New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-26
TITr RATTLE OF STONE RIVER.
Continued from First PAGE.

morning of the 30th. Rousseau, with TWO o,lsaues'
was ordered down early from stewart ,Sor N
,nr one brigade there and sending an1 on, ~
Smyrna to cover left and rear, ana IOon is cau
in reserve in rear of palmer's T1sHs "hie "'
Neeley moyd on thrcuGh tho cedsr brakes ul-;i b,
hgh: iestss on tho Wilkinson pike, as shown BY
tie accompanying plan Inc pioneer e?rpA cut
roads through the cedais io p'S "u'''Dces "uu du-
nlupiton wagons.
The CommSnding0eSEral remained with the ieft
srd center, examining the gronpd while Gen, Nc
Cook moved forward from Wiikinsons Crcresrosd'
slowly spd steadily, meeting with heavy reslstanc =,
frb,ipr iis way from Overall Creek until he .cot
iur5 POSITION, with oss Of some 135 killed and
wourded
Jnr sp,al division Of cavalry-.ay 5000 ne n. had
Been divided into three parts % witch Gen. Stanley
took two, and accompanied Gen. McCOok, fighting
his way across from the Wilkinson 10 the FrauklrG
Pike and below il, Col. zshns brigY de leadrnC
pallarily. and meeting with srch heavy resistance
that McCook sent two bngades finn Johnson's
division which succeeded in lighting their way into
the position shown on the accec lpsnyiGgs plan
marked a, while the third brigade Naich had been
left at Tr0ne, moved forward fron ihat place, and
arrived at nightiaIl near Gen. MOCooks hesd-
quarters Thus on the close of he Goth ths troops
bad ell got into The position srbetGntially shown
in the accompanying drawing the Rebels occupying
the position marked A.
Al o'clock in The afternoon, Cen hcCoOk had
reported his arrt ii the Wilkinson Ike, joining
Thomas; the rceult Of the 1OmbaS N DE afternoon
Gear Greisone nome anG the Il & tha. Sheridan was
in position there that his rig!n wee advancing to
support the cavalry; ale that Hase's corps. with
two Ii. isior5 OF Poke, CT he front, extend
ing down toward the Salem Pjse.
Wi hou. any map G.. the fNoapi, which was TO IA
terra incaraUa, VIXEN Geo, NeI oOk informed the
General Commanding ih II bis corps was facing
strongly toward the east, the General Command
ing to- hin that erch a E-ecton to his line did not
appear 20 jim proper g., brt that 1t ought, WITT
south witd Johnson's EVisr5l in reserve; but that
this y after mus- be COZ IsdeG 10 him who knew ire
ground over witch he tsdsought
4. 9p. IN. TIE corps commanders met at me mead
Qvgr;ers Of tte Gere5al Commanding, WHO eA-
pi4ined 70 theri the folOW.ng Qian of toe battle
McCook was to oc',vey the most advantage o1a
pcsiten refreDg his right as much as fracucapie
and NECESSARY to Secure it, TO receive the attack o.
In enemy; or il Tat DID not come, TO aJtaok HIM
self cuff tien to hold s4i the force on his front
Thomas aid Paine. t. open with skiTrlshrg, anc
gain the eremys cesr.er and left, as far as th'
Cri,tendsn to cro.s Van Cleve's division at the
lower forS covered, cad supported by the ''apper
and Miners. and 10 arvarre on BreckiWijGe.
Woods division tC foil ow by bHgades, crossing at
the upI'e, ford aud ns0viag Van Cleves right, e
carry "a srythiug before them mo MUnTeesooro
This wo- Id have f-ren rs two divisions against Que
and as BYE c2inI idte hsd been disodged from
BIZ posi tie 5o;ter Of Wood divis Oh, taking
posit o. on the hghts east cf Stone River, in ad
vance would 81 the enemys work n reverse
would dislooge them, and enable Palmer's division
20 pres them back an drive THIN westward across
tie ri'er thicaoh The woods; while Thomas, SUE
tanning the ment on the center, would advance
on tbs Igbs OF Pal neT, crushing their right; and
CrireIGens cops e,dvaGcing would take Murfrees-
bore; End then moving westward on the Franklin
roaG get nj their flax and rear, and drive them uIo
tie country toward Salem, With the prospect OF cut
tiug Of thsirytreai, and probably destroying thsr
aruy. .
IL was exp lined to them that this combination,
insuring US vast superiority on eur lett, required
for its suceaea that Gen McCook should be s6le 70
hold hs posi ion for three hours that if neces7a.
70 recece at ALL lie should recede as he bad adSan@
on the preceding day, slowly aud steadily, reiasl1
his right, thereb rendering our sue cess ceriala
Having ssus Explained TIE plan, tie General Con-
mandiug adore sed ten. McCook ss follows: 1or
know the Groonsi; you have fought over Its o'iccl
tee. Csr you hold your pTeSent position for three
hours 2" 10 which Gen. McCook replied, 4" Yes,
hink os1." The General Commanding then SAID
al don't like the facing so much TO the east, bEt
must eonfde that TO You, who know the ground II
YOU doa. think your present the best poscn,
charge IT, and TIE officers +aen retired to their
At delight on the morning Of the 3ls, the troops
breskf4eed and stood 20 then a1aG, and by CLOCK
were preparing for the battle.
Tie movement began on the left by Gen. Van
Cleve /yho crossed At TIE lower fords; Wood pre-
pared y Gus ain and FOLLOW him. The enemy mean
while led prepared to attack Gen. McCoOk, and by
G. oclock advanced iu heavy colnmDs--regi mental
ffont-bs left attacking Willcb's and Kirks brig
AIDES Of Johusons DIVISION which, being disposed
as shown in tie map, thln end gbt, without sup
port were, after sharp but Iruliess contest
crumblcd 10 pieces and driven back, leaving Edgar
ton and part Of GoodsIeeds battery Ii tie hands OF
the enemy.
ION and speedily dsiOdyed Ports brigade Carin 3
brigade was compelled 10 follow, as WoOdruh
BRIGADE, from, the weigh; of testimony, had
previously lett ITS position on his lett. Jo1nson
brigade on rei1Dg inclined too far 70 tho west
and were too much scattered 10 make a combined
resistance, though they fought braye!y at one or
twO points before reaching Wilkinson pike. The
4. reserve brigade oil JOhus0l's division, advancing
from its bivOusc WilkiDsons pike, toward the
night took good portion, and made gallant but
intellectual stand az the whole Rebel left was noy-
ing up on the ground abandoned by our troops.
Within an hour from the tine OF the opening OF
the battle, q staff officer from Gen. McCook arrived,
announcing to that the night wing was heavily
pressed and needed assistance; but waa not adj
weed OF the rout of WilIichs and Klrbys Brgades,
nor Of the rapid withdrawal of Dayis's Division,
pecessitated Il ereby-morecver having supposed his
wing posted more compactly aud bic ri ght more re-
fused thin 1t really was the direction OF the noise OF
battle did not indicate to the true state o! Affairs
i consequently directed him TO return, ana clTeci
Gen. McCook to dispose bis troops 10 the best adj
vantage, and 10 hold bis ground obstinstely. Soon
after d second officer from Gen. McCook arrived,
and stated that the night wing was being drVen-a
fact that was but TOO manifest, by the rapid move
,neut Of the noise OF battle toward the north.
Gen. Thomas was immediately dispatched to order
Rousseau-there in reserve-into the cedar brakes
10 the rigot and rear of Sheridan. Gen. Critenden
was ordered TO suspend Van Cleve's movement
across the river the left and 10 cover the crosse
ing with one brigade ana move the other two brig
AIDES westward aSross the fields toward the railroad,
for reserve. Wood was ALEC directed 10 suspend
tIs preparations for crossing aud 10 hold Hacal Ia
reserve