, 1863-03-20
FROM ROSECRANS' ARMY.

E1kVM hV3EthAHD A4tHk1s
Frnnk1in-Thc Capture OF Coburn,s
CoElmaMd-TheC Co1vardiy Retreat OF /
a Portion OF Col. Cobufnss Force-.t
The l9iam10ms is men ~ iHFiKadier K Gilbert
From Our Own Correspondcut.1
III CANT, 6Pn1Sa H1t1, TENNESSEE
March 10, 1867 O'Clock a. M.
lam seated in Col. BradIey's tent, (head
quarters Of the Sd brigade Of sheridan's diyi-
sion), ono Of four occupants escaping the
drenching rain that all night long, aud up to
this hour Of the morning, has been pouring
down.
Orders haye just arrived from Gen. Granger,
commanding the expedition, which is thus
far on Its why to retrieve Coburn's disaster,
to unhitch teams, erect shelters, and make
ourselves MS comfortable is possible; and as
the probabilities arc that We will lie here
through the day, propose to pass the time
in writing up the events Of the week gone.
hurriedly wrote to you from Nashville, on
Saturday night, intimating my object in 60
ing from Mnrfreesbo1o to Franklin. First
arrived ut the hitter place, I quickly visited
the remnants Of the regiments that were sur
rendered on Thursday By Col. Coburn, Of
which visit the telegraph dispatch Of Sunday
night was the respA I arranged for com-
plete list Of the p4f]Ate soldiers who were
captured, but the movement Of this espedi-
tion early Monday yesterday morning, has
carried me beyond reach Of it.
do not know thnt / have details Of that
unfortunate affair to write up, as I gave You
quite al knew, by telegraph.
AL that escaped men know Of the fight, has
been sent you in the several kilograms, and I
told you on Sunday night Ill that Is known Of
Col Coburn's command after the surrender.
Your information has been meagger enough,
but it Is to be remembered that none Of those
engaged In the hardest fighting escaped, the
tour regiments having been completely suz-
rounded before Col. Columns act OF surren-
uer. Those who did escape we're well in the
rear at the time OF the rebel flank movement,
and BY it cut OF from the main body, did, Us
understand it, at no time vigorously engage
the enemy. The cavalry and artillery, the
l24th Ohio {guaHding train,> and the strag-
glers we're the escaping force, which was fol
lowed BY the enemy to within three miles ot
Franklin, and was saved from destruction, aa
is ayeTred, By the sharp fighting Of the
"horsc," commanded by Col. Jordan, Of the
| 9th Pennsylvania. =.
| Just here, 10 O'Clock a. H., comes Capt. Bob
| Dennison, OF Gen. Sheridans staff, with the
] order & fl mp and march as quickly as posi-
| ble." The panic has ceased Temporarily, Il
seems to mc,) and Gen. Granger orders US or
NTH the Chasc-about which, moro anon.
TUESDAY EyEs1Se-8 o'clock P. N.
The army is encampcd on the north branch
of Ruthertords Greek, and Immediately op
In force. From 10 til . O'Clock Of fhe da1
was consumed In marching from Spring Hi
| to this place. We have been within slot o1
| the rebels all the afternoon, their artillery
plainly Gfsccrnable upon the opposite hills
| and upon our extreme left the cayalry have
been doing some heavy skirmishing, but the
constant soaking rain has prohibited IN ut
tack, and we arc bivouacing the night away
though a clear sky on the morrow may give
us opportunity to whip our adVcrsaries.
Let nc then, to night, resume the narrative
Of he capture of Columns command, which
the mornings march SO suddenly Terminated
aud on the end Of the letter will tack IN &C.
count Of what may occur here up to the houl
Of the coufief'6 morning start for Franklin.
Since arriving at this point, I have seen and
conycrscd with rebel boy prisoner, who was
in the fight at Thompson's Station: The boy
gives ne, however, but little additional III
! formation. He says twas conceded that Col
Coburl,'s Yankees" gave them one Of tht
hardest fights that they ever 1ad. The rebel:
had mounted infantry and cavalry, and frl
upon the little Federal command In over
whelming numbers. The rebels had bat 3:
small forcc to oppose the Federal advance OF
"Wednesday, but on Wednesday night, Will.
fn1 f'rhurt1 Law II, r3tnr they hrontsht NJ
the boy expressed it, perfect clond Of horse
men from Columbia, thoroughly preparing
themselves for Thursdays capture. I coult
gair no information Of The prisoners from til,
boy, only that they appeared to \ be 81 il goo'
Military uAen are disposed to censure Col
Coburn, and 1 have heard the opinion ex
pressed that he ought to BIZ severely handled
for aAo,ring the capture Of his command. Bu
the opinion I expressed by telegraph, still
| prize about ii. Col. Cobu,1 did but obey til
| orders Of superior officers. He advanced, O
he was ordered to do, cautiously and slowly
having tkirmishers ahead and upon cithe
flank, who we're constantly reporting them
selves TIL at length living wall Opposed J. Ii
was strong enough to engage and hold hi
whole command iu close lighting, and at th
| same time swing immense bodies Of me
, | upon his either flank and to his rear.
, rtoM tIauhta oue, LIP tna sqaolnoaA ~
: road, however, and the Fedcrals had an eas
| approach. Their line Of march was Ia Ill
order: Dctachnents Of caFalrr f.om "a Il Hit i
igan, 9th Pennsylvania and 4th Kentuck
commanded by Col. Jordan, Of the 9th Penn
+ eylrania, held tho advance. Then came Il
, "a Wisconsin, commanded by Col. Ctle
followed By five pieces Of tho 18th Ohio Ia
l tcsy, Capt. Alcshire; then the 10Th Michigan
c Col. Gilbert; tile SD and S5tA Indiana, Lieu
t Col. Henderson and Col. j. F. Baird; the
. baggage wagons. followed By the 124th Obi
About II O'clock Col. Coburn first four
. and lis line Of battle was Immediately foru
9 cd-1Le SD and S5th Indiana upon tile rich
supporting three sections of tile battery. a1
the 1:th Michigan aud I'D Wisconsin, upe
r the leff, supporting two sectious of the ba
: few moments, when the enemy developed
! ! strong force upon the right, and opened upe
Z us with Il well directed artillery fire.
, ana 10 charge and cs1ry tie rebel poeitio
: which order the brave !niianians attempt'
to obey, but from behind stone walls al
j. came such deadly yoiley Of shut and sht
l. that they were forced to fall back: just abo
!. this time the rebels began their faux NOV
/ mentI-frst showing themselves in i1lncn
8 force upon our left, their artillery and hors
I men numbering down upon the position 0
:, cut.ied l,y the 10Th Michigan and I'd Wisco
= sin, with the force Of m ayalauchc.
The artillery tel to the rear and the Mic1
ear and Wisconsin bows took position alo1
:. Side tic Indianians. The rebels crowded {
r aud in Il yery short time held the around b
, tween the four doomed regiments and tue
cavalry and artillery suppoft,
iiy knowledge eftle aifair closes he5e. Cc
S Cebourn was fairlv surrouuded, and otter :
n hours manly resistance made surrender
his command, There IL m question hut n
he fonclt braye1v. The rchcls say he did -,
l. Tic Acknowledged snn Of Their losses sho
r that be did. NN''> - ~''~A' 'O7 o@@'
. 1layc no question Int that a1most cva
rcaf,cr viii Yr9,ntnr at ff,c orn,ranf ;ron+;o,,