The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01
THE sURRENDER ]. or THE
-ssgnI MINNESOTA THIRD.
REGIMENT q HuMlLIAIED.
Oh LIEUT.. TAYLOR
OF MANKATO.
WHAT SURGEON BUTLER SAYS OF TT.
IN PALLIATION.
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. TAYLOR.
Ii . NASHVILLE, TENN, July 10, 1862.

- III
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. TAYLOR. s.
-g.ak T.. NASHVILLE, TENN, July 10, 1852.
To the Editors Of the Pioneer and Denocras. .gE
1t will be of some interest to your rea.
ders to know some of the particulars Of the
fight and surrender of the Minnesota Third
Regiment on the 18th inst. The force as
near as I can ascertain, at Murfreesboro,
was nine companies Of the Third, $50 men,
with two sections Of Hewitt's Kentucky:
Battery, encamped with us about two miles,
from town. On the opposite side, near the
town, was four companies Of the Michigan
9th, numbering $50 men, with small force
of Pennsylvania and Kentucky cavalry,
numbering some one hundred. ~
On the morning of the 18th the camp Of
the 9th and cavalry were completely surs
prised by Gen. Forests brigade of cavalry,
consisting of one regiment of Texan Rang
ers, one of Alabama, and one of Georgia
Cavalry as since learned numbering two
thousand. The charge on their camp was
made a little before daylight. We hesrd
the firing and Immediately formed in line of
battle, and started, as we all supposed, to
the relief of the 9th.
The camp guard, numbering thirty men,
was left behind under Corporal Green, of
Company l, the Sergeant of the guard fall
ling in with the regiment. We marched
one-half mile, when we saw some of the
rebels riding backwards and forwards view.
ing Our regiment, about one hundred rods
from Us. One company was thrown out as
skirmishers and advanced to where we saw
them. The regiment was halted in line of
battle. We stood still here about three.
fourths OF an hour, the men and company
officers all being anxious to move on, at
least as far as conversed with the officers,
and l talked with four or five.
At the end of the time above stated, we
heard firing near our camp, and knew that
they were attacking our guard. Two
rounds were fred by the guard, when the
enemy, two hundred strong, fell back.
Again, in about ten minutes, they attacked
our little squad, and again did they give
them two or three rounds and again the
enemy fell back. ALI of the time the
guards were confidently expecting help from
our regiment. In about FIVE Minis
utes they made another charge killing
Corporal Green, of company l, when the
guards were left without any one to COM
mand, and broke into disorder, still fighting
the enemy behind trees, stumps, fences, etc.
The killed of the enemy in this skirmish
was twelve, with loss of three of our own
killed, and some wounded. How many l
taken prisoners. No assistance was sent
them and our officers tents were pillaged
and burned. Why this was permitted, l, of
course, cannot tell. Probably the command
ing officer may. After the fight at the camp
had been going on ten minutes, the rebels
made charge with one company on our
skirmishers, when they fell back to the bat
talon. They fell back SO hurriedly, as they
were ordered, the rebels thought they could
attack the battalion, which they did, and
only two escaped without being killed or
wounded. The regiment seeing the fate of
their brothers could not be made to forward
march in the direction of our regiment, as
their officers told me afterwards. This was
the only charge that was made and could
have been as easily repealed by one company
as by the whole regiment. ...
The boys laughed at the fun, and every
man wanted to go forward and take and
hold the town and support the 9th. The
hour had come that had been long wished
for by ALTO meet the common foe of our
Government On the field of battle. Men
would draw up their rifles with as much
precision and GOODNESS as if they had been
10 hundred battles. ALI wanted, yea, al.
most prayed for the opportunity Of trying
their guns. All were pl,asedr to see the
vile traitors tumbling from their horses to
rise no more. 9gsH.. .ae. 80
Why we did not advance, let the command
ing officer explain, cannot. We were held
10 our position. At ten O'Clock the 9Th
surrendered, after having sent to us to form
junction with them. Mr.. Cornell, one OF
our suffers acted as courier, and behaved
well. S'~H @'S92s --5 'S'.s'e gaze 2l8f@ 3.a
After the 9th bad surrendered, General
Forest demanded of Gen. Dufield en- un
q conditional surrender of the Sd. General
Duhield had formerly commanded the 23i
Brigade, and had been away on duty in
Kentucky, and returBed the day before the
fight, but had not assumed formal command.
He toId. Forsst that he could not surrender
the Sd. but would send his Adjutant with a
flag of truce for the purpose of having Col