Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-05

1890 W.
Stones river, where the rebels had made
preparations for a desperate stand. The at
tack was made by our army, on Wednesday,
last week, and was not very successful that
day, although the battle was extremely fierce
and bloody. A letter from Nashville dated
Jan. LIST, gives the following account of the
first days fight
"That day dispositions were made to attack
the enemy in the morning. After dark the en-
envy was reported massing near McCOok, OBJ
viously to turn our right wing. This cores
ponded with the wishes of Gen. Rosecrans,
who instructed Gen. McCook to hold him in
check stubbornly, while the left wing should
be thrown into Murfreesboro, behind the en-
envy.
'At daylight on the last day of December,
everything appeared working well. The bat
tie had opened on the right, and our left wing
was on hand. At I O'Clock ominous sounds
indicated that fire was approaching our left.
Aids were dispatched for information, and
found the forests full of flying negroes and
struggling soldiers, who reported whole regi-
ments falling back. Three batteries of his di-
vision had been captured by sudden attack
of the enemy, and it had somewhat demoral-
lied our troops, it was obvious. General Nc
Cook sent word to hold the front and he would
help him, that it would all work right The
fire continued to approach on the right with
alarming rapidly, extending to the ce inter-,
audit was clear that the right was de ubling up
the left. The enemy had compelled us to
make complete change of front on that wing,
and were pressing the center.
"Gen. RosecrauS, with splendid daring,
dashed into the furious fire, and sending his
/ 81 IL, l..
forward. Some six batteries opened, and sus-
tanning magnificent fire, directly tremen-
| dous shout was raised along the whole line,
and the enemy began to fall back rapidly. The
| general himself urged the troops forward. The
rebels, terribly punished, were driven back
fully mile. The same splendid bravery was
displayed in the lines, and they advanced,
though the enemy made formidable demon
strations on our left, while they prepared for
another onslaught on our right.
meantime, orders had been issued to move
our left upon the enemy, but before they had
time to execute them they burst upon our CEN
ter with awful fury, and it began to break.
Rosecrans's division was carried into the
breach magnificently by their glorious leader.
The enemy again retreated hastily into the
dense cedar thickets. Again they essayed
oar right, and again we were driven back. By
formidable, and the prospect was discourag.
| ing; but there was no panic
1.-The general, confident of success, con-
tinued to visit other parts OF the field, and
with the aid of Gems. Thomas, McCook, Crit
tenden, Rousseau, Negley, and Wood, the
| tide of battle was turned early in the day
| We were seriously embarrassed by the enter
prise of rebel cavalry, who made some serious
dashes upon some of McCook's ammunition
and subsistence trains, capturing number of
wagons, and artillery ammunition grew alarm
| ingly scarce. AT one time it was announced
that not single wagon load of it could be
found. Some of our batteries were quiet on
that account. This misfortune was caused
by the capture Of McCooks trains.
''About two o'clock the battle had shifted
again from right to left The enemy, discov-
ering the impossibility of succeeding in their
main design, had suddenly massed their forces
on the left, crossing the river, or moving I'M
der cover of bluffs on the right, and for about
two hours the fight ragged with unremitting
fury, to the advantage of the enemy for con-
siderable length of time, when they were
checked by our murderous fire of both mus
kerry and artillery.
1.-The scene at this point was magnifcently
terrible. The whole battle was in full view.
The enemy deploying right and left, bringing
up their batteries in fine style, our own vom-
iting smoke and iron missiles upon them with
awful fury, and our gallant fellows moving to
the front with untlinching courage, and lying
flat upon their faces to escape the rebel fire
until the moment for action
Shell and shot fell round like hail. Gen.
Rosecrans was himself necessarily exposed.
1t is wonderful that he escaped. His chief of
staff, the noble Lieut.. Col. Garesche, had his
head taken off by round shot, and the blood
despatched the general and some of his staff.
Lieut.. Lylan Kirk, just behind him, was lifted
clear out OF his saddle by bullet which shat
tered his left arm.
Between five and six o'clock, the enemy,
apparently exhausted by his rapid and inces-
SAINT assaults, took up position not assailable
without abundant artillery, and the fire OF
both sides slackened, and finally silenced al
dark. The battle having ragged eleven hours
the loss of life on our side being considera.
bic, and the terrific nature of the field com.
paratively limited"
THE FIGHTING THURSDAY, JAN. LIST.
''Gen. Rosecrans determined to begin the
attack this morning, and opened furiously
with our left at dawn. The enemy, however
would not retire from our right and the battle
worked that way. At II o'clock matters were
not 1attering on either side. At II our bat
teries received new supplies of ammunition
were massed, and a terrible fire was opened
The enemy began to give way, Gen. Thoma:
pressing on their center and Crittenden ad.
vancing on their left The battle was more
severe at that hour than it had been, and the
result was yet doubtful Both sides were un.
easy, but determined. Gen. Rosecrans feel:
its Importance fully. If lie is defeated he viii
be defeated badly, because he will fight as
long as he has brigade. If he is victorious
the enemy will be destroyed.
sat this hour we are apprehensive. Some
Not our troops behaved badly but most of them
were heroes. believe all but Walkers brig
AIDE, consisting of the 18th and 3lst Ohio, and
two other regiments, were not in Wednesday Is
battle, being on guard, butthey were engaged
to-day. The enemy seemed fully as nuner
GUS as we. They did not use as much artil-
lery. Generals Joe Johnston and Bragg were
in command. Prisoners say they lost largely
Gen. McCook was brave to a fault, and self.
possessed. He narrowly escaped death many
times. His horse was killed under him, and
he was severely hurt by his horse falling UNI
der him."
The account Of Thursdays battle is moi
complete; but we infer that neither party
gained much that day.
On Friday, Jan. I'd, the fighting was ter
rifle, and our army gained very important ad-
vantages. One of our Geographic dispatches
gives an account of this, the third great bat
tie of the prolonged conflict. Our mer
crossed the river and secured footing on the