The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-28

We were not long here before Colonel
Uoburn ordered us back TO the bill from
which we started. We started back.
and 80 soon rs we were unmasked from
the buildings, two regiments, from AR
kansas and Texas, started after us with
a yell, pursuing and firing on us ell the
way back, which, with their batteries
playing ON us also, made our situation
pretty hot. Both of our regiments lost
several killed and wounded, going and
returning, and all this time no, shot
had been fired by us. But as soon as we
reached the Hill, we turned and drove
back the enemy faster than they came,
killing Colonel Earl, of Arkansas. They
again rallied and charged on us, but
were driven back. 1t now became evil
dent that we had encountered the whole
OF Van Dorn's and Forests forces.
'On our left the enemy had been re-
pulsed, near the pike, but Forrest had
taken a circuit with his whole force,
away beyond the ground occupied bv
our forces TO the east, and was desiring
TO turn our left flank.
s "Oolpnel Coburn now brought the 10Th
and I'D on the west side Of the pike,
and leaving the 33d TO protect the hill on
lts south face, the 10th and S5th were
formed, facing the enemy east, at right
angles, with the 22d in the rear of the
65th, except three companies. 4
"Our lines were hardly formed, the
men lying down behind the crest of the
hill, till Armstrong; brigade charged
from The east and the Texans from the
south, and the fighting was terrific. We
reserved our tire until they were within
thirty PAGES, Three times they gallant-
ly charged up the bill from the east, and
thrice we forced them back. In one of
their charges the 10Th Michigan captured
the coiors of the 4th Mississippi and four
prisoners; and we were so near each other
that one man was shot by the soldiers of
the S5th, from tine window of a school
house, as hs was trying to get in at the
door. During this time, one battery was
throwing shells at us, and having got pos
session Of the hill, on the of the road,
they hurled grape and canister, at short
range, like hail. Old soldiers, on both
sides, say they never saw hotter work
while IT lasted. BUTT was evident to us
all, prSvates as lOSN as o6icers that the
struggle was unavailing, and it was only
a question Of time as TO our defeat. Our
ammunition was nearly out, and Forrest
having got between US and Franklin, was
closing in on us from the north. But oili-
GERS and soldiers did their duty. We
formed new line, with all four of our
regiments facing north, 10 meet our new
foe. We formed about three hundred
yards further to the west, and about the
same distance 10 the north.
Here we met and checked Forrest.
and held him till our last round ,oas fred
we then fixed bayonets to charge and
break his lines and try to escape. But
just as we were about 10 charge, we dis
| covered that Forrest had still another
line IN reserUe, and battery began to open
and form a new position; that made il
hopeless to think of escape, AND so WE
sURRENDEREDl Would to God could
avoid writing that line, not that feel
that there is anything TO be ashamed of
in the surrender, nor that any blame can
attach 60 any one of our commanders,
for, with the exceptions ] have named,
officers and men behaved nobly. But
death on the batile-tleldis preferable TO
the suiferings our soldiers have endured
ht the hands Of our foe since Wa have
been prisoners. But more of this anon.
You will observe that none but our brig
ade took any part in the fight OF olIi-
GERS and men, 1906 we're taken. The
rest we're killed, wounded or escaped
OF the number not taken there were pro-
badly 400, and 150 or 200 esoaped--5Oor or
90 killed and wounded. The S5th Indi-
ana had 800 men in the fight and 229
were taken. know seven or eight who
were killed and 80 wounded, but was AZ
the IUrotg end Of the pike to know exactly
our loss. Captain Floyd was danger
ously wounded. Captain PucketGs leg
was broken. Lieut. Anderson is miss
ing.
No other officers Of the regiment were
hurt, nor were there any field officers of
the brigade hurt, which is almost mira
culOus, as the field and staff officers Of
the 33d and S5th were exposed, crossing
and recrOssing the field ON horseback, %
the fire Of ten regiments and a battery and
al the sh0yPshootcrs, and not less than a
thousand shots were aimed at them.
"The enemy were all cavalry and
mounted infantry, but all fought on foot,
every fourth man holding four horses, and
his force consisted of six brigades, under
Major-General Van Dorm, Brig. Gems
French, Armstrong, Crosby, Martin. and
jackson. Infantry had no chance 10 es-
cape after the fight once began. A great
blunder has been made by some one, but
| 10 is not proper for me 20 make charges.
- SHoh a force we would have
easily Whinped hut tho fact that Van
| Dorn's whole force had been at spring
Hill for three days before we left Frank
lin, and not knowing that our brigade
had lett Brentwood were preparing 20 at
tack Franklin, and had started the day
before for that purpose. The result was,
we went for ,o00t and zoe g0t Sls0yn ourselye8
Prisoners Of warl bad supposed that
soldiers taken in fair battle, were treated
as gentleman, al least as human beings I;
but such 10 not the practice in this cursed
land. l will stale simply the facts. We
were taken in the afternoon, after four
hours fighting, and marched fourteen
miles TO Columbia.
"On the way the men had 10 wade the
creek over knee deep and TO ferry across
| Duck River, taking till after midnight 20
reach the town, when we were crowded
into the Court house, 80 thick we could
scarcely lie down.
Next day il rained all day. We were
marched out three miles from town, halt
ed aud kept until four o'clock, HAVING
had nothing to eat since daylight befor,
tue hght-asarly h'rty-sir hours time
Then one-and a-half pounds Of meat wa.