The Disaster at Murfreesboro.

Nashville Daily Union
July 19, 1862
p. 2, c. 1

We had a conversation of some length yesterday with Dr. Butler, Surgeon of the 3rd Minnesota regiment, in reference to the recent skirmish at Murfreesboro. Dr. Butler seems to be a gentleman of intelligence and candor, and his statements may no doubt be relied on as giving a correct account of that most unexpected disaster. The first report we published stated that this regiment fought desperately from the attack in the morning until late in the evening.—This is a great error. Dr. Butler says the fight with the Minnesota regiment lasted a minute or two, and their wounded five, and one missing! Early in the morning, Colonel Lester led his men out of camp half a mile at the edge of a wood, and drew up his men in line of battle, with the battery at each end.—The guerrillas charged on them about seven o'clock, but being received with a sharp cannonade, wheeled off at right angles and rode away, with the exception of ten who got within our lines, and were either dismounted or killed. The rebels dashed away into the camp, when they killed Corporal Green of company I, and Private Woodburn of company C, who was sick in his tent. Only twenty soldiers had been left to guard the camp. Our wounded were Privates C. H. Turnely, company K; W. H. Doil, company E; J. Fogelson, company E; Charles Johnson, company B; A. H. Lewis, company H; and _____ Green, teamster—all slightly injured.

The rebels rode off discouraged at the appearance of things, and twice afterwards rode back and returned to the town, declaring that the regimen could not be taken! The Michigan 9th had been taken by surprise, but 175 of the men had rallied and drove back the enemy. Seventy-five guerillas dismounted and charged as infantry; but were repulsed. The best fighting was done by a company of the regiment which was in the Court house in the town, who killed ten of the enemy as they attacked them. The rebels say that the artillery shot over their heads, some balls cutting off tree tops, and others passing over the town! Only one man was found killed by cannon shot, his leg being shot off at the knee. He bled to death; his horse also being killed under him.

But one of our artillery was wounded—his hand being blown off by accident. The Ninth Michigan lost 14, killed and 63 wounded. The guerrillas despairing almost of taking the Third Minnesota, had fired our commissary stores, and were making preparations to fall back, when Col. Forrest said he would see if he could not scare Col. Lester into a surrender. He then sent in a flag of truce and Col. Lester rode into town and held a conference with him. He came back and told his officers and men, nearly all of whom were eager for a fight, that there were at lest 3,500, and perhaps, 5,000 cavalry preparing to attack them, and that they must surrender, as it would be useless to resist! The men wept like children with mortification and rage; but Col. Lester, who had been stupified ever since the alarm had been given, and utterly paralyzed with fear, and would list to no remonstrance, and so the regiment of fine, stalwart men, admirably drilled and armed men, give up to a parcel of cavalry, numbering about 1,000, armed with shot-guns. Lieut. Greenleaf had asked Col. Lester to allow him to take a company to protect the Camp, but was refused. The Colonel also ordered the surgeons and ambulances to the most exposed part of the field, when they were in imminent peril of their lives, and also refused to let the wounded be carried off to a house, keeping them until two o'clock in the broiling sun. His excuse was that it was impossible to tell what movement they would have to make! Dr. Butler says, and we rejoice for the sake of humanity to record the fact, that the citizens of Murfreesboro' showed kindness to the wounded and humanity to the dead without distinction. Let it be told everywhere to their credit, so that there may be an oasis in the drearly [sic] desert of war known throughout the land. It was with feelings of deep humiliation that Dr. Butler, whose narrative was confirmed by others, related these facts to us, and it is with deep mortification that we record them, but justice to the brave men who were victimized by an utterly incompetent leader imperiously demand of us a recital of the fact. Had a man of coolness and self-possession been their Colonel they would have repelled the guerrillas with scarcely a blow. There would have been no difficulty in bringing off the entire force to this place, but even this was not necessary. They could have held their position triumphantly. Perhaps we should say in justice to General T. T. Crittenden, that he had just arrived from Indiana, and had not taken command. A finer body of men than the Third Minnesota we never saw, and we deeply sympathize with them and their misfortune. Let their fate serve as a lesson to other regiments and companies, to be careful of their choice of officers.

Article transcribed by Vicki Betts.