The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-24
The Affair at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
From the Louisville Journal, yesterd,

From the Louisville Journal yesterday.
We had an Interview last evening
With Lieut.. G. II. Blakely, Adjmant Of
The Sd Minnesota, one of the regiments
at Mnrfreesboro on Sunday
by Forests cavalry. The
force at Murfreesbnro, AS we learn
from Lient b., consisted of six come
panies Of the Michigan 9th, two CONF
panies Of the 4th Kentucky, nine CONF
Panies Of the Minnesota Sd, and four
pieces of lIswitt's LIST Kentucky bait
terry. The 9th and the cavalry were
eneamped on the edge of the town.
and the 81 and the battery a mile and
a half outside, on the Nashville bike,
The forces are part of the 2sd brig.
ade, which il commanded by Col. Daf.
field, lately of the q. S. forces of Ken.
tucky. Gen. r. r. CrittenIen assumed
command of the post on Friday night.
The attack was made Oh Sunday
morning at 4 o'clock, upon the cavalry
and Michigan Regiment, they beihg
completely surprised. So large was
the attacking party that the infantry
could not form in line of battle, and AZ
ter fighting the hest they could for sew,
eral hours, the Michigan Regiment ssri,
rendered. Orr cavalry was of no ar
sistance whatever; not man mounted
his horse, and but one or two escaped.
In the meantime, a portion of the
enemy had burned the railroad depot,
freight-honse, containing Commissary
stores, and large warehouse, contain
ing forage aud Qnartermaster's stores.
Having compelled the surrender of the
cavalry and infantry in town, they
broke for the battery. Col. Lester had
been advised of the attack, and placed
the battery upon knoll "a quarter Of q
mile from his camp, with his own regiS
ment to support it. The rebels passed
around TO the north of the camp, and
driving through it, burned the officers
tents and killed or wounded the guards.
AS they came out of the woods tn make
the attack. Col Lester retained his fire
until they were within forty PAGES II
him, when the battery was opened upon
them. They were completely dis"r-
ganizcd and retired in the greaiert
confusion. Upon the next charge tho
infantry and battery both fired and the
enemy was thrown into confusion .
second time.
Not rclishing such treatment por-
ton of the rebels went around To the
rear for the purpose of attacking us in
the rear as well as front. This how.
ever was of no avail, for Col. Lester
formed his men in qnare, and Capt.
Hewitt directed his pieces both ways.
A third attempt was made To cut ibs
brave men to pieces, but the result was
the same as before. The rebels re.
tired for while, and Capt. Hewitt
turned his pieces upon the town, shell
ling it in the most approved style. II
is said the town was badly damaged,
and at last accounts was on fire In sew.
eral places.
Tie fighting commenced again at
noon, and continued undated until 3
o'clock when a flag of truce from rho
enem, appeared, stating that the Mich
igan Ninth had surrendered early in
the day, and demanded an unconiition-
al surrender by the remainder IF the
forces. 1t is said that threat was al
SD made, that, if Col. Lester did not
surrender, Gen. Crittrnden and Col.
DufficId-who were taken ont of their
beds by the enemy at the outset
would be Immediately shot. Col Les
ter rode into town, under protection Of
the flag of truce, aud ascertaine,l that
he had tn encounter force at about
| four thousand, and that he could rely
only on his own little handful OF men
to sustain himself. His ammunition.
too, hal nearly given out, the battery
having only sixty five rounds OF case
and solid shot, and the infantry but q
few rounds of cartridges left. He re-
turned, and after a consultation with
Capt. Hewitt aud his own officers, il
was determined Ia surrender, which
was done at about 5 y. m.
The only loss that we can learn
among the officers is the killing of Cap.
tain Rounds, of the Michigan 9Th.
Neither the battery nor the Sd MINES
ota lost any officers. About twelve
men of the 81 were killed.
| The strength of the rebels as abou,
1000 cavalry-two Georgia and one
Texas regiment being of the number.
Lieut.. Blakely informs us that the
rebels burned the railroad bridges Il
Murtreesboro, and the bridge near by,