The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-02


diana Lieut. Col Stewart, 4lh KY, Capt. |
Chllsen, 9TH Ky, Major Winirey, and /
9Th Penn, Col. WynkOop With this force |
marched to Smithville, where was
Joined BY two additional regiments Of |
infantry. With this command pro-
ceeded TO Liberty. Here received an or
der recalling my infantry and artillery,
and sent them back TO McMinntille.
Hearing that the enemy, under Col.
Morgan, was enoamped in an old field in
the angle formed by the Cumberland aud
Caney Fork, with my cavalry ] marched
10 the point designated, aud found that
I had been incorrectly informed but was
here told that the force had left for Ken
lucky. / determined 10 return to Liber-
~ thence 60 Cooksvlle, and await their
return.
On my arrival at Cooksyille, / received
reliable information TO the effect that the
enemy was encamped in or near Harris
vile, and ] took up the march for that
place, but on reaching il, found that he
| had left the evening before, going in the
direction Of Gallatin took possession
of his old camp, captured several prison
ers, a number Of wagons, mules, horses,
&c, which had been taken from Col.
/ Bo0nes command
At this place heard Of the approach
| Of Forrest in my rear and decided upon
uniting my force to the one in Gallatin,
for the purpose of resisting an attack
from the combined forces of Forrest and
Morgan, but, on my approach to Gallatin,
found that twas in the possession Of
Morgans forces, which / was satisfied
did not exceed 800 men.
l Immediately ordered an attack
Lieut.. Col. Stewart and Major Winfrey,
calamity leading the charge of their re-
spective regiments, threw their whole
strength against the enemy with terrible
effect Col. WynkOOp and Captain Chill
son also brought their commands hand
somely into action and for some time the
conflict seemed to progress finely for
us.
Soon some horses were wounded, riders
killed, and confusion began TO appear.
Regimenial and company organizations
were lost, and, without any apparent
cause, at least half of my command pre-
cipitately fed, throwing away their arms,
&c. Many Of the men, after getting
thousand yards from the enemy, wildly
discharged their revOlVers in the air
sent back staff officer to rally them,
but they could not be induced to reap
pear on the field.
Seeing my advance wavering, ordered
a retreat and tried to rally them behind a
hedge and fence, but, as soon as the firing
became general, the whole line gave way.
tried to get them TO stand at several
different points, with the same result
Finally, seeing that could not get them
to fight no longer, ordered q retreat, and
marched to the rear about three miles,
and undertook to reform them. While
reforming, seeing that was not pursued,
/ sent in flag of truce and asked that
might be allowed to bury the dead, but
was informed that the dead were being
buried, and l was requested to surrender,
men and officers being promised their pa
roles. This request 1 declined.
Being well satisfied that my men
would stand no longer, took up the line
Of march for Cairo on the Cumberland,
hoping 10 be able to take a strong posi-
ton ON the river and hold il, but my rear
being holly pressed, formed line of bat
tie with the End Indiana and 9th Ken
lucky, and made my arrangements 10
|
brisk and my line Of battle broke, and
the men fed in every direction, leaving
only about seventy-fve on the ground
Seeing Lieut. Colonel Stewart and Major
Winfrey, / asked them if they thought il
possible to rally their men, and they re-
piled that they could not and that a sur
render of the few left was all that could
be done. Lieut. Colonel Stewart made
his escape. With the few left remained
and held the enemy in check long enough
to enable the greater portion of my com
mand 60 ford the river, but finally, being
completely surrounded by overwhelming
Numbers, was compelled to surrender
regret to report that the conduct OF
the officers and men, as a general thing
was shameful in the lowest degree, and
the greater portion of those who escaped
will remember that they did so by shame
fully abandoning their General on the
battlefield, while, il they had remained
like true and brave smen, the result Of
, this conflict would have been quite diff
ferent.
turn from the notifying recollection
of their action TO mention the names OF
, those whose conduct was meritOriOus in
the highest degree. My Assistant Adju-
tant- General, Captain w. G. Turner, ex-
7 hibited the same cool courage which
! characterized his conduct on the field Of
Shiloh. Lieut. Hill, I'd Indiana Cavalry
and Acting A. ID. G., was Of great servic,
TO me, and proved himself man OF cour.
age. Adiutant Wynkoop, when his re-
2 giment became disorganiged, Joined me
and his gallantry and courage were con.
spicuous. lie was killed al my side
. assisting me 10 rally the troops.
Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, command.
, ing the I'd Indiana, was foremost in tn,
! charge, and exhibited great GOODNESS and
courage. Captain Leabo, Sd Indiana
had command of four companies Of BIZ
} regiment and handled them well, but wal
. taken prisoner early in tho action. Capt
r Starr with his Company c. did good ex
= ecution.
4 Maj. Winirey, Capt. Duncan and hi
| company, Lieuts. Campbell and Check
! Capt Carter and his company, all Of tn
9th Kentucky, behaved well and managed
their troops with skill, and proved them
selves gallant mon,
My loss was thirty killed, fifty wound
ed, aud seventy-ilye taken prisoners.
About two hundred horses were killed
or disabled in this action.
Very respectfully, your ob't sery't
r., w. JOHNSON, Brig. Genera
RELEASED --Licutenan Colonel IlOrac
? Hellren, whose arrest we noticed feI