Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-27
n this city, creating the most intense excite.

IN this city, creating the most intense excite!
ment f .E..
NumtordspHle
is station or the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad, at the crossing Of the Green river
The river is crossed here on splendid iron
trcstle bridge fifteen hundred feet in length.
Whether it was the desire Of tlle rebels to get
at and destroy this bridge, so as 10 prevent
rentorcements getting to Buell. from here, or
to prevent Buell. coming TO reinforce this city,
were problems Of difficult solution. Mumfords.
vile ID on the direct southern approach to
Louisville, as Frankfort is on the eastern.
Position Of Kir6y Smith
Kirby Smith was known to have been at
Frankfort, with his army, on Saturday evening;
and now, should strong rebel force find lodg.
ment at Mumfordsville and destroy the railroad
bridge there, thus placing broad an impassable
river between them and Buell's army, this city
would be doubly menanced and cut off from
the succor that il had hitherto been supposed
Buelrs army could give it.
Rumors Of all kinds
few through the city, gathering terror and
alarm as they spread. Citizens congregated in
the hotels and saloons and discussed the proba.
biltles Of immedirte extinction. First, we were
told that the brave Indiana boys at Mumfords-
v lie had repulsed tide rebels; then that the
whole garrison, four thousand strong, had sur.
rendtred, and that the place was in undisputed
possession of the rebels. One account said that
the attacking party was portion Of Kirby
Smiths force, while another had it that Polk
and Duncan commanded the assault.
At a later hour this evening the excitement
cooled down considerably, on the reception Of
official dispatches at headquarters. These
dispatches iarnist ar ahthentic account Of the
battle. 5t .f
Union Pickets Drirsn In.
During last night the pickets about Nun.
fordsvile were repeatedly fired upon and a.
often fred back. A desultory skirmlsh was
thus kept up, without any serious consequent
ces, during the greater part Of the night. To.
wards morning, however, the work became
hotter, and our picke,s were driven in. The
forces were then quickly put in position to
receive an attack.
The Flag Of 1ruce-A Surrender Demanded.
At thisjuncture flag of truce was observed
approaching our camp. 1t was received, and
found to cover the body Of one Colonel Scott,
the reputed commander Of the Third Louisiana
cavalry. Colonel Scott bore message from
Btigadier General Duncan, commanding the
rebel forces, demanding an immediate surren.
der of the ttwn and the garrison. ta
Colonel Widers Reply.
Colonel Wilder, the Union commander Of
the post, replied o.ths demand, that he was
there to blended the place, not ID osirrender it.,
and that if Brigadier General Duncan, or any
other rebel, wanted it, he must fight for it.
Strength Of Coionel Hildsrs Forces.
The pluck OF this reply will be the more
apparent when it is known that Colonel VIII
ders force was only about four thousand men,
all told, and these were all raw troops. They
were all from Indiana, and consisted Of the
Seventeenth, Colonel Wilder; Fitieth, Col.
Durham, Sixty seventh, Colonel Emerson, and
the Eighty third, together witha saurdron of
Bloods cavalry.
Coloai Filar's artillery
III addition TO the force abo, stated, Colonel
Wilder had five pieces of artillery, .viz:-0ne
twenty four FOUNDER, two twelves and two
sixty-threcs. a.E
TIN Rebel Force.
Opposed to him the rebels were reported to
have from seven to ten thousand disciplined
troops, with twelve pieces Of artillery.
The Rebels Open Fire.
Immediately upon the reception Of Colonel
Wllders reply, the enemy commenced the
attack. They appeared on all sides Of the
federal works, and on both sides of the river.
they fought with courage and determination.
They were met with equal courage and deter
mlnation, and for seven long hours the battle
ragged with intense fury.
. Sortiss by The Cnion Troops.
Whenever Colonel Wilder conl,i discover a.
favorable Opportunity be would make sortie,
several Of which were most successfully &C.
compllshed during the engagement. In one Of
these we captured two OF the enemy's guns
and brought them within the works. We also
took a number Of prisoners. herebels yield
ed themselves up sacrifices to II mistaken lde",
with consummate heroism.
Slaughter Of The Rebels.
They We're literally slaughtered like sheep,
wheour forces, protected by their earthworks,
suffered comparatively little. Finally the rebels
were compelled to withdraw to safe distance,
and left the field of battle in considerable dis.
order. 'aU
A Second flag Of Truce !,
u
truce nd'begsed a cessation Of hostilites in
order that they might bury their dead. This
was granted them, Ghd at eleven A. NJ, the
battle ceased
The Losses
We have no statement of losses on either
side but the loss of the enemy is known to
have been very severe. The ground on which
they fought was covered with dead.
Fight near Gaze City
battle seems to have taken place in the
vicinity OF Bells tavern, four miles south Of
Cave City, between Braggs advance and por.
ton of General Rousseau's division, early yes
terlay morning The particulars Of the affair
are very mesere.
Bragg's Recent MSrcments.
II would seem that when Bragg crossed the
Cumberland he pushed directly for Tomkins.
vile, with a view of reaching the rich and pro-
ductiye region about Glasgow and Bowling
Green, to there secure the subsistence for his
army which could not be obtained in the more
barren country Immediately north Of Burks.
vile.
He Wosed With The Utmost Ropidity,
with Gen Bishop Polk III the advance with ten
thousand men and SO close did this division ap-
proach column of our forces moving to Glasgow
also, that the latter was forced to turn from its
route and march with all haste to Bowling Green,
in order to avoid battle, which il was not deem.
ed policy to give at that time.
Bragg reached Glasgow on Thursday night,
the lth inst, and during the following day had
succeeded in bringing his whole force up. which
r.