Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-17
III TRNNEssER.
Resorts Of + Rattle s.ear
franklin.
CoaGederale victory Admitted.


Tho Nashville Gaion, Of the sth, gives the fol-
particulars of operations near Franklin,
Tenn, Of which we have hsd partial reports;
General Gilbert sent cut three regiments of
infantry aud a battery, on a certain expedition,
with instructions not to bring on a fight, but to
keep up skirmishing if they encountered the
enemy. TIE design was, we believe, to effect
q junction with another force. A few miles out
they fell in with a small force of the rebel cav
airy, and attacking them drove them back, in
the vicinity of the Columbia pike, near West
Hsrpeth. some four miles from Franklin. when
they were suddenly fsnked by an o~verwhelm-
ing force of Van Dorn's cavalry, with mounted
infantry and artillery.
A fierce engagement ensued, during which
our forces, being assailed by at least four times
their own number, were driven back. During
the fight, the battery IN charge Of the 18th In
diana was attacked By two rebel negro reei-
ments. Our srtillerists double shotted their
guns and cut the black rebels to pieces, and
brought their battery of.
The fight began with skirmishing at about
nine O'clock ia the morning, and lasted until
three in the afternoon. Our forces retreated
into franklin, with a reported loss Of five hun
dred killed, wounded and missing smother IN
formant reduces the loss to 800, and it is likely
that even this is an exsggeraiion.
1t Is salQ LnaE the Colonel IN N OF the
expedition was killed. We have heard no
statement of the rebel loss. The firing was dis
| tinetlv heard at franklin during the day. Why
reiRforcements were not sent out from the large
force stationed at Franklin, we are unable to
imagine. It appears passing strange that IA
army which could have crushed the rebel force
10 pieces was kept idle while ths thunder of s
BEETLE raging not four miles eff was sounding
for six hours in their ears.
A correspondent of the Union, writing from
Franklin, on the Oh, furnishes the following
additional particulars. 1t was known that Van
Dorm was in the vineinity;
On Monday reconnaissance was ordered in
the direction of Spring Hill, and the SD Indi-
dians, with the 18th Ohio battery, 9th Pennsyl-
wants, aud ID Michigan cavalry, composed
the force, all under the command of Colonel
CoIOurn, of the 33d Indians. After advancing
four or five miles with some skirmishiug, en-
camped for the night, rssumiBg our advance on
/ Thursday morning, the enemy resisting and
| falling back from our advance with considerable
! evidence Of disorder. Our troops wsre in the
highest possible spirits, and, up to this time,
confident of success.
So well did everything 60 to all appearances
that a feeling of security oYercsme their VIgl-
lance, snd led TO the neglect Of those precau,
3 NAIAn HAAAA 8AANA w ~ 8AANN1 -
reached Thompson's station, We were suddenly
and Unexpectedly greeted with the thunder Of
three batteries from IS many commanding
nights, while at almost the same instant heavy
masses of infantry appeared as if by magic on
either faux.
The natural result Of this discovery was some
confusion; but, nevertheless, our men showed
the most determined courage, and most boldly
charged one of the rebel batteries.
No infantry was seen near this battery until
our men approached within a few yards of it.
when the rebels rose from behind a stone fence
where they had been efsetually concealed, and
from whence they poured q most deadly fire
on eur men, first checking and then driving
them back with heavy loss TO Us and but lit
tie 10 themselves On other parts of the field
however, the rebels lost severely but, com
pletely surrounded as our forces were, by in
faufrv. with three batteries of artillery disgOrg.
ing their desth-dealing missiles upon them
and no hopes Of immediate Teinfofcements, il
was not strange that they yielded to the "in.
exorable logic Of events, and most OF the SO
~Tndians, S5th Indiana, 18th Michigan, 225
Wisconsin regiments, with their commissioner
officers, are Van DoFn's prisoners. Our arti
lerY was withdrew without loss.
reinforcement was sem forward by General
| Gilbert, bat had rot tins to reach the ground
70 prevent the disaster S~Taggiers continued
10 arrive until night, end many Of the wounded
have been brought in to-day, The rebels, ap
parenty Statistic with their achievement, fel
back to-Sprli Hill.
His impossible to furnish an accurate or ever
proximate idea of the killed or wounded OF
either side. Twenty or thirty rebel prisoners
we're taken.
Colonel opdyke holds this place, and feels
able TO desc against Van Dorm or . any Other
| mani