The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-18
Our FRANKLIN Correspondence.

HEADQUARTERS GEy G. GRASaERs colrms,(
FRAyxIIs, Tenn, March H. 1868. J
me Affair at 7Aompson's Sation--Cnrtuye Of Colonel
Columns Comnand-Tne Pghs-Ms Official Loss-7Ae
Flag Of Truc-Rebd Gas-rap',re II RebI Camp at
Spring Hat-TAe Affair at Rraherfords Crees-Escape Of
the Retcis, dc.
Last Thursday stroke OF III fortune visited the right
wing Of the Army OF the Cumberland whereby colonel
Coburn OF the Thirty third Indiana Volunteers fthon
commanding brigade $500 strong, consisting OF tho
TweSty second Wisconsin, Eightvafth Indiana, Nine
teenh Michigan Ayleshires Eighteenth Ohio battery,
his rcgm ent) lost his command, at rhompsm's
Station, miles south OF this place. He lost II how
ever, af,er n struggle Ia which tho enemy &C
knowledged they badly used and conceded their
purpose-occupyng Franklin and sczng tho stores here
10 be thwarted Generals Van Dorm, Whtneti Wheeler,
Forrest Crosby. Armstrong and Jackson with force
Of ten thousand troops had fairly started upon
OF the grand foragng expeditions for which the West
rebels famous, When they were UNEXPECTEDLY
met and checked by Colonel coburn have already cent
details OF the two days battle at Thomfsns tar AZ
could obtain Them and pntiet investigation furnishes
facts. Later reports however, take the gliding
on the first rebel accounts of thor important Wet ry
and leave the whole thing more evenly balarccd The
grand total Of killed, wounded and prisoners lost
foos up officially to 4o6, % which 10 were Killed AID
1865 wounded, while the rebel lo,s IN the two items Of
Killed and wounded was three times ~ bchy AZ
ours. But they tell OF overwhelming victory"
ana prisoners, guns overcoas. blankets. and 30
IN profusoD which they have tnri cd INTO the rebel
stock its fruits. That C"loucl Cobrn would
have sonndy whipped them had the disparity between
the forces been less than one man against three y ot
doubted even by Van Dorm himself am told by tho
intelligent yeomanry who nhabit the vicinity OF lhomp
sons
Two days after the battle Of General Grangcs's
aids visited tho rebel OUT osts under cover u a9 OF
truce. The nog not received within their lines but
the ludicous distribution OF kentucky whikcy hHNcned
the tongues Of several young rebel officers and they
spoke OF the fight, OF their destiiutin, rrrows md
hopes quito freely ieciingIy They ay contradicted
tho story Of the terrible regiments no
from behudhe stone wall and .aysncea IN anwassr
samples N dark skinned Arkansas and Texan soldiers M
the foundation Of the yarn They were extremely creda.
lous wthal. and detailed for fact rmor that twenty
thousand Of General Grants had been drowned by
the destruction u the cvee y,cksbug Py such so
the courage Of the herd rebels kept up
They confessed they poor, mouncdmapy a their
mon rode mules, that they were poorly fed AID nearly
d. stute VI Shoes hats and body clothing MAJOR Fuller
ton gays men he FULLY corroborated these
ments. Whiskey IN NECESSARY u ilie' ~ which hey
totally destitute and fabulous prices were nercd Or
the contents OF quart comforter which the MAJOR
Rod In his pocket. They well armed. ca man
was well suppi'd with home made cartridges, aud they
claim 10 understand the urc Of rifles thoro Rhly.
Partly 10 retrieve thus III fortune 10 the right wing and
punish Van Dorm, and partly am confident 10 take art
In forward II tho Army Of tho tumbsr
land Major General Gordon Granger command which
CeburnS brigade The advance) moved forward from
Nashville through Franklin, past Surfing il TO Rutber
fords creek the Columbia pike six miles from toum
ba, when sight Of the main body Of Van Dorns
orces. Active skirmishng was Kept up all along tho
cute from Franklin, and 10 a cavalry dash through
Thompson's station hrcc rebels killed aud Of
put mrs du ooata At spring ia pnr main
body occupied the camp vacated by the rebels only
hours b. fore and battle confidently expected the
next day. AT Rutherfordis which reached carly
the following day, found the enemy strongly posted
onta hill commanding the only spot where tho sSollcn
fordabe, and bel des.rsrs gave nforma-
Van Dorn's intention give battle Pre-
pafaions for the river Ia the face the enemys
artillery eight SIX pounders) were actively going at
the ford and above and below Il during the night but
reconnaissance In tho morning only dnclosed tho
presence ~ strong guard, ard forced unon
tho Notifying conclusion that the main
body Of rebels had given the slip. With extreme df
hsuty AMI danger strong force u cavalry forded
the swift stream-loslng two men IN tho export by
drowning and gave chase, hastily following the rebels
the banks OF the Duck river, Gumbiif witnessing
their ESCAPE towards the SJnh after having destroyed
pontcons ferry boats bridge. and every means Of
Ing the stream. General sraDgers cavalry IN strong
force occupy tho whole country frUn betsee
Columbia and this rhoe, actively engaged Ia tho
ing and cleaning business. In the Of the ekfe
diton o. the sight wing, which proved nothing than
reconnaissance In force lost nse men, destroyed
eleven rebels and captured nftecn prisoIers
SEQ nothing 70 Indicate any further movement u this
column until II called upon perform part IN tbs
expected great battle ia tennessee, by which Genef al
Rosecrans Ia 70 decide the fate o. the rebellion.