NASHVILLE "UNION" ACCOUNT.

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, April 11, 1869. We have been so much accustomed of late to skirmishing, that any serious thought of an attack on this place was not entertained, and even when, on yesterday, about one P.M., the firing became continuous, no excitement was manifest either in the citizens or soldiers. Not until the loud yells of the advancing rebels, and the furious flight of some of our cavalry through town, accompanied by numbers of riderless horses, were we aroused to the belief that any thing more than a demon

delivered their fire, until they again became the front company, when they again retired as before. In this manner, though exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, we kept them on a pace less than double-quick, until we gained the town, where we took advantage of houses, yard-fences, hedges, etc., which we converted into rifle-pits, from whence we poured into the enemy's ranks a murderous fire. The right and left regiments of his line were repulsed, and they retreated to his main reserve; his centre only passing into the town. For this they were severely punished by our continuous fire and soon retreated in the utmost constration was intended on our front, and ere we fusion. We saluted their retreating and confused ranks as we had welcomed their approaching line of battle, with a murderous fire. After they had fallen back, several pieces of his artillery, which he had placed in battery near our picket post on the Columbia road, opened on us with grape and shell. Our batteries and siege-guns at the fortifications then opened on them and drove them from the field.

At five o'clock P.M., our regiment was again formed near the pontoon-bridge, from whence in a few minutes we moved forward and again took our former position at our guard-lines.

had time to take a calm glance at the subject, the matter was decided by seeing our own and the rebel cavalry coming down our main street pell-mell, ours slightly in advance, but the rebels "gaining on 'em" every jump. They dashed through town, and some of them reached the pontoon-bridge, under the very muzzles of our guns.

So sudden and impetuous was the charge, that every one was taken by surprise, and no doubt its very boldness saved them to some extent. Dearly, however, they paid for it, as a very small proportion of them escaped either death or capDuring the action every officer and man did his ture. Van Dorn advanced on the Columbia pike duty nobly. My commands were promptly obey-with a battery of artillery. Cosby came by the ed and executed under a heavy fire of the enemy, Lewisburgh pike, while Starnes and Forrest were with a promptness that would do credit to the or- essaying to make the rear of our works by a road dinary drill on the parade-ground. Capts. Meag-crossing the Harpeth three miles east of town, her and Ent, First Lieuts. Roop, Allen, and Smith, and known as the Nichol Mill Road. In anticiand Second Lieuts. Peck and Harp, each com-pation of this move on their part, Gen. Granger manding a company, and the only companies en- had sent a large body of cavalry, under Gen. Stangaged, deserve particular mention. ley, to guard that crossing and check their adOur loss was, killed, three; wounded four; vance. Meantime Cosby's force advanced on and missing ten. Their names accompany this our pickets, (Fortieth Ohio,) who fought them report. The enemy's loss was: killed, two cap-most handsomely for an hour or more, but finally tains and fifteen men; wounded, one major and thirteen men, and thirteen prisoners, beside over one hundred horses, riderless, escaped within our lines and were taken.

In reporting their loss, I only mention those who fell in our (Fortieth Ohio's) hands, except the horses. He took with him the greater part of his killed and wounded. His total loss may be safely estimated at one hundred and fifty in killed and wounded.

April 10, 1863.

I have the honor to be, Colonel, your obedient servant, CHAS. G. MATCHETT, Captain Commanding Fortieth Ohio. Official list of killed, wounded, and missing of the Fortieth Ohio volunteer infantry, in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., April tenth, 1863: KILLED-Orderly Sergeant Wilson Burrows, company A; privates Washington Link and Thomas Huntington, company C.

fell back under cover of our guns. The rebels formed and advanced until within range of our siege-pieces in the fort, planting their battery west of the Columbia pike and firing into the town. Our battery fired shell into their lines, and succeeded in forcing them back and breaking them. We had some fine artillery practice, indicating great skill on the part of our gunners.

WOUNDED-Privates Alpheus Babb, company B; Martin Woolether, company C; Samuel I. Morrow, company B; and James Bradley, company C.

When they had fallen back from our front we heard continuous firing from the forces of Stanley. Here the Fourth regulars distinguished themselves by one of the finest charges of the war, capturing the rebel artillery and two hundred prisoners, but which unfortunately we could not hold, and all the artillery, with most of the prisoners, were retaken. Our loss on this part of the field was slight, not amounting to more than twenty, that of the rebels unknown, as they carried off their dead. Infantry reenforcements were sent out from here, but the rebels fell back toward Spring Hill. The fight near town resulted in the loss to the rebels of fifteen killed, including two captains and one lieutenant, six MISSING Sergeant Jesse Norain, Elwood Hale, wounded, and taken, including a major, and and John Fleming, company B; Albert Williams, twelve prisoners. The total number of prisoners Wilson Olney, Oscar Duvall, and Samuel Hub taken here and by Stanley is about seventy; bard, company A; Adam Suverly, Wallace Ben-among them several officers. Captain Freeman, nett, and Michael Madigan, company C.

of Freeman's battery, (rebel,) is among the killed.

SIR: In pursuance of Special Order No. 66, with the Fifty-fifth Illinois volunteers, part of the One Hundred and First Illinois, and part of company A, Fourth Illinois cavalry, on the thirteenth March, with the steamers Chancellor and Fanny Bullitt, all proceeded to Deer Creek Landing, in American Bend. I found the cotton, and held it, on the fourteenth. On the fifteenth March, Colonel Ferguson's cavalry attempted to burn the cotton, appearing with about sixty men. On the sixteenth, Colonel Malmborg, of the Fifty-fifth Illinois volunteers, concluded he could not hold the position. On this account, I proceeded with the steamer Chancellor, to Lake Providence, and obtained the A REFUGEE from Richmond, who left that city Eleventh Illinois volunteers and the Fourteenth on Tuesday, gives an interesting account of the Wisconsin volunteers, under General Ransom. riot of the second instant. Considerable excite We arrived on the seventeenth at eight A.M.ment had prevailed for some time in consequence

troops about Richmond was very demoralizing. The authorities are much exercised over it, and the greatest vigilance is enjoined upon the police force. The leading men of the city attempted to circulate the report that the women were 66 Irish and Yankee hags," endeavoring to mislead the public concerning the amount of loyal sentiment in the city, but miserably failed. The fact of their destitution and respectability was too palpable, and the authorities are forced to admit the conclusion that starvation alone incited the movement.

of the exorbitant prices, and rumors of a popu- daily increasing. Another uprising is feared, and lar movement had been in circulation for several precautionary measures for its suppression have days. Females had begged in the streets and at been instituted; but great uneasiness is felt the stores until begging did no good, and many throughout the city, and merchants are adding to had been driven to robbery to sustain life. On the strength of doors and shutters in every possithe morning of the second instant, a large meet-ble manner. The effect of this riot upon the ing, composed principally of the wives and daughters of the working classes, was held in the African church, and a committee appointed to wait upon the Governor to request that articles of food should be sold at government rates. After the passage of sundry resolutions the meeting adjourned, and the committee proceeded to wait upon Governor Letcher. That functionary declined to take any steps in the matter, and upon urging the case the ladies were peremptorily ordered to withdraw. The result of the interview was soon made public, when a body of females, numbering about three hundred, collected together and commenced helping themselves to bread, flour, meat, articles of clothing, etc. The entire city was at once thrown into consternation. Stores were closed, the windows barred, doors bolted, and every precaution taken against forcible entries; but hatchets and axes in the hands of women rendered desperate by hunger made quick work, and building after building was rapidly broken open. The destruction commenced on Carey street, above Fifteenth street, and was becoming general in that section of the city, when the City Guard, with fixed bayonets, arrived at the scene of operations. A few individuals attempted to resist the women, but without success. One man who struck a female was wounded in the shoulder by a shot from a revolver, and the threatening attitude of those armed with hatchets, etc., intimidated others from attempting force. The Mayor soon appeared, and, mounting a stool on the sidewalk, proceeded to read the riot act. During the reading of that document a portion of the crowd suspended operations, but no sooner had the Mayor concluded than the seizure of provisions commenced again more vigorously than before. At this juncture an attempt was made to arrest the more violent; but the party immediately scattered, and, entering Main street, resumed operations.

Troops are being hurried up from Richmond to Fredericksburgh. There is still a large force in the vicinity of Richmond; but these, it is believed, are about to leave for the Rappahannock. Fortifications are being thrown up on the Rapidan River, and the force in that section is being augmented. No work is going on upon the defences about Richmond. Two gunboats (iron-clads) are afloat in James River. The Virginia has been trying to get below the obstructions, and now lies near Drury's Bluff. The third is unfinished, but is rapidly approaching completion. The iron works are worked to their utmost in the manufacture of munitions of war; but the iron is of miserable quality, and many of their projectiles contain pieces of stone.

The railroads have almost entirely given out, and no material is to be had for their repair. Great despondency prevails, and the events of the next three months are awaited with most absorbing anxiety.

REBEL NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT.

gone to the country will be counteracted.

Happily these daylight burglaries are undergoing judicial investigation. A great part of the stolen goods has been reclaimed. The ringleaders are being arrested; they will be tried and punished. A full account of the affair, from its obscure origin to its disgraceful culmination, will be Governor Letcher then appeared, and, mount-made public, and the exaggerations that have ing a vehicle in the centre of the street, addressed the throng, characterizing the demonstration as That there was any just ground for the shamea disgrace and a stigma upon the city, and an- ful disturbance of Thursday no one believes. The nouncing that but five minutes would be given more it is looked into, the more causeless it apthem in which to disperse. If in that time the pears. Doubtless there is much suffering in the order was not complied with, the troops would city. But the fund voted the poor was by no be called upon to act. Again the crowd broke means exhausted; the churches were willing and up, and in a few moments burst into the stores abundantly able to relieve distress; private on Franklin street. But little damage was done benevolence had not once been appealed to. No here, however, and the riot finally subsided, but petition, no remonstrance had been made; yet, not until after the arrest of about forty of the on a sudden, a hundred or a hundred and fifty women, and the promise of the Governor to re- well-dressed, plump-cheeked women, led by a lieve the wants of the destitute. A large amount virago who is known to have made a fortune by of bread and bacon was carried off, and all en-market-gardening, and cheered by a rabble of gaged in the riot succeeded in getting a good supply of provisions. Steps have been taken to provide for the immediate wants of some of the families; but great suffering still prevails and is

gamblers and ruffians, who are protected here by the special toleration of the confederate, State and municipal governments that misrule this unhappy city-all of a sudden this throng of courte

-Richmond Whig, April 6

Doc. 164.

GOVERNOR VANCE'S APPEAL

TO THE PLANTERS OF NORTH-CAROLINA.

sans and thieves assembles in the Capitol square, confederate government is scared out of its wits organizes, and proceeds to break open stores-because a parcel of women broke open a store to get what, forsooth? Not meat and bread, and stole a pair of shoes? but boots, shoes, silk dresses, tobacco, jewelry, brooms and the like. These the Mayor in his investigation last Friday, suggests pertinently, are not articles of food. But there is a proof more convincing than any yet given of the absurdity and falsehood of the plea, that this row was occasioned by suffering for food or clothing, and that is the fact, substantiated by every house- THE peculiar calamities which often befall a keeper in the city, that notwithstanding high nation struggling for its existence are about to prices and scarcity of provisions, there have been come upon us in the shape of a scarcity of profewer applications for charity than in any previ- visions and a threatened famine. While it is still ous winter for many years. The entire absence believed there is enough in the country, if fairly of beggars at a time like this, and in a city so distributed, it is certain there is none to spare, crowded by idlers as Richmond, is very notable. and there is danger that insufficient preparations The writer of this article can testify, that during will be made for the ensuing season, and that a the whole winter he has encountered but two considerable proportion of the labor of the counbeggars, one of whom, an obvious impostor, want-try will be devoted to the production of crops ed to fight because her veracity was doubted, other than breadstuffs. while the other set upon him with the stunning The Legislature having adjourned without tak petition for "a quarter to buy a catechism!" ing action to prevent this much dreaded state of The truth is, this petticoated foray was political things, and it not being deemed expedient to call in its origin; as the simultaneous disturbances it together again so early after its adjournment, I in other cities indicate, and as the evidences be- have deemed it my duty to address you in this fore the Mayor will yet prove. extraordinary manner, praying you of your own will to avert it. And I am confident that the large-hearted patriotism-the wonderful generosity which last year filled to overflowing the storehouses of our quartermasters, in response to my call in behalf of our naked soldiers, has not yet deserted the farmers of North-Carolina.

By universal consent there is allowed to be but one danger to our speedy and triumphant success, and that is the failure of our provisions. Our victorious soldiers now constitute the best army in the world. Arms and munitions are abundant. Time and experience have given us admirable leaders, and every thing is prosperous and hopeful except in the fields and work-shops, Every thing depends now upon the industry and patriotism of the farmer. Now that so many brawny arms which were wont to hold the plough have gone into the ranks, unless those still at home strain every nerve to produce bread, our

If there be a soul of good in things evil, this ridiculous affair may be turned to account. It ought to put a stop to hoarding, to suppress speculation, to induce producers to bring in supplies, to make the government facilitate transportation, and to clean out the gamblers, loafers, and ruffians, stock, lock, and barrel. Let Congress at once pass a law requiring every man to show that he is engaged in some honest, useful calling or else go into the army forthwith. In this way the five and twenty gambling-houses that feed every day nearly as many thousand idlers, and thereby run up the price of provisions, will be swept away. And let our high officials display a little courage and a little reason. The people are not afraid of unpleasant truths; why should they be? Let them not attempt impossibilities. But the reports in the papers will go to the country and encourage other riots. Better a correct account in print than a thousand exag-cause may be ruined. gerations from as many tongues and private let- Without bread the soldier has neither strength ters. If the riots occur, put them down; it is nor courage. Without bread, the cries of his easily enough done. But the Yankees will get little ones at home will reach his ears in the dis hold of it. Certainly. What if they do? Let tant camps and cast a sickening chill to his heart. them make the most of it; they are going to do No bravery, no skill, nor device, nor human wis their worst, any way. Better a thousand fold dom can cope with that dreaded enemy-Famine. that the Yankees should ply their lying arts with While our brave defenders are facing death upon all the aid the disaffected here can give them, the field, we at home must sustain and feed them, than that the people should see that the governor in vain will their blood be spilled. Our duties. ment of Jefferson Davis is timorous about any thing on earth. The people are manly; so should their government be, and put a bold, calm face on every thing. If any thing could be "kept back," the fate of Anas should warn us of the folly of attemptinElave we gotten so deep evasive, alternately as not to be able Lees and females the country

in the mir
truckling
to tu

though less glorious and pretending, are equally as important and well defined.

Though not battling with the living and em bodied enemies of our country, we are yet in her service, and struggling with a far more dangerous and insidious destroyer. And as the soldier who shirks the conflict and deserts his comrades in the hour of battle, is a coward or a traitor, so ually is he who withholds his hands from the

th, or guides it to the production of those crops