New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-09
Gen. Bragg Falls Back to shelOyville'
UNION MOVEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA
Union Officers in Solitary Confinement

rOwips 10 the great Interest taken 10 the ds.as ofthc bat
de fMurfeesboro lay before readers full and com
pee report the operations du'iDs the entire week Of
b.ts In doiug tbs OF we reproduce Hch po'n'
account "a ere promptly to US BY telegraph
and printed ia parts OF our editions;l
Special Dispatch to The N Y. Tribune
CivcrxsAri Wednesday. Jan. T. 1863
THE BATTLE OF WEDNESDAY, DEC 81
Monday and Tuesday were spent as you have been
advised-in getting tie army into line aud securing
positions The great CONTEXT commenced on Wednes.
day morning, ana tie account Of that day send
In full.
great deal Of misspprebensiou prevails with re-
gard 10 the nature Of tue battlefield ut Murlrees
boro especially Of that portion which the scene
of the bloody struggle Of Wednesday.
Even the mars furnished to officers by the indie
faigabls Corps Of Topograpi cal Eogineers, failed
20 exhibit correctly the features OF the vicinity.
The error seems to be the confoundiug together Of
two distinct and separate streams-Stone River
which rises in the northern part Of Rutherford
County, and flows past Stewards Ferry, a!mcs
directly north Of the Cumberland; and Stone River
which takes It's rise in the southern extremity o.
Rutherford and Inc eastern part Of Campbell, and
after traverng both Of these anda portion OF David
son. enters the Cumberland shout 10 miles below
the latter.
II is the western branch Of the latter which iiowr
past Mulffeesbore, and constitutes the river o
which such frequent mention must be made In a..
accounts Of this battle.
No map have ever yet seen represents correctly
the position Of this stream, aud, Of course, l ba
not myself time to trace it out, bat when cur line o.
bsttls was formed ia front Of the town on Wednot.
day morning, our left wing rested upon the river,
and the lien Of Van Cleves Division filed tbei
caD,eens with water from The sane.
At this place the river flows almost in norher
direction, its course when passing tie town bein
nearly due west. noted accurately the position Of
the various brigades on WednCsd morning. bu'
IS there were so many complicated movement
during he day, scarcely any brigade actually fighting
In the same oIder in which it was first posted,
deem il unnecessary TO mention tho place OF each.
Gen. McCook's command, which is The right wing
Of tie army, consists Of three divisions -Johpson'r
Daviss, and +Sheridans-posted from right to left IL
tie or Ter in which | have named them, johnson
and Davies being thrown iorw ard and 70 the rigbt.
% az TO form line which made considerable angle
with that of the re nainder Of the army.
Gen. Sberidan's Division was Withdrawn some
WI at on the left and acted reserve for the right
of the center. commanded by Gen. Thomas but two
divisons were present, Neg'sy aud Roueseau'e sa'
toned from right TO left in the order named kous'
soau's being somewhat withdrawn and constituting
the reserve ON the center. TIE lett wing oil The
army under the command Of Gen. Cruenden. was
pOste1 in The following order: Palmer on the night
Wood in the center, AMI Van Cleve CD the left
mart of palmer's ard also Van Cleves being thrown
slightly forward.
The enemy's line stretched transversely across
Stone River, from the Lebanon pike on the right 10
the Franklin road Oh their left Al the beginning o.
tie battle it was conridemby overlapped by our
own right, when McCook Rad finally got into posi-
ton. Harlee commended the Rebel leit, consisting
OF Cheatbams, McCown's aud Withers divlsions
NcCown being Oh the extreme left OF the wing and
Chestbsm 10 the center. The wing was re-
enforced on Tuesday night by the addition Of Cla
Lornes. formerly Buekner's division.
BieLop Polk led the Rebel right consisting OF
Prestop Smiths and BreckinriOges Divisions eno
Lieut. Gen. KIRBY Smith led the divisions 10 the
Rebel center. Tie division Of breckenridge was Oh
tie extreme Rebel right. Beside these there "ere
several independent detscbmen,s but 1t II extremely
nrobabe that with these and the roenforcemenIs
sfterwafd received the Rebel army did not out
humble even if it equaled our own.
Tire field o. battle, 10 the center, was mostly
plain. going towatd Murireesboro. There was "a
slight elevation Of cleared ground on both sides OF
tho turnpike and some patches Of woodland, suih-
Glen, TO conceal the greater portion OF our troops I'M
iii tpey should be ready 10 advance.
Behind the woods concealing our foremost lines,
and 10 the left Of those which lie on the left OF TIE
turnpike, on open and slightly elevated ground ex-
tending to the river. This formed the Key to our
entire position aud IL was hero that tue greater por
ton Of tie wagons were packed for safety.
On the lef ZONE corn-felds extended to the RIVER,
and on The olhtr side Of the stream rose low,
wooded hill.
The ground upon he right was succession Of
dense cedar tbickets, opea spaces where the rocks
Gains 10 the sarface and noliing could grow, belts
of ,oerable timber and small irregulsr'shaQed heds
The pike and railroad ran near each other.
In the elevated open space which formed The
key TO our position from point where our hne OF
ba,tle crossed BOTH a distance post on the rnifoad
a4..ss. .aas il js just ~ jules 70 Seslyle. pum'