Year: 1864

Ioruncatlohs. Ihey halted here, afraid


to venture further. They left strong


line of skirmishers here, who threw up


earth-worl1s, and the main force retired


to safe distance. This line of skir-


mishers caused US considerable trouble
the following morning So very close


were they, that we could not raise our
flag" One man was shot, while haul
ing it up. Our General wisely con-
eocted plan to "gobble" these fellows,
and must say it was most gallant af>
fair. A Captain of the 18th Michigan
infantry headed select detail and
crept silently down the river bank un-
til beyond the rebels-they then dee
ployed and rushed upon the rebel line,
with" yells" rarely heard The rebels
broke and fed in dismay from their
works, lis surrendered, and several
were killed and wounded This broke
their entire line and they were forced
to fall back out of our range.


They then planted battery above
the town to cut cur pontoon and play
upon the gunboat But the General,
timely anticipating this movement had
a section of Capt. Beach's Battery plant
ed opposite the rebel works Captain
Beach was supported by Col Morgan's
regiment of colored troops. He sue
ceeded in getting the range of the enc
my and blew up two of his caissons,
killing and wounding a great many of
the rebels.


Col Morgan contemplated the posi-
ton of the enemy and the damage of
Capt. Beach's fire. He called up his
boys and said "Nigs, do you think
you can take that batteryY They said,
=" Lead us and we will go where you
do" and he did lead them with his
gallant, fearless heart; he rushed upon
the rebel battery with his colored regi-
ment and captured it. He spiked two
of the guns with his own hands, and
then fell back with loss of 40 killed /
any wounded. He said he knew he
could not bring off the guns, bat there
were those who said the negro would not
fight, and he meant to prove the con-
trary-whieh he did satisfactorily to
every one of this command. To-day
his regiment stands as high in the fight
ing scale as any regiment in this De-
partment


This so completely disheartened the
rebels that further attempts at charging
were thought useless, and they con-
tented themselves to keep up heavy
5kirmish. 1 presume Hood thought we
would either surrender or evacuate if
he threstened US, but he found a COM
mander here who resolved to hold out
until the last man fell We skirmished
during the 29th, the enemy gradually
falling back until he entirely disap-
oeared. Our small force Of cavalry
was insufficient to follow him and we
we're perfectly contented with having
5oiled him in every movement and
k;lled and wounded at least thousand
Of his men, while our loss falls far short
Of hundred.


In closing my sketch of this affair
Mr.. Editor, l would especially notice
he gallantry of those deserving. Of
,ur commanding General l need say
nothing, for he will naturally hold his
we'll earned laurels. To the post COM
nander, Col Doolittle, great praise is
lue for his wise and discreet arrange
nent for defence. Col. Prosser Of the
second Tennessee cavalry and Capt
Beach of the First Tennessee battery
proved themselves able and efficient
,fficers. would cordially recommend
hem for the encomiums of every true
md loyal Tennessean, they are worthy
If all honor, and the First brigade
proved itself capable of doing prodigies
N the battlefield


am, Mr.. Editor, very respectfully,


EXETER"