The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-12

Tor bold and aassing movements. whicA
doubt not will be initiated by others.
H. w. Haileck, Generai-in-Chief"
4 Series - Cavalry Basases.
Rosecrans had planned to make an
onenave movement against Bragg's
let ~ way OF Columbia. when his REIN
fOScenents should arrive. but the dis
aster at Thompson's Station stunned
him and drove such thoughts out of his
mead. II showed that Bragg had a far
heavier force on that flank than had
Deen supposed. and Il was necessary to
look out more carefully TO the safety
OF Nashville. This feeling was deep
ened by FORESTS bold capture Of the
remainder Of the 22d Wis and 18th
MICH. which had escaped from Thomp-
sons station and taken up positions &C
the fort guarding the crossing of the
harpeth and at Brentwood. far in the
rear or Gordon Granger. who was try.
ting to drive the enemy across Duck
Rfver. These events unfortunately
shook the confidence Of Rosecrans I'm
the character Of the reinforcements he
| was receiving.
| John II. Morgan. who was on the left
OF Rosecrans. was not meeting with as
| much success as Van Dorm on the right
March Is, 1863. Col. Albert S. Hall.
| commanding a brigade I'm which was
his own regiment. the 105th Ohio. the
soth and 123d ILL.,. the l0ist Ind. a sec
4 a
company or Tennessee cavalry, I'm all
| 1900 men, was sent 10 clear out the
guerrilla bands northeast of Murfrees-
boro. These fell back before him. and
Hall cleared out the little towns OF
GAINESVILLE and StatesviIic, and proceeded
to return TO Murfreesboro. John III. Nor
| gan started with "a brigade to intercept
! Halls retreat. The latter handled his
men wariiy and skiiifuily. and finally
/ turned at bay in an excellent position
| near Milton. with his two guns raking
the road Morgan came up. and rely
ing upon his great superiority In num-
| hers promptly attacked. He was un-
able to make any impression upon
Halls firm front. Infatuated by his ILL
success in running over the small force
he had attacked with so much conf
dence. Morgan hurrtedly massed hts
| forces in two columns TO attack stimuli
| taneOusly and savagely from the east
and west. He prepared for this by a
furious cannonade. but the little Union
| band met these bewildering assaults
with the same firmness as before. and
broke the columns on both sides with a
weil-aimed fire. Morgan was beside
himself with rage. and gathering his
men under the cover OF the bushes, re-
| peated his assault I'm front to again re-
ceive bloody repuise. By this time
| he had lost nearly 400 men. and his
dead and wounded covered all sides Of
the sloping hill. Morgan himself was
slightly wounded. and many OF his off,
GERS were more or less hurt. He
! finally withdrew from the field. and
Hall was too weak to pursue and gain
| the fruits OF his victory. Hall. how
| ever. brought back with him. when he
| withdrew. unmolested. to Murfreesboro
So stands Of arms, 10 stands OF arms.
and eight horses. His own loss was one
i Captain and five men killed. one Lieu
tenant and II men wounded, and eight
men missing.
i II was the severest blow that Morgan
had yet received. He had attacked In
open ground 1900 men, with nine regf-
nenta numbering anywhere from g.
500 to 1000 men. and had been beaten
or In fair stand-up Eight. in which he
had exhausted all the resources Of his
4 generalship. The action was important
In showing the Army OF the Cumber-
land how easily the great raider could
be whipped If he was met with reso-
luton.
I (To be continued)