The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30
AND DEMOCRAT
BATTLES AT MURFREESB0R0.
EIGHTH MINNESOTA ENGAGED.
Fourteen Men Instantly Killed.
Seventy-six Wounded and Many
Mortally.
Full List of Names,
From Our Regular Correspondent.


MuRFREEsBoRo, Tenn, Dec. Is, 1864.
To the Editor Of tie Pioneer:
Events have been crowding upon US thick
and fast for about three weeks, and we have in
this portion of middle Tennessee been as far
| removed from all intercourse with the world
outside as we were last summer in the battes
on the Little Missouri.
Gen. Hoods rebel army made its appearance
between this point and Nashville during the
| latter part Of last month. and the outer wave
Of his hungry ragamufiins has ever since been
| surging around this town and the fortiheations
which defend it, They evidently anticipated
an early conquest of this important position,
but they were sadly disappointed in their ex~
! pectations. Fortress Rosecrans had been lately
much strengthened, and about 10000 troops
| concentrated here for its defence, the whole
under command Of Gen. Rosseau. The rebels
have been in considerable force around the
works, but no attack has taken place, for The
simple reason, probably, that as soon az they
came near enough our forces sailed out ard
| routed them.
We have, however, been in a constant fever
| Of excitements and activity. The distant boom-
ing OF artillery indicating a collision between
the main armies in the direction of Nashville;
the nearer thunder Of the rebel guns catering
away at blockhouses on the railroad within
few miles Of US; the rattle Of mUsketry be-
tween our pickets ano yiGettes and those ofthe
enemy the drum aud fife aud bugie, sounding
the assembly Of our regiments--some to man
the works and Others with colols flying march
ing out to meet the toe: and, last, but not
least, the shock Of battle between our own
forces and the rebel troops, sometimes within
view OF the fortress--an this aad much more,
has made business sufficiently lively for o.di-
nary purposes.
The Eighth Minnesota Regiment has borne
its full share OF the burdens, ana reaped
heaped-up measure of glory, in the battles
which have taken place around here. Her
col0rs have been carried through two storuns
Of ire, ana have half dozen times waved de-
tance at the enemy when they decl.ued az
encounter.
On the 4Lh Of December the rebel forces at
tackled / block house On the Railroad tive
! miles from here toward Nashville. Three OF
four Regiments went to its relief under COM
mand Of Gen. Milroy, the Eighth Minnesota
| among the number. The latter however ras
held in reserve, and OILY came in on the home
stretch, after :he heaviest fighting was over,
| and the rebels were on the run. Its loss was
out few wounded, and only one seriously
| Barney, Of Company II.
Wednesday, the 7th, was more Important
! day. The rebels, with infantry, artillery and
| cavalry, had approached IN force within two or
/ three miles Of our works, and had taken
! stand. Oh that morning Gen. Ailroy again
| tco6, command Of about 5000 men, md six
! field pieces, aud proceeded 70 yeeonnoirre the
| position OF the enemy. Making 3 detour Of
| several miles he came upon the rebel forces
| about noon. Heavy artillery firiug irnrnedi-
| ately commenced at shor. range, ano which
! was kept up for some tirue. Sen. Milcoy kav-
| ing ascertained the precise state Of affairs, so
disposed of his forces IS to turn the enemy S
| LETT flank and avoid the more formidable works
il his front The Eighth Minnesota, with
the 6ist Illinois ON the right. and the l1tth
! Ohio on the left, we're the attacking party.
| the remainder being held in reserve. After
some delay in perfecting the arrangements.
| owing to obstacles in the way, daring which
| We were exposed to severe artillery Are, the
line was finally formed under cover OF a strip
OF timber, skirushe.s thrown out, aud the
line moved forward. Clearing the woods,
nothing but an open field quarter of mile in
width separated us from the rebels, whose line
was on the opposite side of the field, Just In.
SIDE OF another piece Of woods, and supported
by four pieces o. artillery. As soon "a we
emerged from the timber, we became exposed
to storm Of musketry. Shot ana shell, severe
in the extreme, but there was no hating until
bali the intervening space was cleared, when
the Eighth Minnesota and 61st Illinois were
ordered to lie down, to enable The accomplish.
meat OF some movement on the left Afte,
being thus for some minutes exposed TO q fire
| almost unparalleled ia its intensity the rneu
arose and dashed forward upon the enemy with
yel!s and shouts that a band Of Backfoot Ind.
couldans not have surpassed, and returning
| the fire Of the enemy with vigor that aston
ished them. Their line gave way, doubled up
and finally they commenced to fly panic-strek.
en-, the raen throwing away guns clothing
haveysacks everything that irnpeded their
fight. Our pursuit however was for mile
almost equal to their stampede. The Eighth
Minnesota being directly in front of the rcbe
battery rushed ny to the very muzzies of she
guns, which blazed away necessarily, and two
: Of which--brass 12-pounders, complete--wert
abandoned, the caunoniers joining In the hastJ
rebel exit from that vicinity. Nearly 800 pris
oners completed the trophies Of that days
work. It was complete victory, The rebels
| had. according to their own accounts, 4, 500 in
; fantry, under Gen. Bates, several Thousand
cavalry under Gen. Forrest, and four pieces o.
( artillery; while our force in the fight was but
three Regiments, of less than 800 men, TIT
Eighth Minnesota having SIS men.
The loss Of the Eighth was heavy, mnch
greater than that Of any other regiment. -Four
teen men were instantly killed and seyenty-si,
wounded--many of the latter MORALLY. Thu
following is correct list of the casualties
OmetaI List of Casualties.
T. s 0 frELD AID STAFF.
Wouaded-Lt Col. Henry c. Rogers, severe
ly in right arm; Sergeant Major john Hartley
slightly.