Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[327] muzzle. We now engaged the enemy's cavalry hand to hand, and from all that I can learn, the public square and streets of Shelbyville must have been witnesses to some of the most exciting hand-to-hand encounters that have occurred during the war. The enemy was completely routed, and while they were still running, Colonel Campbell, with his command, reached their flank near the upper bridge of Duck River, into which they were driven, and a hundred of them killed and drowned. The rebel General Wheeler's horse was killed, and he escaped on foot without coat or hat. Our captures foot up sixty or seventy officers and nearly seven hundred men. Our loss six killed and between thirty and forty wounded.

The joy of the loyal people of this thoroughly Union town of Tennessee, is said to have been beyond all expression. The Stars and Stripes were displayed from the house-tops and windows, and the ladies, after waving their handkerchiefs, threw them away with joy and waved their skirts.

The fortifications of Shelbyville — the result of five months assiduous labor on the part of an enemy who has vast faith in digging-prove to have been of the most formidable character, and could not have been taken by direct assault without enormous loss of life. They covered Shelbyville three miles and a half north of the town, and for nine miles across-rifle-pits, abattis, and enfilading works for heavy artillery. The strategic manoeuvre on the rebel flank made these utterly useless to the enemy, and caused them to be voluntarily evacuated.