The Daily Dispatch: May 19, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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Colonel Morgan in Tennessee,
his Narrow escape from capture.

The Knoxville Register, of Wednesday, has an interesting letter from its army correspondent, giving an account of Col. Morgan's expedition from Corinth into Tennessee, which we transfer to our columns. It will be seen that the gallant Morgan came near being captured by an overwhelming force of the enemy:

Sparta, Tenn, May, 8th, 1862.

We left Corinth on the 20th of April, and crossed the Tennessee river on the 26th and 27th, arrived at Lawrenceburg on the 31at, learned the Federals were in possession of Pulaski, and on ‘"May day"’ we had a frolic with them, in which we took 290, and 24 officers including Gen. Mitchell's son; killed 18, and lost none. The country had become alarmed, and troops were sent to the Tennessee river to out us off. We continued on the next morning, and encamped 13 miles from Shelbyville that night. Marched the 31 and encamped within 6 miles of Murfreesboro' at night.

At dawn on the 4th our pockets and the Federal pickets had an engagement. We passed around the place and crossed the Nashville and Murfreesboro' pike to Smyrna, where we tore up the railroad track and out the telegraph wire; attacked a battery and received a dispatch that was being transmitted to Col. S Maturews, commanding at Nashville, relative to our being in the vicinity, and the cavalry that had been sent in pursuit of us. Col. Morgan answered it in Col. Mathews' name, and ordered the cavalry to Shelbyville, saying that it was about to be attacked by Gen Price. We arrived at Lebanon at night on the 4th, the men and horses being greatly fatigued, and considered that we had eluded pursuit for the present.

At dawn, on the 5th, our pickets were driven in, and before our men could get to horse, the enemy was upon us in overwhelming numbers. Col. Morgan and Lieut Col. Wood, (of West Adams's regiment,) after most desperate efforts, succeeded in getting the men collected and the most desperate fighting ensued that is on record, but all or no avail, Our small force of 350 men, though the bravest of the brave, were surrounded by legions, estimated and since known to be 4,000 strong. Col. Morgan charged through them with about 100 men, and took the road leading to Carchege, which is on the Cumberland river 20 miles distant Col. Wood and men were driven to the College where they fought until 12 o'clock, refusing to surrender, although they were well aware that they were cut off from all passes of escape, and that artillery would be brought to bear on them in a short time, until their ammunition gave out, and the citizens had begged them to give up, for the Federals were about to burn the town.

Col. Morgan arrived at this place with 40 men the next day. I arrived some four hours later with 31. Our men have been coming in at all hours since. We have now here something over 100, and are expecting more.

Gen. Dumont, Col. Woolford, and a Pennsylvania Colonel were taken prisoners early in the action in town, and as soon as they made known their rank, their swords were restored to them again by our gallant Colonel M.

The fight was kept up the whole distance from Lebanon to Carthage, and a volley of 60 guns were fired at Colonel Morgan as he climbed the bank after crossing the river.

The account is necessarily very imperfect in its most interesting details, for the time that was allotted for writing before the leaving of the gentleman who is to be the bearer is so short that it excludes all of a particular character. In haste, Gordon E. Niles,

Refugee, Editor and Publisher of the Lock-port, N. Y., Dally Adv. and Dem.

P. S.--Col. Morgan and men are in good health and spirits, but greatly fatigued, and it will not be but a short time before the Yankees will hear from us again.