The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-25

corn and wheat field, skirted by hills apt
woods on its north and east sides. Tn,
position was q good one, and might have
been held 20 advantage for a much Longer
time than IL was, but for the cooperation
of the gunboat Moose, the only one Of III,
fleet which arrived in time to participat,
in
TTrE FIGHT.
The rebels had their artillery placed
on the highest elevation on the east, and
completely commanded thePomeroy road
over which Gen. Judah's force, hereto.
fore enumerated by your correspondent
came filing along, unaware of the close
proximity Of the enemy. II should be
noted here that the old stage road "a
POmefoy, over which Morgan came, and
the lower road travelled by Judah, meet
in an acute angle three-quarters of q
mile from the battle Geld. Our column
came along the lower road within range
at six o'clock, having marched all night,
having started from Pomeroy, and was
not as fresh by five or six houra' rest as
the enemy
The rebels met us in solid column, and
moved ip battalions, and at the first fire
repulsed our advance, which was too far
ahead 10 be assisted by our artillery.
This was the beat opportunity they had
to make a successful fight, but we fell
back TO bring forward our artillery, and
the enemy did not seem TO care TO follow
up the advantage. During this encoun :
ter, Captain Jno, J. Grafton, of General
JudaRs staff, became separated from Che
advance and narrowly escaped capture,
by shooting, as he represents, the rebel
cavalryman who seized him. He was
dismOun,ed and being left on the ground
made his way with considerable difficulty
to the river, where he hailed the Moose
and got aboard. Meantime the fight pro-
gressed, but in dssultory manner, until
our artillery got into position and our
lines were drawn closely around the
enemy. A furious onset was made on
our side and the rebels were driven over
the field eastward and sought the shelter
Of the woods beyond.
COOPERATION OF THE oUNBoAT.
No more fortunate circumstance could
have transpired for the Union force than
the escape of Capt. Grafton to the gum
boat Moose, for be pointed out TO Lieut..
Commander Fitch the exact position of
the rebels, and enabled that officer to so
direct his guns as to throw shell in thoir
very midst The Moose is armed with
twenty-four FOUNDER Dahlgreen guns, the
most accurate and effective gun in the
service for operating against exposed
bodies of men, and on this occasion the
weapon did not belle its character. A
dense fog, however, prevailed, which
prevented Lieut.. Fitch doing as great
execution in the rebel works as he de-
sired, but his shots from the larboard
and forward guns told, and an extensive
scattering took place. The Moose opened
at seven o'clock, and as the rebels were
driven she kept steadily moving up
stream, throwing shell and shrapnell over
the heads of our lads into the ranks Of
the enemy.
IL now became evident that the rebels
were being pressed in all directions, and
that hard fighting would not save them
from destruction.
ATTEMPrTo CROSS INTO VIRGINIA.
A simultaneous rush was then made
for The river, and throwing away arms
and even clothing, large body ran down
TO the shore, some with horses and some
without, and plunged into the stream.
The point chosen TO effect the crossing
was one mile and half above the head
of Bufiington Island, and the movement
would undoubtedly have been attended
with siderable success but for the
r,vaoaroa nd x,arfar.,aay,aa of tIa s,,,, boaf
Tho crossing was covered by a twenty
FOUNDER Parrott and a twelve-pOund
howitzer dragged into position by the
rebels In their hasty retreat but before the
guns could oe loaded and sighted the bow
guns Of the Moose opened on the rebel
guns and drove the gunners away, after
which the pieces were captured. Some
twenty or thirty men only succeeded in
crossing into Virginia at this point. Sew
eral were killed in the water, and many
returned TO the shore. While this was
transpiring on the river, the roar of bat
tie was still raging on the shore aud
back into the country. Basil Duke, un-
der whose generalship the fight was con-
Quoted, was evidently getting the worst
Of it, and his wearied gangs OF horse
thieves, cut throats aud nondcscripts
began 70 bethink them only Of escape
Many threw down their arms, and were
taken prisoners and sent TO the rear
Others sought the shelter Of trees, or ran
wildly from one point TO other, aud thus
exposed themselves far more 10 the dead
ly chances Of the field than if they had
displayed courage and stood up TO th'
fight
RETREAT or THE ENEMY.
A running fight next ensued, as the
main force Of the enemy retreated az
stream toward point on the Ohio shore
opposite Belleyille, Va. The retreat wai
made as rapidly as possible, but eonsid-
erable confusion was apparent The
gunbOat kept almost ahead Of the retreat
ing column, and, when practicable, threw
shell over the river bank toward it. i
is said that the retreat was headed By
Morgan, for Basil Duke was taken pris
oner In the early part Of the fight but i
was as rapidly followed up as possible
The Moose reached Belleyille in time Il
fire upon the first party that attempted
y 10 cross the river. The crew report eigh
or nine killed and several wounded il
the water, but twenty rebels or more 60
safely ashore in Virginia. Il shoul
! hnua l...r. - 49, e.. Co..