Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-22

back. We then retired to our former position, and
hred seversl more rounds, after which we were relieved
by another battery, and were ia the fight no more du-
ring the day. From this time, about two P. H. for an
hour, the FIRE OF the infantry almost ceased, and the ae.
ton was kept up by artillery. The enemy's right wing
had been driven back for two miles, and his center
forced back for half a mile. Our right was but parti-
ally and slightly engaged dsring the day.
Toward evening the fighting again became general
with the infantry along the center, and here the "htgb
pressure Chalmers Mississippi brigade made a splen-
did charge. Ketehum's battery, connected with this
brigade, did splendid execution. It was charged once,
and had to fire double charges Of canister. During
the charge it had three men killed, and eighteen
wounded The battle closed before dark, by which
time the enemy's center had been driven back fully a
mile, we holding the battlefield.
The last sun of 1882 went down In blood-a sad, but
III representative of The eveutfl year that hasjust sped
by on the wings Of father Time. While we engaged the
enemy in front, Wheeler had swept round in his rear,
burning about 800 wsgons and taking largo number Of
prisoners, besides about 2,e9O mules. During the night
our forces were busy bringing OF our wounded and Sc
curing the captured artillery. We took about Forty
pieces, a large number Of small arms, and from 400 to
5000 prisoners.
The enemy fell back during the night to a strong po-
sition, and busted himself in Re organizing his shattered
forces, and throwing up breastworkz.
Thursday, New Years. day, passed without any fight
ing, except a few slight skirmishes.
Gen. Bragg has already been eensured for rot attack
ing the enemy on Thursday. why he did not, it is not
for me to say. This much, however, can be said for
Gen Bragg. Like a good General he wants to save his
men. II the army Of Tennessee" were annihlated,
we have no new troops TO I'll its place An attack upon
the enemy's lines would have been attended with heavy
loss on our side, and though success would probably
have attended our efforts, yet the risk was very eonsid-
cradle.
At daybreak on Friday morning the four batteries Of
Cheathsm's division, Scotts, Carnes'. Smiths and
Standford's, supported by Chalmers brigade, formed On
a hill eight hundred yards from the enemy's lines, and
had a lively time during the day, sheling the enemys
sharpshooteTs from the woods, and engaging a line Of
the enemy's batteries in front. At times the fire Of the
enemy was tremendous, but being just behind the crest
Of the hill We suffered but little. About three o'clock
P. NJ, we were ordered to engage the enemy's batteries,
while Breckenridge should charge their lines. He met
them, and drove them back with great slaughter for a
mile, when suddenly falling behind their entertainments,
ard being supported by number Of batteries, our forces
wore compelled to fall back with heavy loss Here the
enemy look three pieces Of Breckinridgs's artillery so
he lost everything that had just been gained, and wss
driven back to his original position. This was certainly
an unfortunate move. If Breckinidgs had had a sup
porting division, the result would have probably been
quite different but he had no reserves at hand. There
was no fighting Of account on Saturd ~, aAd Saturday
evening, to our surprise. the whole army was ordered to
fall back.
Wec anPed two miles south Of Gurfreesboro' that
night, and Sunday a part Of the army marched to Shell
byvile, part to Tullahoma ard a portion to Manches.
ter.
There Wss stleast ore good reason for our rstrograds
movement. Our troops had been out for week, ez-
posed te the rain a0d Geld, with but single blanket
each, and for She most pert without Ares. Human IA
tare could not hold ont much longer under such expo
SURE.
The enemy slosly occupied Hurfreesboro, but did
not modest us in our retreat. They were evidently
glad to be I'd Of US On shy terms.
Our loss in al the h~gAts-kfled. wounded end miss
probably reach eight thousand
The enemy admits loss Of from twenty thousand to
thirty Thousand We held tie fed for four days, buried
our dead and secured all the spols. hence we claim
the victory.
StaHfJrd's battery lost one Heuteaant AID two pr.
Yates killed, gnd six p~rivates wounded two severely.
We also lost ten horses.
The enemy is too much crippled 10 fight Us for q
month to come. Whenever he is really, we viii vel
,pme him again with bloody hands to h~osptsble
graves" LEIGH