenant Colonel Barton of the 81 Arkansas reg
lment.
AsI have already reported to you, our position is
not by nature q commanding one. Ths causes of
its weakness are the necessity of defending extend
ed lines our front met less than mile and on
our TANKS and the fact that there points in our
rear which, in possession of an enemy, might give
US great trouble The works essential to our safety
we're in progress of construction at the time Of the
attack but were only partially completed, nothing
right flank our rear am happy to say that
during the last three days through the indefatiga
bic efforts of Lieut.. Col Bsrtsn, in i'm
mediate charge Of the works, backed by the
cheerful labor Of the men, We are al
ready in condition to defy an approach from
any quarter Not doubling that the attack upon uS
had been to some extent invited by our commencing
to forty ourselves against it and fearing that the
enemy might have been fully advised of our weak
points until he had actually begun his retreat my
niDd lien Of he hat Nc
had sent another column over the mountain to turn
our right flank. To prepare for this danger, he'd
the first Georgia regiment so far that could be
DONE in reserve; for that apprehended, would be
Q desperate struggle. also sent express to Col.
Bald win, whom had previously ordered to the top
of the Allegheny rid &c, directing him to move the
SD Virginia regiment as rapidly down as possible,
and to fall upon the reSr OF the enemy, should he
undertake to fall upon ours That gallant regiment
responded as have learned, mo heartily to the
call; and when halted upon the road BY tdings that
the day had already been Won despite of its not
be doubted patriotism, could not entirely conceal
its chagrin.
The two brigsdes in this camp. weakened by the
absence of the several corps on detached service,
(the 9Th having been reduced from this Cause and
from sickness to one-third of its legitimate
Bumber,) postUd in the following order The lat
Georgia regiment on our extreme right, under COM
mand of Major Thompson, Col. Ramsay, the field
officer of the day having been cut eff from by the
Next to it was placed the 18th Georgia regiment
both of these regiments designed for the iumedi-
ate command of Col. Johnson. At an early mo-
ment threw out what few mounted men were
available under Capt. Sterritt, of the "Churchville
Cavalry" to different points along the valley upon
our right for the purpose of bringing us timely
notice of an approach by the enemy; and | also
strengthened considerably the picket guard adj
Yanced in that direction. The centre | entrusted
to the 9th brigade, q lder the command of Colonel
lief ~ kLa rinia
eiment (Col. Scott,) the 2S1 Virginia regiment,
Lieutenant Colonel Taliaferro, and Msjor Re-
goP's battalion, commanded, in his absence
from sickness, by senior Captain John @.
Higginbothsm. This brigade wa reduced in the
course of the action, by the detschment of one
hundred men under Major Jones, of the 44lh, to
reinforce cur left wing. This detachment marched
in gallant STYLE under the enemys ere, to the posi-
ton assigned it in line. The troops on this wing
which, from the character of the ground, were
widely 6ispersed-fell under the general command
of Col Rust, of the Sd Arkansas regiment, and
consisted of his own command the 3lst Virginia
volunteers Lieut.. Col Jacksln.) and the battalion
of Lieut. Col Marlborough commanded, In his alb
sence on account Of sickness. by senior Captain J.
Robinson. Upon this flank also two field pieces
had already been placed in battery, enhlading the
Huntersville road, which runs at right angles, if
indsed, these terms can be applied to serpeDtinO
pountsin re A5s, from the turnpike. These guns
were under the iInnediSte charge Of Captain P. B
that officer, leave no doubt that they would have
done great execution had the enemy ventursd to
call them into GotlOn.
Captain Shumsker's battery, consisting of four
pieces, (siX pouaders,) one of them rihed, and one
six polndsr Ander Captain Rice were held in rsadi
ness by the front and right flank. The places occu
pied BY these various corps You will find specified
upon the map.
Our pieces were all In position, when, at about 8
o'clock the enemy opened Il heavy Ere from six
pieces of different calibre placed in field upon the
right hand side ito them) upon the turnpike road,
and bearing upon our front and centre. This num-
Der AgbzsG Genty increased by two other pieces
placed on the Opposite aide of the turnpike, one
near it and the other SpOn the FtSe of the hull
This fire (of rouni shot spherical OSse, shell and
occasionally upon our left wing Of oanister) |
was continued with extraordinary Tspidity |
and without ;ntermisson for upwards of four |
hours, the eight gEn5 constituting the well /
known field batteries of Hon3e ald LOsmis. The |
hill occupied by Colonel TaliaferFO's brigade, in
Eitpgly exposed to all of these batteries received
the grSStS ahsre of their attention. and but for the
protection Afforded by the ditch and emhankment |
running along its brOV, Axd Gonstrueted under the
immediate supervision of Colonel Talisfsrra him
self, we should doubtless have had indicted upon
us q very severe loss indeed. This Ere was return
ed Eith great energy, and the result has proved,
with signal effect by the guns of Captain Shumaker
and Captain Rice, and by one piece detached from
Capt. AnGeRsonis battery. and placed upon the hill
occupied by Lieut., Gel Jackson; Lieut. ASssin, its
proper chief being quite indisPoeed, although he
his position his piece, it was
placed under command Of Captain shler, Rid-de-
camp to Colonel johnson, From the fact that the
rife gun of Captain Shumaker soon became useless
to Us, (or the cause of this great misfortune see