The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-03

informed you of the recent murderous
affair at Nickajack Trace, on the morn
ing of the 23d April l have secured
further particulars, the perusal of which
which will increase the horror already
pervading the civilized world, in view
Of the atrocities lately practiced by the
rebel troops.
Sixty-four men detailed from the 92d
Illinois, Lieut.. Col B. f. Sheets, COM
manding, were doing picket duty near
Lyles farm, under command of Lieut.
Horace c. Scoville, Company K Eigh-
teen of the men were placed in reserve
near the farm, the rest were distributed
at seven different posts.
The supposition is that regiment of
rebel infantry crossed Taylor's Ridge
during the night, about five miles from
Ringgold, and formed a line extending
from the base of the ridge to the Ala
bama road. This line faced South,
being in the rear of our pickets. Anoth-
er regiment crossed the ridge higher
up the valley, and faced west A body
Of cavalry probably two companies)
came on our pickets from the South,
and smaller body advanced from the
direction of Leets farm. Thus were
our men nearly surrounded by the willy
enemy, before the attack commenced,
and the assault was made simultane-
ously upon all the posts. The enemy 5
cavalry first assailed our videttes,
who retired fighting desperately until
reinforced from the reserve, when
the rebels were temporarily repuls-
ed Advancing again in still lar
ger numbers, they forced our men to
fall back. But the latter soon found
their retreat cut off by the infantry
which had formed in their rear, and
barricaded the road Such was the dis
position of the rebel force, that the re-
serve at Lyle's House, now reduced to
nine men, were cut off from the remain
der Consequently, there was nothing
left for our brave fellows but to surren-
der, or cut their way out, each man
fighting for himself They resolved to
attempt the latter Some desperate
hand to hand contests ensued, and some
chivalric daring was displayed, which
the historian will never record OF the
SlAtY LlCli -lOttl DENA NACeA III
or capture; and with heroic determine
ton not to return to camp until reliey-
ed, they reoccupied the ground from
which they had been driven, although
they knew not at what moment the en-
emy might return to the attack, and
kill or capture the remainder of them.
Of that heroic band, not man came to
camp without orders. Five were killed
four mortally wounded, three severely
wounded, and eighteen missing. Lieut.
Scoville was wounded and captured.
The rebel loss in killed and wounded
must at least have equalled our own
and we took one prisoner
The men speak in high terms OF
Lieut.. Scovilles conduct until he was
wounded; and | am informed that Col
Sheets speaks highly of Sergeant Strock
of Company C and Sergeant Hine OF
Company E. who saved most of their
men, and commanded the party who
reoccupied the field.
Well were it for the honor Of humani
ty, if the tale could end here. But a
more terrible story is to be told. From
the statements Of wounded soldiers, and
of citizens living near the roads along
which the enemy retired, gather the
following facts. l offer no comment
The simplest statement is sufficient to
fire the coldest heart with hatred Of our
cruel enemies, and quenchless thirst for
vengeance.
A citizen saw rebel officer shoot down
one of our men, after he had surrend-
cred and marched some distance with
his captors. The only excuse for the
vile outrage was, that the poor fellow
could not keep up with the fiends who
had taken him prisoner After the Oil
Ger had shot down the man, the citizen
heard one of the rebel scoundrels say
That's right, Cap, give it to him
again"
VIM Chattannach, or Chattnach, a
private in company B, after surrender
ing, was marched off with several others
upon the double quick, until totally un-
able to 90 further A rebel lieutenant
then came ap to him, shot him twice,
the first time inficting a slight, the
second a mortal wound He then left
him, supposing he had killed him.
Shortly after, two rebels came up to
him and robbed him of his pocketbook
and boots One of them said, Let's
scalp the Cd id Yankee" but did
not execute the proposition This state
ment was taken from poor Chattan-
naeh's dying lips.
Reginald O'Connor, company B. was
shot for the same reason, after being
captured.
1t must be remembered that the 92d
Illinois is a mounted infantry regiment
that the men have long been unused to
marching on foot; that they were cap
tured while trying to get to their horses
with the reserve; and that the rebels,
in retiring, required them, on foot, to
keep up with their captors, mounted
George A. Springer and John Grad
dock, company L; George Marie, COM
pany F.; and VIM Reynolds, company
], all make similar statements with re-
gard to themselves.
VIM Hills, company X, was found
dead a mile from the post where he had
stood on picket during the night A
lady living near where he was posted
declared that she saw him pursued by
some rebel cavalrymen On being over
taken, he at once handed over his gun
to one of the saysges, who Immediately
fred the contents of the same into
Hills body, killing him. instantly.
In the case of OConnor, three sol
diers who saw the murder, declare, upon
oath, that it was also committed by 3 re-
bel e6Fcsr.
Such are some Of tho details Of this
stupendJus crime, whose strocity is per
haps unsurpassed even by the bloody
murders recently committed by these
rebel miscreants in West Tennessee and
Kentucky.
The following list Of killed and woun-
ded is nearly complete:
Killed-Gorner McKeel, Co. f. VIM.
Hills, Co X; John Douns, Co B; VIM,
Clifford, Co. II.
Wounded-Reignald O'Connor, Co.
B, fatally; William Chattannach, Co. B,
fatally g. A. Springer, Co. z, fatally
John Craddock, Co. E, severely, not
dangerously George Marie, Co. +, IA
tally; D. w. Butler, Co a, dangerously;
James Rhoades and William Reynolds,
Co /, both fatally.
Of these killed and wounded, two
had not surrendered when shot seven
were either killed OF wounded (all but