The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-15 00:00:00

The Battle of Murfreesboro.

(From the Special Correspondent of the New York Tribune

of Jan. 3.)
NASHVILLE, THURSDAY, JAN. 1, 1863.
I have just arrived from a terrific battle on
Stones River, in front of Murfreesboro, west side.
It has raged with unremitting fury two days,
and at last report was not yet decided. It is one of
the most ferocious battles of modern times, sustained
by both sides with splendid determination. General
Rosecrans marched from Nashville last Friday with
about 45,000 effective men and 100 pieces of artil-
lery, anct skirmished all the way to the battle-field,
the enemy resisting bitterly. The whole of Tues-
day was spent by our forces reconnoitering. The
enemy was found strongly posted with artillery on
the bank of Stones River, west side, his flanks rest-
ing on Murfreesboro, west side. The centre also
had the advantage, on high ground, with a dense
growth of cedar masking them completely. Their
position gave them the advantage of a cross fire.
General M'Cook's corps closed in on their left on
Wilkerson's Pike; Negley, of Thomas's corps,
worked with great difficulty to the front of the
rebel centre, Rosseau's division being in reserve;
Crittenden's corps was posted in comparatively clear
ground on their left ; Palmer's and Van Cleve's
divisions in front; Wood's in reserve. A battle
was expected all day on Tuesday, but the enemy
merely skirmished and threw a few shells, one of
which killed Orderly WDonald, 4th United States
Cavalry, not 10ft. from General Rosencrans. That
afternoon the Anderson Pennsylvania Cavalry, on
M'Cook's flanks, were drawn into an ambuscade,
and its two majors, Rosegarten and Ward, were
killed. •Crittenden's corps lost four killed and 21
wounded that day, including Adjutant Abbott, of
the 57th Indiana, severely. M'Cook's loss was
about 50. On the same day the rebel cavalry made
a dash in the rear on Lavergne, burnt a few wag-
gcns, and captured 35 prisoners. That night dis-
positions were made to attack the enemy in the
morning. After dark the enemy was reported
massing near M'Cook, obviously to turn our right
wilag. This corresponded with the wishes of
General Rosecrans, who instructed General M'Cook
to hold him in check stubbornly, while the left
wing should be thrown into Murfreesboro behind,
the enemy. At daybreak on the last day of De-
cember everything appeared working. well. The
battle had opened on the right, atid our left, wing was
in hand. At 7 o'clock ominous-'sounds indicated
that a fire was approaching out: left. Aides were
despiitched for informatim and found the forests
full f flying negroes and stragling soldiers, who
reported whole regiments falling back. Meantime
one of 11
Aides had_ announced to General
nson had permitted the
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Gen. Kirk wounded, and Gen.Willicb killed or mis-
sing, beside other valuable officers wounded. Gen.
M'Cook sent word to hold the front and he would
help him, that it would all work right. He now
galloped to the front of Crittenden's left with his
staff to order the line of battle, when the enemy
opened a full battery, and emptied two saddles of
the escort. -Van Cleve's division was sent to the
right, and Col. Beatty's brigade in front. The fire
continued to approach on the right with alarming
rapidity, extending to the centre, and it was clear
that the right was doubling upon the left. The
enemy had compelled us to make a complete change
of front on that wing, and were pressing the centre.
Gen. Rosecrans, with splendid daring, dashed into
the furious fire, and sending his staff along the lines,
started Beatty's brigade, forward. Some six batteries
opened and sustaining a magnificent fire directly a
tremendous shout was raised along the whole line,
and the enemy began to fall back rapidly. The
General himself urged the troops forward. The
rebels, terribly punished,
they prepared
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ur left,
winhitlhee
began to break.
move our left upon the enemy, but before we
had time to execute them they burst upon our
centre with awful fury, and it
Rosecrans 'a division was carried into the breach
magnificently by their glorious leader. The enemy
again rareated hastily into the dense cedar thickets.
Again they essayed our right, and again we were
driven back. By this time the number of our strag-
glers was formidable, and the prospect was discou-
raging, but there was no panic. The general, con-
fident of success, continued to visit other parts of
the field, and with the aid of Generals Thomas,
M'Cook, Crittenden, Rousseau, Negley, and Wood,
the tide of battle was turned early in the day. We
were seriously embarrassed by the enterprise of the
rebel cavalry, who made some serious dashes upon
some of M'Cook's
ammunition and subsistence
trains, capturing a number of waggons, and artil-
lery ammunition grew alarmingly scarce. At one