AUGUST 13, 1862.-Skirmish at Huntsville, Scott County, Tenn.

Report of Colonel William Clift, Seventh Tennessee Infantry, including operations of his command in East Tennessee, July 1-October 31.

HEADQUARTERS

Somerset, Ky., October 28 [31?], 1862.

DEAR SIR: I avail myself of the present opportunity of reporting to you my movements for the last three months. The way has been so blockaded by the enemy as to entirely prevent my reporting to you sooner.

I was ordered by Major-General Morgan about June 1 to go to Scott County, Tennessee, and commence recruiting and making up the Seventh Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, and was also ordered that so soon as I had a sufficient number of men to attack the small bodies of rebel troops stationed in different parts of East Tennessee to do so. Accordingly about July 1 I made a scouting expedition to Montgomery, Morgan County, Tenn., to engage a party of rebels that were in the habit of coming up to that place from Kingston, Tenn., but the enemy had left on the day before we got to Montgomery, and we had to return without any engagement.

About July 20 I made another expedition to Anderson County, Tennessee. Our friends in that county had promised to provide means for us to cross Clinch River to engage same cavalry from Alabama that was stationed near Clinton, Anderson County, Tenn.; but no preparation was made as promised. I then turned my course, after taking several guerrillas prisoners near Clinton, Tenn., and returned by way of Wartburg and Montgomery, Morgan County, Tenn., to Huntsville, Scott County, Tenn.

About August 8 I made another expedition into Anderson County, Tennessee, at the request of our Union friends of that county, who had again promised to provide means for us to cross Clinch River, but again failed and we were disappointed.

At intervals when I was not scouting I was busily employed fortifying an eminence near Huntsville, Scott County, Tenn.

On the morning of August 13, about 8 o'clock, our pickets were driven in by the enemy. My command, numbering about 250 men, were soon in order for battle. I was attacked about 9 o'clock by the enemy, numbering from 1,500 to 2,000 men. On the appearance of them in such disproportionate numbers my men (who were mostly new recruits) left my breastworks in wild confusion. But while I speak in dishonorable terms of a part of my command I am proud to speak in the most honorable terms of a part of the officers and men that remained under my command. About 50 men held our breastworks for one hour and forty minutes against the enemy, at least 1,500 men. Major James S. Dunan, Captains Robins, Wilson, and Shelton fought with great coolness and deliberation. When our numbers in the breastworks were reduced to about 20 men I ordered a retreat, which was conducted in good order, carrying with them our guns without any loss.

My position in Scott County, Tennessee, has been very perilous until within the last few days; but I kept my men in the most obscure parts of the county, and posted mu pickets from 20 to 25 miles from my camps and within a short distance of the enemy's lines, and in this way I evaded collision with the enemy until General Bragg's army retreated out of Kentucky.