Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-19
From the Memphis Appeal.
Letter from Kentucky.
MAYFIELD, GRAVES COUNTY. KY,
Sonfcmhar IA 1871

September IA. 1861.
Ii will be seen from he map that | address
you from point 25 miles from Paducah, and
80 miles from Columbus, the county site for
Graves county, and important in military
view a. the most effective from which to op-
crate against Paducab, or hold the Lincoln
army now occupying that place in check. 1t
will be remembered that the Shelby Light
Dragons Capt. Batleutine. lett Memphis on
the 22d day "i August. Our first movement
was TO Fort Polk, at the bead of Island Ten,
on the Tennessee side, where the company
was engaged for a time as picket guard for
the better security of the post, but on the ad-
vance of the main force OF the Second Divi-
sion TO Columbus, the necessity no longer eX-
listed, and we received marching orders for
Columbus. We reached Columbus by land
on the 10th inst, where we found everything
alive with military preparation. By special
order the army has been organized a. follows ::
The first brigade is composed OF the regi-
ments of Colonel 2 Smith, Colonel w. f.
Travis, Colonel 7. J. Freeman, Colonel Chas.
Carroll, and the lt:alion of Lieu tenant-COl.
Blythe, and will be commanded by Brigsdier
G neral B. F. Cheatham; the second brigade
is composed of the regiments Of Colonies
Bowen, Marks, Scott, aud Nicely, and will be
commanded by Colonel John p. McCown,
the third brigade is composed of the regi-
meuts of Colonies r. NJ Russell. Wright, and
Pickett, and will be commanded by Colonel
Russell; the fourth brigade is composed of
the reg ments of Colonies Stephens and Dou-
glas, and will be commanded by Colonel w.
III. Stephens. The field batteries of Captains
Hudson and Smith compose part of the first
brigade; the field batteries of Captains Bank
head and Stewart compose part of the Sc
cond brigade; the field battery of Captain
jackson composes part of the third brigade;
GaII hot nf Canfain Polk
part of the fourth brigade. The battery of
siege artillery OF Captain Hamilton is under
the immediate orders of Brigadier General
Pillow, who commands the whole column.
Major Miller's battalion of cavalry. and the
separate companies of cavalry commanded
by Captains Hudson, Cole aud Klein. are or
ganz into one battalion, and in addition
to lis Major, have elected a Lieutenant Col
ouel. The six companies of Tennessee cav
alry. commanded by Capt aims Logwood,
White, Nicely, Haywood, Hill, and Ballen-
tine, and two companies of Alabama cavalry,
commanded by Captain Bowie and Captain
Faulkner. are organic d into battalion by
the election of a Major and Lieutenant Col
onel. The election for field officers of the
Tennessee battalion having been suspended
by appeal, and the necessity OF the public
service demanding battalion organization.
this organization became a necessity, and the
wood and Hill as Lieutenant Colonel and
Major.
/ saw in camp numbers of our citiZ ms OF
Memphis who had buckled on the srmor of
the soldier, and exchanged peaceful for mill
tary pursuits. Indeed, one would almost
think, from the thTongs Of our business men
seen in Columbus, that the streets of Mem
phis were deserted.
Some excitement was felt in Columbus on
~ In Of 10 hnt, he
tween our gunboat and division of Gen.
Thompson's command, who were stationed on
the Missouri side, and the Lincoln gunbOats,
the result of which was the loss of leg by
one of Thompson's men by the explosion of a
she'll. We were unable to learn the damage
to the enemy.
On the evening of the 18th, the Shelby
Light Dragons received orders to prepare
three days rations and report themselves, in
readiness to march, at headquarters the fol
lowing morning at daylight. The mornings
dawn found the command prepared agreeably
to orders, as an escort to Col. Williams, G en-.
Folks abide camp, but for what point we
were OF course entirely Ignorant. A thou
sand improbable surmises were afioat, among
which | may mention that we were to pro-
coed to and drive the Lincolnites from Padu-
cab, a feat which l verify believe the COM
mand would have cheerfully undertaken,
instance of our gallant Captain. Later in
the day, however, it became generally known
through the ranks that this was our place of
destination, and also report that the place
was occupied by about four hundred aboii-
tionists. This nothing aampened the ardOr
of the men, however, although madame rumOr
made the enemy more than quadruple our
little band. When within about six miles of
our destination, the bugle sounded the charge,
and the remainder of the distance to within
about half q mile of Mayfield was made at
"2:40" time. Here oar little band were dis
persed into the woods, and the advance guard
headed by our gallant Captain and Col. Will
liams, proceeded to reconnOiter. Once again
rumor was found misinformed, and on The
bugle sounding the advance, the body march
ed forward, passing through the principal
streets OF the village. Our first care after
arrival was to place distractions in the way
of an advance of the Lincolnites from Padu
cab, aud to this end squad" was detached
burn the railroad bridge spanning Msyfeld
same distance from Paducah. About III p
| N. they returned and reported the task &C.
complished. and to-day a like disposition wa.
made OF the bridge on the public road. This
| is done as precautionary measure till We
can be reinforced, which is momentarily ex.
pected. 1t is BOW rumored here that our road
| to Columbus is occupied at the Brick
Church" by some four hundred Lincolnites
and courisrs are sent out to ascertain the
| facts, but ct the time of writing they
! have not returned. 1t 10 also rumored thai