The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01
THE SURRENDER OF THE
MINNESOTA THIRD.
HE REGIMENT INUNDATED.
on LIEUT.. TAYLOR
OF MANKATO.
WHAT SURGEON BUTLER SAYS OF 1T
STATEMENT IN PALLIATION.
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. TAYLOR.

LETTER FROM LIEUT.. TAYLOR.
NASHVILLE, TENN. July Is, 1862.
Toth Editors Of the Pioneer and Democrat.
1t will be of some interest to your rea.
ders to know some of the particulars of the
fight and surrender of the Minnesota Third
Regiment on the 18th inst. The force as
near as l can ascertain, at Murfreesboro,
was nine companies of the Third, $50 men,
with two sections of Hewitt's Kentucky
Battery, encamped with us about two miles
from town. On the opposite side, near the
town, was four companies of the Michigan
9th, numbering $50 men, with small force
Of Pennsylvania and Kentucky cavalry,
numbering some one hundred.
On the morning of the 18th the camp Of
the 9th and cavalry were completely SUR
prised by Gen. Forests brigade of cavalry.
consisting of one regiment of Texan Rang
ers, one of Alabama, and one of Georgia
Cavalry as since learned numbering two
thousand. The charge on their camp was
made little before daylight. We heerd
the firing and Immediately formed in line of
battle, and started, as we all supposed, to
the relief of the 9th.
The camp guard. numbering thirty men,
was left behind under Corporal Green, of
Company l, the Sergeant of the guard fall
ling in with the regiment. We marched
one-half mile, when we saw some of the
rebels riding backwards and forwards view.
ing Our regiment, about one hundred rods
from Us. One company was thrown out as
skirmishers and advanced to where we saw
them. The regiment was halted in line of
battle. We stood still here about three.
fourths o! an hour, the men and company
officers all being anxious to move on, at
least as lar as conyersed with the officers,
and ] talked with four or five.
At the end of the time above stated, we
heard firing near our camp, and knew that
they were attacking our guard. Two
rounds were fred by the guard, when the
enemy, two hundred strong, fell back.
Again, in about ten minutes, they attacked
our little squad. and again did they give
them two or three rounds and again the
enemy fell back. All of the time the
guards were confidently expecting help from
our regiment. In about FIVE Minis
utes they made another charge killing
Corporal Green, of company 1, when the
guards were lett without any one to COM
mand, and broke into disorder, still fighting
the enemy behind trees, stumps, fences, etc.
The killed OF thu enemy in this skirmish
was twelve, with a loss of three of our own
killed, and some wounded. How many |
cannot state, as some CT the wounded were
taken prisoners. No assistance was sent
tbelg and Cur officers tents were pillaged
and burned. Why this was permitted, l, oi
course. cannot tell. Probably the command
i1g officer may. After the fight at the camp
had been going on ten minutes, the rebels
made & charge with one company on our
81 lralisl,rs, when they iel bF ck to the bat,
.alion. They fell back so hurriedly, as they
were ordered, the rebels thought they could
at'ack tie battalion, which they did, anu
Only t@o escaped without being killed or
w0undec. the regiment seeing the lale OF
s5ri- arot bcr- f,nn'i not no ,,,.ao n I1,,ro
march in the direction OF CUR regiment, as
their officers told me afterwards. This was
the oa!y charge that was made and could
have baen as easily repealed BY one company
as by the whole regiment.
The boys laughed at the fur, ard every
man wanted to go forward and take ard
hold the town and support the 9th The
nouF had come that had been long wished
for by ALTO meet the common foe of our
Government on the Geld of battle. Men
would draw up their rifles with as much
precision and GOODNESS as if they had been
in a hundred battles. ALI wanted, yea, al
most prayed Tor the opportunity Of trying
their guns. ALI were plt ased TO see the
vile traitors tumbling from thair horses tc
rise no more.
Why we did notadvance, let the command
ing officer explain, cannot. We were helc
10 our position. AT ten O'Clock the GIT
surrendered, after having sent to US to form
q junction with them. Mr.. Cornell, one O
our suffers acted as courier, and behaved
well
Alttr the 9sh had surrendered, Genera
Forest demanded OF Gen. Duitield en- un
conditional Surrender of the 3D. Genera
Dut1ieId had formerly commanded the %
Brigade, and had been away en- duty ir
Kentucky, and reiuraed the day before Tx
fight, but bad not assumed formal command
He tod Fogsst that be cou,d not suErender
the 81. bat would send his Adjutant with q
flag Of truce for the purpose of having Col.