The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01
Lester come and. CONFER with him and

y OICSts HaNi H. '-.l ....I
Col. Lester went out, and whilst be was
gone the officers and men supposed it might
be what it proved to be, demand for our
surrender The officers all expressed them
selves in favor Of not surrendering, or at
least large majority of them, under any
consideration. But Col. Lester returned
and after be made his statement, vote was
taken of the company commanders with the
result of four for and four against surren>
dering. The Colonel said the time was up
and we must hurry and make decision. l
ran down to my company that was com.
mandiug and took vote, and they voted
for fighting. Immediately went back,
when the second vote had just been taken
with the result of six for and three against
surrendering. Lieutenant Colonel Griggs,
be it said to his honor, said fight. I will
not particularize further, as the public will
know all in time. God knows would do
no man injustice knowingly. But as brave
and noble men as ever graced Gods green
earth must not be disho1ored, when they
were ready and willing to fight. 1t is true
there were four or five to one, but we were
soldiers and they were rag.mufins. Our
loss in all, was three our four killed, and
from twelve to twenty wounded. Captain
Eustrum Of company D and myself escaped
two days after the fight to this place in cit
liens clothes. Twelve or fifteen escaped.
have no reliable information yet of the
whereabouts of the boys. The Surgeons
are still in Murfreesboro. have stated
the facts as near as l could ascertain.
When we were surrendered, we had thirtys
Eve rounds of cartridges, and the battery
had forty. Yours respectfully,
ISAAC TAYLOR, I'd Lieut.. Co. Il.
THE MURFREESBORO DISGRACE.
From the Nashville Union, July 18th.
We had a conversation of some length
yesterday with DR.. Butler, Surgeon OF the
Third Minnesota regiment, in reference to
the recent skirmish at Murfreesboro. DR..
Butter seems to be gentleman of inteIii-
gence and cardOr, and bis statements may,
do doubt, be relied on as giving a correct
account OF that most unexpected disaster.
The first report we published, stated that
this regiment fought desperately from the
attack in the morning until late in the eve.
ming. This is great error. DIR. Butler
says the fight with the Minnesota regiment
lasted a minute or ta0o, and the sum total
of their killed was tao, and their wounded
foe, and one missing! Early in the morning,
Colonel Lester led his men out OF camp half.
a>mils at the edge of wood, and drew up
his men in line of battle. with the battery
at each end. The guerillas charged on them
about seven O'Clock, but being received
with sharp cannonade, wheeled off at right
angles and rode away, with the exception
of ten, who got within our lines, and we're
either dsmounted or killed. The rebels
dashed away into the camp, when they kill
ed Corporal Green, of company l, and Pri-
vate WOODBURY., OF company @, who was
sick in his tent. Only twenty soldiers had
been lett to guard the camp. Our wounded
we're Privates @. III. Turnely, company K;
W. III. Doll, company E; j. FogeIson, com.
papy f; Charles johnson, company B; A.
II. Lewis, company n; and - Green,
teamster--all slightly injured.
The rebels rode off discouraged at the
appearance of things, and twice afterwards
rode back and returned to the town, deciar-
ing that the regiment could not BE taken
The Michigan 9th had been taken by sur
prise, but IT'S of the men had rallied and
drove back the enemy. Seventy-five guec-
ilas dismounted and charged as infantry,
but were repalSed. The best fighting IVES
done by a company OF this regimant, which
was in The court house in this town, VITO
killed len of the enemy as they attacked
them. The rebels say that the artillery
shot over their heads, Some balls cutting of
tree tops, AID others passing over the towu!
Ooiy ODe man wa3 found killed by cannon
shot. his iag being shot off al the knee. lie
bled to bied 30 death; his hcySe also being
killed CDder him.
But one OF our artillery wss wounded
bis hand being Oiowa of by accident. The
9th Michigan LOST IA killed and 63 wounded.
The guerllias Departing almost OF taking
the Sd Minnesota, bad fred our commlssagy
stores, and We're making preparations to fall
back, when Colonel Forrest said he ,oou1d
SEE Il he could not scare Colonel Lester iato u
SnsreatJey. lie then sent q Gqg ct trace ard
Cot0net Lester rode into t0DW Gud heId q
conference Usth him. Hs came back and tod
his offers and men, nearly oil Of sssona peye
eager for O fight, thot there ue7e at least 3 800
and perhaps 5000 cavclry preparing to
attack them, and that they must surrender, as
1t aoould be ussgeSs 10 resist! The men vept
like children vith moyti6coticW aud rage;
but Colonel Lester, a5ho had been stupefed
euer since the eIarns had been gsven and
utterly parolyzed @ith fear, and could listen
TO no remoastsance, and so the regiment of
fns stotapart men, admirably drilled and
armed men, giue up to a parcel of caualry,
! numbering about 1000. armed agith shot guns
1t. Greenleaf had asked Colonel Lister
to ALLOW him to take company to protect
| the camp, but was refused. The C0oRel
also ordered the Surgeons aud ambulances
to the most zpossd part OF the fed, when
they were il imminent peril of their lives :,
and also refused TO let the wounded be car
rled of TO house, keeping them until two
O'Clock in the broilng sun. His excuse
was that 1t was impossible to tell what
| - ! n.