Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-31
DEATH or GEN. SUMNER.
The Lac RanIs IN 1IiddIe Tenaeasee.

AEo hhA1 AlAAaE IN IAauGtt EEu4e1dees
Reports the Northern PressI
MURFREEsBoRO', Tenn, March 21-An
expedition which went cut in the direction
Of Liberty, on Wednesday last, was attacked,
yesterday morning, by $500 mounted rebels,
commanded b.. the guerilla General John Nor
gan. Our forces consisted of the IC7th Ohio, 80th
and I23d illinois, and 10Ist Indiana, besides a
section of the 18Th Indiana battery and Captain
Blackburn's company ofcavalry, Of the 1st Mid
die Tennessee, the whole under command of
Col S A. Hall. Tho expedition secuted through
the country in the vicinity Of Evansville and Lib
erty on Wednesday sud Thurday, meeting the
small accommodating parties of the enemy sew
eral times, without, however, succeeding in
bringing on IA engagement Colonel Hall
finally determined to return to Murreesboro,
aud, on Thursday nieht, he eneamped with his
brigade at Auburn, seven miles this side of Lib
erty. Resuming bis march early yesterday
morning, he felt bis way cautiously and safely
as far as the village OF Milton, where his rear
guard was suddenly driven in By the enemy.
Colonel Hall at once threw out hsnkers 10 the
right and left, and ordered Captain Harris sec
ton of artillery to she'll the rebels, who were
rapidly advancing on the galop-
Perceiving that the enemy outnumbsTed him
almost two to one, Col Hsll slowly fell back TO
the crest Of a hin, where bis men would have
! the advantage Of 9 most admirable position, and
could prevent. at the same tune, he disaster Of
being suTrouaded and compelled 10 surrender
The rebels then opened q fierce fire. OF shot and
| she'll from their battery, and also advanced IN
strength on both OR TANKS. Morgan evidently
hoped to be able to throw our men into e0nfn-
sion while they were slowly rstreating to the
top Of the hin, and made two direct charges on
ouf lines for that purpose. Our ~sTtillery, how
ever, forced them back.
at length we occupied the hin Col Hall
formed three separate lines OF battle, 80 dis
posed as to command every approach to the hill
1t this moment Of the fight the rebels made the
most stubborn attempts on cur right and left,
! but were driven back repeatedly with fearful
slaughter. The soldiers of Tho Illinois, Ohio
and Indiana regiments took deliberate aim, and
being at several places forced 70 2 hsnd-to-hand
Fight, displayed The most inyiueible bravery
Our artillery was so handled as to do splendid
execution. One Of the enemy's field pieces, a
riaed six-pounder, was shivered 10 pieces, while
a shell killed the gunner belonging to another
Morgan, falling TO accomplish anything on
our TANKS, made an attack on the rear but
there also was he met and repulsed. From cur
commanding position We poured such q iremen-
dous storm of shot that the guerilla gangs were
literally moved down. Again aud again TIA.
rebels peIsevered, until at length, il being tvs
O'Clock and the tight having lasted thres and q
half hours, Morgan withdrew his command
We had supposed him to be satisfied, but
ia 3 half hour he ~resppasrsd on cur front with
reinforcemeuts, q regiment having enivod froH
Woodbury.. He made a feeble attack again,
aud withdrew this time in the utmost confusion,
leaving behind, on the field Of battle, scores OF
killed and wounded. 1t had been hard day
for him, snd for once in his csresr he had met
with an overwhelming defect As the defeated
rebels, repulsed BY a iorec Numbering only hall.
their number, galleped away, our boys raised
cheer after cheer, which only indicated their
own enthusiasm aud courage,