Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-07


TO distract their attention froR our real object
heavy artillery fire ordered to be opened from
Folks MOTT at the exact hour at which the movemen
was to begin At other points, throughout both lines
all was quiet Gen b eckiDridge at half past g. p
NJ, rep"rt' he We advance at 4. Folks batteries
:, promptly opeDed hse and answered by tbt
enemy. heavy canaonade Ct fifteen minutes was
succs led bJ tie fire Of uuskery, which b. came
central he contest short and seyere the enemy
: driven back ard tic er.inence -gaoed but The
movem7nt as whole was failure and the position
,gulu yielded Oar forces were moved unfortunate
y 90 lar ia iUe hit as III tr64 portion OF them into
and eve: oiones river whtre hey encountered b. aey
masses ct tie enemy whilst hose against whom they
wtre iUt' nd~o to operate, side the liver bad
destrnc W. eli ade whole line Our second
lire was 10 ose 10 he frCnt receive the enemy
d e. ard retu'0thg It took sbcir Tierds in the
be cavalry "Tce was lett entirely cut Of The acion -
!! Learning from my stah officers sent to te scene
OF tie d:sorCery retreat being made by Gen. BreCkn-
/ ridges division, Bug ecu PaIion Andersons fac
brigade Miss ssippa;s tie est body u troops,
was promptly ordered to his relief o. ching the
field and moving forward, Anderson found himself in
irons OF BFtckutGSeS infant =, ard encountered
the smy light troops close upon artillery, which
hid ben IL without support. This noble brigade,
under lis cool and gallant cbie drove the enemy back
aLd saved all The gu1s not captured before its arrival
Capt t. II Robertson, after the disabling wound re-
! ctved 10y Mi Graves, Gen Brecknrdges gallant and
efficient Chct of Artillery, took the entire charge of the
ARTILLERY o. the Division, addition TO lis own To
! his gaii4ntry, energy tearlessness is The small
ness OF s5 sustained be the arrival cur sup
port, only ;bree GU His report herewith annexed,
" 4, Will show the important part be played in this
attack aud rel Before the cid of the whole move
ment, ii quite dark A1derson's command held a
position next the enemy. corresponding nearly with
original lie, whilst Breckinridge's brigade com
mardcs collected thtr scattered lar n-actl-
cable in tie darkness sLd took Irregular positions
Andtrsons lett and At daylight il the morning
they were moved 10 the front, al the whole line
! % nat 4ho oynHk
Asj Geo. CIeburne's DIVISION reeanserred to- its
original position the right and 1t Ger. Hardee d.
reced 10 reaume bis command there, and restore cur
line.
GA Saturday morning, the 3rd, our forces had been
in ne Cf battle five days and five nights, with but lit
tie resi- having reserves, their baggage tents he'd
been loaded, aud the wagons tour miles Of their
provisions, ii cooked at all most imperecty pre-
pared with scanty the weather had been
from cold and almost constant rain, aud we had no
change OF clothing, and in many pacts could hot have
hres The sSary Quence the great ex0aus
ion OF both officers and men, many having to be
tie hospital 10 the Iear and still were beginning
I" struggle from their Commands an evil from which
had lar suffered but little. During the wLOe OF
this day tie continued to fail with llt:e iutermis
sio AID the RAPID se Stones rive indicated that it
would soon be unfor1 e. Late On Friday night, had
received the captured papers Of Mai. Gen. McCOok,
commanding corps darmee If the enemy showing
their effective strength to have ben very nearly if
quite, 20 000 Before reports from Brig
General Wheeler sat sized me that The enemy stead OF
retiring, al receiving endorsements.
Common prudence and the safety OF my army, upon
which the safety OF depended, lett no
DOUBT in my mind to the necessity for my withdrawal
from unequal contest. My ORDERS according
y ei7en about for the movement of the trains and
tor the nee ssary preparations OF the troops
Under the efficient management OF the different
staff depar tments everything had been secured and
transferred 10 the rear including prisoners captured
artillery, small arms, subsistence OF trun3pOrta
ton, and nearly all OF our wounded able to bear moving
No movement of any kind was made by the troops
either side during the LceLnent day. until just at
night, when sharp skirmish occurred between Folks
right and the enemys left flank, resulting in nothing
decisive. The only question with was whether the
movement should be made at delayed "a hours
to few OF our wounded AS it was probable
should lose by exhaustion macy should remove
of the wounded, my inclination to remain yielded
The whole force except the cavalry put in motion
at O'Clock, Z. NJ, and the army retired in perfect
order is present position, behind Duck river without
receiving giving shot. Our cavalry held the posi-
ton before Murfretsboro until Monday morning, the
9Th, wren 1t Quietly retired as ordered 10 cover our
front.
We left about 200 badly wounded, oaeha!f Of
whom learn, have since died from the Sc, Gritty of
their injuries, about 800 SICK feeble bear trans
portaicn, and about 200 we'll ard medical officers
their attendants 10 addition to this the entmy had
captured about 800 prisoners from AS the 1900
wounded counted once unGer that head among our
losses they ehouid be excluded n the general total As
offset 10 this less we bad eccutd will appear from
the report Of my instec General herewith marked
5, considerably 0ye~ 5000 prisoners, bad captured
80 pieces OF artillery. 5000 stand OF small arms,
pumbcr OF wagons, snbplaDces. mules and harness,
With large amount OF other valuable property all OF
which was secured, and opia9d to proper uses.
Besides oil this secured had d. sroyed not less than
$50 Wagons mostly laden with various aric,2s such
as arms, ammunition, provisions, beg age, clothing,
medicines and hospital We had lost three pieces
OF artillery only, all in Breckinridges reFulse A num-
Der OF stands OF c0rs, nlne OF which rWarded
with this report, also captured the field 9th
eIs known TO have been taken h6Y not been sent in
The list, marked 6, is herewith transmitted.
\ tabular state ment OF Gu, lrc,s marked {" is
bercwi suhmittd d, showing The nun1f er OF fighting
men we bad On tie field, .hC mOTniog OF the 31st
OF December, to have been less t. 80 000 OF which
UbOut 80 600 infantry ond artillery. Our losses
also reported in this comprehensive table, so
TO show low Much Zach COrrs division and brigade
suffered, aud case Z. Br' ckinridge's division, the
losses )re1 stpaIaie tor Wednesday and Fri
day. Iteee reports minute anC Sage sve showing
tie verify Of tht co ct, Vel :s whtlc when and
by whom 1t was sustained.
Among The gallant dead The nation called MORN,
could have fallen more torored CT regretted than
Brig. GeEs James +. Rains aId Z. ". Hanson.--
They yielded their lives in tie Eeroc discharge of duty
AID leave their honCred rich legacy to their
deecendants. Brig. Gen. Jas. Il Chalmers ard D. w.
Adams received disabling WOUNDS Wednesday. am
happy to say not serious but which deprived US OF
date command the beginning of tbs war, can
bear evidence their DEVOTION and to the conspicuous
gallantry which has marked their services every
field.
For the sacred OF other heroes and patriots Of
lower grades, who gave their lives illustrating the
character of the Confederate soldier this bloody
field, refer TO the reports OF subordinate COM
maDders and to the List which will be submitted Our