The National tribune., 1903-08-06
WITH THE
WESTERN ARMY
Continued from first paes.)


the pike north Of Overall's Creek and FIVE
and a half miles north Of Murfreesboro,
which place he learned was garrisoned by
force from 5000 to 10000 strong.
BATTLE AT ovERALL's CREEK.
| Gen. Bate now set Jackson's Brigade
to work destroying the railroad track, and
Slocumbs Battery, supported by three regi-
ments Of the Florida Brigade, commanded
| by Col. Daniel L. Kenan, to reduce the
! blockhouse, which guarded the railroad
bridge over OyeraIl's Creek.
Lieut.. Chalaron commanded the battery,
and worked it with great energy upon the
blockhouse; the sound of his guns reached
the troops at Murfreesboro and brought
reinforcements to the befeaguered garri-
son.
Col. Gilbert NJ. l.. Johnson. 18th Ind.
Cav, was the first to go to the relief OF
the blockhouse. When three miles out
from Murfreesboro, on his way to La
Vergne, he met detachment Of the 9Th
Tenn. Cav, which had been stationed at
OveralTs Creek, retiring from their sta
ton. From these Col. Johnson learned the
situation at the blockhouse. He decided
to go to their relief. He threw out two
companies OF skirmishers. marched for
ward, and soon encountered the enemy's
VINO uiu SipSStu tut titth
and advanced some distance. These men
were driven in, and recrossed the creek.
Col. Johnson depioyed his command and
skirmished with the enemy, who were in
position on the opposite side of the creek
with artillery.
Col. johnson sent a letter by courier to
Maj.-Gen. Rousseau, commanding at Muir
freesboro. calling for reinforcements. In
a short time Maj.-Gen. Robert III. Milroy
n, -,I - IL 81
him the Sth Mimi, Col. NJ. Il. Thomas;
61st ILL.,. Lieut.-Col. Daniel Glass; the
174th Ohio. Col. John S. Jones, and sec
ton of the 18th n. Y. Art, under Lieut..
McGurrin. Gen. Miroy deployed the 6lst
III. as skirmshers, posted his battery on
the bluff of the creek, who engaged in gal
liant style the enemy's battery in po-
sition 800 yards away. and sent the Sth
MINI. to the blockhouse with orders to
cross the creek there if possible and flank
the enemy'S battery. lie now advanced
his skirmishers across the creek. and they
were followed by the 114th Ohio, who
formed in good order. Col. johnson also
crossed with his regiment. The 114th
Ohio advanced upon the enemy, delivering
Il terrific fire; drove them from their po-
sitiOn. and captured Il number Of prisoners.
Night coming on. and the enemy having
disappeared, Gen. Milroy recrossed the
tEbth h!t1 dI HIS Ndlleu
p. H., when, not hearing of the enemy,
moved back to Fortress Rosecrans with
his force. In this brief engagement both
sides lost quite heavily. Gen. Milroy's in
fantry lost 64 killed. wounded and miss
ing; Col. .Iohnson's loss was eight killed,
"a wounded: total Union loss, 106. Gen.
Milroy captured 20 prisoners. The block
house was saved. 1t had received "a shots
from the enemy's artillery, without serious
injury. The garrison covered itself with
glory in resisting an overwhelming force
of the enemy until reinforcements could
arrive.
Gen. Bates command did not retreat; !;
they withdrew beyond the range of the
Union guns and bivOuacked for the night
The next day they renewed their work of
destroying the railroad. Gen. Bate made
dispositions to attack the bockhOnses at
Stewards Creek. Reads Branch and
Smyrna. The small garrisons seeing that
their capture was inevitable if they wait
ed an attack. evacuated these positions.
The stores We're removed by the enemy
and the blockhOuses burnt: the bridges and
several miles of track were also de-
stroyed.
BLOCKADE OF THE CUMBERLAND.
Gen. Hood took active steps to put the
Nashville & Decatur Railroad in running
order, as TO secure supplies for his
army: he also caused the blOckading of
the Cumberland River both below and
above the city of Nashville Gen. Chal
mers established batteries on the river be-
low the city and effectually stopped the
passage of both gunboats and transports.
Lieut.-Col. Kelley, of his command. cap
tured two transports and four barges, Ia
den with horses and mules.
The transports We're rccaptnred by In
ion gunbOats from the city. hut Lieut.-Col
Kelley got away with 81 prisoners and 1871
horses and mules.
The only outlet left open to Gen. Thorn
as was the Louisville Il Nashville Rail
road Apprehensions were felt that Gen.
Forrest would cross the river and cripple
this railroad, and thus isolate Nashville
But instead Of relying on movement
from this army under his immediate COM
mand Gen. Hood, before leaving Florence,
made provision for the destruction of this
railroad, as will be seen from the follow
ing order:
Headquarters, Florence, Ala, Nov. IS,
1864.
Brig Gen. II. b. Lyon Commanding De-
partment of Western Kentucky. through
Maj.-Gen. Forrest, Commanding Cav
airy:
Gen. Hood directs that you will move
at once with your command, crossing the
Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers be-
tween Paducah and Johrsonville, and then
move up the north bank of the Cumberland
to Clarlsville, taking possession of that
place. if possible.
You will place all the mills within your
reach on that side of the Cumberland in
running order, and put them to grinding at
once. You will also destroy the railroads
between Nashville and Clarksvil,e, and be-
tween Bowling Green and Nashville, tax
ing care to keep all the telegraphic COM
municat:Ons between these places constant
ly destroyed. A. P. MASON,
Assistant Adjutant- General"
1t is quite clear that Gen. Hood expect
ed to be able to cross the Cumberland
River with his army and extend his Of
fensive campaign into Kentucky. One of
the important duties imposed on Gen. Lyon
was to "place all the mills within your
his reach on that side Of the Cumber-
land River in running order, and put them
to grinding at cnce."
Gen. Hood seemed to think that mill
tary conditions were quite as favorable
for the Confederate cause in Kentucky
as they were in Alabama and Georgia,
and that mills would be operated without
interruption to supply his army with
bread.
GEN. LYONS RAID.
Gen. Lyon moved from Paris, Tenn,
on Dec. g. to Danvile, on the Tennessee
River, Oh the Sth. He crossed the river
in boats which by his order had been pro-
vided for him. He at once marched across
the country to Cumberland City, on the