The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-08

The Fight at ElI.abethtOwn, Ky:

! The right at ElzaoeChtoWn, NY
ELizADETHTowS, Ky, Dec. 81, 1862.
GENTLEMEN You win doubtless have,
in a few days, an ofacial report Of the
battles and defeats OF our little force at
this place by MOrgans cavalry on SAT-
urday, the 9th inst.
The 9lst Illinois Regiment, under Col.
I Day, arrived here on the 10th inst, and
\ was divided into companies and placed at
| different points on tie railroad, leaving
only one company hlre under Captain
FOsha. @
Col. Day left here on furlough some
! two weeks since, aud the command de-
| yolved on Lieutenaus- Colonel Smith, a
| gallant man and perfect gentleman. He
| established his headquarters near the
depot, and remained there with Major
Day until early last week, when he was
removed, by order of Gen. Gilbert, to the
! lower trestle.
/ Col. Day, Lieut. Col. Smith, Major Day,
and ataG officers endoared themselves TO
the citizens Of this town by their gentle.
manly departments; and il is due 10 Capt.
Fosha and his cdlnpaay to say that we
were never visited by better behaved
set of men. There was not a solitary
complaint of any outrage or depreda-
lions committed by them, even to the
burning of fence rail or the killing OF a
pig or chicken, nor did they offer any
insult to a citizen or tamper with negro,
but were busily engaged in endeavOring
TO complete the stockade. Aud ia saying
this much about them | am certain the
/ Il s.l H.
citizen of the town without distinction
of party.
On Thursday, the 25th, rumors became
rife that Morgan was advancing. On
Friday, the 26lb, il was reduced to o
certainty. On the morning of Saturday,
the 9th, Morgan's pickets were discov-
cred on the Nashville turnpike at aboft
one mile distant At about or 6
o'clock A. NJ, Col. Smith arrived in town
with six companies of the 9lst, and hasty
preparations were made for defence with
muskets only. One company, Captain
F0sba's, was placed in the unfinished
stockade, and Col. Smith placed his men
under the embankment of the railroad
intending TO fight from that position
The Colonel had 50 recently arrived that
he was ignorant Of the amount Of Nor
gan's forces, aud, believing that it was &
guerrilla baud OF some few hundreds
sent out a flag demanding a surrender
; but Morgan, being at the head of force
variously estimated Between 5000 anC
! 10000, with 10 pieces Of artillery treat
2 ed the demand with contempt, and soor
E had the town entirely surrounded, which
rendered Colonel Smiths position unten'
. able, and after firing a few rounds from
; the stockade aud embankment, fell bael
| into town and placed the men in the sec
n ond story of the houses around the pub
lie square. This occurred after Morgan
o batteries had opened from the top of th
hills on the south part OF The town, abov
d the cemetery, at abeut5OO yards OF Oh
n court house, completely commanding Oh
D whole town. His firing commenced with
e out any warning 10 the nom eombatants
e including women and children, TO leaV,
It Some OF Morgan's friends contend tina
a he did send warning for women and chill
o dren TO leave in As minutes, but If theT
e was such respite offered II is certain the
n no man, woman, or child heard Of il; an
J. none could leave, for some attempted
" leave town on the Wesi and north sid
e but were fired on and driven back b
Morgan's men. And before half the tin
n pretended 60 be given had elapsed ii
= artillery were banging away, and fire
IN l07 shots Of shell and ball into the tow
d which lay at his meTcy--almost uud'
D, his feet, and the only wonder is that q
NJ town was not battered dOwn.
s. Thirty-six shots took effect on buil'
ings, 10 wit Mrs. Mulholland's, on Il
re opposite side Of the hill, six Shots
be NJ Browns, three shots; Elias Graham
Of tavern, three shots 9. II. Rowells Of
ny shot S Haycraft's Riddle House, occ
us pied by G.. GuRter four shots; DIR. A
'm derson's third story, one shot, killing u
BY men James I. Cully's frame, two sho
Mira. Leadam's, two shots Eagle Hou
on seven shots, killing two men; Mr., Geor
ng J.. Miles house, three shots MasOI
m Hall, one shot; Bapiiai Church, one sh
ng being q shell, went through a king pc
pm letting down girder, and exploding
the attic. The Catholic Church, one sh
IN Nearly all the shot perforated the wa
MS and went through thO buildings, ma
IAN other balls falling Ia gardens, yards, a
lat. Btreets. Colonel Smiths command Oh
20 a great many rounds u muskotry, q
on, evinced a commendable disposition
ln- keep up the unequal and hopeless co
!. bat A ball passed through the 70
en- where Colonel Smith was posted, kill