Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-25
NO. 40

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the reireating columns from Yorktown would
aaach our division here, with the hope OF
beating US Oh before the arrival OF our rein
forcements. 73Ti = -
Az o'clock, I was sent out by Generals
franklin and Newton 10 make a reconnois.
sanoe OF the ground around us Ia an ongin.
eerlng view, so that we might establish the
point OF their attack. took company with
me. and after going about two aud a-half
miles, observed a large body ofrehels ahead
OF US IA the woods awaiting our arrival
ordered my men TO deploy toto the woods as
tklrmlsher5, aud then received q voley of
musketry from them, which / returned. aud
then hnding they were surrounding me.
tel back gradually until l reached the re.
serve always keeping one platoon ia the
WOODS as skirmisbers TO prevent an attack.
Reoeiving orders then to jein the brigade as
rapidly as possible, as the enemy was pre-
pairing 70 attack ID Ia numbers took nv
position with Gen. Newton, who had drawn
up ihe brigade for action about half a mile
behind where IwaaHOr just outside the woods.
Inc action oommehced at 9 O'Clock, AM,
the enemy being posted IN thick woods. and
We ehdeaVoring by manguvers to draw them
out, and was maintained with great spirit
| and incesssnt firing until 4 O'clock PM
when we succeeded 10 driving them from
their position and In occupying the ground
lately occupied by rebel hordes. The artil.
lery worked beautiful, doing great execution.
MY own escape ia wonderful, and, indeed,
almost miraculous, aud forgot not 10 thank
God Ter his watohiulness over me- II was
| about l o'clock, Z NJ, when received An or.
der from Geo. Newton to 90 forward into the
woods to ascertain whether the rebels were
falling back, and whether certain regiment
OF ours held its position there. l went for
ward at once as fast as my Well-triod horse
could carry me, and upon entering the woods
moved cautiously until reached a barricade.
wnsn nearing voices beside me plunged in
70 the woods, thinking, Of coarse, it was one
OF our egiments-Thirty-hrs New York
and was surprised to iind that / had gone
right into perfect nest Of the Hampton Le.
gion, rom South Carolina, who were living
behina trees, standing behind bushes, and
kueellng behind stumps like bees | at once
| perceived my mistake, and knew that nothing
but the most cons1mmate GOODNESS would save
me- / therefore saluted them, and they TAX
| ing me for rebel officer, asked me how far
| Gen. Hampton was then. / answered with
out hesitation, and with rather more assur.
| ance than i Thought possessed, ~ left him
about ten rods below here" and added, 'Now
boys, the General expects you to do your
duty to day." then turned my horse slow
ly to lull. l.suspicion, and was oongratulating
myself on the probable success of my r,iss,
when seeing the U. s. on my cap, they yelled
| out that's d--n Yankee son of a b--b.
give him hill" On hearing this, dashed
the spurs into my horse, threw my head over
! bis neck, and made for the road A perfect
| voliey OF MIME balls PASSED over and around
me-hlled my horse, who rolled over oarrv.
| lug me with him, aud left me down. Knoy.
ing that nothing but apparently time would
save me- laid with my head back in a ditch.
as | fell, and appeared dead for some ten
minutes did not move muscle or fea-
ture, although the scoundrels were swarm
ing around me, and threaening to "end me.U
l remained in this way until they came M
to me, took away my pistol, and commenced
general plundering, and as they fingered
away could not suppress a smile-and then
rising said, Well, men, yield as a pris.
oner OF war" They said, you've been
shamming, you d--n Yankee scoundrel, have
you?" Certainly, said /, "everytbing h
fair In war" They then commenced 10 abuse
me as a id Yankee this, and id Yam
kee that, when turned upon them aud said
al have yielded as a prisoner Of war de-
mand to be used as such. We in the North,
know how to treat dogs better than you do
men; now lead me to your commanding
officer" They gave me another vol,ey Of
abuse, at which l merely smiled, AID then a
shell, fred by our artillery, 10 the place
where / was seen to enter, burst Ike the
wind amongst us-stinning my nose and scat
terng the rebels like chalf They seized their
muskete, pointed two Of them at me, aud
told me TO "c5me along, you id Yankeel"
/ still talked with them TO gain time, when
another shell bursting amongst us, they NOV
ed on further, calling 10 me to ''como on,u
while said, ego ahead lead the way, quick.u
then saw q favorable moment, aud prefer.
ring freedom to a Southern prison, made
one bound into the woods and went back "a
fast as one leg would carry me. felt very
much exhausted, and was carried 10 the rear
by some men aud placed under a tree, when,
with whlsly and care, gOon felt stronger, oil.
though my leg was e.ih. They wiahsd me %
20 10 On ambulance 10 hospital, but politely
declined, and calling for an extra horse, /
was lifted on bis back, and returned 10 ths
fsld end reported 20 Gen. Newton f0r duty.
He kindly told me that 4 had distinguished
myself enough this day, and requested mo
10 keep quiet.
DO you not think that lhis was a miracu.
lOus escape? Ny caplOrs Champion LegiOn)
were The most murderous looking body Of
villains 1 ever baheld, aud az for honor and
mercy they know not lhe fret principles OF
. such excellent virluea. They are lost to nll
sense of honor, and should be used as dOgs
Our men we're brought iu ygPdy--many
hne officers klled-and several men killed
with Mimic balls aud their throats cut from
ear 10 ear Sayages themselves would blush
at such barbaritos. Gen. Newton conducted
the engagement Gen. Franklin arriving at
l2.M NJ on the held. II was a beautifully
planued battle, and tbsy expected 10 drive
us into The river. We bad twenty Thousand
men against us, composed Of Tennessseans
Texan Yolunt0ers, Louisiana Tigers, Virgin.
lana, and Alabamlans beside the Hampton
Legion Ourmen fought like tigers, although
they suffered severely. We are expecting y
meet them again to-day, aud will give them
another chance ~ us, We are surrounded
oly them here, bat We are bound 70 b 10
/ iiichmOud soon.