Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-19
THE FIGHT NEAR SPARTA, TENN.
RosACRAHs' CRACK CAVALRY RsIGADx WHIPPED ny 4
SINGLE RECmESr og FORESTS TESSEEsSEE
BRIGADE

RosACRASs' CRACK CAVALRY BsIGADX WHIPPED ny
SINGLE RGGmsSr os FoaRE5r's ON TENNESSEE
BRIGADE.
A corr,sp 5ndell Of the atlanta Cohiederscy gives
the fol owing account Of the thrashng administered TO
brigade Of Yankees by regiment OF FORESTS men,
uelr Sparta, Tenn:
On the morning of the oh nsiant the q Michigan,
h Regulars aud 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry under Col.
Minty, attacked the Sh Tennessee cavarJ, Col e &.
Dlbre commanding, Two miles east Of SoIrta, viii re
suited in the Iepule OF the entire gade AID their be-
inc driven tck across the Cancy Fork River. Und,r
the pilotage OF two wei knOwa deserlers from our
amy THEY attempted the surprise and capture of Col
Db.cis sm sat TUey ran in or rather ran over his
pickles at Daylight and so eager were they 70 each the
camp that ey paid but little attention to any Of the
picse s. mo OF whom apsd and afterwards rejOned
their command. t:ary TO their expectation, they
did not fad the COon,l mapping. lie lad thrown out
com oany 10 e. c,s Their advance, aud had dsm united
the balance Of his at tue bridge across the Wild
Uat Cfees Tuey drove this company back tmost with
cut hating aud charged the bridge when about 20 OF
their saddles were empued They then fell back, re
formed, aud charged again, meeting with like recep-
| ton and disc1mh uie.
They then dismouutei and adyaLc Il foot making
the third and lss: ,srge, and again repulsei
| Tue two lines not forty yarts apart whel the
enemy wss forced to retire. Finding they could not
| take the bridge, they s-nt two regimens to cross
above with view to hiuk and COl Dbrells rear. IN
this move as they failed. Leaving enc company
skirm she: az the bridge Colonel Dbrel withdrew tie
balance of regiment Blue Spring Creek, about
| one mile in the rear Of his former position, bis Skin
| mishers falling hack slowly He there a"sted their
| attack but 6njng they not dsp sei ~ renew
| the engagement he ordered b skirmishefs forward
ATTACK them aud drove them back Deep Oat Creek
| thopgh : he he had only 400 men, his advance Wa
necess lry low and cautious The engagement between
| the skirr1isLers and their rear guard kept up
Alter pas sing Deep Dat Greek, and finding the enemy
had left their dead on the field the pursuit
tuuel with more speed, yet with caution. Colonel D
b.el found two miles OF Sparta that two regiments
| mad taken the road to McNuuvle, and regiment
the Spencer road lie pursued the latter across Calf
Kia creek aud forced them to take sc:Oss aGd Join
| the Other two Regiments The weather was warm
and hi. horses aud men faded that, after chase Of
eleven niles he halted his command and returned to
| camp
The enemy occupied the time spen. by Colonel Dit
rel in awaiting their attack a. Bne Spring Greek, in
removing their wounded estm .ted at thItyve forty
in number. All the wounded that could not ride On
horseback were carried ahta OF the column in wagons
buggie and lrrya which they took from the people Ia
Sparta and along the rCai They left six and
horses dead the field AID quite number OF wounded
horses They told the citizens they rstreang
that the expedition rather poor one 10 'hcm-t ut
one of tw1 things certain, etier DibTei had a
whdlaJ,by regiment, or else heydad fought Ike hH-
Colonel Dib ellis lo is four wounded five captured.
li,uL Walker severely wounded, the others slight