Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-09
THE BATTLE AT COLUMBUS
Interesting Letter from the Field
Special Correspondence of she Memphis Appeal
COLUMBUS. KY. Nov. :. II O'clock P. NJ.

Special Correspondence Of the Memphis Appeal
COLUMBUS, KY, Now, II o'clockP. NJ.
EDrCoRs APPEAL: I have inst returned from
the battle field, and am too much fatigued
to give You anything ike a detailed ae-
count Of the great and glorious victory
we have achieved here to-day. Suffice it TO say.
the defeat Of the enemy Was overwhelming aud
disastrous, leaving the field strewn with their
dead and wounded, to say nothing o! the over
coats, knapsacks, guns, etc, they threw aside
the better TO facilitate their iuglorious flight.
We pursued them about seven miles Is
their boats, where We captured large guam
titles Of ammunition, etc. The gallant 18th
regiment charged up to within fifty yards
Of the boats on which they embarked, IN
der the most terrific caunonade from their gun
boats, which fortunately overshot orr men, do
ING them no damage whatever, with the ezeep-
ton Of Col. Smith having his horse shot from un-
der him.
The euemy's forces amounted 10 full 1000
and was commanded by General Ne
Clemand in person. assisted by General
Bowling who is amongst the prisoners. General
Bowling was captured by Rev. James Rogers,
of Somerville. who at the same time captured a
stand of color Col. Dougherty is also a pris-
oner. and Col. Beaufort. who came down with
a flag of truce the other day from Cairo,
Is amongst the slain. and several others
Of their held officers are either killed or cap
tured.
Our forces actively engaged at first consisted
Of tue I3th Tennessee volunteers, commanded
by Col. John V. Wright; the 22d, commanded
by Col Thomas j. Freeman the % by Col.
/ J. Knox Walker, the 2lst by Col. Picket.
and Col Tsppan's 18th Arkansas regiment.
These four regiments, making in all about 2JsJ
/ effective men, bore mp most g~allsntly against
| three to one for more than two hours. Gen.
! Pillow had chief command, and deserves all praise
Tor doing some of the most desperate fighting eve.
done on this continent. General Cheatham, how
ever, when cur men had been beaten back with
the loss Of one battery, Capt Watson's,) carried
over Col. R~ussel's 9th Tennessee regiment,
! Col. Marks lIth Louisiana, and Col Smiths
| I54th Tennessee, retook the battery, and
carried death and destruction among them
everywhere. The 4th commanded by Lieut.
/ Col o. P. Ssrahl, was also ordered over, bu.
was held in reserve and did not actively en-
gage in the fight. This was owing TO a stimuli
4 ~tsneous attack made on the batteries by the
I gunboats, as well a. the apprehension that a
land force was moving on rs from the Kentucky
| side. A portion Of tits regiment, however, was
/ detailed 10 bring in the wounded OF the Lin
| ~colnites, who were left on the field.
treat number were thus taken up
/ and cared for, and the men are just
now returning t0ther encampmenL The scene
is 3 sad spectacle enough by moonlight, and
how much worse 1t viii be ia daylight I cannot
tell
Our loss is considerable, the heaviest being
sustained by the four regiments first engaged.
| Capt. J. Welby Armstrong, Of the ID regiment
YVES killed, and Capt Safarrans severely wound
81. No other commissioned officers. except
Lieut. Walker, either killed or wounded
Lieut.. Walker IL not considered dangerous.
Capt. Taylor, ofPicketts regiment, and Capt.
Z VIM. Jackson, Of Jackson's battery, Gre both
dangerously wounded.
Capt Burton's company, l3th regiment, was
literally cut to pieces, Lieut. Ray being killed.
We have lost a few other commissioned officers,
but I am unable at this time to learn theiE
nasles,
Our total loss in killed, wounded and missing,
viii amount to one hundred and fifty, while that
Of the enemy in killed. wounded and prisoners
must be from Eve to eight hundred ct least. We
also captured several wagons, two stand o.
colors, and some pieces OF artillery. The battle
lasted nearly all day, and was terrific through.
ont. Yours. in haste. JUEENIS.