The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-15
Great Battle of Stones
River, Tennessee.
EIGHT DAYS FIGHTING.

Especial Correspondence Clncinnaa q CsmnorcalI |
BATTLE FIELD or sroNEs' RIVER, TESE
SATURDAY, January 3, 1886
In the rage of conflict the human heart
expresses little sympathy with human
suffering. Your best friend is lifted from
the saddle by the fatal shaft, and plunges
wildly TO the earth--a corpse. One con-
vulsiye leap of your heart, you dash on
ward in the stormy field, and the dead is
forgotten until the furious frenzy of bat
tie is spent. "Never mind" said our
reat-hearted General, when the death of
the noble Sill was announced; "braye men
must die in battlel We must seek re-
suits" When Garesche's headless trunk
fell at his feet, a shock thrilled him, and
be dashed again into the fray. He was
told that McCoo6 was killed. "We can
not help it; men who fight must be killed.
Never mind; let us fight this battle"
On Friday, December 26, the army adj
yanced in three columns, Major General
McCook's corps down the Nolensville pike,
driving Hardee before him a mile aAd
half beyond Nolensvile Major General
Thomas corps, from its encampment on
the franklin pike Vio the Wilson pike
Crittenden on the Murfreesboro pike
The right and left met with considerable
resistance in rolling and hilly country,
with rocky bluffs and dense cedar thick
cts, aiiording cover for the enemy's skir-
mishers. Critlendon moved to a point
within a mile and "A half Of Layergne,
skirmishing with the enemy sharply.
Esseneral Thomas met with bat little OPP
POSITION.
On the 9th, McCook drove lIardee from
point beyond Nolensville, and pushed
a accommodating division six miles to-
ward Shelbyville, discovering that Hardee
had retreated to Murfrcesboro. This IN
Dictated intention on the part of the enemy
TO make a stand otherwise Hardee would
have fallen back upon Shelbyville. Gen.
Crittenden fought ali the way to Stewart
Creek, with small loss, and rested on its
banks, rebel pickets appearing on the OPP
posite banks. General Kosecrans' head.
quarters were then at point twelve
miles from Nashville, II seemed that the
enemy would make stand on StewarPi
Creek, that being good line of defense
That night General Thomas, with the di-
visions Of Rousseau andNegley, occupied
NOlensville.
On the 28th, General McCook com
pleied his reconnaissance of Hardee
movements, and General Crittenden a
waited results, while General Thoma
moved his corps across to Stewards Greek
executing fatiguing march with grea
energy, General Rosecrans deeming hi
junction with the left of great importance
at that time,
On the 10Th, General McCook moved I
Wilkinson's Crossroads, within sevel
miles Of Murlreesboro, at the end Of
short road through a rough, rolling ooun
try, skirted by bluffs and dense ceda
thickets Gen. Critienden moved forwar
with some resistance TO point With
three miles OF Murfreesboro, and f)un
the enemy in force. Gen. Negley wa
moved forWardto the center, Rousseau
division in reserve on the right of Critic
en'sscorps. General Rosecrans' headqui
tersadYanced to the east side of Stewart
Greek, and after hasty supper he pro
ceeded to the front and remained on Il
field all night He was accompanied b
Lieut. Col. Garesche, his Chief of Sta
Col. Barnet, Chief Of Artillery, Maj
NOuuhfu, a. a. Ot MaJOf Dklhnefs l.
Byron Kirby, 1t. Bond, and Father TIT
cy, who remained faithfully with hir
and at no time, from the beginning Of Il
action, deserted him.
On the 30tb, Gen. McCook advance
ON the Wilkinson pike, through heay
thickets, stubbornly resisted by the ell
envy, Gen. Sheridans division being
advance, Gen. Silrs brigade constitutir
his right The enemy developed su,
strength that Gen. McCook direct'
Sheridan to form in line of battle, al
the division of Gen. jeff c. Davis WI
thrown out upon his right. 1t was no
discovered that Hardee's corps was
front, en- the west side Of the river,
line Of battle, his front crossing our rig
obliquely, in position, if extended
flank MS. Our left stood fast, in Iii
corresponding with the course
Stones River, mainly upon undul
ting fields. The center, under Gle
Ncgey, slightly advanced into c
dar thickei, and was engaged, wish gre
difficulty, in accommodating, under sha
resistance, aud in cutting roads throu
the almost impenotrabe forest, to op
communication with the right. +
contest had brought 6rward McCool