New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-07

had b,ep mustered together after the repuse OF
Wadnesuay. His men, anxious TO redeem their
character lay close behind some temporary breast
,vorks Of stone and ogs, until the Rebels were
within few hundred yards OF them. Then they
opened and the butterDuts retired in confusion
70 the cedar Tickets in which they had been coll
cealed all the morning Of Thursday, leaving num-
Der of their dead and wounded in an intervening
field.
On the center of our left, where a part of Gen.
Sheridan's Division was posted, a brisk hiring was
kept up between the pickets until near night, when
the Rebels becoming bold, once more advanced IN
considerable force into an open field. This time our
men no longer remained behind their breastworks,
but charged upon the enemy, and put them TO die
graceful flight, single company OF the 9th Illinois
cap'uring $50 prirOners.
number OF shells from some Of our batteries qui-
etcd the Rebels for the remainder Of the evening.
The fighting on Thurtday was ut no time on IA large
scale, amounting really 10 little more than heavy
skirmishng. Both armies seemed inclined to rest
after the dreadful contest of the day before. The
weather was cold and clear part Of the day, but
during the night there was al ugly, drilling ram,
from which our soldiers, without shelter OF any
KIND suffered severely.
FRIDAYS OPERATIONS.
There WAS nothing of Importance occurring
Ibursday night-scarcey shot from either eide
was heard Oh Friday rning until nearly O'Clock
Then "A terrible caunonade commenced and ragged for
half an hour all along the center of our line. The
euemy's shot and shell flew thick and fast up the
railroad and turnpike, and all over the open ground
occupied by the center of orr army.
One of our batteries was moved 10 the front, and
had more than half the horses killed and disabled by
the Rebel fire; but II became evident that the
enemys artillery was interior 10 our own, and after
LOOMS had knocked to pieces = Rebel battery of
large brass guns, which situated near the turn
nike directly in trout of Murfreesboro, the Others
hastily drew of and there WAS again ull III the
storm Our loss III this artillery duel was about 100
killed and wounded
From the reports of Rebel prisoners, am led to
believe that the enemy loss was very considerable.
There was nothing more than heavy skirnishpg
from this until o'clock ?. U.
SATURDAYS ENGAGEMENT.
BowLISG GRERN KY, Jan. 4, 1863.
I returned last night 10 Nashvie from the battle
field al MurfroesbOTO and, after u tedious TIDE 81
tie cars, during which wac engaged in writing
out these dispatches arrived late this evening o.
this place.
saw left the field, but not thank God until /
WAS able to report a glorious success tor the OF
the Union. The operations ny TO o'clock yesier'
day had Teen conducted scale o almost IN
paralleled grandeur, almost equaling the subiimesi
Il iltgry occurrences duilng the days OF Napoleon.
The battle o1 Wednesday displayed IN a most sink-
inc manner the vHlor OF troops, the eArnestnoss
Of our officers, and the genius oil Gen. hoeecran,
but The result on the whole, seemed 10 be Rgan,t
Us, and there wac a general feeling OF dependency
throughout our army.
ON ThnradAy there was little disposition manifest
ed on either side 20 the battle and tins feel
ipx continued until after the cGnnOnufe OF Friday
morning the result Of which did much 10 encourage
and inspire our soldiers, and make them ready for
the great event that took place IN the afternoon OF
tina, day. Gen. Van Cleye's division. belonging to
Cen CIitteuden's corpe, had been thrown aCfOsG
Stone River on Thurlday IN anticipation Of an as-
saut upon our left, similar 10 that upon the right on
Wednesday, or for purVosa which peThapr II II not
now prudent 70 intimate
I. was 20 ted upon low tlincnCe almost overlook
ing Murfrecsboro, and in this situation formed, n,
indeed !; had done before the extreme left wing Of
our nrnv Ii WIS about o'clock Ia the evening,
when no one anticipated Il renewal OF the battle,
that the Rebels advanced IN overwhelming force,
under the command Of Breckenridge, who seems 10
have been all day IN charge of the night Wing o.
their army, and threw themselves with terri
bic imretlosi'y upon Vac Cleyes division,
This portion Of our forces was IN command OF Col.
Beatty OF the 18th Ohio Gen. NaDcleve having
been wounded on Wednesday. The assault OF the
enemy was speedily announced 10 'he rest OF the
army bv dreadful war OF artillery and dea.enng
rattle OF inrsketry Everybody rushed instantly 10
I, arms aud all seemed anxious TO eDgnge the encmy
III once. 49, -,
For half an hour the gallant men Of Van Cleve'u
division held their agains. 1--WE times their mum
hers buI finding il .mpoAs5e 10 withstand the entire
Rebel army, began To give ground. Two brgades
slowly retired, the enemy following with great de-
,eru,lnation. until at length our men were puzzled
into the riyer many Of them dyeing the water with
their blood.
and fought if posslble, oostinately; still they
loo were iust on the point OF giving way when
Negley'e Division, which was near tue center when
the battle began rushing up 10 the rescue with
LOUD cheers
The soldiers advanced TO the river side delivered
q few terrible volleys, which etiectually checked
- Rebel onset, and then plunged INTO the stream
Itself ard wadei across, all the time pouring their
bul cts into the iace OF the toe
An adjacent hill, covered with woods, was just
upon the ether side Of the river, aud upon ascending
a iolefaby steep bank fence Was reached, which
teparsted the woods from the open ground through
which the river runs. Here the Rebels attempted
to make Il siaud end poured leaden hail into our
ranks AZ They camDered up the river bank; but the
fod,ers Of tie Union were 10 longer to be checked.
They rshed up 10 the fence, and hurled the eneI-y
away from il at the point Of the bayouet.
Tie whole woods then resounded with the roar Of
baille, oar men co, tnulng to drive the enemy
steadily before them. Coionels 4. X. Stanley ana
Miller commanding brigedes, urged forward their
men with daunlless cOurhgc, and drove the Rebels
entirely out of the woods and aeIoss some cofnelds
wLichSay Just III front OF the last strip OF timber
winch separated our army IRON MurireesDOro. ineso
corields were literally covered with the Rebel dead
and dying.
The enemy had now been driven a mile and
half ana nothing but the coming Of nigh, prevented
the galaOt Neglcy ard bis mex from pushing INTO
Nurirecsboro | rode over the field at 10 o'clock
that night. Our forces held uuaisputed possession
OF the Contested ground. The slaughter Of the
enemy war terrible to contemplate. Inc woods by
the river and corlields resounded with the groans OF
the wounded snd dying.
AT least 1000 OF the enemy fell in this glorious
affair. while our own loss could not have exceeded
500 More than 900 prisoners were left III our
hurds. Several Rebel lags were captured aud at
lest ore battery of artillery When the victory
was announced to the rest OF the army Their cneers
fairly rent the air and must have spread dlsnay
and terror among the Rebel hosts.