to Franklin, with a guard of one company.

The train had not more than straightened on the road, when Companies B and
C found a strong force of the enemy in their front.

Company E was cut off, the enemy having got between it and the command,
and about the same time the head of the wagon train was attacked which
created a stampede in the train.

Capt. Rankin wheeled two companies into position and moved out to meet the
enemy, ordering Adj't. Mitchell to bring out the remainder as soon as the
wagon train could be got into our rear.

A volley was poured into the enemy by the two companies already in
position and a saber charge was immediately made, the remainder of the
regiment coming into position in time, thereby driving the enemy from the
road and held them in check until the train and the brigade that was
fighting at the river could be got out.

This fighting continued until 9 o'clock, P. M., when Col. Garrard, who had
joined us, ordered the command to fall back.

In this affair the timely action of the Seventh saved the entire brigade
and train from capture, but with the loss of near one hundred men killed,
wounded and captured, including Capt. Ketterman, and the whole of Co. A,
also our regimental colors, for which the enemy had no credit, as it was
captured in the following manner: It being quite dark and everything
having passed the road, the Colonel wished to fall back and asked some one
to go and notify Capt. Rankin, who was a short distance off, of his
movement.

The Color Serg't tendered his services and immediately started on his
mission.

The fighting men at this point were not more than thirty yards apart, and
the Serg't rode directly into the rebel lines and was captured.

The Captain brought off his command and fell back, about six miles across
Flat creek, leaving our dead and wounded on the field.

In this fight, much honor and credit are due to the officers and men of
the Seventh for the bold manner in which they struck the enemy. It was
this that gave us success, for we were far inferior in point of numbers.

Private John Turner of Co. E, deserves especial mention in this, that he
was bearing the guidon of his company, and while running the gauntlet of
the enemy was thrown from his horse, but held fast to his colors and
joined his command, after remaining six days in the enemy's lines,
bringing his colors with him.

On the following day, the most desperate engagement perhaps of the war,
a