The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-11

TuLLAnoMA, Tess, July 4, 1856;

AfAAA OAh UT - INV 0ANh hthANNA@
sary of our National lndependence-but
a rather gloomy one. Oh, that our coun-
try was as free from rebels and traitors
to-day, as IL was on the 4th Of July, '76l
But the star Of patriotic destiny is in
the ascendant, and the hand Of Provi-
dence is directing us, we feel, through
this trying ordeal Of blood and misery.
OF that the bugle tones Of Peace might
open upon our cara ere the closing Of
this day, so iraught with happy reminis-
cences of the past! But Gen. RosEcRANs
has opened the ball, and the Union Army
will keep time to the music.
We have pitched tents, for The first
time since the oath ult, the day we left
Murfreesboro. A National Salute of 30
guns was fired at noon TO- day. 1t served
to cheer our hearts, and we felt the patri-
otto blood course through our veins. This
army has vowed to conquer, and il event.
ually will, as sure as Right, Truth and
Justice are attributes Of the Most High.
We have had a miserably disagreeable
time Of it for the last ten or twelve days,
and the men were ostensibly weary and
worn. 1t has raiued, more or less, every
day since we left Murfreesboro. The
roads we passed over were muddy, rough,
and, in some places, almost impossible
for teams. We are almost on short ra-
tions, but We are expecting a supply
train every minute.
On our first day out from Murfreesboro
"Wednesday evening, oath ult,) we en-
countered a body Of rebels in Liberty
Gap, near the Shelbyville pike, some
twelve miles from Murfceesboro. The
1st Brigade Of our Division (Gen. John
son's) being in the advance, first encoun-
tered and ianked a portion Of the enemy,
of which there was at least two brig AIDE,
OF infantry, routing and driving a por-
ton of them s%tubbornly forward. and
taking a number Of prisoners. Oar Brig
ade (3d,) being in tho rear OF the first
Brigade, had 10 encounter the secreted
portion of the enemy, which the advance
brigade had thanked in their precipitous
movement, who opened fire upon us with
SHELLS and musketry.
Col. T. P. Baldwin, commanding this
brigade, ordered two regiments-the 9TH
KY, louisville LEGION aud the 9th In
diana infantry-'o take position in front
OF the enemy.
We were consequently deployed, the
remaining regiments of the brigade--1st
and 93d Ohio, being held in reserve.
Companies A, B, c, i, II, and l, of the 9Th
Indiana, were deployed as skirmishers /;
company A on the left and F on the
right, under the immediate command of
Lieut. Col. II. Trip. Companies E, G.,
and K, under command of Major Camp
bell, were held in reserve, Company D
was detailed 10 guard The ammunition
train. Thus formed in face of the enc
my, who seemed to yield every inch Of
ground reluctantly, eur boys stood man
fully up to the work, as only the veto
rams Of Shiloh and Stone River could do.
We do not wish 10 boast of unmerited
glory but as this Sd brigade Of Gene
raj JohnsOn'S division Of the goth army
corps, has not ever been alluded to by
any newspaper correspondent as having
been in or near the scene of the late con-
test, we desire 10 give the world and "all
the rest Of mankind" some facts. The
Sd brigade i0as engaged and il is grati-
flying to know that the 9TH Kentucky
and 9th Indiana have been eulOgizingly
spoken Of by Gems. Rosecrans and John
son for the valOrous part which they
performed in what is termed one of the
most brilliant little affairs of the whole
war. The loss to the 9TH Kentucky was
more severe than ours, we having had
none killed and but one mar mortally
wounded. We took 7 prisoners, and
found 6 killed aud 6 wounded on the
field, the enemy having carried off many
of their dead and wounded. We drove
the enemy one mile, when extreme dark
ness put an end to the fight.
Lt-Col. Trip gained glory in this
brilliant affair. His life at several times
was in imminent danger, as he freely ex-
posed himself whilst directing on his
men. Every officer and every man Of the
regiment done his duty; aud Maj. Camp
bell informs us hat the companies in re-
serve did not relish the restraint put
upon them whilst being inactively ex-
posed 10 the enemy's shells, which fell
at intervals amongst them.
cannot say when we will move for
ward from here, We are encamped in a
rather disagreeable place, as the rebels
left an awful aud unexterminsting stencil
behind them when they skedsddled
Their late camps are 6hly!
We cannot obtain much reliable in
formation from the extreme 'front.' 80 .
quietus has been placed upon correspond
ence. Suiiue il 10 say, that the grand
Army Of the Cumberland, under the gall
liant and successful General RosEoRAss,
is " marching TO gloryl" You will hear
stirring news before long, as the advance