Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-03-24
From MurrrecsborO.
MuRFREEsBoRo, Tenn. March 81

nukFkEEsBoRot lenn., march II.
An expedition which went out in the
direction Of Liberty. on Wednesday last,
was attacked. yesterday morning, BY 2, 500
mountsd rebels commanded by the guerrilla
Gen. John Morgan, Our force consisted of
the lOIth Ohio, s60th, and l23d Illinois,
and l0lst Indiana, besides q section of the
18th Indiana Battery and and Capt. Black
burns company Of cavalry, Of the LIST mid.
die Tenne ssee,-the whole under command
ofCol. s. A. Hall. The expedition secuted
through the couDtry in the vicinity of
Gainesville and Liberty On Wednesday and
Thursday, meeting the small -reconpoiter-
ing parties Of the enemy several times,
without, however, succeeding in bringing
On an engagement. Col Hall finally deter
mined to return to Murfreesboro. and, on
Th ursdAy night, he encamted with his
brigade ut Auburn, seven miles this side of
Liberty. ResumiDg his march early yes-
tsFday morning, he I, lt his way cautiously
aud safely as far as the village Milton,
where his rear guard was suddenly driven
in BY the enemy. Col Hall at once threw out
hsnkers to the right and left, and ordered
Cap. Harris section Of artillery to shall
the rebels, who were rapidly advancing on
the geltNp. av lr ..rs. "a s
Perceiving that the enemy outnumbered
hlm two TO one, Col. Hall slowly fell back
" the crest Of a hill, where his men would
have the advantage of a most admirable
position, and could prevent, Mt the same
time, the disaster of being surrounded and
compelled to surrender. The rebels then
opened . fierce FIRE Of shot and shell from
their Battery, and also advanced in strength
GU both our TANKS. Morgan evidently hon.
ed to be able to throw our meu into coufu-
sion while they were tlOwIy refreshing to
the sop Of the hill, and made two direct
charges on our lines for that purpose.
Our ARTILLERY. however, !orced them back.
AT length We occupied the hill. Col
Hall forOed three seperate line Of battls
80 disposed as to command eyery approach
to the bill. At this moment of the fiobt
the rebels made the most . Unborn atteu1ts
on our right and lett, but were driven back
repeatedly with fearful slaughter. The
soldiers of liDois, Ohio, and Indiana rexi-
ments took deliberate aim, and, being at
several places forced to q hand to hand
fight, displayed the most invineibie brs.
very. Our artillery was &c handled as to
do splendid execution. Oue of the euemy's
field pieces, q rTfled six-peunder, was
sbivered to pieces, while shell killed the
gunner beiU4ging to another ......
Morgan, failing to accomplish anything
on our tianks made an attack on the rear !;
but there also was he met and reoulsed.
From our commanding position we poured
such tremendous storm of shot that the
guerrilla gangs were literally moved down.
Again and again the rebels perseyered
until at length, it being . o'clock and the
fight having lasted shree and a half hours.
Morgan withdrew bis command. We had
supposed him to be satisfied, but 10 half
hour be reappeared on our front with re.
inforcements, regiment having arrived
from Woodbury.. lie made feeble attack
again, and withdrew this time in the
utmost confusion, leaving behind, on the
field Of battle, scores of killed and wounded.
1t had been hard day for him, AMI Tor
once 10 his career he had met with an over
whelm'ng defeat. As the defeated rebels.
repulsed by force numbering only half
their number, gelloped away, our bows
raised cheer after cheer, which OILY indi.
Gated their own enthusiasm 90 courage.