The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-16
The Battle at MurfreeSboro.

The Nashville correspondent Of The Gin
cinnati Gazette gives the following account
of the attack and repulse of Breckinridge's
rebel division, late Friday afternoon -
1t was about o'clock in the evening. when
no one anticipated a renewal of the battle, that
the rebels advanced in overwhelming force,
under the command of Breckenridge, who
seems TO have been all day in charge of The
right wing of their army, and threw them
selves with terrible impetuosity upon Van
Cleve's division. This portion of our force
was in command of Co, Beatty of the 18Th
Ohio. Gen Van Cleve having been wounded
on Wednesday. The assault of the enemy
was speedily announced To the rest of the ar
my by 4 dreadful war of artillery and deaf:
ening rattle of musketry. Everybody rushed
instantly 20 arms, and all seemed anxious TO
engage The enemy at once. For half an hour
the gallant men of Van Cleve's division held
IN, ir own against FIVE times their numbers.
but finding it impossible to withstand the
entire rebel army. began TO give ground.
Two regiments slowly retired, the enemy ;oi-
lowing with great determination, until at
length our men were pushed in-o the river,
many of them dveing the water with their
blood.
The 81 brigade stood IFS ground somewhat
longer and fought, If possible, more obsti-
nately: still they too were just on the point
of giving way, when Negley's division. which
was near the center when the battle began.
came rushing up TO the rescue with loud
cheers. The soldiers advanced to the river
side, delivered a few terrible volleys. which
eff-ctuallv checked the rebel onset, and then
plunged into the stream itself and walled
across, all the time pouring their bullets into
the face of the foe. An adjacent hill, cover
ed with woods, was Just upon the other side
I of the river, and upon ascending a tolerably
steep bank fence was reached, which sepa-
rated the woods from the open ground through
which the river runs. Here the rebels at
temp,ed to make a stand. and poured lead
en- hail into our ranks as they clambered up
/ the river bank but the soldiers of the Union
were no longer to be checked. They rushed
up to the fence, and hurled the enemy away
from it at the point of the bayonet.
( The whole woods then reSounded with the
roar of battle, our men continuing to drive
the enemy steadily before them. Colonels
/. r. Stanley and Miller, commanding brig
AIDES. urged forward their men with dauntless
courage, and drove the rebels entirely out o.
the woods and across the cornie.ds which
lay just in front of the last strip of timber
which separated our army from Murfrees-
boro. These cornfelds were literally covered
with the rebel dead and diving. The enemy
had now been driven mile and half, and
nothing but the coming of night prevented
the gallant Negley and his men from push
ing into Murfressboro. | rode over the
field at 10 o'clock that night. Our forces
held undisputed possession of the contested
ground. The slaughter of the enemy was
terrible to contemplate. The woods BY
the river and corn6elds resounded with The
sroans of the wounded and dying.
At least 2000 of the enemy fell In this glo-
rious affair. while our own loss could moi
have exceeded 800. More than 1000 prison.
ers were left in our hands. Several rebe
flags were captured, and at least one batter,
OF artillery. When the victory was anaoune
ed to the rest of the army, their cheers fairly
rent the air, and must have spread Gisma,
and terror among tie rebel hosts.