HEAD QUARTERS, 7TH REGT. PENNA. CAVALRY, }
Camp Welsh, near NASHVILLE, TENN., May 12th, 1862. }
    EDITORS MINERS' JOURNAL:--For the benefit of our friends, and your numerous readers, I will endeavor to give you a short history of our late fight at Lebanon, Wilson county, Tenn. On the morning of the 3d inst., at 1� A. M., we received orders to move to Shelbyville, a distance of 70(?) miles, without our train. At 3 A. M., we were on our march, and when we got to Murfreesboro, we commenced to realize our position. Of course, it was secesh game we were after, and that game was the notorious Col. Morgan, with his band of 600 desperadoes. We followed on his track from Saturday morning until Sunday evening, feeding our horses twice, without taking off the saddles.
    We then met the 1st Kentucky, Col. Wolford, and the 4th Kentucky Cavalry, Col. Smith. The former numbered 3 squadrons, or six companies, numbering about 450 men; the latter one battalion of 4 companies, 280 men. With this force were 3 companies of our 2d battalion, about 180 men--the 4th company having been at Franklin when we got the order to move--making a total of about 900 men. At about 9 P. M., with one company of the 1st Kentucky as an advance guard, followed by the 7th Penn,, then the 1st and 4th Kentucky we started for Lebanon where we supposed the robbers had gone, on their way to Chattanooga. We were to charge the town by daylight, it being a distance of 20 miles, with tired horses, a pretty severe march, and under one of those awful drenching rains. At 3, A. M., about 5 miles from Lebanon we halted, waiting for daylight, as it was very dark. We halted perhaps an hour, making our beds in the saddles, of course. Their outside pickets hearing the approach of our advance guard, fired. This of course, was to let Morgan know that all was not right. With the sound of the rifles(?) we started. Col. Wynkoop here commenced to shove the advance. For 4 miles we went as hard as the horses could run. We, the 7th, were to charge into town by the pike we were on; the 1st to take one street further east, and the 4th, one further west, and to meet in the square at the markethouse. We came to the lower end of town, ready for the conflict, when behold the company in advance broke and retreated. With them came a runaway mule in a buggy. As soon as the gallant Kentucky company had done retreating, and the mule with them, our Col. at the head of his brave battalion, ordered a forward movement under the most galling fire of their carbines, the enemy being concealed in houses, stables, alleys, &c. Morgan was taken by surprise, but his men who mostly lodged in that street, were ready to receive us, and they did. Under the fire of almost 700 of his men, and from 200 to 300 citizens we charged the street, horses going faster then ever Flora Temple went, saddles being emptied, &c. The first charge through the town, we had but six men killed, none wounded. None of the Kentucky boys were to be seen at or near the square. Our Col. at once turned the column down the street, and charged back, firing into windows, doors, and wherever we saw a secesh. Adjutant Mason was wounded but not seriously, being shot through the arm below the shoulder. He had 7 bullet holes through his coat on the right side, and 12 through different parts of his coat, making 19 holes in all. It was really a miracle that he escaped. In a former communication I assured you that he would make his mark, which he did, with credit to himself, his regiment and the State he represents. His horse was shot through the neck twice. We had 4 killed and six wounded in the four charges. We were then ordered by Gen. Dumont to charge up a back street to cut off the retreat of Morgan, supported by about 100 men of the 4th Kentucky, and come down another street, when we found they were ahead of us, and with them Col. Wolford of the 1st Kentucky, whom they had taken prisoner as well as severely wounded. Here Major Given of our regiment was captured. He mistook Morgan's men for part of the 1st Kentuckians. Here started the finest race I ever saw. Morgan with 300 or 400 men, and Col. Wolford and Major Given in the advance (for safe keeping) made a dash for the mountains. Talk about your mile races on Fashion(?) course. This was a 21 mile race, as we saw at once that they were making for the river, and there we expected to capture the whole crowd. Our battalion to a man followed, and perhaps, one hundred of the 4th Kentucky, Col. Smith, who stood up nobly; but we had not gone far until he was wounded in the knee. It would have done you good, to have seen Col. Wynkoop laughing at the fine race, and to see his men come up so nobly. We could hear him say, "go in 7th; we have got them; did we do it this time?" He, with Gen. Dumont at our side, saying "go in Penna., I'll lead you to victory." Wait until you see his official report, and you will see that I am not giving the 7th the credit he will. They led us up the first hill and then down a long hill, and we gained on them every jump, so that when we got out of town 3 miles we had in prisoners, killed, and wounded, about 60. This race we kept up for 22 miles, to the Cumberland river, and Morgan with 13 men got on the boat, but had to leave his celebrated horse. He told the ferryman that he would give $1000, if he would get his horse on the other side. We of course, were compelled to give up pursuit, as Morgan had sent all the boats adrift. Had our horses been fresh like his, we could have captured him and his rebel crew before they had got five miles from town. We were capturing men, horses, and mules for 22 miles. The road was full of coats, blankets, carbines, sabers and arms of all description. Some would throw their arms across the fences, so that we should not get them; but we got them all, and with them about 170 prisoners, between 60 and 70 killed, and a large number of wounded. After we got out about 7 miles it was a sabre fight, cut and slash all the way, and our boys went [at] it with a Pennsylvania yell. The Louisville Journal says the 1st and 4th Kentucky were supported by the 7th Penna. Mr. Editor, so they were, and we did support them; but nary a 1st supported us. The companies in this fight, were Capt.'s Dart, from Bradford County, Schaeffer from Clinton County, and May from Dauphin. There were no companies from our County, as they were at Columbia. In the fight from our County, were Col. Wynkoop, Adjutant Mason, and Quarter master Burge. J. B. Reed was there, but could take no part as his horse had given out during the night. Never did men stand better to their work than the 7th. It is now time(?) to say one word in regard to our Colonel. You know he fights well. You knew it before he started. I will just related what I heard Gen. Dumont say: "Colonel give me your hand. But for you and your brave boys we would have lost the fight. No person doubts your bravery." Col. Morgan, after a 12 mile race, when on a brow of a hill, turned and looked back. Turning to Maj. Given, Morgan asked him what regiment that was. "Mine," says Given. "Who commands it", "Col. Wynkoop." "Why," says Morgan, "damn him; just see, he fights like hell; his men are good pluck," &c. After the battle we laid at Lebanon one day to rest both man and horse, and then came on with our prisoners to Murfreesboro; from whence they were sent to Nashville by railroad. And we returned to camp. Col. Wolford is improving rapidly. A great many amusing things might be said in reference to the fight. Gen. Dumont tells one which I can't help mentioning. The Chaplain of the 1st Kentucky rode up to Morgan's men by mistake supposing them to be his own men. When Col. Morgan told [him] to take his place, the Chaplain said, "I don't belong to you. I belong to Col. Wolford's; I am their Chaplain." "The devil," says Morgan, "take your place, I say; don't you know that [we] want preaching and praying a d----d sight worse than Wolford?" The Chaplain took his place, and says they made him sing songs for five miles, to see whether he would suit, and then let him go. He could not sing. I must not forget to mention our Surgeon, A. M. Speer, from Pittsburg. He fought like a hero, and in the thickest of the fight would dismount among a storm of bullets to examine and treat his wounded. He is a brave man. Too much praise cannot be awarded to our officers and men for their bravery. Veterans never fought better. I must close or my letter will become too long.         Respectfully yours,
                                                                              THOS. H. RICKERT.

Source:

Rickert, Thomas H., "Letters From Our Volunteers, From the 7th Reg. Pa. Cavalry, Col. G. C. Wynkoop, Commanding," The Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday, 24 May 1862, page 2, cols. 5-6.