The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-07
Fight Near, Franklin-Repulse of
our Troops--Black Rebel Regi-
ments in the Fight.

ing particulars Of an engagement which
took place near Franklin, on Thursday,
about which all kinds of rumors have
been circulating for the last twenty. four
hours. lie states that General GILBERT
sent out three regiments of infantry and
a battery, on certain expedition, with
instructions not to bring on a fight, but
to keep up diminishing If they encoun-
tered the enemy. The design was we
believe 10 effect junction with another
force. A few miles out they fell in with a
small force Of the rebel cavalry, and at
lacking them drove them back, in the
vicinity of the Oolumbia pike, near West !
Harpeth, some four miles from Franklin,
when they were suddenly fanked by
an overwhelming force of VAN DoRN's
cavalry with mounted infantry and ar
tillery. A fierce engagement ensued,
during which our forces, being assaiIed
by at least four times their own number,
were driven back. During the fight the
battery in charge Of the s5th Indiana
was attacked by hco rebel aegro regiments.
Our artillerisls double shotted their guns
and cut the black rebels TO pieces, and
brought their battery safely off.
The fight began with skirmishing at
about nine o'clock in tho morning, and
lasted until three in the afternoon.
Our forces retreated into Franklin
with a reported loss Of five hi ndred
killed. wounded, and missing another
informant reduces the loss TO three hun
dred, and il is likely chat even this is
an exaggeration It is said that the
Colonel 10 command of the expedition
was killed. We have heard no state
ment of the rebel loss. The firing was
distinctly heard at Franklin during the
day. Why no reinforcemsnts were not
sent out from the large force stationed at
franklin, we are unable TO imagine. II
appears passing strange that an army
which could have crushed the rebel force
to pieces, was kept idle while the thun-
der ola battle raging not four miles off,
was sonding, for six hours in their ears.
II has been stated repeatedly, for two
weeks past, that large number per-
haps one fourth, Of VAN DoRN's force
were negro soldiers, and the statement is
fully confirmed by this unfortunate en-
gHgement. The Southern rebels have
forced their miserable negroes to take up
arms, TO destroy this Government, and
enslave us and our children
Freemen of the North and of the
South, does it not make your blood boil
In your veins, like shood of fiery lava,
does it not make your hearts swell with
indignation, that your liberties, your gov
eminent, and your happiness, should be
destroyed by the negro troops of JEFF.
DAyIsr Will you stand it2 Will yoa
brook the outrage in quiet? viii you
suffer your flag to be torn down and trod-
den under foot by the black battalions of
VAN DOM ? People of the North, shall
rebel negroes slay your sons, aud strip
their bodies on the battlefield ? r..
Send out your new armies by millions
Send them no more by regiments or by
brigades, or divisions, but by millions.
Let the tramp ofyour loyal armies cause
the hills Of the South to shake TO their
foundations, and the vallies TO tremble
to their centre Rally to the defence Of
the dear old flag. Hesitate no longer
Let rot history record that while slavery
aSthe cause of the rebellion and slave
holders the prime move,s of the rebellion,
you were snch degenerate daslards as to
allow negro Slaves to be the instruments
ofyour country's eternal downfall, and
the agency which made the rebellion sue
oessful.
Since the above was in type we have
received the following from our CORES
pendent at Franklin;
sI. FRANKLIN, March 6, 1868.
Mr.. EDIToR; For the past two DAYS our
little town has been all astir with "wars
and rumors of wars interspersed with
the unmistakable sound Of muskotry and
the heavy roar Of artillery; and it is not
without Spang of regret that must an
nounee the perpetration of blunder that
seems 20 have become chronic, since this
war began. Will our men ever learn the
necessity for ceaseless vigilance? Can they
not gather wisdom from experience, and
guard against dangers patent to every
one save those most directly in contact
with them? Gen. RosEoRASs may de-
velOp the most profound plans for the
destruction of the rebel army, but the
negligence of one or two subordinate
officers may defeat him more etIeotually
than BRAoG or 10, JoNsToN can. II is to
be hoped that this is positively the last
appearance "of such criminal negligence
on the part OF Federal officers.
II is well known that VAN DoRN, with
ten or twelve thousand men, has been at
Spring Hill for week or more The an.
pcarance Of rebel cavalry on our ouiposts
has been of daily occurrence for some,
time and frequent shirmishes with the
troops under Col OrDYKE had taken place,
ALWAYS resulting in our favor. IL WA