Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-02
Gully Appeal,
FROM our EVENING EDITION OF YESTERDAY.
THE DISASTER AT UNION CITY
.anofher UHforf~Hefe S'srprise


,Svofher LssforsHHaEe SsrPrise!
Yesterday morning the enemy, who had
marched from Hickman, composed of infantry,
cavalry, and artillery. in what force is not known
1--WE have heard estimates as low as twelve hun
dred and as high as nine thousand, surrounded
our pickets beyond Union City 1t is stated on
the best authority, that portion of those pick
eted on the road by which the enemy approached,
had left their posts during the night and collected
together socially in an old church. They were
all taken prisoners without resistance. Aneigh-
boring citizen ran to Union City and gave the
alarm, which was Immediately followed by the
entrance Of the enemy. This was at seven
o'clock in the morning.
The Federals planted battery within two
hundred yards of our camp, composed Of SIX
pieces, and Immediately began to throw shetland
shell The surprise was complete and the at
tampts made to form into line were unsuccessful.
Our force, SO far as we can at present gather,
consisted of Pickett's regiment Of infantry, and
two battalOns Of cavalry, one of which was
Jaeksoa's Ths enemy's shell set fire to the
hotel, which was burned down also to the rail
road depot which, together with three cars, was
consumed.
About two hundred of our men arrived in
Humboldt last night about one hundred, (in-
GLIDING thirty men captured at the ehurch). and
three hundred cavalry horses were taken pTis-
oners by the enemy. Those of our people who
reached Humboldt, who were composed both of
cavalry and infantry, had their guns and small
arms with them. The number killed by the en-
emy's Gre is stated to have been only three
We have been at pains to get our intelligence
from good sources, but more ample information
may possibly soften down some Of the more dis
agreeable portions Of our narrative.
The following letter from correspondent
gives another version of the affair;
HUMBOLDT, March 81.
EDTToRs APPEAL: At half past seven O'Clock
this morning the enemy, three or four thousand
strong, consisting Of three regiments of infantry
battalion Of cavalry and battery Of artillery,
advanced upon Union City from Hickman,
taking our forces By surprise, killing and cap
turing quite large portion Of them. / have
conversed with at least ten persons who were
present at the commencement Of the engage
ment, and escaped by the train, which left soon
after the attack was made, and they all agree in
their statements It was complete surprise.
Our troops were not aware that Che enemy was
advancing until they were within few hundred
Yards of cur encampment. Our forces consisted
of less than four hundred infantry, and bat
talon Of cavalry. The firing lasted only twenty
TO thirty minutes, and as those from whom /
get my information came out on the cars they
cannot tell anything about The killed, wounded
or captured. They say, however, that many Of
our troops knew nothing of the presence Of the
enemy until his cannon aroused them to knowl-
edge Of the fact, and that this class of our forces
endeavored to escape.
Both engines were brought away, and but
three cars were LEFT. Quite a number Of shot and
she'll were fired at the retreating train.
The telegraph operator did not geton the train
It is said that there weIe no pickets on the road
by which The enemy came. Iwonderif we have
no more troops in danger of similar fatei
have endeavored to give you the facts as
near asI could. and if learn anything addition
al, or find that have made misstatement,
viii write you again. u
LATER.
Since the above was written, two additional
trains have arrived from near Union City, and
have been able TO gain further particulars.
Nearly ali Of Col. PiclIett's regiment have ar
rived here, bringing with them the cOlors- Some
of our cavalry have also come in
The cars left at Union City were burned by
the Federals as also the depot building, with
$1,000 worth of government stores, the huts, and
all the baggage.
It's supposed that very few Of our men were
killed, and not more than one hundred taken
prisoners. Many of the cavalry fed on foot
consequently we lost a great many horses.
AT ten o'clock the enemy beat their drums
called their men into line, and for this reason an
officer dressed in eiizen's clothes concluded they
were preparing to leave. More anon. @.