New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-21
RAED ON THK MEMPHIS AND
CHARLESTON RAILROAD.
Battle Ct CoI,icrviIlc, Tcnn.-BepuIse Of
tho Rebels.

! MEMPHIS. Tenn, Oct. H. 1883.
! l have inst returned to this place from the
scene Of the exciting affair a. Collier on sho Mem.
phis and Charleston Railroad about 25 miles from
Memphis. On Sunday tho 18th inst. was in the reg
ular passenger train from Corinth to Memphis a. la
grange. learned that Gems. Sweeney and Morgan L.
Smith had started IN the morning early, with largo
force. to 60 out and give battle to tho Rebels under
Chalmers who hare been occupying threatening atti.
tude toward tiis important railroad for than
week past Tho enemy reported TO have rc.reatcd
toward Holly Syringe, his present base. AID it wa
hoped tNat Gen Sweeney would oyertake lin before he
reached that point; and the fact that formidable
movement Wa ~ last foot to check the raiders
quoted the fears Of those who well informed
enough to know that tie road and our train were In
danger.
Wo proceeded westward without molestation or hin.
dralce 70 Il station called Lafayette. where were
somewhat started by the intelligence that cuNcrt
bridge mile or beyond had been burned hour or
so previous. A bridge had been hastily con-
sIuotet and that part Of the road now under the
stIict Surveillance Of our pches We therefore went
on our way kec.inga bright look out ahead Arrived
within nile and half OF Colerville suspicious fire
and smoke at the rosd side attracted our engineers at
tcrtion and the brakeswcre whstled down in time 10
stop the train before reaching the spot The train
guard consisting Of two companies OF infantry together
with number OF passengers who volunteered for the
occasion, cisemharked and marched to the fire. We
there found that rail had Just been wrenched from the
track some tie, rooted from their places end every
lprcpara;iOa made 10 stop our train Looking around
for the authors II tits piece Of dabolsm were aud
denly confronted by along line Of Rebel cavdry within
losy rssket range. AID watching operations and
Explorations with a sang roid quite refreshing under
tho circumstances They outnumbored us largely and
Were fvoreby located in the edge Of pioce Of timber
evidently ready to Iounce upon the that the
planned srlash occurred. We hastily retreacd 20 the
cars ard after trying few shots from best guns,
backed 20 the station Lafayette and were there
met by three other westward bound trains Before
leaving the scene Of the torn track. however We dis
taotly hcsrl heavy firing in Colorvile and sarmised
iUa- iho raiders were there nj work
~ Lafayette Ne were joined By lot 81 convs.
l.cs.cais belonging The 7ih Illinois Cavalry. who had
been io;t IN tle camp Of ths regiment near CoicrVic
lerl who h,d mounted horses and escaped at tie NJ
iproach - 'he Rebel io.ces. They informed us that
about 700 OF the enemy Rad captured the pckes and
sry sd The garrison Of the post and had burned Their
carr tfln al cars bound east aud were Smelling the
or In which the garrison had taken refuge. This news
determined %. to 60 back to Lagrange and await the
issue u the affair thcr which done by all four OF
The we,tbound irins.
NJ Mo.cov. al important station between Lafayette
ard L,e-angc where there was a regiment Of colorcd
ar. 40 learned ia. then picket. had been ,krInish
ire with iio enemy and the commander Of the post was
active ur,uara fious fpr lcat evacuation.
". e'otcr shord srera bet. W also learned he's
,ir.r N.rrGcr. ". 4 sherman aid staff. with bat
tH.a ofrr leh lnian'ry Or gulars) wire on tie train
.dnr .. e. 0'i llc o. O.. time he fighting there com
.ns4lci Tic piesaup.on Fat tlAs gallant AID noted
General bid captured Was strong one. and VIXEN
We reechea Lagrange there scarcely one OK Us who
idoubtcd o. the point. Gen. Csrr commanding 1T Cor
'ip,i WIS tele-rapbed TO- and hurried 10 Lagrange
Ibringinr with HIN the 3oth lows snd Goth Ilinsis
lIhev arrived ~ special train time during Tie
might md were engaged in preparations to proceed Il
tire sce OF tie s.prsed disaster. when Gen. Can re-
,ooi,od Z welcome telegram from Gen. SAernen. an
uolncrg the repulse q ile Rebels and that he had
r.r.i-ei y lalagc done 20 tie road and telegraph.
A train with two companies. one fron each Of III
last mentioned regiments. thoa sent forvard
70, rli-r T. arrived TIE battle ground Of m ohrJ
lour v,.cray II fccins that he arrival Of Gen sher
man with liz escort jet IN the nick Of time ant
rrobabv saved fhc SIX companies u tie 6th Indiana
Constituting the garrison q The pot from capture
whoa the iain up the pickcs of the Goth bad o.
been etlcr capiurcd or driven in and TIE main bod!
under Col. D. ". G. Anthony were s~irnishng VII
tie enemy IN the edge al town couple 81 FIX p0nn'
'o. ,, ared into tie forward Of the ifain bcio
r Gen. s. rrman could dcbaIk. This he did however
without l0s og irlc; his battalion formed under IRE
and f.. o. .aoIt time tie advance Of the enemy va
IGee.elly ts 1go directed yo.,ys Of tho boys Of IN
dish Ire cortcst was % yery unequal one however
b. TIE Rehis iavire sy pieces Of artillery While on
: troy., lIonc and TIC advantage Of nunbcrA beiD
greatly = her la.yS,. Gsn sacrTen: assuming n
9giio II c-- r1e.ncI Z retired lis forces into th
s,a 20 Iut woleonstruced callhwOrk fwl .igssed nea
. tue rt4. .oi QUO on the railroad 20 iGie Til font IN
Reh.l f.1olt long aud hard but unnecessarily Ibei
artillery wa aWkw4rdly handled. and our men. pro
tcctod Thoroughly b. the ick carihcn walls, Kept up
gal.lr. frs Tnca the Gglt had lated about tire
hor Tie ielc.s Attempted some maAeuYofs the opJec
Al ulici wis mol apparent Willie executing them
Cen Shc-nsn ordered s force 70 make fcftic which
icy Oh iu gallant style and Tie cpomy were tnrpise'
rto disorder and fight II wus Dot considered safe t.
puisr. the rrTcatg ioe and they were consequently
pcr1aied 10 cfoss the Coliw,er considerable stream
about ilireA niles south f,om CoIicr'ile. ~iihou
. fnil lighting.
, At one time during the progress OF tie fight th'
lcre.,v go. possession Of Gen. Slcrmon's train ant
aitcmpied 20 lrIn H. Tlcy did LII: succeed, however
being Lct. TOO buy lodging balls TO eject their pur
POSE The ocooie and several Of the cars we're oni,
sl el'y injured They did succeed, however in burning
~ Cd tavern stand IL tie town. lar from tho fort
end deiacmout Of their force rode out to the camp Of
the 5.L Ililois Cavry. situated about mile from The
lat, and captured t.at. What they could not take
~ ~ with them from tlis camp they burned Thu
rer.ueuf rather the activeday portion OF IT, IL AT
I'll a.,