Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-24
rnn BATTLE OF mARrsv1LLE.
InferesfiME ParficnIars.
From the Rebel Banner, Dec. H.

From the Rebel Banner, Dec. Ill
The more that we learn of the battle Of Sunday last,
the greateris our astonishment at the wonderful success
that attended this daring exploit Iii another evidence
of the superior sagacity and military skill Of General
Morgan, who projected the expedition aud carried it to
q suc~cessfulEssue. His plans were well matured' and
though there were delays Of an unavoidable character
every detail was promptly and faithfully executed
There has been, we dare say. no feat Of arms 20 brill
liant or % completely triumphant in the Western De
partment as this indeei, we doubt II the annals OF
the war can present another instance Of equal daring.
The attack was made just after sunrise, but instead Of
surprising the Yankees, they were found strongly posted
Our line was formed under the fire of the enemy, but it
was done with great precision and perfect steadiness.
After our boys had commenced the forward movement
there was no delay or hesitancy. The AboHtiOnists were
driven from their position, then through their camps,
their battery of fine Parrot guns captured, and finally
hemmed in on the river bank. where they surrendered.
The fight lasted for one hour and twenty minutes, but in
that brief period the firing was rapid and the contest
severe. Many gallant spirits fell on our side, but we
heaped the field with thrice the number OF the Yankee
slain.
Coob's battery sustained an important pOrt in the
fight, and lost severely. Lieut. Gracey was. az be is
on similar occasions, conspicuous for his gall lntry and
good eondue-. It was the ninth engagement in which
he has participated, and out of all he has escaped IN
harmed, save at Shiloh. David Watts, a private Of
this battery, who was killed, was an Intelligent and
promising young man, the son Of the weL-kntwn mer-
chant Of Padueah.
The town Of HartsviIe and some four hundred Of the
enemy were captured by Col Benefits command
To John Blazer, Of company G, 9th Kentucky regi-
ment belongs the honor of capturing the battery flag Of
the enemy. It is q beautiful piece of silk bunting, with
the letter 3 upon it.
The 9th regiment also has the flag Of the 1O4th Hi
pos regiment.
The "a regiment brought off the cOlors Of the lO6th
Ohio, which before reaching town were, by order Of
Major James w. Hewitt, reversed, the Union down
8 signal of distress.
But the most remarkable fact connected with the ex-
peditiOn was the endurance of the infantry troops. They
marched on a bitter night over ff y miles, fought a
splendid battle, captured twice their number, crossed
the Cumberland river twice, and yet there was no com
plants heard and no struggling witnessed.
The forces engaged in the affair on our side were the
9th and 2d Kentucky infantry, commanded by Colonel
Thomas II. Hunt, numbering six hundred and eighty
men, and the cavalry regiments Of Chenault, Cluke,
Bennett and Huffman, with CObbs Kentucky battery.
All told, our force was about thirteen hundred. The en-
envy was the thirty=nin.h brigade, of Dumonts division,
composed Of three regiments, one battalion, q squadron
Of cavalry and section Of artillery. 1t was commanded
by Col. Abraham B. Moore, Of Peru. Lasalle county, Il
linOis, whose commission, we are authorised to say, is
now in possession Of Corporal Whelan, company K, I'd
Kentucky.