The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-01-27
TIE igth TnpSrssHE.

Correspondence of the Rebel
WINCHESTER TENEEssEE,
Jany. 22d, 1868.
Mr.. EDroR Your space know is valuable, but
must ask the favor of brief notice Of the part taken
in the battle at Murlreesboro by the 18th Tennesses
regiment
The value of close, hard training of rigid discip'
line, in a word, the constant lalNous discharge Of
duty as all admit the officers of this regiment had
been doing since they took command of IT, was 50
freely shown by this regiment in this battle, that for
no other reason the facts should be freely known.
Genl Johnsons commanding the brigade, freely
merits all that your correspondent Bullet says
about him, and the whole brigade in that fght did
its duty nobly and pleasing feature is that there
is no dsCord between the different commands of that
brigade and especially is there none in reference 70
thepart taken by zach on that mem orable bloody
field. Your correspondent Bullet says the brigade
captured eleven guns and that Capt. Darden brought
of five guns This is literally true, but simple JUS
tlce requires that some details should be given. The
galaut Darden and other officers Of the brigade will
sheerfuy award the honor to whom it belongs.
a battery rarely if ever, captures battery, and
Captain Darden himself, would not pretend that he
captured the five pieces Of Artillery drought off by
him. The arst four guns were captured in a desper
ate and bloody charge by the 18th Tennessee reg.
ment alone, in which Col Marks was shot down, bad
ly wounded by canister shot, just before reaching
the enemy's battery; his Adiutant Jimmy Fitzpat,
rick, boy only Is years old, was the first to reach
the enemy's guns, and took formal possession by
throwing his sword aor0ps one OF the guns-h he was
Immediately shot down, severely wounded in the
thigh by minnie ball, The regiment Immediately
moved forward, while the right of the brigade was
held in check by strong Federal ierce, such being
the mpetuoaity Of the boys, that It, Col. Floyd be-
ing now in command felt safe in saying forward
And nobly did they press forward making many a
Yankee pay tho penalty for his past outrages upon
old men, and helpless women
The regiment soon discovered another battery,
near.a Yanke hospital Without ceremony they made
war upon IL, and after desperate fight of half an
hour they drove this battery (Which had been all tho
time playing upon the right of tho brgade) from is
position, compelling II to beat hasty retreat leav.
ing ono Of is guns, which was taken Here the 18th
captured many prisoners at and around the hospital
and two wagon loads Of ammunition, besides O NUNS
ber Of mules All this time the right of the brigade,
composed OF the 25th 4lth and 37th Tennessee regi
ments, was making desperate fight, and when IL
succeeded In dsl2dsing the enemy from his position
came mp and reisrmed upon the ground taken by the
l7th. In the mean time the 23d Tennessee regiment
Being on the left Of the 18th, had come up, having
made gallant fight, aud driven its immediate ad.
yersary from the field. Upon reforming the brigade
II moved forward and again the 18th, aided by the
gallant Esd In advance Of the balance of tho brigade
when was still contending with an enemy TO the
right, made desperate and gallant charge upon
another battery strongly supported by infantry and
took u, and held IT, tlmaking terrible havoc among
tho retreatlng foe, until their comparative weakness
WAS discovered and upon the line to tho right, being
compelled to recede leaving them unsupported, and
the enemy in great force moving upon thom, they
were compelled to give up the guns taken Here they
gallant Major Davis,
The whole brigade was about 1000 strong, and lost
about COO men, of these the nth regiment about 600
shcng, lost about 24O.
have seen copy OF 1t. Colonel Floyda report,
and gather tho material facts above stacd theserom
and there s no controversy 10 the brigade about them,
The ohcers in this brigade are liberal high toned
gallant set Of men, and will not In the least, am
sure, condemn or criticso this truthful statement,
which but doesa noble, and brave regiment simple
Justice,
Upon passing ever tho ground, where this regiment
iought the day after the BATTLE dead Yankees by the
hundred told what had been done. Il Is due 10 the
gallant Col Floyd To state that the whole regiment
bear willing test imony that he was ever In the hot
test Of tho lght leading his men, after tine Colonel
fell.
-----r----s - s---t --.-...---
pSE~ Il is an idle waste Of time te attempt to
shame the Yankees about their can't and hv.