The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-13

OREloiaI Report Ofths Fight AZ NIL.
ton, Tenn.

report the operations of my command.
l left camp with two days rations IN the
haversack and two on pack mules, and |
with the following force
123d Illinois Infantry, IS officers, S13 |
enlisted men, Col. james Monroe, Com
handing.
Goth Illinois Infantry, 10 officers, 305
enlisted men, Col. Thos. g. Allen, COM
handing.
1olst Indiana Infantry, 19 officers, 353
enlisted men, It. Col Thos. DoaD, COM
handing.
1O5lh Ohio Infantry, 10 officers, 2i5
enlisted men, Lieut. Col. VIM. R. Tollcs,
commanding.
Section 10th Indiana Battery, Capt
s. }. Harris, commanding.
Co. A. Stokes Cavalry, Capt Black
burn, commanding, giving me total
strength Of infan,rya little over 1900.
My orders were TO "reconnoitre the enc
my, and strike him if the opportunity
offers" On the night of the 18th, l oc.
cupied Gainesville, taking two prisoners,
making that night an unsuccessful effort
to surprise o small rebel camp, falling
by the mistake Of guide. Early next
morning took the Statesville road, end
ing the enemy's piCkets, captured two
Of them. At Statewide my advance was
met by force of $50 or 200 rebel caval-
ry; slight skirmish took place here, in
which sharp shooter from the 105th
Ohio MORALLY wounded one of Philips
rebe! cavalry the enemy retired slowly
down Smithsfork towards Prosperity
Church on the pike. / followed very
cautiously, skirmishing the ravines, on
upon reaching the pike, wounded two of
Smiths Tennessee cavalry and captur-
ed one. One half mile from this
spot, down the valley towards Liberty,
a regiment of rebel cavalry, reinforced
by those whom | had driven from
Statesville, was in line of battle across
the valley, small cavalry picket was
also seen on the pike towards Auburn.
| rested my command at Prosperity
Church about two hours. Becoming en-
tirely satisfied that large rebel force
under MOrgan's command was massed
in the vicinity, and that should be
attacked by the next day at farthest,
determined TO choose my own ground
for the engagement, and accordingly a.
dusk moved my command TO the high
ground to the rear of Auburn, bringing
me three miles nearer Murfreesboro
leaving the rebel regiment wholly I'M
molested, but diminishing my way to
Auburn with 40 or 80 rebels whom ]
found had occupied tho place during the
afternoon; Of this force wounded one
or two AID they reti ed on the Wood
bury pike. That night the enemy's
pickets confronted mine on every road
leadi. g from my position, and large
force advanced in the night from towards
Liberty and camped in the vicinity o.
Prosperity Church Knowing that III,
enemy largely outnumbered me, d ter
mined to draw him as near Murfre sboro
IS possible, and to reach fine position
near Milton, seven miles from my An.
burn camp, 1 moved at light. Upor
'eaching the high ridge three miles from
Auburn, halted twenty minutes to fil
cauteens and view the enpmys advance
He was two miles behind me, but showed
himself in no great 70. c making on thi
ridge Some demonstrations viii h woulC
indicate a purpose to stay there.
DR. Pped suddenly down the slop,
toward Milton and passed three anC
half miles of open, level country
at quick bat steady step, occupying
one hour, bringing me through Miltol
with she head of my column within fv
hundred yards of the spot l desired {,
reach; throwing two companies of tn
l23d Illinois and half Of Blackburn
company of cavalry into the edge Of tn
town as skirmishers, and posting look
} outs on my TANKS and rear, put
Napoleon into position, stacked arms an,
waited the enemy's pleasure. Intwentl
{ minutes his advance was visible in Oh
, angle Of the pike beyond Milton, abou
fifteen hundred yards away, and wa
, promptly scattered by a shell from Har
, ris. A few minutes later the enemy ad
yanced, dismounted, and attacked m,
= skirmishers in the village. By this tim
r a large force was visible, and two heav,
= columns began passing, one to my RICH
and one to my left, on the gallon. A
r this moment / started three messenger
for the General, to apprise him of m,
, whereabouts, and to ask him for a rein
forcement of cavalry. Placing the sOl
Illinois into position TO take care Of m
right and the 101st Indiana my left.
} drew my skirmishers gently back, rein
| forcing them with three more cOmpanie
of the 1854 Illinois, so as to cover III
( center; and set Harris TO Smelling eac
9 column as 1t passed, supporting his gun
, by the l05th Ohio As the heavy fan
/ movement OF the enemy made it neces
, sary, drew the whole command slowl