New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-28
FROM NASHVILLE.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tnbnne.

Cone,pendencs Of The N. Y. Tribune
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 20. 1861.
About one month ago, wrote you an account o.
an expedition of our brigade to East Tennessee; ant
am now writing an account Of second trip to the
same place, but under different circumstances
Before we went O. victorious army, now as prison
ers Of war!
The headquarters of our brigade, with nine com
panes of the Sd Minnesota and six Of the 9th Mich
gan infantry, TO men Of the 9Th Pennsylvania
Cavalry, snd three sections of Hewetts Battery,
Kentucky artillery, were located at Murfreesboro
The 9th Michigan, and cavalry, were located al
headquarters on one side Of the village, while our
regiment, with the artillery, was over mile away,
PIT Of the village intervening.
Gen. Crittenden arrived in Nashville last Saturday,
and Immediately took command.
On Sunday morning we were awakened at 4
o'clock by au attack upon the Michigan regiment.
We were Immediately formed aud posted with the
battery upon bill III the vicinity. We had scarcely
got our position when force Of cavalry came up
if to charge and then seeing our position, turned
aside into field at our left. The battery then
opened upon them, throwing Parrot SHELLS. and
shrapnell A man who was with thsliorce told me
that one shell killed six men, and disabled fifteen
hores.
They passed on, however, to our camp, hoping by
that Means " divide our force. Col. Lester, how
ever, let the camp-which was separated from Us by
bill and piece Of tim5er-t0 take care OF itself. There
bad been lett for ito protection relief Of the old
guard under Corporal Green, and this little body Of
heroes actually beat Off two charges made by nearly
three hundred Of this force.
At Camp Jef kins Gen. Mitchell pointed out this
brave Corporal Green model soldier, and OH this
raV US N ~ a n Ia
General was. Green was only conquered after hav-
ing surrounded himself with the cad bodies of four
Rebels, having wounded one officer and taken an
other. j mention this defense Of the camp merely
10 show that the were not wanting
About o'clock they formed and charged on our
line Wi two regiments. We found no trouble in
breaking the charge and turning them back with
great loss. After this they let us alone until 3
O'Clock; then they came down with flag of truce,
when learned that the rect of the forces had sur
rendered. Col. Lester went into town with the flag
for the purpose Of consulting some of the captured
officers. among whom was Gen. Crittenden. They
advised surrender, 90 the enemy was over two thou
sand strong, viii we bad lees than five hundred,
Ill cry ard all. Col. L. called council of his cap
ains they voted 10 surrender and 30 he surrendered
TO Big. -tien. Forrest, G. s. A.
Thus was this par. OF the unfortunate affair con-
Guided. We have snce learned that we would have
been REINFORCED with l,0UO men by O'Clock; and,
AS The Rebels say that their principal attack would
suppose WE would have held ont il we had tried and
saved the whole force from capture.
Col Lester having been In command Of the brig.
ade for several weeks previous, it was through his
orders that the force was divided; but whether, In
thu, he was going on bis own responsibility, or
accordiog 10 orders, no one Knows. Neither can j
cay whether il would have been proper, in absence
OF orders from Gen. Crittenden, for him TO join his
regiment and the battery TO the Michigan regiment.
So whether il was Col. Lester who made the blum
ber or not, 10 y matter which nothing but himself
and the immutable principles Of red tape" can
settle.
After the surrender We were allowed to get any
personal property we wished from camp. Then we
fell in aud marched of. There was no parade.
Everything was done quietly. as if with view to
save our feelings The necessary guards came In
one by one, and we marched along in silence.
Tie first night marched ten miles, the first day
thirty further the second were paraded, the fifth we
marched to Nashville and eat the first We bad eaten
since the surrender, except through the grstuiy of
citizens.
The force Of the enemy consisted OF tho celebrated
Texan Rangers two regiments Of Georgia Cavalry,
and = battalion Of Kentucky troops; III all, about
1000 strong Nothing could exceed the consideration
OF these Rangers They endeavored to "suk the
shop" and succ-eded very well. They habitualy
divided all eadibles and drinkabes with us, and
knew of frequent cases where they walked and al.
lowed tired prisoners to ride. Having disagree
able error thus corrected formed the sole agreeable
feature of our capture. 1t seemed at once strange
and pleasant to see these /" far-down Southwest.
erps'' tagging along by the wagons-whch were
appropriated 10 on the second day-and talk.
luz pleasantly about crops, and all that. as II
they were old friends and neghbors, instead Of in
veterate enemies. N. p lie