Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-01-16

0E tCduotCIS nHO Hd ~. iIHHtiCdiiy /
driven across the river when the rebels were
assailitig eur right, found that they had es-
capped Scylla only to fall into Charybdis.
They no longer made even pretense to
save their teams, but jumped from the horses
and ran for life. A considerable number
were captured, but were aflerward retaken.
1t was nearly IL o'clock when Hardee
was repused. and Immediate danger in that
quarter was over. He had succeeded in
defeating our right wing, and he had not
gained our rear. Neither did he obtain the
baggage and ammunition trains which he
go much coveted.
Il One of his divisions had been less sue
cessful sill. While the battle was raging |
on the right, half-dozsn or more pieces of
artillery belonging to Palmer's Division
Kept upa continual fire upon the rebel lines
N the direction of Murfreesboro in order
to prevent an advance from that quarter.
| The division of the rebel General With
es happened to be just in range of these
cannon, which had been stationed here by
Hardee in readiness to charge upon Palmer's
division, when that part of our line should
be sufficiently weakened by the withdrawal
oil re-enforcemen.s for McCook. The po-
| stion was most uncomfortable one, and at
eIery discharge Of our artillery some of
! Withers' men bit the dust.
| Goaded almost to madness by this slaugh-
| ter of his hapless men, the rebel leader or
dered charge. His men advanced with
great impeluosity, but their recklessness
was of no avail against the few proud regi-
ments that stood in their way. The sea
might sooner hope by hurling its angry bill
lows against them to break in pieces the
solid rocks which confne it. The desperate
assailants withdrew at last. Their loss must
have been fearful, as they call it the blood
lest struggle Of the day.
i There was now lull in the storm, and
scarcely a volley of muskery or boom of
cannon was heard for three quarters of an
hour. Some hoped that these bloody scenes
were ended for the day, bat the rebel lead
ers, disappointed by their failure TO pene-
trate to our camp by way of the right wing,
were preparing for bold blow at the CEN
ter All the reserves were attached to the
center of their army under Polk, and Bragg
in person placed himself at the head of col
umns, and now was presented an imposing
spectacle. The nature of the ground in
this part of the field was such that every
movement of either army could be distinct
ly seen.
The open fields toward Murfreesboro
were smooth enough for holiday rarade
ground. A fierce cannonade up the turn
pike announced the coming onset, and from
the very woods out Of which / had seen The
rebel cavalry issue on Monday evening, the
first line OF battle sales forth. 1t came
on in magnificent order, and, stretching
away diagonally across great slipping field
Of which havo SO frequently spoken, its
length seemed interminabe. AT suffi-
cien. interval other lines deployed into the
open ground parallel with the first, aud ere
] the forward battalions were engaged a third
line of battle came forth from the same
wood. l, seemed hat our feeble lines in
that direction must be crushed by the
| - a.. Il
and moving men, but the watchful eye of
Rosecrans had detected the rebel design,
even before their first line of battle emerg-
ed from among the trees.
IT, Ir..:-------y i:i--,- e >i-~>4
men in his hands, and its different brigades
and divisions were moved about with as
much facility as are pawns and pieces in
the royal game. The least exhausted troops
of The left and centre were hurried forward
on the doube-quick, TO combat this new ef
fort of the enemy, and even from the ex-
treme left, where Van Cleve was posted,
brigade was brought over TO take part in
the defense. The same formidable array
of batteries and battalions again confronted
the foe as that upon which the violence of
horse and corps had spent itself, and severe
results followed.
Almost simultaneously spot of fire leap
ed forth from each these opposite lines, and
for few minutes both stood like walls of
stone, discharging their deadly missiles into
each others bosoms; then the rebels at
tempted to charge, but storm of lead and
iron hail burst in their faces and all around