The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-30
The Fight at Messy Creek.

About the close Of last month, Cen
Sturgis achieved brilliant victory over
the combined forces of GeneI ais Martin,
Armstrong, and Wheeler, which has not
been noticed publicly as it deserves.
The fight occurred at Messy Greek in
Tennessee. General Sturgis had sent off
two of his divisions Of cavalry to look
after some cavalry of the enemy reported
to be near Dandridge, about ten miles dis
| tant. As soon as daylight appeared, the
| rebels discovered what we had done, they
made vigorous attack on the remaining
force. This be had anticipated, and had
directed the remaining brigade of cavalry,
which was four miles in front, TO fall
back in Gaze of an attack TO Messy Greek,
where he had, unknown to the enemy, =
brigade of infantry and 3 battery.
Another brigade he had sent toward
cambridge. with orders to halt when
four miles out In case it should be less
needed in that direction than Messy
Greek. The rebels under Generals Mar
tin and Armstrong, thinking General
Sturgis had divided his force, came
down upon him like a hurricane, driving
his cavalry, consisting of 4 single brigade,
rapidly before them. Seeing them ad-
vaneiDg 80 confidently, General Sturgis
placed five guns in position on the oppo-
site side Of the creek, next TO the enemy,
and placed two regiments of infsntFy
behind hill near by, TO protect the guns,
In the woods on the left, he placed
another regiment of infaniry. Ga the
rebels came, when our guns opened upon
them They opened their artillery in
return, and, finally, charged upon our
guns, when they were met ty one of the
cavalry regiments, and driven back with
great loss. They then tried to turn Gen.
Sturgis's left through the woods, and
stubborn fight ensued with our infantry
stationed there, the enemy being finally
charged upon by the First East Tennes-
see ca7slry, aud driven back. Ia the
mean time, finding the whole of the
enemy's force in his front Gen. StuTgis
sent for Colonel La Grange, commanding
The brigade four miles out, to return.
which he did very promptly, but almost
too lste to accomplish much, as the
rebels saw him coming, and took to
flight. Oar brave fellows drove them
back beyond The ground we had origi-
nally occupied, but, night setting 10, the
pursuit was reluctantly given up. 1t was
. hard Eight, lasting from l0in the morn
ing until dark. One shell went through
General Sturgis's headquarters, but he
was in the field at the tine, illustrating
the rather strong maxim that the brave
n Nr,rs nj
teen killed and eighty wounded. Oar
men gathered up twenty Of the enemy's
dead and buried them, aud took a good
many Of his wounded into the hospital
The enemy's loss was variOusly estimated
from TWO hundred and fifty to four hun
dred in killed and wounded. The seces-
sion ladies on the road said the rebels
had twenty wagons running all day from
the field, adding: Our poor fellows were
piled in like hogs" There Is no doubt
that the enemy's loss was very great, for
be advanced ever open ground, whilst
our men were greatly concealed by
woods, and hills We took also thirty
six prisoners.
General Foster, in acknowledgement Of
this victory, sent by telegraph fram
Knoxville very handsome note Of thaaks
70 General Sturgis, who in turn address
ed this complimentary order to his
troops:
HE.Do'rEus CAvA1hY CoRPs, AEsY or rHE OHo,l
Moss CREEg, TIM, Dec. %, 1855.
Orders.
The Commanding General takes pleas
ure in congratuIatiBg the troops Of this
command upon the eminent and complete
victory they have this day achieved
against the combined forces Of Generals
Martin. Armstrong, and Wheeler.
We must not forget however, that
our success wss achieved through the
less Of many of our brave eomrades-in-
arms, whose names will occupy, for all
coming time, bright aud enViable place
in the history Of cur country.
At the proper tine, is viii be the pless-
ant duty Of the commanding General 10
call the attention Of thu commander Of (
the DEPARTMENT to individual cases Of
meritorious conduct
By order of Brig Gen. STURaIs.
WI. G RAWOLLE,
Can't. Add'I A. d. c., snd A. A. A. g.