1 Ic bolas to be perfectly proper and war- 
lantable. The attention of the enemy 
was entirely directed to the first regi¬ 
ment, at the time when Col. Miller made 
ms successful attack on their battery, and 
captured it by a covert charge. I am 
warranted in stating that Col. Miller did 
not receive a single fire from the cannon 
of the enemy, and I believe it to be a fact, 
that his attack was so sudden and unex¬ 
pected, that they did not use their small 
arms until they were driven from their 
battery, and forced to retreat. 
After the capture of the cannon the 
first regiment was enabled to make its 
situation known to Gen. Ripley and was 
‘ordered to assume a position on the left 
of Miller’s regiment. This order was 
promptly obeyed, and the position was 
maintained with unshrinking firmness un¬ 
til the close of the action. The efforts 
made by the British to recapture their 
cannon were gallant and persevering.— 
j Three times at least did they charge with 
the bayonet, but their desperate courage 
did not serve to intimidate our soldiers, 
who seemed resolved to perish to a man 
rather than retreat. During this hot con- 
test the first regiment discharged seventy 
rounds of well directed ball and buck-shot 
cartridge,at close distance, and must have 
annoyed the enemy very severely. 
For my part, I would be satisfied with 
the credit which the enemy would award 
to the first regiment when they learn that 
it constituted the left of the American 
line, from the taking of their cannon until 
the close of the battle. 
Most of the above facts I have sworn to 
in a court of martial law held at Nashville, 
and all of them I shall be ever ready to 
rnain&bn before any competent tribunal. 
I JOHN GLEVES SYMMES, 
Forjgncrly Captain 1st Reg’t. TJ. S. Inf fry. 
P. S. The Editors of the National Intelligen- 
cer > and Editor of the New -York American, 
are requested to republish the preceding his¬ 
torical note. J. C. S. 
