Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-28
A sEirmIsh near Columbus.

Correspondents Of the Memphis ppsai.
CoLUMBUs, KY, Sept. Notwithstanding the
repeated runOrs Of attack at this point far your
correspondent has not been 30 fortunate as to have
the blue uniform of Linconie come within his
vision. We have had some little excitement on sew
era recent occasions, arising from groundless ru
m0rs Of coercion forces being In the neiQhbor>
hood, but believe that each time investigation has
proven the fasity as well as the absurity of the
reports. On one occasion the whole force Of Tho
cavalry belonging to the army stationed here wers
called ont and marched up the bill apparently for
the purpose of initiating the celebrated movement
recorded of the Dgteh general for they were net,
at the top Of the eEinenee by Gen. Pillow and or
dered to "march down again. | doubt not there
some brilliant strategic point il the movement
which, as an amatuer in the art of war, could not
comprehend, so simply record the fact without
comment
Another recent movement of the same brilliant
character shouldn't deem it necessary to mention,
were it not that purpose keeping you informed Of
events Transporting under my observation ~ far as
possible seridtim, and much Of current rhmors
rs | think viii interest your readers. refer TO
the recent movement upon ElliOtts Mills. Inf0r-
nation having reached headquarters on the night
of the 2lst that the Federalists were withdrawing
their forces from Cairo, Cape GiIardeau and other
points the river above leaving feeble garrisous
at each of these points, and removing their troops
to st. Louis and Western Virginia, movement
was apparently determined upon to look after the
condition Of things at the Mills, some twelve
miles above where six or Heven thoussnd
Federal troops are reported to be stationed
some three thousand at The Mills and three or four
thousand at the head of Island one, three miles
above. Orders were issued accordingly for Lieut..
Col. LogwOods battalion Of Tennessee cavalry, ard
Lieut. Col Millers Battalion Of Mississippi cavalry,
to report themselves for service at an early hour on
the following morning. On RETURNING 70 camp on
the morEing Of the 22d, from nights picketduty
on the Cairo road, L found the company whose
fortunes / share and whose ensign follow, absent
IN pursuance of the order, and being well assured
from information previously obtained of their des
tnstion and the object Of their mission in company
with three comrades Of the previous nights picket,
followed in their wake. and overlook them within
about three miles Of the Mills When within
about two miles Of our destination, on coming
10 the forks Of the road-bOth branches Of
which led to the Mis-the COMMAND separated.
Lieut-Col. miller, with his battalion Of Mis-
sissippi and Hills company OF Te1nesses
cavalry taking the road to the left while LieItenant
Col LOgWood, with the remsiEdeF Of his battalion.
passed on toward the Mills by the right hand fork
The movement had been sufficiently slow, fof some
unexplained cause, TO afford any one on the road,
who felt disposed to inform the pickets and pprise
the Federas and there can be lit.le doubt that it
was done, as there were no picketz staroned-Or,
at least seen-on the road by which Lieubeu4 nt Col
lockwood advanced. When within three quarters
of g mile of the bridge crossing Asyfeld creek,
Capt Ballentne's Shelby Light Dragons were sta
tioued on each side of the road. at point where
another road crossed the one by which we had adj
vanced at right angles, and the Memphis Light Ora
gOons, Captain Taylor, the Tennessee Mounted
Rifles, Captain White, and Captain Hills company
were placed in safe aubushP hard BY ser
taialy not to await an attack, Cor being On both
sides of the road, if eur balls missed the enemy,
they would have been more than likely to bit cur
friends. In the position we remained in eur sad
dies about an hour and half, when the sharp re-
port of firearms apparently about three Or four
b,n lad Ia N he laft Qr-D
the other wing of the little force had spring the
gams Some tbiFy-fYe or forty shots we're tired
at intervals, during about ten minutes, when the
firing ceased and Notwithstanding the imEatience
of the men in Lieut. Col Logwood's command to
investigate matters, and repeated pressing appeals
from the captains of companies ID advance, the OH
GER in command peTsistently refused TO make
movement from his position, and sent pefempto-
ry orders for the return Of little scouting party
headed by Can't. Ballentine. The day had now
passed into full meridian, and four O'Clock
found US still in Sidtu quo. But orders were
soon given, and our faces were directed to-
wards camp. On resching the road which Col
Mier's command had taken, q detachment
were sent a short distance on the road which he
had taken, which returned and reported that the
command bad passed on toward Columbus. We
now continued our march, and arrived in sight Of
The myriad camp fires that surround and I'LL COlum-
bus in the evening, making the Heavens almost red
with their glare, about half past seven o'clock P. n
have since learned that Lieutenant Colonel AilleFs
command proceeded TO within 9 short distance Of
the main force, where they surprised heavy picket
of Federalista, and the Haywood Rangers, Captain
Neely of the Tennessee battalion, though tempo
rsrily under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Miller, had the good fortune To have their broad
slde-they being in the advance effective ID bring
ing down four Of the enemy, with the loss On their
side Of one horse killed and one other slightly
wounded, and not a man hurt. The remainder of
the picket retreated to house hard By, where they
were left to ruminate upon the discovery they had
made that the COnfederates, Notwithstanding their
protesatons, continued to use bullets before their
nnRdeP.