Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-05

hill. They put out their pickets and took position
en- ire ernSf OF the ridge. Fifty Of our men were
/ ordered oug. and placed under the command OF
| MAJOR =. Z IhornDIrne. BE, at the head of bis
mer charged up the bill and succeeded in routing
the whole Yankee force, which, according to their
own acknowledgment. numbered ak times his force.
Their Colonel Ode Villiers) Who escaaed from
Richmond, having broken his parole. fed preein.
itately down the HILL leaving his cap behind him.
Our gallant Major after driving them Eli;
position. held the hill and awaited an attack from
them. BUTT was soon ascertaIned that The crack.
ing Of the bushes was caused not by their advance
but By their fight They made time. which, as far
as can learn, is unprecedented. They b8rked the
trees, broke away all the laurel AID ivy and, for
Rught we know, some Of them fplIt themselves
against sapliues-for it was very dark. Such a
success deserves notice. When look at the great
odds against Us, and the importance Of the position
from which the VsndRls were driven without loss
on our side whilst they lost three killed, several
wounded and six or elgst prisoners it is no small
affair.
And too much credit cannot be awarded TO the
gallant Major in command. Few officers could Rave
acted with more GOODNESS and elaboration than did
Major @. E. Thorburn. The next day the whole
Yankee camp seemed disturbed. De VIliers had
no doubt told them that Floyd was there. Il was
not long before We heard that the Yankees had
crossed il large fierce and were advancing. We
went out of our breastWOrks to meet them. We
met at Laurel creek, where for more 4hsn five
hours, We were exchanging salutations. We lost
only two killed, and several wounded and darkness
compelled both sides TO withdraw. They suffered
greatly, as we were in the bushes. We Withdrew
ana retired 10 our breastwork, but they would not
attack US then, (PdRkee Ike 10 3 few moments
after we had gotten back to camp, Gen. Floyd re-
ceive1S dispatch stating that the Yankees were com
ing up Loup creek, which would bring them direct
ly incur rear. 1t was then dark. But our General
knew how TO out-genersl Rosecrans. He started
of with hislwhole command 70 get beyond the road
so that he (Rosseraps) could not get behind him
He did sO-saving first Of all his sick and then his
baggage. A few tents were lost.
That night during the retreat, Bsnum, With seven
thousand men, WAS within tEO miles of Us, whilst
that large force was approaching Va in front We
passed Gayette Court House in the quiet of the
night and in two hours after we passed through
the two Yankee columns met there, expecting 10
have the traitor Floyd las they term HIM bet Eeen
them. How sadly were they disappointed. [ IN
derstand Benum and old Ress are about to have,
fight about it. You see. that Rosecrans had &C
tualy telegrsphed that within fsw hours he gouId
have the traitor Floyd prisoner. Two mornings
afterwards, Col Cr0ghan, gallant officer, was of
q scouting expedition VITA some OF the Georgia
cavalry, when body of Yankees their advance
guard) fired into them, mortslly wOundlag him He
was then taken 10 house on the road side where
he insisted upon being left. He lived but short
time, but died "a be had always lived, brave and
patriotic man. A Yankee officer came to his bato
his head and nobly said that he wanted nons of
sympathy-that he willing to suffer aad die for
his beloved country.
As an officer, ne was respected and loved: Is
gentleman, he won the affections Of all who knew
him. Young man, follow his example and your
country viii mourn your less. Few officers there
are whose loss is universally felt. Peace to the
ashes of the gallant Croghan.
Soon sfter he was shot the Yankees advanced and
attacked our rear guard, viz: the Forty fifth, Fil-
tieth and Fifty-hrst Regiments. They attacked The
left wing, which was commanded By Colonel Whsr-
ton. lie was IN the hottest Of the fire at all tines
keeping his men cool by his very presence He
kept the Yankees back until the baggage and sick
men were all safely out Of their reach. and We the n
fell back as we were Outnumbered. We lost only
two killed here and several wounded. They had
no less than 600 men, for It hiss been proven that
ROsecrans re called all those that had been sent to-
wards Kentucky.
We now expect to 90 into winter quarters, prob
ably at PetertoWn, Monroe county. The roads are
almost impossible, and ! hardly think anything
csn be accomplished either by Yankees or u until
neI. spring.