The New York herald., 1862-04-06
THE CAPTURE OF UNl0N CITY.
mississippi River Correspondence.

Our Mississippi River Correspondence.
HICKMAN, KY, April /, 1862.
The Adrance Of Colond Buford's Consmdmt-A Forced
Mcgch-rhey Airire Near Cnioe Cdy-zaack the Rebels
Nert MoyRing-A Complete Sa'Trise-AH the Camp
Equpagc Ccp,wed-7ae Eflcampnsen Destroyed--As
Aocident-7he Prisoners-CeloneI Butord, DC, dc.
Another brilliant little victory crowns arms, and
another dsgraceful rou IL IS Our privilege TO record
against the enemy
The outlines Of tho following details Of the
cessful dash upon the obes Mt Union City bya small
body Of our troops commanded by Colonel " b. Bufo-d,
YOU will hay received this appear.
Colonel Burord, commanding the land forces between
Columbus and the head Of Island No. 10, through the
agency and spies learned of the presence
Union City Of force Of two thousand rebels. Accord
ngly on Sunday morning. with his own regiment auda
part Of others, then encamped at Philips andng he
hastily embarked board the steamers Geo W. Graham
and McGill and arrived at Hickman about noon where
the troops dsembaTked. Colonel Buord was here
reinforced when the line c march was taken up 20 Union
city sixteen miles distant The roads being in very
bad condition force unable TO roach Union City
that night but encauped four miles this side of the
town. The march was resumed AZ daybreak yesterday
morning. and when within half mile Of Union City dis
covered the OF the enemy, the depot Of
he Mobi and Ohio Railroad.
The artillery was Immediately ordered 10 the 'front.'
with sructions to open their guns upon the rebels at
once, which was done with on astonishing degree OF
pgomptness and skill, the first shot falling right In the
of the encampment while the rebels were busy
preparing breakfast The surprised and frightened
rebels did not stop 10 investigate intrusion at this
Questionable hour in tho morning, but commenced M
immediate and ndiscrimnate flight pemell through the
woods ia every direction, without firing "A shot, and
leaving behind them ther hall cooked breakfast ogether
with all their camp oluilage, personal elects, guns
sabres, pistols &c in fact, they did not succeed IN
carrying otl any thing II complete rout and
panic tho Foc Henry affair, If not moro so. As the
lying rebo's were endoavoring to escape for "dear
U.e the artillery y,sent shots aior them 10 help them
along on then Journey. In less than fifteen minutes
from tho lime the first shot was hrcd and by the time
troops reached their encompment, not rebel except
lew who were taken prisonors, was anywhere to bo
seen. Some twenty prisoners were taken, and three
& carry away. How many Others were killed or wound
is not known but il is reasonable to suppose thore
were quite number wounded, az our shots foil directly
We captured over nfty head of horses and mules
tweuty wsgona--one closely packed with camp equip
number OF shot guns and hint lock rifles.
colonel Buford, not wiring 10 risk delay in the vi
entity lest there might be larger force close at hand
fired the cnCampment, destroying all their equipments
save what was brought away and Immediately marched
his men back to Hckinan where they arrived about two
O'Clock H. NJ laden with trophies aud flushed with VIC
The whole aair was conducted by the artillery as the
enemy's dgbt too precpitate 10 allow any partc
patton on the part Of the infantry or cavalry.
The routed force consisted Of Colonel Pitcher Twenty
nrs regiment Of Teuncssc Volunteers, 700 men; Lieu
tenant colonel Candy, and 500 cavalry, commanded by
II Clay King.
very moarufu acciden, occurred in burning UP the
camp. Some guns which were loaded and let in the
tents exploded wounding one and killing another Of
The citizens Of the town were greatly alarmed Some
He'd with the rctreatng rebels and others concealed
themselves fearing punishment at our hands. The
shreks OF arighod wolnon could be heard all the
town, while others ran through the streets like MAD.
The prisoners taken rather woiu specimens OF
humanity being wrochedy clad yet from the texture OF
Of the clothing found 10 the camp evident that
mixed with many OF the better class OF rebels Qite
number OF the hnost quality OF blankets we're found in
Of tho tents Dut they were unquesionaby private
property.
III was reported that this force armol with MIME
rides, which. however, have reason to doubt cso
the rcblcs remarkably expert In secT ng them ALL
a. none wore found ia the encanpment Among othor
things captured two rebel flags. one was a very
handsome piece OF workmanship, and had inscribed
tho bar tho motto OF 'Victory deathrather
good Joke on the conthieverates.
upon the return OF victorious little army, the gun.
boat Louisville, Captain Dove-now lying at Hickman
fred salute in honor OF the brilliant little victory
troops had achieved after which Colonel Buord
barked his the transports, and returned to his
previous camping grounds at Philips landing.
Colonel Buford, Notwithstanding the pretty general
feeling OF distrus expressed against him by certain
class Of jealous aspirans, has proved himself in this
cent affair In previous actions 10 be expert and
thorough military man, and eminenty capable of
ductng the operations OF larger bodies of noh. lie Is
present commanding brigade, within supporting dis
lance Of the gunboat fleet Island No 10. Affairs
at Island No 10 remain unchanged since my last letter
Of yesterday.
Madrid has forced and open for steamers TO
General polks command, below Island No. 10.
have learned, however, that the rebels have since
constructed batteries to prevent the crossing of any
troops TO the Kentucky shore. There are some small
movements foot among tho gunboats but they Of
. character that IL would be improper 10 divage. We
must await results in such There is news Of
. "'ence from General Pope's command.