The victory at Philadelphia, Tenn.--further particulars.
A letter to the Atlanta Confederacy gives some interesting particulars of the defeat of the Yankees, on the 20th ult., near Philadelphia, Tenn.--The movement was ordered by Gen. Bragg. The writer says:‘ In accordance with instructions Morrison yesterday evening crossed the at Hin cannon's ferry, and took up the line of march through Decatur to Philadelphia. advised Col. Dibbrell to move along the line railroad and make a feint in front of Philadelphia, while he moved to the rear, which he stated could do by 1 o'clock P. M., the 20th, and to do which he must necessarily make a march of fifty miles in twelve hours. However, we made the and just at 1 o'clock precisely Col. Dibbrell's guns opened.
We opened on the enemy's (Col. Wolford's brigade) rear in five minutes after. Col. Morrison sent the 66th North Carolina regiment to London to drive in their pickets, then making a sham attack to prevent the reinforcing of Wolford by four regiments of infantry at that place. Col. Hart, of the 6th Georgia, and Col. Rice, of the 3d Confederate, were charged with turning the enemy's flank, which they did in an unprecedentedly gallant style, capturing between them all of the enemy's guns--six in number. Lieut. Col. Harper, commanding 1st Georgia. and Col. McKenzie, with a portion of his and Maj. Jessie's commands, attacked the centre. They carried the enemy before them like the leaves of autumn.--Rucker's Legion, Col. Neal commanding, was ordered to pursue the flying foe, which it did in gallant style, capturing a great many of them.
After a nice little fight of half an hour or more, Wolford was completely routed and sought safety in the speed of his horses. He fell back in great confusion to Loudon, where he will be reinforced by about four regiments of infantry. His loss will reach 400 prisoners and eighty killed and wounded, seventy wagons and teams, ten ambulances and teams, and six pieces of artillery, was much baggage, commissary stores, guns, while our loss is 68 wounded and 10 killed.
Lieut. Col. Harper had his right thigh bone broken with the fragments of a shell while riding in front of his line, ordering his men to charge the enemy. Lieut. Hardy, of the "Legion, " or Ship, (as Rucker calls it,) it is feared is mortally wounded. Lt. Russell, of Wharton's command, (commanding detachments under Col. Morriss,) was also wounded.
We will attack the enemy at Loudon to-morrow morning. East Tennessean are following Burnside's army by hundreds, and East Tennessee is fast becoming purified. The country is filled with Vicksburg prisoners. You can find from one to three at almost every farm-house. They seem to rely upon their "paroles," and are quite unconcerned. Won't we make them hustle, though?--Gen Vaughan is here after them. I had almost forgotten to mention about the flag of truce. When Col. Dibrell made the feint on Philadelphia he met an officer bearing a flag of truce, having with him three "citizen" prisoners, whom he wanted, he said, to deliver to us. As the fight had begun, and Col. Morrison was in the rear, his safety depending upon Dibrell's making the feint, he (Dibrell) would not act, but referred the case to General Vaughan, who was near, and who immediately ordered the officer under guard until the fight was over. He said, as a bearer of a flag of truce, he would have to protest; but, if he was in our position, he would do the same thing.
Wolford's officers say we did not respect the flag of truce, and that was why they got such a beating. Can you see the point? They wished, under pretence of delivering prisoners, to see whether Stevenson was at Charleston, and whether or not he was building pontoon bridges across Hiawassee, as these were the rumors here to-day. They will no doubt construe this short captivity of a flag bearer into a disrespect on our part of a flag of truce.
’ Another letter adds:
‘ We captured about forty wagons, five ambulances, six pieces mountain howitzers, a large quantity of quartermaster, commissary, ordnance, and medical stores, and five hundred prisoners.--We captured all of Col. Wolford's wearing apparel, papers, etc., giving him an exceeding close race. Quite an amusing occurrence took place as we chased the flying Yankees through the town. An old woman of color ran out upon the street clapped her hands with all her might, shouting vociferously, "Go it, my rebel boys, go it."
’
