, 1862-05-07
From Ten. MltchelIs Column,
oPERAfIoiqs I'M NORTHERN
ALABAMA.
THE CAMPAIGN CLOSED.

THE CAMPAIGN CLOSED.
from or own Reporter.1
BRIDEGROOM, Ala, april 80, 1872
Gen. Michel has finished Ills campaign, by
the compile victory which he gained over
the torces Of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, at this
p1ace, yesterday afternoon, and which You
have doubtless had by telegraph. I left the
force Of Gsn. Turchin eVacuati0g Decatur, and
came to Stevenson, knowing that important
movements were in contemplation in these
quarters. managed to sleep-or rather tried
to do so-in Gen. sin'a camp on Monday
night, butfhe firing on and driving in Of the
plckets Somewhat disturbed my rest
= found that Col Sill had on Sunday man
aged to cnss Widow Creek, and was march
Ing on Bridgeport On Monday. On the LATTER
day bis brigade was joined by the Sd Ohio,
Col. Beatty, and it was understood that Col.
L5le's brigade was In the rem, acting as are
serve. On Tuesday, the march begun, under
command Of Gen. Mitchell, who had come up:
and We pushed eastward along the line Of the
fa1lzo2d, dragging two pieces Of artillery BIZ
hand for distance Of twenty miles, at the
least.
1t Was about four o'clock in the afternoon
OF 5esterdny-Sunday-tha we came upon
the enemy's pickets, three miles from Bridge
port. They we're stationed on the side Of
small stream, the bridge ACROSS it having been
burned, and We soon found they we're sup
ported BY IN infantry aud two cavalry regi-
menus, the former Of which came up aad en-
gagged our advance, the 33d Ohio. This regi-
ment "as the only one which appeared to the
s'ght OF the rebels, and after half an hours
Work they fell back unpursued, as no means
were had By the rebels for crossing the stream.
Gen. Mitchell in the meantime made de-
tour to the left with his whole force, and after
marching mile came upon road which led
to Bridgeport He lu,Mediately started for
this point, and after an hours weary march
approached the rebel Notifications on the bank
OF the Tennessee. This march was one of in
credible difficulty and danger Gen. Mitchell
Was placing himself with five regiments OF In,
1antry, two companies Of cavalry and two
pieces Of artillery, between t1o divisions uf
an enemy much stronger combined than him
Sell. Had he been defeated he could not have
managed to retreat-it would have been an ut
ter lmpcssibi1ity.
We halted at six o'clock at the foot Of hill.
and the column deployed right and left and
formed into line Of battle where they stood
hidden from the enemy by the hill The arti1-
lery stood in the center, the SD and I'd Ohio
On the right, with the 10th Wisconsin and oIst
Ohio On the left. As soon as formed in line,
the whole column advanced, and reaching the
crest OF the hill, looked down upon the enc
my. Again they came to q halt Peerins
above the top Of the hill, saw the whole of
therebel force below the hill, in theirentrench.
ments. The setting sun glistened on thou
sands OF stacked guns, and two pieces of brass
cannon The men had evidently been drawn
up IN line Of battle at the first alarm, but
when it had ceased they stacked arms and
were now engaged in eating supper. Captain
LOOMS. when the force halted, stepped for
ward, 6aw the enemy, calculated the
distance, and stepped back undiscovered
In moment he had given his orders, the ca,-
non were charged with canister and moved to
position in which they we're brought to bear
on the main 2, body. This evidently consisted
OF 1our full or paris Of regiments Of infantry,
The tirst warning which the rebels had Of
thelr Danger, or of our near approach, was the
discharge of our artillery and the launching Of
the terrible death-dealing missiles in their
very midst. They sprang instantly to their
guns, hun.reds, however, flying in every d.
rection. Tie main body evidently intended
Standing, but second discharge added to the
panic, and the whole force fled as our columns
IN line marched to the top and began the de-
scent OF the bill on charge bayonets. Tue
1f1shteaed, 9 Without single general discharge,
pIoke for the river, and quickly erased Tue
bridge When We reached the works Of the
rebels they we're deserted, few dead and
wounded alone remaining. The rebels
ned With precipitancy, their speed IN
fbe'S,1S fbe e5;,s as If th6sy hy+ vent fol!osed by
aged to ire the bridge and ! good portion Of
island WIS sayed By Gen. Mitchell's personal
eAerttons. Having reached the other shore
the rebels abandoned their camp and stores
on that side, and by the whistling Of loco
motive, imagine Went off at raifroad speed,
Capt. LOOMS continued to throw shells after
Them Tor several rounds, when by order of
yen ,3 Mitchell he ran his two pieces down the
M, and placed them in position to receive |
pated would COME to the aid of their friends
now already and completely defeated, A seq
ond line OF battle was formed in the works of |
the rebels, and We awaited for the rest Of the !
rehels to attack us.
We had not long to wait. In short time |
VIC saw the infantryion double-quick, coming
through the woods along the line OF tho railE.'
road, and the cavalry right and left. They
came INTO the open fields and forward il |
splendid line of battle. The cavalry looked
magnificent Z! e andcam dashing along in SPLEEN
did style. They got within 800 yards Of US
before they discovered their mistake, and then
the artillery told them Of it. The canister !
was poured into them, and away they vent IN |
every imaginable direction aud !
cavalry mixed in one conglomerated mass OF I
frightened and flying humanity. The cavalry /
was sent in pursuit when they had got out Of t
artillery range, and the pris oners were being |
sent in every hour until laid down to trT to
sleep.
This morning I find we have killed and !
wounded u and taken $50 prisoners, and two
pieces Of artillery.
Gen. Mitchell has entire possession Of the
railroads from Bridgeport, Ten miles east of
Stevenson, west to Huntsville, thence south |
to Decatur, north to Athens, and in a month |
will have the railroad lines rtnning to !
Nashville via Columbia from Decatur, and via |
Murfeesboro from Stevenson.
cAHP NEAR DECATUR, Ala. April 2s, 1852.
Gen. Turchin found bis position at Tuscum-