, 1863-03-30
THE BATTLE OF MILTON HILL.
The Fight Between John Morgan
and Col. Hall.

and Col. Hall.
IFrom Our Own Correspondent
MtEFEEEeBoEo, March a, 1868.
COMPLIMENTARY.
The affair ut Milton, Of which you received
full telegraphic particulars, deserves short
mention By letter. Certainly since the begin
mig Of this war, many less gallant encoun-
ters have brcn written down as " famous bat
tIes,'' and why not, at least ldt<ri-e the heroic
conduct Of HILLS Brigade.''
TIE BRIGADE.
The brigade in qucs ion is the first of the
Fifth Division Of the 18th Army Corps, COM
mandcd by Col. Hall, formerly Major Of the
1o5th Ohio. There are four regiments In it
1s5th Ohio, 1t. Col Tolles; 101st Indiana, 1t.
Col. Thos Doom; 6Oth Illinois, Col. Allen,
and 123d Illinois, Col. James Monroe.
THE DIVISION.
The Division to which It belongs is COM
manded by Brig. General ]. L. Reynolds,
and I happen to know that the commanding
General feels great pride orer the achiey-
ments Of the brigade.
Forty men Of Stokes Tennessee cavalry,
commanded by Captain Dlackman, and two
sections Of the 18th Indiana battery, COM
manded by Capt. Harris, accompanied the ex-
petition.
THE ENEMY DISCOVERED.
Half a mile this side the village, the
enemy were discovered posted in force, and
immediately Captain Harris guns opened the
ball, vigorously ehel1ing cedar wood, within
and around which they were chiefly gathered.
This artillery fire brought the rebels from
cover, and evidently hastened their attack,
which, conscious Of having vastly superior
numbers, they we're no doubt contemplating
with certainty Of success.
VISIONS OF IHoMPsos's STATION
And The ttgobble'' Of l ,313 men rery likely
fitted before the eager eyes Of Gen. johnny
Morgan, whose ready Secretary was evcn
then. perhaps, penning the dispatch that was
to tell the rug-tag Coniederacy Of the capture
Of another Federal brlgrade; but, alas for
the expectations Of the redoubtablc John
another train of circumstances to say the
lcast, obtained at Milton, and the disaster o.
Thompsun's Station was not to be repeated.
THE P1EsT REBEL ESSAY.
The rebels made their trst essay ngafnst
the right Of the Union force, which was then
at the command Of Col. Hall, slowly falling
back for the obtainmelt Of commanding
position some quarter or half mile to the
rear. The S0th Illinois, under Col. Allen,
held the right, partially covered By point Of
ccdars. Several rebel regiments were crowd
ing MP, aud dcployed into 4 lane that ran par
allc1 with the Union front, were just in tho
net Of throwing down the fences, preparatory
to charge, when
THE BOTS or THE E1CHT1ETH Up AND FIRED.
Old soldiers say that they never wit
messed yollcy so disastrous. The
poor devils dropped from their horses
by the score, and III complete rout the
wounded and unharrned fled from the lane.
AS was afterwards ascertained, the enemy
suffered by this one yolley ofthe 6oth Illinois,
loss Of eight killed aud thirty wounded.
Twelve horses were also killed outright.
TIE UNION FORCE ENGAGED.
By this time the Union force was engaged
upon the 1eft-the 1o3d Illinois and the 10lst
Indiana contending against heavy odds of the
enemy, who were dismounted aud aided by
battery Of five guns. The fight was of the
wickedcst Lind for 4 time, the two heroic
Union regiments steadily holding their
ground, but shortly the superior force and
the artillery Of the enemy caused slow re-
treat.
4 ARETROGADE MOVEMENT.
This retrogade movement, however, was Of
short extent, for 1t had hardly begun ere the
s0th Illinois, relieved Of their nggressors upon
the right, came rushing into the fray. 4 rally
was the consequence, and combined assault
that sent the rebels flying from the field.
sKIEM1sH1SG At THE REAR.
All this time the 105th Ohio and Captain
Blackman's cavalry men were skirul1shing 1t
the rear, the enemy having thrown a consi-
cupied By the Fcdcrals.
COL. HALL OBTAINS HIS POSITION.
In the mean time the commanding position
! aimed for by Col. Hall had been obtained,
| and hurried preparations for defence were
| made. The rebels sent up flag of truce, de-
1nanding surrender Flag was told
'tsEE You IN IL FInsT.'
Col. Hall then turned to lis men and toll
them that they held position that Should
OF every man Of the command. Deafenin&
l,uzzas Of applause greeted the Colonel's pro
clamntion.
TOO SEVERELY PUNISHED TO ENFORCE Tm
DEMAND.
The rebels had been too severely punished
however, to attempt IN enforcement Of tn
demand, and with IN occasional artillery due
a.. - - TT.>f-
Inducements. The rebels were quick to dis
cover the Union advance, and lost no time il
I FILLING back.
The field Of battle was virtually Ill the tim
in possession Of the Union force, the rebel
asking leave, under flag of truce, TO care 70
| their wounded.
There is no question but that the rebels ar
under the Immediate command Of Gen. job
| Morgan.
THE F1nsT TIME MORGAN MAS BEEN OCT 0F III
HOLE FOR SOME TINE.
4 wounded rebel said to Surgeon Abbott {
the S0th Illinois, This is the first tiulc MOI
gan has been out Of his hole for some tint
and he has got most beautifully whipped
5000 REnELs n THE ATTACK
Wheeler, YIN. Breckenridge, Bennett an
johnson were upon the ground, and l am tol
by several rebel prisoners that force Of 9
least 5000 men were cooperating in the n
tack
TIE DISPATCHES.
Yon will understand that am not .respo1
siblc for the character Of every dispatch tn:
reaches you from this quarter. Therefor
occasionally charge wild dispatch to son
other operator than your "oWn.h
The dispatches which the other day al
i nounccd great battle in progress, were fou1
dcd upon "heavy skirmishcs," that duriu
midday Of Saturday occurred along our enti1
: front. a1nIaware that the
WIDEST ExAGGERAT1oSs
Went northward regarding the matter.
certain very clever newspaper man went
e Nashville MD prevailed (loncst1y have Z
question: upon our good friend Of the t' Union
:. 10 publish that perhaps the most i1nporta1
battle Of the war Was now progrcssing"-
d paragraph that fell among the dcnizcns Of tn
c | city like q bombshell
l. TIE ENEMY MfsT1FlED.
If | Simple facts arc that concentration Of o.
i force, and consequent ln-drawine Of the pic
1t line, mystihcd the enemy, who is close u
i on our front, as to our position. On the d;
d following the change, d heavy force Of reb
.e cavalry, hunting our new location, camc su
denly and unexpectedly upon our outpost
y Tie contact, Of course, brought on :fgt
le from which the rebels we're as rapidly as pe
IL eible making retreat. when they encounter
= the body guard Of Gen. jeff. c. Davis, couaf