Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-05

lad sncse..fa forsy af TO silhln sTsiEs inilsa Of
One night, Zen. Wise. with ( few picked com.
psnies, including the Ri tmond Bluss and the Mis-
sissippi Rangers of the % Regiment, under Capt
Imbodeu. attempted to feel and ambuscade the
enemy and drive in their outPosts killing three Of
them, the General himself lying down for seveTsl
hours in a pitiless shower. Notwithstanding, all
that could be ascertained of the enemy WAS that ne
was on the turnpike, probably from 5000 to bOOO
strong. On the afternoon of the 23i, whilst the
infantry and artillery Of the Legion were rehears,
ing their part on the contemplated points Of attack
the enemy suddenly appeared. driving IN our pick
cts. The next morning the summit Of the Big
Sewell was whitened with his tents. and skirmish-
ing commenced and continued til this evening.
On our side two gun detachmentsE Of the Artillery
and three companies Of the "a Regiment Of The Le>
gicn, of which Colonel Hepnings0n is Colonel, but
in consequence of his having charge Of the Infantry
and Artillery, under the immediate command OF
Lieutenant Colonel Frank AndefsOn-WhO diaon-
guished himself by the daring exploit Of capturing
Castillo, in Nicaragua. with 4S men, after Lockridge
and Titus had failed with S00-Captain Imboden's,
Captain Lewis and Captain Cranes University Com
psny were the companies engaged. with one six
FOUNDER and one hOWitzer. under Major Gibbs, OF
South Carolina, Captain McCOmas and Lieutenant
Pairo, Of Richmond The Casualties were bat
trihing on our side, though We have to regret the
death of LieutRnant Howell of Mississippi. (of Capt,
McDonnel's company,) and that Of one Of Capt im-
boden's gallant Rangers Captain Lewis was shot
through the breast but doing well Three priVates
were wounded in the above named companies, one
very severely. The only loss In the artillery was
Lieut. Pairo's horse shot under him. The enemy
was obviously only feeling for the tanks Of our
position, and evidently could make nothing of il,
and no wonder" As Prof. Snead remarked, @since
It has no TANKS at all n
The guns we're only advanced to avenEs the
casualties which befell our men, firing few rounds
and then retiring. For instance when the Ranger
fell q six FOUNDER suddenly advanced along ridge
where gun could never have been expected and
drove the enemy from 8 stable, laying out four Of
them. In sight, on another occasion, seven were
dropped before the hOwizer. A company Of the
enemys, accommodating and commanded by a
mounted officer, came on picket Of the University
company. The sentry shot the mounted officer down,
received the volley OIL the company and retired
hurt Major Lawson Of the ID Regiment having
seized rifle to surprise one Of the enemys scouts,
was himself surprised by another who sent 4 Ah0t
through his coat. The Major, however, avenged
himself on this interloper by shooting him dead.
On ths evening OF the 24th, General Lee arrived
with four regiments and two pieces of cannon
Late on the 18th General Wise received commu-
nication from the Secretary Of War requiring him
to report Immediately in Richmond. Having ordered
Col. Hennmgsen to accompany him. he left Camp
Defiance for that city the same evening with Ne
DuffieId and Stanard, Captains Parish and Sneed,
and Lieutenant Wise Of his stat.
The position at Camp Defiance when Gen. Wise
left was defended by about 500 men. with eleven
pieces of cannon, which in "a hours would be re-
InfoI ed to near 1000 men) commanded by General
Lee ia person, who has yindicated General WIse's
military judgment BY determining to try eoncla-
sOus with the enemy in the postioa seleeted BY the
latter. s-ss E---- s-re.s1s.
They are, doubtless, impregnable, even by force
of q, 600 mea. It can hardly however, be antiei
p&ted that the enemy, even though reinforced as
ascertained by 900 men, will venture to attack
Gen Lee with his present force after hesitasing to
attack Gen. Wise when he had only LOO soldiers.
If Gen. Lee should fan back, il will only be ac-
count Of demonstrations on his rear. Gen. FleJ d
was at Meadow Bluff with 1890.