The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-05-01
BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO
GEN, BRACES OFFICIAL REPORT
HEAp.QUARTEm ARMY oF TgENrssgE,
Tulahoma, 23d teby, 1868

attack us at Mur.rcesboro'. II had been wei
asoeralned that his strength waB over OOOOl
effective men, Balole night 0u l'at day lh,
object OF the movement wus developed, hy ouI
dispositions IN lqnt, and ordor6 were given
for tho necessary U0nCunttUtiou oi eun,.lssn4iH
then dietribvtod ga follows;
Folks corps aud thrco brgal,s Of Brocku
ridges division, llardoos corps az Murlrecg
borJ. The balance OF llardoe's corps near
Eagleyille, about 20 miles west Of Murlrces
boro, McCowu's division (which with Steven
sous division removed constituted Smith
frooBbOrO. The three cavalry brigadus OF
Wheeler Wharton and Pegram occupying the
entire front Of our infantry aud covering all
approaches 10 within ton miles OF Nashville,
Buiord's small cavalry brigade Of about GOO at
McMinnyills. The brgades Of Forrest aud
Morgan about 5000 effective cavalry were ab.
sent on special service m West Tennessee and
Northern Kentucky ~ will be more fully
noticed hereafter. Jackson's suall infantry
brigade was in rear, guarding tho railroad
from Bridgeport, Alabama, TO the mountains
On Sunday the 2Sth, main force Of infantry
and artillery was concentrated ln front Of
Murlfeesboro whilst the cavalry Upphted by
three brigades Of infantry aud tbreo batteries
OF artillery impeded the advance OF the enemy,
by constant skirmishng and Budden uneS.
pected attacks. To the skllfGl manner in
which the cavalry, thus ably supported, was
handled, aud to the exceeding gaantry o, its
officers and men, must be attributed the
four days time consumed by the enemy IN
reaching the battlefield u distance OF ouly 20
miles from hls encampment over iue Macad.
amzed roads.
Fully aware of the greatly superiorDumbers
OF the enemy, as indicated ~ nay early reports
from this quarter, It was our policy 10 await
attack. The position was selected aud hue
developed with this intention, Owing 70 the
Conveyance upon our depot of 80 many dne
roads 10y which the enemy could approach,
as will appear from the enclosed map marked
~ we were confined in our selection TO line
near onongh the point of juuCturo 20 enable us
10 YS. s1ccesFlldlfE G allildE ssaSaFu i6SGoeEoHi 9 "
On Monday, the 29h, il was reported that
heavy columns moved on both he direct road
from Lavergue aud on the one leading into
the Lebanon road by way of Jefferson. But
on Tuesday, the Both, it was asceraincd that
the Jefferson pike was abandoned by counter
march, aud the whole forces Of the enemy were
concentrated on aud near the direct road on
the west of stones river The dispositions
Iuade for the unequal contest viii appear from
the enclosed map marked ~, and tho copy Of
memoranda to General and slail officers mark.
ed "3"
These arrangements were all completed be-
fore the enemy crossed Stewards creek, nine
miles out, and the Infantry brigades were at
once called in; and the cavalry was ordered to
fall back more rapidly, having most gaIlantly
discharged its duty and fully accomplished
the objects desired. Lac on Monday, it be.
came apparent tho enemy was extending 10 his
right, to ilaak us on the lett McCowns diyi.
sion in reserve was promptly thrown To that
flank and added TO the command OF 1t, Gen.
Polk. The enemy not meeting our cxpecta
tions Of making an attack on Tuesday, which
was consumed in artillery hnnS and heavy
skrmishing, with the exception Of u dash late
in the evening on the left of WitheJs' division,
which was repulsod and severely punished, it
was determined 10 assail him on Wednesday
morning, tue 3lst.
For this purpose, CloburuG'5 Division, tiar-
dees corps, was moved from the second line
on the right 10 the corresponding position on
the left, aud Lit. Gen. Hardeo was ordered to|
that point. and assigned tD the command of
that and McCown's Divieion. This disposi-
tiUn, tue result Of necessity, left me no re-
serve but Breckinridge5 command on the
right now not threatened, was regarded as
source ofsupply for any reiniorcements abso-
uteIy necessary to other parts Of the field
Stones river at its low stage, was lordable at
almost any point for infantry, and at short in
teryals perfectly practicable for artillery.
These dispositions completed, H. Geu Ilar
dee was ordered 10 assail the enemy at day.
light Oh Wednesday, the 3lst, the attack to be
taken ND by Gen. Folks command in success
sion TO the right flank the move to be made
by a constant wheel to the right on Folks right
flank as a pivot. The object being to force
the enemy back on Stones river, and if prac
ticabe, by the aid OF cavalry, cut him off from
his base of operations and supplies by the
Nashville pike.
The lines were now bivouacked at distance
in places, of not more than 800 yards, the camp
fires of the two being within distinct view
Wharton's cavalry brigade had been held on
our left to watch and check the movements OF
the enemy in that direction, and TO prevent
his cavalry from gaining the railroad in our
rear, the preservation of which was OF Vita
Importance. In this Re was aided by Brig |
Gen. A. Buford, who had small command OF
600 new cavalry. The duty was most ably |
CALAMITY aud successfully performed
On Monday night, Brig Gen. Wheeler pro |
ceeded with bis cavalry brigade and one regi |
ment from Pegram's as ordered, to gain the |
enemy's rear. BY Tuesday morning, moving |
on the Jefferson pike, around the enemy's lef |
flank, he had gained the rear of their whole
army, and soon attacked the trains, then
guards and the numerous stragglers. He sue.
ceeded in capturing several hundred prisoners
and destroying hundreds Of wagons loaded
with supplies and baggage. After clearing
the road he made his way entirely around, and
Joined the cavalry on our left.
The failure OF Gen. McCown to execute dur,
ing the night an order for a slight change in
the line OF his division, and which bad to be