, 1863-03-20

Tenn, about 10 o'clock a. m, upon the CO. !
1ulnbia pike, md when about three miles out |
the advance guard came upon the plckcts Of |
the enemy; slight artillery engagement fol.
ten killed; left on the ground. One man Of |
this 3Sth Michigan was slightly wounded. no |
other casualty attended the command, except |
the accidental disabling of the carriage Of one
OF The guns, which was sent to camp for re-
pairs. At this time little or nothing could be !
learned OF the location or strength Of the enc
my, or Of the number and ca1ibre OF the artl-
Col. Coburn reported to Gen. Gilbert at
p. H., what bad occurred and suggested the
imEropriety Of encumbering the exRe1dil,on 1
ous.l Gen. Gilbert replied that II the train
intended for forage train was likely to prove
an embarrassment to send it back. Then the
train, except the baggage wagons, was started
oaek,. and the column moved forward some
two miles and again came n contact with the
enemy. The Information that has been re-
ceived from various sources up to S o'clock
warranted Col Coburn in supposing TINT
there YVES force not fir in advance, and on
account ofss,he lateness Of the hour deemed
it imprudcnt to bring on on engagement then,
consequently went into camp. Nothing oc-
cured during the night. Col. Coburn IN the
the occurrences and observations Of the day,
and during the night received dispatches, but
from what source or Of what nature, hare
no knowledge.
n the morning e1arch 5th) on the inquiry
being made Of Col Coburn Is to what he vas
have no option In the matter" Col. Coburn
then examined the map Of the country ahead
and finding that there were two roads on
either side Of our route, ordered Col. Jordan
to send G detachment of cavalry OF both
roads to protected his fnnks. He received in
formation By two negroes IN the morning that
the enemy we're reinforced by Maj. Gen. Van
Dom, numbering some 10, 600 men. He order
ed Colonel Jordan to send the two negroes
Immediately to Gen. Gilbert under suth-
Client guard.
/ might here also state that Col. Coburn
sent long letter to Gen. Gilbert the previous
evening, stating the number Of the enemy,
master, the bearer o. the message, that it
| could not be possible that the force was as
| large rs Col. Coburn estimated it. At eight
| O'Clock q. IN. the command resumed the
! march, advanced about three miles, when it
became necessary to throw out skirmlshers.
ther, when battery, or part Of battery,
opened fire Immediately in flons. Col. Co.
burn ut once drew up the forces in line OF
battle and brought the batteryto bear at two
points (elevations) on either side of the pike
and railroad-threc pieces Oh the right aud
|
other battery on our right and front. No
force Of the enemy could be seen up to this
tine. Col. Cobufn ordered the S5th and 33d
Indiana, then supporting the section Of artil-
lery. on the right, to charge upon the battery
furthest to the right and take it. The two
regiments Immediately. advanced down tie
hill in the direction Of the depot, and when
near the depot and stone vail, received q
volley from infantry stationed behind the wall
and around the depot. An overwhelming
number revealed themselves. The two regi.
ments were then ordered to retire, which they
did in good order, keeping upa well directed
fire, Eegaining and holding the ground from
which they started, and checking the advance
Of the enemy. At or about the time the two
| regiments were ordered to retire, still another
battery opened on our left tlank. at the
time the order was given for the regiments to
retire from the char &c, heard Col. Coburn
order Col. Jordan to bring up, two companies
| Of cavalry, and send them TO the right to sup,
port the retiring regiments. Col. Jordan
started off on foot, hui did not return, nor was
the order obeycd. Soon after the battery
opened on our left flank the commanding off
Ger Of the 18th Ohio battery came up very
much excited, and said he was ont Of a,nmu
nition, and that Le could not stand the fire o1
| the batteries. That portion Of the battery or
tie LEFT Of the pike had already, By the Cap
tain's direction, moved down on to the pike
without orders from Col. Coburn or any othel
! PeEboH N0l Copufu ulTtclEu ue 10 ssCcFt1lI
| from the officers 1n charge Of each ammunition
box Of the entire battery, how much ammuni
tion there was remaining, | did go, and re
ported to Col. Cobnrn that there were 2N
rounds OF shell, and 10 rounds Of canister.
afsog gayc orders to officers not to move the bat
went to the left to ascertain about q aanl
movement that had been reported, and Of
reaching tile brow Of the hill occupied by tn,
I'D Wisconsin, | saw the enemy advancing il
line of battle. at once reported the came Il
Col. Coburn, but received no orders. Col
Coburn Was ut this time at the head Of the S3t
and s5th Indiana on the right, both regiment
being hot1y engaged. The section of artillcr.
On the right up to this tilne had kept up
constant fire. After reporting the flank move
nlent Of the enemy on the left, went to IL
t9R e1 9dh ,hs M OCCUPIED hy thc ssa Wifsons Isl
Of the ed Wisconsin, that regiment opene
, fire npon the enemy, and held their positio
j some minutes, and until the 10th Michigan
} went to their support.
twenty minutes. At the time Of the first fir
. / upon the ed Wisconsin, that portion Of th
/ [ BATTERY on the pike, and which had retire
! from the left Of the road, started Oft In qufe
! time up the pike. instantly went and ator
],ca: :l:n: aid made every effort to induce th
, Captain to briug his guns to bear upon til
enemy then charging through raSine and q
]
, point one gun could command the roads IN
: the riyine further to the left. Ali my effor
were uUayailing, however, and the batter
i. started of i'll full retreat, the section on tt
4, right coming down at that moment, and, as
| suppose, without orders.
! livery soon met Col. Jordan, comu,audin
:, the cayulry, and asked him if something cou]
!, not be done to assist the infantry. He r
:, piled: ave are Going about all that can
d done," while at that ycry instant eyerythin
. was moving off. At tho time the ed vi
: e9n:in received the first charge, Lieut.. CO
\ men from the left Of the regiment, retire
i from the field, and moved OF Thy the lie
tlank) with the retreating party. cannot b
: liese that Lieut. Col. Bloodgood had orde
!, from Col. Coburn, or any other person,
d move; at least, if be did, no member Of b
d {Col. Coburn'sl staff had any knowledge Of
. and they were at that time on tho field.
|, there were any orders from any one for Lieu
t Col. Bloodgood to move, they were not
: retire, and there was nothing to prevent hi
e from going to any part Of the field for 1ftet
i Michigan, held the top Of tho hill that leng
oftimc.
+ The casalry, at the time the ed Wisconsi
6 was nttacked, all retired from the left, at lea
4 ha1fa mile from the scene Of action It b
: came evident that stand would not be n,as
I
turn to the battle ground, but found 1t in
!. possible-some thirty minutes had elapst
n since the first charge upon the 22d Wisco
# sin. The 10th Michigan and 22d Visions
t By this time. were being, driven up the Sit
y occupied By the SD and S5th Indiana, and Il
enemy had formed line Of battle between II
? hill and myself. turned and met an ANN
# nition wagon, hut ordered 1t back, is it wou
!. only have fallen into The hands of the enem
= ono nusket ball had already passed throne
t the top.
d The last yicw had Of tho ground the fol
= regiments occupied the top Of the hill on Il
q right Of the road, and, SO far rs could dj
|, | cover, were surrounded By the enemy, and .
d fighting to their utmost. The batteries wc
; directing heavy fire upon them. They h.
> no ammunition, besides what they had
\ | their cartridge boxes, and, doubtless, Colon
b Coburn did not surrender until all the ANN
9 milton was consumed, and found it usele
# longer to defend himself.
+ Not more than half m hour elapsed fro
hsta5 the time last SAW The eld until the fri
:: I'd Lieut. SD Rcgt. md. Vols, aud Acting
!; N. 1st Brigade.
t A SANDER Against NIassacI1u
5 etts kefuted.
4 Con4oSwxA11H or MAssAcHrsETTs ]
AnICTASr GESERAL's OFFICE. :
s BosToN, March 6, 1863
n Hon " H. Richardson, D. s. Senator from II
+ noie, Washington City, D. c.:
: S1R: In the report, in the Daily Globe
J. March 30, Of your remarks in the Senate
>. the United States, observe the followi)
Il statements:
% Governor Andrew has promised men 70. armi
= without limitation, II the President would issu,
Ftoclau1attcn Of Emancipation. He has furnish
nouc, and could furnish none. BE did not furni
Is | thc quota By volunteering or draft that Mas.
" clustttb should hare furnished.
II And little further on:
- But IN Massachusetts the privilege was g1ven
P hn up ther:9uotA by gathering up the cout1ahant
"a who arc not worth hVc cents athousand IS scldit
t. In correction Of these statements h