Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-12
FROM dc Memphl. AppeaI, Novsnnsr ..

From the Memphis Appeal, November ..
The publication of the fact that bloody battle
had been fought near Columbus, in yesterday morn
ings papers, created the greatest imaginable
ton in the city. The vagueness of the telegraphic
reports, and the absence of details, tended srather
to intensity and heghten the excitement, than 9th
erwise The city of Memphis had some three thou
sand combatants in the army up the river, and
scarcely was there human being amid our vast
population of forty Thousand persons, who had not
brother, father, husband, son. or at least friend
among them. The extent of our information was
contained in the brief but portentious announce
ment that Sour loss was heavy" and anxious minds
The telegraph office was crowded at an early hoar
after breakfast with eager multitude of inquir-
ers and whats the news" was. oneevery lip.
- Private dispatches came through from various par
ties with aconic 1 am SAFE" end so " is bad
-ly wounded" such q one g is killed." ETC., but
nothing of the battle. An nexplicsble embargo had
been laid upon the telegraphic line, and news of the
fight was evidently looked on by our military au-
? thorities az confraband article The people took
it as an omen of evil and it silently whispered
that, perhaps we had not heard the worst,
Between ten and eleven o'clock the extra Appeal
was issued. containing an interesting letter from
the field of battle, with such other details as we
were able to gather from passengers who arrived
by the down train from Columbus. This relieved
public apprehension to a crest extent and served
some measure TO moderate tne lnIenslSy OF the
This battle was the first in the war that Memphis
had felt, and the whole population were eager to
learn Its full extent.
A large meeting of citizens was held after tea
last night to make provision for the wounded, who
are expected to arrive to-day. The proceedings will
be found in our local columns
THE BATnE.
mas mentioned in our extra published yesterday,
passengers who arrived from Columbus at 10
O'Clock A. NJ furnish further accounts in regard to
the great battle fought there on the day previous.
The fight occurred on the Missouri sheTe, and not
at Mayfeld creek, as was supposed
-s Col. Tappan's Arkansas regiment with Watson's
Louisiana battery had been encamped just opposite
Columbus for some days, and were under orders to
march on the day of the battle Early in the morn
ing, the enemy, 900 strong, landed seven miles
above on the Missouri shore, and moving down
opened vigorous fire on this regiment.
Gen. Pillows brigade, some 2 500 strong, COM
posed of Wrights, Pickett's, and Walkers Tennes-
see regiments were Immediately ordered over to
their relief. They fought CALAMITY against superior
numbers until their ammunition was exhausted.
They were then overwhelmed and driven back
with great lOss-to the very verge of the river,
where they again madea stand, fighting with their
bayonets.
AT this critical juncture Gen. Cheatham's brigade
was sent over, and with the assistance of Blythes
battalion carried the fortunes of the day.
-..9 9--.z- .---. THE RoUT.
Towards the close of the day the valor of our
troops proved too much for the Hessians. When
the fight came to "coli stsep quarters, they could
stand it no longer and took refuge in retreat,
which is described to as being regular Bull Run
rout with the loss of vast quantity of small arms
and ammunition, several pieces of artillery, and
untold numbers of slain They managed to find
their way in hot haste, up the river to their trans
ports, from which they had recently debarked
They said to have left" acresV Of dead be-
hind, end as they ran, panicstricken, ike swine
into their boats, were slaughtered at every step
Of their progress, without mercy.
Their loss, we presume from all accounts, can
not be less than five or six hundred
CASUALTIES.
The latest intelligence from Columbus is that
Quartermaster John G. FinnIe, Of this city
severely wounded in the face by Minnie musket
ball. The wound of Capt. Saffarrans although &C.
we're, it was hoped would not prove mortal.
We also have report that Col. Pickett, Of the
Dist Tennessee, was wounded. His wound, was
not, however, considered dangerous.
Col Wright, of the 18th Tennessee regiment, had
two horses shot from under him. PIX.
Capt EASILY, company D. of Col. Carrolls regi-
ment, 1.-THE 18th Tennessee) was dangerously wound
ed in the breast. Cspti Sam. Vance, of the 2lst
Tennessee, was wounded in the!hand.
Cur information leads US to believe that the loss
of the Confederate forces, in killed, wounded and
missing will approximate total of five hundred.
The early part Of the engagement was fought IN
der the greatest disadvantages. and in the regiments
engaged the heaviest loss occurred. a letter pub
lished elsewhere estimates the loss in Col Tappsns
(Ark.) regiment at fifty sixty killed and two hun
dred wounded. Capt. Burton's company attached
10 this command, is reported 10 nave sustained
severe loss. The loss in Col Pickett's (Tenn) reg
inent reaches one hundred and sixteen killed and
wounded. The commands suffered the most Sc
verely-ther aggregate loss being about three hun
dred and seventy. Additional losses in the other
regiments engaged, viii, we think swell the total
TO the estimate stated above.
INCIDENTS.
We are informed that single discharge from the
12S FOUNDER, mounted in the batteries at Columbus,
killed twenty of the enemy and one horse.
The batteries of the enemy reported
ssting of fifteen pieces, of which several cap
tured. One of the guns attached to the celebrated
Watsons (La.) battery, was lost in the river, in
conseq uence of the horses having become uuman-
ageable. The whole battery was at time in
possession of the enemy, but was retaken. The
Watson artillery gallantly served throughout the
entire engagement, and it was matter of great
greet to the gallant command that they should, after
victory rested upon our banners, meet with the
trifing loss mentioned above.
Interesting Letter from the Field,
Special Correspondence OF the Memphis Appeal.
Columns, KY, Nov. Z, ii o'ClockP MI have JUS
returned from the battle field, and toe much fat
H. IL r