The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
The Fight at Murfreesboro.
Surrender of the Ninth Michigan and
Third Minnesota Regiments. -..

From the Louisville Journal, July Is. .>
We had an interview last evening with
Lieutenant @. 81. Blakeiy, ;Adjutant of the
Third Minnesota, one Of the regiments at
tackled at Murfreesboro on Sunday morning
by Forests cavalry. The force at Muir
freesboro, as we learn from Lieutenant B..
consisted of six companies of the Michigan
Ninth, two companies of the, Fourth Ken
lucky, nine companies of the Minnesota
Third and four pieces of Hewitt's First
Kentucky battery. The Ninth and the
cavalry were encamped on the edge of the
town, and the Third and the battery mile
and half outside on the Nashville pike.
The forces are part of the Twenty-third
brigade, which is commanded by Colonel
Dufield, lately of the United States forces
of Kentucky. General Il. T.. Crittenden
assumed command of the post on Friday
night.
The attack was made on Sunday morning
at four O'Clock upon the cavalry and Mich.
igan regiment, they being completely sur
prised. So large was the attacking party
that the infantry could not form in line Of
battle, aud after fighting as best.t ey could
for several hours, the Michigan regiment
surrendered. Our cavalry was of no assist.
ance whatever; nota man mounted bis horse
and but one or two escaped. f+
10 the mean time portion of the enemy
had burned the railroad depot, freight
house, containing commissary stores, and a
large warehouse containing forage and
Quarternaster's stores Having compel
led the surrender of the cavalry and infans
try in town, they broke for the battery.
Col.Lester had been advised of the attack
and placed the battery upon knoll quar-.
ter of a mile from his camp, with bis own
regiment to support it. The rebels passed
around to the north of the camp, and, driv-
ing through it, burned the officers tents
and killed or wounded the guards. AS
they came out of the woods to make the at
tack, Col. Lester retained bis fire until they
were within forty PAGES of him, when the
battery was opened upon them. They were
completely disorganlzed, and retired in the
greatest confusion. Upon the next charge
the infantry and battery both fired, and the
enemy was thrown into confusion second
time.
Not relishing such treatment portion OF
the rebels went around to the rear for the
purpose of attacking US in the rear as well
as in front. This however was of no avail,
for Colonel Lester formed his men in q
square, and Captain Hewitt directed bis
pieces both ways.
A third attempt was made to cut the
brave men to pieces, but the result was the
same as before. The rebels retired for
a while, and Captain Hewitt turned his
pieces upon the town, Smelling it 10 the most
approved style. 1t is said the town was
badly damaged, and at last accounts was on
fire in several places.
The fighting commenced again at noon
and continued upabated until about three
O'Clock, when a flag of truce from the enemy
appeared, stating that the Michigan Ninth
had surrendered early in the day, and de.
handing an unconditional surrender by the
remainder of the forces. 1t is said that q
threat was also made that, if Col. Lester did
not surrender, Gen. Crittenden and Col.
Dufield-who we're taken out of their beds
by the enemy at the onset--woald be imme>
diately shot. Col. Lester rode into town
under protection of the flag of truce, and
ascertained that he would have to encounter
force of about four thousand, and that he
could rely only on his own little handful of
men to sustain himself His ammunition,
too, had nearly given out, the battery having
only sixty-6ve rounds of case and solid shot,
and the infantry but few rounds of car
tridges left. He returned, and, after con.
sultation with Captain Hewitt and his own
officers, it was determined to surrender,
which was done at apout FIVE P. NJ.
The only loss that we can learn among
the Offices is the killing of Captain Rounds,
of the Michigan Ninth. Neither the bat
terry nor the Third Minnesota lost any eff g.
GERS. About twelve men of the Third were
killed.
The strength of the rebels was about
1000 cavalry--two Georgia and one Texas
regiment being of the number.
Lieut. Blakely informs US that the rebels
burned the railroad bridge at Murfreesboro,
and the bridge near by.