Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-13
NASHVILLE, TENN. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER Is, 1861
3 EXTRACT FROM a PRIVATE LETTER.

aa1 - i.a COLUMBUS, Nov. 8, '6l..a
< About haft-past eigh. o'clock
yesterday morning our regiment was going
to work on the battery. As We were about
to work, Gen. Cheatham's aid came along at
full speed and ordered US back to our camp.
just as we were drawn up we heard heavy
cannenading, and terrible fire of musketey,
on the other side of the river. We Were not
in sight at this time. There were only two
regiments on the other side, and Watson's
battery and the 2Ist Tennessee regiment
were Immediately thrown across and also
Col. Walkers I'd Tennessee. In the mean
time we were marched down to the river.
We were delayed there some time waiting
the boats. At this time two cannon opened
on US from the extreme left on the other
side where the Federals got temporary
footing. The shells were thrown too high,
and we easily lodged them. One, however,
came near Capt. Mageyney and myself,
which made us open our eyes. Several
shots struck near US in the water, and two
/ OF the boats were struck but not seriously
damaged At this time eur heavy riled gun,
called the ssLady Polk" opened on the
battery that speak of, and silenced it in
few rounds. ,.
We embarked and formed on the opposite
bank. just as we were drawn up, the dead
and wounded were coming down to the bank
of the river every moment. These were
passed over ON the boats as fast as they ar
rived. Generals Cheatham and Pillow rode
up, and Cheatham halloed, "Here comes my
I54th," and off we started, and to our sur
prise the Lincolnites were in full retreat.
The other regiments were tired and pursued
them only in squads. We followed them
and caught up with them after a six mile
run. They were embarking on their gun
boats. We got into corn field on the bank
within a few yards of their boats, and we
opened terrible fire ON them. One boat
lost two pilots in our sight, and from relia-
BILE accounts their decks were covered with
dead. The gunboats, six in number, haul
ed off into the river, as their guns were too
low to hurt US. They then commenced q
desperate fire on us with shell, grape and
canister, which bursted among us, but our
boys were not scared, and we loaded
and fired on our knees and on our
backs, under the shelter of rail fence =
Coils. Smith and Wright, and General Cheat
ham himself, were with US, and seeing that
we could not reach them with our muskets,
we were ordered to fall back, the shell plow-
ing up the field in every direction, and we
lodged them behind the trees and still kept
retiring. One shell threw a lot of sticks
and dust in my face, and escaped by throw
bursted. One piece of it, however, carried
away the left leg of Mic. Clayton's panta-
looms. He shouted to me, and / thought he
was wounded, but he was not, The Lin
colnites knew our direction and their range
was very accurate. The roar and bursting
of shells was terrific, and we were annoyed
very much by falling branches. This con-
tinued for a mile and half, until we got
beyond their reach. At this time Tom. GAR
vey was struck in the knee with round
shot, and we left him behind in house, but
went after him when the boats left. He is
now in camp and comfortable. He will not
lose his leg. Eight of the Light Guards
were wounded--two dangerously-ands sew.
eral in the other companies. We escaped
remarkably well-thanks to God. We were
the only regiment that followed their boats.
We captured q good many prisoners, blan
kets, overcoats, (of which Ihaye a splendid
one, knapsacks, muskets, and our boys
were loaden with them coming back. s5
Z AS we came back, the sight along their
line of retreat was awful. The dead and
wounded were at every tree. Some, ,crawled
into the creeks to get water and died there,
and such sight /, of course, never saw be-
fore. Most of them were enemies and we
rendered them all the assistance in our pow
er. We saw Capt. Armstrong lying dead.-
have passed over two hundred dead and dy-
ing, broken guns and cannon carriages. 1t
was q hard battle, the most wicked since the
war began, for the numbers engaged. They
had flag of truce on the battlefield to-day
burying their dead. ALI our dead are bur-
led and the wounded in our hospitals are do
ing well. We have great many of their
wounded. Our doctors attend them regu-
ularly. There are about twenty five splen-
did overcoats among our company. j. NJ.
5 Another Account.
ifi'1 = COLUMBUS, Nov 8, 1861.
Editors appeal The 21st Tennessee Regi-
ment after crossing the river, formed, march
ed out, and took position about half a mile
from the landing; Ed. Pickett colonel, 81.
Tilmau lieutenant colonel, and j. C. Cole ma
jor. 1t was composed of nine companies. The
enemy 1000 strong, with batteries and cav
airy, advanced on the 18th, 18th and 2lst
Tennesseans, 18th Arkansians, and Watson's
battery, which latter was supported on the
right by the 21st Tennessee, and on the left
by the 18th Arkansas, the 18th Tennessee oc-
cupying the extreme right.
After receiving and returning their volleys
the enemy holding the woods, The 21st form
ed in open ground. The order to charge bay.
onets was given. which was executed in hand
some style, through an open field the enemy
being protected by the woody, under most
CALLING fire, the shot falling like hail and
whfstling like the north wind. The ranks
were sorely thinned, but as the men fell they
cheered the others on to the charge.
On reaching the road halt was ordered,
and the men commenced to kneel and fire !;
and for about half an hour the most incessant
Ere of musketry was kept up. Our men were
on the edge, and the enemy still protected
by the wood, with all the advantages given
by trees, we exposed, and picking our men
as they showed themselves.
The enemy by this time had f,rmed kind
OF half moon, and so far outnuInbering us
that they had fianked us, when we were Or
dered TO fall back, which was done Rallying
and forming twice between that and the river
-on the only tenable ground an average of
thirty rounds were fired. During this time,
our ammunition being exhausted, we grad
ualiy fell back TO where boat had put off
ammunition, when we again. rallied Deeds
OF heroism were performed in this fight,
which will eniiven many camp fire. :
The officers generally, disdaining TO take
advantage of the kneeiing posture, stood by
cheering their men and directing their fire
Of course we can speak OF the gaiIantry Of
the deld officers. Col. Pickett was slightly
wounded IN the hand, and had his horse shot
In three places. Msj. Coles horse was killed
instantly. do not like to be fnvidious by
naming special instances Of bravery, where
SO much gallantry was displayed; but I can
| not bot speak of Capt. Layton, Who, thou Oh
seyerelv wounded In tho loft broa at t;,,S,