New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-26
FROM GEN. ROsKCRANs's ARMY.

" Everything Whipped but Bcsccrnns "
Confusion i'm the Renr--Ordcr in the
Field Of BatfIc-1ysior-Gen. Thomas
The Regulars I'm Bnttle--The Briilinnt
Affair at CONGRATULATIONS Dis
tinguished-GenersI
From Our Special Correspondent.
MURYRsssBoRo, Tenn, Jan. 49, 1863.
We were discussing the great battle oil December
81 for the twentieth time. An old canpaigner who
had served through the war with Mexico, and who
Mad continued at his post of duty from the beginning
OF the Rebellion, suddenly interposed: Well,
gentlemen / guess ercrybody but ROsecrans rGs
phipped that morning." Those who surrounded him
will at all events, sustain the declarstion that his
constancy did not WAIVER in the most trying periods
Of that appalling morning. | will not undertake
upon my own responsibility to say that 1t is true but
have good reason to believe that many OF his
Generals ADVISED retreat that night, and were
answered with orders directing them to prepare for
battle at dawn next morning. II is also but just to
sav that there IS no moral doubt, notwithstanding
the confidence entertained universally by men ana
officers the great military qualifications OF Major
General Thomas, that had Gen. Rosecrans been dls-
abled the army would have been b0pelessy de-
lea,ed. The Commanding General will be as sin
cerey admired for his ability a. splendid tsctician
W he las been for his great strategic skil.
cunning rufe-a Roland for Braggs Oliver
was practised upon The enemy, Friday night, JAN =
lt wac apparent that their numbers exceeded ours.
a-Gen. Thomas, who is habtually deliberate,
said the enemy outnumbered us some 5000 or 5000
men. After we occupied MurfreesboIo, we ascer-
tanned beyond doubt that Kirby Smiths 10, 900 men,
Which We knew had been detached from Bragg
Oeteasiby TO 20 to Mississippi, had been qaeily
tyouacked among the mountains within call OF Muir
/ nd uhan IA of the Cumhe Ia nd
moved upon Bragg, they were ordered back to the
'front.'. II was a cunning Tuse. Bragg dbl TO bring
on an attack vaIDly imagining thai bus Reinforce
ments would turn the scale Of victory IN his favor
But Friday night Gen. RosecraEs directed Lieut.
Col. Langdon of Gen. McCOok's staff aud Capt. {.
K. Thompson of his own, each possessing voices OF
fine volume TO move the l4th Division" to the
right Of line, as demonstratyeiy as posi-
DIE. You will understand that the 18th Division "
was myth. There was none such in the army.
langdon aud Thompson, however, with powerful
! v0calization, deployed it's columns into line, and
Illuminated the woods with blazing biyouac fires.
subsequ gently Gen. Roseorans vIsited the camp vi
the " iith Division" and taking lot OF orderes,
each with irebrano IN his hand, be laid out long
line Of battle with glowing picket stallons, COM
pletely overlapping the left wing Of the enemy.
Bragg IN his jubilant dispatch 10 JEFF. Davis, said
that " the enemy having received heavy reinforce
ments, he deemed II prudent to retire; Inc ilth
Division" consisting Of Lieut. Col. Langdon, Capt
Thompson, Capt. Fisher, and the General.C Command
| ing with hs oIdefes and few hambeaus, were all
the reGnfoTcements our army had received.
Had this army met with reverse we should have
been more camorous that the public should observe
the disparity OF numbers against us. Since we are
victorious we are merely solieitous that the fact
should be recognized that the proportions OF the
success may be property estimated. We have sbun-
dant Rebel testimony that Bragg had 5000 effect
ives including his 10 GOO enterpTislOg cavalry. But
this is strongly confirmed by our roll Of Rebel Pris-
oners. We have the name. OF captlyes representing
l45 distinct reg ments and - batteries. No doubt
there were regiments not represented by prisoners.
But suppoLng we had captiyes from each regiment
and thoee FROM W heeier's, Wbartons, anu Col
John r. Morgan Oh cavalry are not included in the
report Of Provost Marsha General Wiles-we will
| estimate each at 80 nen-some OF them We know
numbered 100 men and morc-this would give an
aggregate Of ~, 80; add l. 400 men for arterymen
and 10000 cavalry, and you will have an aggregate
OF 1900 men, Our effective force less than
1900. Returning 10 previous reports upon the cit
uatiOn, you Will discover that we were quite san
guine that the enemy did not exceed a. 600 men, IL
is quite clear now that his force was underesnated
There ID another point touching the battle which
should be redeemed from mas of loose exsgSora-
J tons. Correspondents have described Il disgracefu
panic scarcely second 10 the humiliatng tragedy Of
hhiloh on the brst day. The views OF an officer
who wag ordered up frOin point seyoI miles ia the
rear in the afternoon, illustrates the point orclbly.
lie remarked that the highway aud in the forests
in the Of battle there were distressing eyi
!
diers, teamslers, end negroes were racing. 10 the
Tea- like a mob, spreading alarming reports The
officer was intensely anxious, but tho stream OF
skukers was not formidable enough 10 confirm their
/ own eXaEgersliOns. A line oi guards was thrown
ncross the country, and tho towards were halted
" Upon moving my column to the point" said the
officer, and while depiOying NY column into line
IN the presence Of that marshal pageant, WAS In
expressibly sstonshed at the contract between the
perfect order Of the battlefield and the confusion
from which had jus. escaped in the rear. could
scarcely accept the evidence OF my own senses.
From that moment was reasSuTed. Although the
enemy had the advantage at that time, ielt comb
dent OF ultimate success. L Saw that master mind
ruled the storm Of BATTLE
Possibly injustice may have been done to meri-
torious soldiers on tat field By omission Of their
names in the public scroll Of honor. i DO not
member the measure of credit which has been
awarded by the pres 10 Maj .-Gen. Geo. H. Thomas.
lie scarcely needs the eulogy OF unofficial pens,
though public expression OF merit il always sweet
to the true soldier. WHAT couldbe said Of Gen.
Thomas than tue simple statement that the conli-
dence in him Of the General Commanding, was 30
perfect that be felt responsibility devolylng upon
him when Thomas held command. No man certainly,
Ia the whole army, after Gen. ROsecrans. 30
thoroughly commands tho confidence and esteem OF
officers and troops. IL would be absurd TO mention
his bravery. Under fire. TO him does not seem to
signify mortal peril. Ills command in that Uatte
consisted Of the divisions OF Negley and Rousseau
names synonymous with everything that ia stanch,
Trustworthy. and knishtly. Bat II attempt to in
div duaize the heroic leaders Of that day, might 10
well publish the musteI-roli of the army.
There Is a record, however, which shall he more
supply made when the biography OF the gallant
Reg ugr brigade il ready for history. Look at tue
synopsis. kousseaus division consisted OF four
brigades, one Of which wGs commanded by Lieut.
al nf the l. iflI