The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
BATTLE OF MURFREESB0RO
Surrender Of the Third Min
nesota.

| 0GA AVnAtk Va Ckkc ANlIO Wl tEE"
nesota.
| CIR aon nee nj IN. Chicago T. buns.
LoUIsyIiLH. KY, July Is.
THE ATTACK
Was c'aae at daylight on Sunday moruing,
and VS. complete surprise The rebels
kaaw :!.c position OF our troops and the
state CT atilrs thoroughly. They advanced
in ovec"b eimng force, driving tue picGets
before them and entering the town almost
simultaneously. The pickets did not fire
Unit! III y had fallen back some distance.
tbos not rousing the 9th Michigan until the
euealy was almost upon them. TIE cavol.
ry--company A, Capt Chillaon was first
attacked and scattered in every direction,
| the matt force falling into the hands of the
| rebels. Nearer the centre OF the ;own ;he
res; Of the cava!ry-company u. Captain
! Uuthan&, was attacked and captured. Near
the q; pot aud commissary buildings, about
the ;eart Of the town, the 9th Michigan was
attempting to get into position, cut Jailed
to form line and began to fall back On
the Nashville pike, fighting IS it retreated.
| My Informant states that the citizens early
| appeared in the streets dressed AID armed
as if ready for the fray and perfectly aware
that the attack was to be made. The run
ming tight was kept up by the 9th under
every disadvantage for some time. the regi-
meat being enabled at one time to make
stand, but the overwhelming force, OF the
enemy at last compelled them to surrender.
Their cartridge boxes were soon emptied
aud having no means for further supply
| they we're compelled 10 surrender.
THE CAPTURE cF DUFFIELD AND cRIrTKNDEN.
Colonel Dufie d aBd General Crittenden.
| weary with the lab0rs OF the past day, aud
not s~Spac..Ig an attack, repossd ia conti.
deIce and supposed security at the little
hotel which faces the depot ia the town.
| They were captured while dressing. The
rebels went to their rooms as directly as if
they had known their positions for days, and
| little doubt is entertained that the citizens
| were the guides. 1t was impossible to offer
| resistance. The officers Immediately saw
the situation of affairs aud surrendered.
Colonel Duf1ieid is reported MORALLY wound.
ed, but if he was my informant cannot
imagine how, unless by some wanton act of
cruelty on the part of the confederate sco1o.
drels. This be does not believe was done,
for the rebel officers -- Forrest and Warner
took pairs to show their distinguished
| consideration for the men, and Overdid the
thing by their poIitecess
AT toe last accounts Crittend n and
Dufiie.d were doing we'll. and were on their
way to Sparta. Crittenden is from Indi-
ana, and was Colonel of the 9th Indiana.
He was nominated Brigadisr General
lew months since. He was q nephew, aud
not son, of John j. Crittenden. OF Dut-
field, of Michigan, you are perhaps better
acquainted than | am.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DEPOT.
The enemy was unwise enough to destroy
the depot OF the Nashville and Chattanooga
Railroad Company. II was a large and
spacious building, and was used 10 part as
storehouse for our commissary and quart
ermaster's stores. Tnus, all these, amount
ing to several thousand dollars 10 value,
were destroyed, although the town bad
virtually surrel dered. In their haste they
also burned the tents OF the officers and
men.
COL LESTER PREPARES FOB pEEENCE.
The Minnesotiaus aud the Kentucky
battery now encamped on the edge of the
town, their camp on the west side of the
Nashville pike forming beautiful SUBURBS
tor the northern part OF the town The
country ct this point is beautiful the green
and level sward being broken only by the
little branch Of Stones Greek, which cross.
es the pike almost within the limits of the
| town. The position Of the camp afforded
no position for the battery, and On being
opprSed OF the attack, Col. Lester order.
I'd his regiment and the battery to tall back
on the Nashville pike few hundred Yards
to high knoll or bill east of the road.
This bill Was on the bank of the creek and
was partially protected oy wood. The
artillery hastily went into battery on the
bill aud the Sd Minnesota formed into two
oattaons, Il hiking the battery and sup>
porting it. Col. Lester found his position
an exceedingly strong one, should the rebels
be considerable enough to attack him By the
Nashville road, but be remarked with con-
siderable anxiety that the position was east.
ly iiaDked, the creek on bis lett being too
shallow to aiiord him aid, and the country
to the right being level and easily and
quickly occupied. Ills meagre accounts led
him TO believe the force OF the enemy to be
overwhelming, and though without a
thought of surrender, he and bis mrn went
into tie fight with defeat staring them in
the face. It must be remembered that the
road to Nashville at this time was open
AID clear and that be could have ialeu back
on that point without 6ghtipg, thus saving
the regiment and battery. But Lester pre-.
terred fighting, and it is due to him for bis
brave defense of bis hastily chosen position.