The Portland daily press., 1863-01-09
ARMY NEWS.

Details Of the Capture of MurfreesbOro.
The official report from Gen. Rosecrans, dated
Jan. 8, as published in the newspapers is so
mangled as to be quite unintelligible, in one
sentence representing a division of the Union
army as belonging to the enemy, and in anoth-
er passing without notice from the 9th to the
31st December. The Springfield Republican al
tiers the date so as to make Gen. Rosecrans leave
Nashville on the Both, which can hardly be
right, since Gen. Mitchell teegraphed to the
Secretary ofWar that skirmishing commenced
on the 10th. We begin our extract from the
correspondence of various newspapers:
TUESDAY.
The enemy were found strongly posted with
artillery on the bank Of Stones river, his fanks
resting on Murfreesboro, west side. The CEN
ter also had the advantage, on high ground,
with dense growth of ceder masking them
completely. Their position gave them the
advantage OF q cross fire. Gen. McCook's
corps closed in on their left on Wilkerson's
Pike; Negley, of Thomas corps, worked with
great difficulty to the front of the rebel center
Rosseau's division being in reserve. Crtten-
den's corps was posted in comparatively clear
ground on their left Palmer's and Van Cleve's
divisions in front; Woods in reserve. A bat
tie was expected all day on Tuesday, but the
enemy merely skirmished and threw a few
shell, one of which killed Orderly Mcdonald,
4th U. S. cavalry, not ten feet from Gen.
Rosecrans. That afternoon the Anderson
pennsylvania cavalry, on McCooks fanks
was drawn into an ainbuscade, and its two
majors, Rosegarten and Ward were killed.
On the same day the rebel cavalry made a
dash in the rear, on Lavergne, burning few
wagons, and captured 35 prisoners That
mir fl1C,
emy in the morning. After dark the enemy
were reported massing near McCook, obvious
ly to turn our right wing. This corresponded
with the wishes of Gen. Rosecrans who in
structed Gen. McCook to hold him in check
stubbornly, while the lett wing should be
thrown into Murlreesboro behind the enemy
WEDNESDAY.
At daybreak on the last day of December
every thing appeared working we'll The bat
tie had opened on the right, and our left wing
was on hand. At O'Clock ominous sounds
indicated that fire was approaching our left
Aids were dispatched for information, and
found the forests full of flying negroes and
struggling soldiers, who reported whole regi-
n1ents falling back. Meantime one of fMcCook's
aids had announced to Gen. Rosecrans that
Gen. johnson had permitted the three batteries
OF his division to be captured by sudden at
tack OF the enemy, and that it had somewhat
demoralzed our troops was obvious. The
brave Gen. Sill, one of our best officers, was
killed; Gen. Kirk wounded, and Gen. Which
killed or missing, beside other valuable officers
wounded.
The fire continued to approach on the right
with alarming rapidity, extending to the center,
and 1t was clear that the right was doubling
upon the left The enemy had compelled us to
make complete change offront on that wing,
and were pressing the center. Gen. Rosecrans
with splendid daring dashed into the furious
fire, and sending his staff along the lines star
ted Beatty's brigade forward. Some six batter
les opened, and sustaining a magnificent fire,
directly 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,
were driven back fully mile.
Meantime orders had been issued to move
our left upon the enemy, but before they had
time TO execute them they burst upon our CEN
ter with awful fury, and it began to break.
Rosecranss division was carried into the
breach magnifcently by their glorious leader.
The enemy again retreated hastily into the
dense cedar thickets. Again they essayed our
right, and again we were driven back BY
this time the number of our stragglers was
formidable,and the prospect was discouraging;
but there was no panic. The general conf
dent oil success, continued to visit other parts
Of the field, and with the aid of Generals
Thomas, McCook, Crittenden, Rosseau, Neg
ley and Wood, the tide OF battle was turned
early in the day.
We were seriously embarrassed by the en-
terprise of rebel cavalry, who made some furi-
Gus dashes upon some of McCook's ammuni-
tion and subsistence trains, capturing num-
Der of wagons, and artillery ammunition grew
aiarmingly scarce. At one time it was an
nounced that not a single wagon load of it
could be found. Some of our batteries were
quiet on that account. This misfortune was
caused by the capture of McCook's trains.
About o'clock the battle had shifted again
from right to left The enemy discovering the
lmpossiDiiity OF succeeding in their main de-
sign, had suddenly massed their forces on the
left, crossing the river, or moving under cover
OF the bluffs on the right, and for about two
hours the fight ragged with unremjtting fi,rv
to the advantage of the enemy for consider
able length of time, when they were checked
by our murderous fire, of both musketry and
artillery. The scene at this point was mag
nificently terrible. The whole battle was in
full view. The enemy deploying right and
lett, bring up their batteries in fine style, our
own vomiting smoke and iron missiles upon
them with awful fury, and our gallant fellows
moving to the front with unflinching courage
and lying nat upon their faces to escape the
rebel fire until the moment for action. Shell
and shot fell around like hail Gen. Rosecrans
was himself necessarily exposed. II is won
derful that he escaped. His chiefof STAFF tho