, 1862-07-19

l am enabled to give in tull, having obtained
it from reliable gentlemen who have arrived |
here, escaping from the place.
q. s. FORCES AT s1uRfREEsBoRo.
Brig. Gen. T. 7. Crittenden. commanding post.
SD BR1GADE-ARxE OF THE OHIO.
Col: Dufield. 11th Michigan, commanding.
9th Michigan, tnfautry-six companies.
80 Minnekota, tnfAnrry-nlne compan1es-Col. |
4th Kentucky cavalry, CO. 4, 4 Gapt. G Ghtlso1.
1et Kentucky artillery, Capt. He8itt-four guns. |
The whole force numbered about l ZOO men |
and four guns, the cavalry not being engaged, |
and 1t is reported showing the white feather,
as is usual with our cavalry when attacked.
TIE REBEL FORCE FIVE THOUSAND.
The rebel force consisted Of the following |
regiments, but how commanded an unable |
to state. Those bringing the information I |
have gathered did not remain to have an inter |
view with the rebel commandant:
REBEL FORCE At MURFREEsBoRo.
e tst Georgta :. cavalry. u.x.
ath ss +" '''''SN'
IL Kentucky {rehe1) cavalry
I'd Texan Rangers, Col. Forrest.
This force is variously estimated at from
5000 to 5000. lily Informant thinks that 1t
will reach 5000. They had rendezyoused at
Sparta, in White county, and approached
Mnrfreesboro from the east It is not to be
understood that they al fought IS cavalry.
On the contrary, they marched upon the place
as infantry, not more than 300 acting as cav
airy.
TIE ATTACK.
Was made at daylight Oh Sundsy morning,
and was complete surprise. The rebels
knew the position Of our troops and the State
r$ fFnSF f7E+r Tt,ur7 =
whelming force. diving the pickets before
them and entering the to m almost simults-
neously. The plckets did not fire until they
bad fallen back some distance, thus not rous-
ing the 9Th Michigan until the enemy was al
most upon them. The caya1rg-compapy a,
tefEd in every direction, the main force falling
into the hands Of the rebels Nearer the cen
tre Of the town the rest Of the cavalry
company .., C. Capt; gnthankZwas 55 at.
and commissary buildings, about the heart Of
the town, the 9th Michigan was attempting to
| get into position, but failed to form q line,
| and began to fall back on the Nashville pike,
lighting as it retreated. My informant states
that The citizens early ,ppe ared in the streets,
dressed and armed as II ready for the fray,
| and perfectly aware that the attack wa6 to be
made. The running fight was Kept up By the
9th under every disadvantage for some time,
the regiment being enabled at one time to
] AAah0 . 1LQu4f QAE dA0 fE4HuElu4AE 1VIEE u
the enemy at last compelled them to surren-
DER: Their cartridge boxes were soon emp
| tied, and having no means for further supply
they were compelled to surrender.
| THE CAPTURE OF DCFF1ELD AND CR1TTENDEN.
/ Col. Dufie1d and Gen. Criitenden, weary
with the labo1s Of the past day, and not sus-
pectipg IN attack, reRosed in confidence and
faces the depot in the to~n. They were cap
tured while dressing. The rebels went to
their Doms as directly as if they had known
their positions for days, and little doubt is en-
!, rta1ned that the citizens were the guides.
Il was Impossible to offer resistance. The
tff1cers immediately saw the situation Of
sflairs, and surrendered Col. Dufield is re-
ported nortal1y wounded, but If be was mr.
iLformant cannot imaggine how, unless By
some wanton act Of cruelty on the part of the
lievc was done, for the rebel officers
and WaIner-1ook palus to show their distin-
guiehed consideration for the men. and
ovtrdid the thing by their politeness. At ths
last accounts Crl1ttnden and Du1fie1d were
doing well, aud we're on their way to Sparta
Critrtnden is from Indiana, and was colonel
Of the 9Th Indiana He was nominated d
b1igadier general few months since. he
vas nephew, and not q Eou, Of John J.
Crittenden. Of Duf1ield, Of Michigan, You
are perhaps better acquainted than am-
TIE DESTRUCTION OF THE DEPOT.
The enemy vas unwisc enough to destroy
depot of the Nashville and Chattanooga rail
road company. It was large and spacious
building, and was used in part as g stoTehouse
for our c.mmissary and quartermaster's
stores. Thus, a1l these, amounting to several
thousand dollars in value. were destroyed,
although the town had virtually surrendered
In their haste they also burned the tents of the
officers and men.
| COL. LESTER PREPARES FOR DEFENSE. !;
The Minnesotians and the Kentucky battery
now encamped on the edge of the town, their
camps On the west eide OF the Nashville pike
forming beautiful suburbs for the norshezn
part OF the town. The country at this point
broken only BY the little branch of Stones
Greek, which crosses the pike almost within
| the limits Of the town. The position Of the
camp afforded no position for the battery, and
on being applised of. the attack, Col Lester
ordered his regiment and the battery to fall
yards TO high knoll or hill east OF the road:
This hill was on the bank Of the creek and
Vas partially protected BY wood The ar:
tillery hastily went into battery On the hill aud
the Sd Minuteo formed In two hattaflon6,
aaDking the battery and supporting it.. Col
Lester found his position an exceedingly strong
one, should the rebels be lnconside1ate enough
, to attack him By the Nashville road, but be
! remarked with considerable anxiety that the
position Tas easily aanked, the creek on his
left bling too shallow to. afford him aid, and
: the country to the right bling level and easily
aud quickly occupied. His meagre accounts
; led lin to believe the force Of the enemy to
be overwhelming, and though without 9
! | into The fight with defeat staring them in the
! | face. 1t must be remembered that the road Il
:; Nashville at this time Was open and clear and
), that he could hare fallen back on that poiu1
without fighting, thus saving the regiment ani
q | the battery. But Lester preterred fighting
| and; ie AM fr frr 1r1a -hFhVA HnfarSa n
his hastily chosen position.
THE FIRST CHARGE OF TIE REBELS.
No sooner had the rebels disposed OF tn
9th Michigan than they started for the camI
7 Of the Sd Minnesots- They rushed ACROSS tn,
I. creek aud into the camp, firing 1t IN eevera
u places, and entirely destroying it The caml
9 Eas In the woods, and ths position OF Col
. Lester hidden at the time from them The,
: soon found his position. however, and Eer'
hastily formed and marched to the Nashville
8 road, and thence down 1t. The Iue- WI
), formed to the right Of the road and betwee1
), It and The creek. The Georgia n had th'
d first. They emerged from the woods on tn
right of the road, to find Col Lester postet
: az have described, aud themselves in lasg
. open tract IN his front, and completely uucov
d cover Of the woods until the 1st Georgia coule
8 come up and form on their right. The Texan
, were marching down the turnpike road, nan.
Of them now being mounted Thus being re
q | inforced, the Georgians advanced st the com
d maud Of " Chargel'' and started across th
n lid in gallant style, trampling the yelos
s. wheat and RE beneath their feet The appear
s a1ce Of the: force is described as having bee,
n grand at this time, and many Of the mlaneso
ltaps yelled as much in appreciation as bat
o and excitement. But Leasitt.s emooth bore
d were silent, and Lester kept back the fire q
y bis men !. On came rebels, 1eaptng the fence
d and the grain With equal rapldit lyon the
d, came until they were within forty yards
II the very foot Of the hill. when the batter
= opened with canister and grape. .The mo
J. | ment OF painful suspense WHICH Always 1o1