Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-07-30
The Affair at Murfrecsboro, Tennessee.


 The federals confess to another sound thrashing. ! Their whole force were surrounded, surprised and i compelled to surrender, at Murfreesboro, within thirty miles of Nashville, Tennessee. They at- tempt to gloss it over by attrbuting to their men the greatest galiantry and try ing usual, to make [ it appear they outnumbered We donbt not our forces are exaggerated by them, and their own underrated. The following, from the LouisUWe Journal, admits enough to show that the affair was brilliant feat upon our part, and a severe blow to the enemy, h reading it, it nut be remembered that it is the account given by one of the most l iIliberal and rabid of Che Yankee journalist l Frcm the Louisville Journal, 18th We had an interview. last evening. with Lieut.. l C. II. Blakely, Adjutant of the 3d Miunesota one | of the regiments attarked at Murre ,boro', on Sunday morning by Forests cavalry. The force i at Marfree boro'. We learn from Lieut.. B, con- sisted eff six companies If tle Michigan 9th, two l companies of the 4jh Kentucky. Company A, Capt. | CAilson, and company B, Capt. Unthank), nlne I conn anies of the 3d Minnesota, and pieces of | Hewtt~ lst Ky. battery.
 The 9th and the cavalry were encampCd in the l edge of ihe town. and the third and battery 1 n4i'e and half outside, on the Nashville pike l The forces part of the 23d brigade, which iS | commanded by Col. Dufield late of the United l States forces of kentucky. Gen. T. T. Crttenden | assumed command of the post on Friday night. Tine attack was made on Sunday morning at 1 l o'clock, upon the cavalry and Michigan regiment, the, being completely surprised. So large ~as the attacking party that the infantry could not form in line o battle, and after fighting the best they could for several hours, the Michigan regimen: surren- dered. Our cavalry was of no assistance what ever; not a man of them mounted his horse, and | but one or two of them escaped.
 | In the meantime a portion of the enemy had burned the railroad depot the freight house. con taining commissary stores, and large warehouse, containing forage and quartermaster's stores. Hay ing compelled the surrender of the cavalry and in fantry ln town, they broke for the battery. Col. Lester had been advised of the attack, and placed the battery upon knoll quarter of a mile from his camp, with his own regiment to support 1t. | The rebels passed round to the north of the camp, and driving through it. burned the officers tents, and killed or wounded the guards. As they came out of the woods to make the attack, Col. Lester retained his fire until they were within forty paces of him, when the battery was opened upon them. They were completely dsorganz'd, and retired in the greatest confusion. Upon the next charge the infantry and battery both fired, and the enemy was thrown into confusion second time. Not relshinS such treatment, portion of the rebels ent round to the rear for the purpose of attacking us in the rear as well as in front. This however, of no avail, for Col Lester formed
 
 his peces both ways
 third attempt was made to cut the brave men to pieces but the result was the same as before - The rebels retired for awhile and Capt. Hewitt turned his pieces upon the town. shclling it in the most approved style. It is said the town was bad ly damaged and at last accounts was on fire in sever places.
 The fighting commenced again at noon, and con- tnued unabated until , o'clock when a flag of truce from the enemy appeared stating that the Michigan Eth had surrendered early in the day, and demanding an unconditional surrender by the re- mander ol the forces. It is said that threat was a.so made, that if Col. Lester did not surrender, Gen. Crittenden and Col. DuHield-who were ta ken out of their beds by the enemy at the outset would be immediately shot.
 Col. Lester rode into town under protection of the flag of truce, and ascertained that he had 10 enc ,unler force of about 4000 and that he could rely only on his own little handful of men to sas- tain himself. His ammunition too, had nearly given out, the battery hav only sixty five rounds of case and solid shot, and the infantry but few rounds of cartridges left. lie returned and after a consultation with Capt. Hewitt and his own off cers, 1t was determined to surrender which was done at about D. m.
 The only loss that we can learn among inc off | cers is the killing of Capt Rounds, of the 9th Michigan. Neither the battery nor the 3d Mime sota lost any officers. About l1 men of the 3d were killed. It is thought that at least b0 of tho rebels must have been killed l
 The strength of the rebels was about4 ,000 ca9I airy, two Georgia and one Texas regiments beis { of the number. f
 Lieut. Blakey informs us that the rbes bursd , the railroad bridge at Murfreesboro, nd tic brige near by.