The Portland daily press., 1863-01-09

the general and some of the staff. Lieut. Lylan
Kirk, just behind him, was lifted clear out of
his saddle by bullet which shattered his left
| arm. Three orderlies and a gallant Sergeant
Richmond, of the 4th United States cavalry.
were killed, not ten feet from him, and five or
six horses in the staff escort were struck.
Between five and six o'clock. the enemy an
parently exhausted by his rapid and incessant
assaults, took up position not assailable
without abundant artillery, and the fire on
both sides slackened, and finally silenced at
dark, the battle having ragged II hours, the
loss OF life on our side being considerable, and
the terrific nature Of the field comparatively
limited. Our casualty list that day ex-
Guiding captures, did not exceed perhaps
Loo. of whom not more than one-fourth were
Killed. This is attributable to the care taken
10 make our men lie down. The enemy's loss
must have been more severe.
When the battle closed the enemy occupied
the ground which was ours in the morning and
the advantage was theirs. Their object in at
tacking us was to cut us Off from Nashville
They played their old game. If McCook's force
had held more firmly against Hardee's corps
and Cheatham's division, when he fought
Rosecrans, the plan of battle would have sue
ceeded. AT dark they had heavy force on
our right, leading to the belief that they in
tended to pursue. Their cavalry, meantime,
was excessively troublesome, cutting deeply
into our trains behind us, and we had not cav
airy enough to protect ourselves. The 4th
regulars made one splendid dash at them, cap
turing sixty-seven and releasing three hun
dred prisoners they had taken from us, and re-
captured five hundred prisoners of the enemy
THURSDAY.
Gen. Rosecrans determined to begin the at
tack this morning, and opened furiously with
our ieff at dawn. The enemy, however, would
not retire from our right, and the battle work
ed that way. At IL o'clock matters were not
flattering on either side. At II our batteries
received new supplies of ammunition, were
massed, and terrible fire was opened. The en-
emy began 10 give way, Gen. Thomas pressing
on their center and Crittenden advancing on
their left. The battle was more severe at that
hour than 1t had been, and the result was yet
doubtful Both sides were uneasy. but deter
mined. Gen. Bosecrans feels its importance
1ully. IL he is defeated he will be defeated
badly, because he will fight as long as he has
brigade. III he is victorious the enemy will
be DESTROYED
Some ofour regiments behaved badly. bnt
most of them were heroes. The enemy SEEM
ed fully as numerous as we. They did not
use as much artillery. Generals Joe Johnston
and Bragg were in command. Prisoners say
they lost largely
Later in the day they fiercely assailed the
right of our center and were again repulsed.
Both armies spent the remainder of the day
in sharp skirmishing and maneuvering for po-
sition.
Our army bivouacked on the same ground
Thursday night as that occupied on the night
OF "Wednesday. We gained some advantage
III the battle of Thursday, but not without ter
rible carnage. Gen. Negley fought his diyis-
ion all day splendidy, and lost very heavily in
men, but saved his artillery. Gen. Rosseau
immortalized himself long before he fell severe
" lad Z
ced from some direction Wednesday night.
Gen. McCook had his horse blown to atoms
by shell, and, although severely bruised, soon
remounted and rode to the front of his gal
liant division. Gen. Rosecrans. everywhere
and at all times, exhibited great GOODNESS and
moral courage, exposing himself continually
at critical periods. He gave orders incessant-
ly, i'll firm manner.
FRIDAY.
During Thursday night the enemy appeared
again to be concentrating upon our right.
Their commands were distinctly heard in our
camps, but suspecting ruse, Gen. Rosecrans
threw Beatty's brigade of Van Cleve's divis-
ion across Stone river on our left, with sup
ports, where they rested at about 10 o'clock
this morning. Between and o'clock this af-
ternoon the enemy made another formidable
demonstration against our center, but were
handsomely replused. At the same time an
immense mass of infantry was precipitated up
on Beatty's brigade, and drove it, after a gal
liant resistance across the river.
Negley's fine division, which took so distin-
guished part in the preceding actions, and
that of Jefferson G. Davis, successiyely came
to its support, when most desperate struggle
ensued. Both sides seem determined to win
victory, and both brought all their available
artillery TO play, until nearly all the batteries
In the two armies were at work. The uproar
OF musketry and artillery was of the most fu-
rous description, and the whole field was sool.
shrouded by clouds of smoke. Our men suf-
fered severely by the enemy's fire, but they
advanced with unfinching determination
Negley at last ordered his division to charge.
1t pushed forward without faltering, when the
enemy sulienly gave way. The gallant 18th
pennsylvania charged home on the 26th Ten
nessee, and captured its colors Another reg
iment rushed upon a battery, drove away the
gunners, and seized the guns. A great shout
OF victory rose along the whole line, and was
carried in magnificent volumes from left TO
right and back aga IN.
Perceiving this success Gen. Rosecrans now
ordered an advance of the whole line Just be-
fore dark. The liue swept forward with loud
enthusiasm, but darkness soon made it impos-
sble to press our advantage to a conclusion.
Nevertheless the left tcds fdiriy established on
the east bank Of the rirer. The center ad-
tuHceu 20 position heretofore he'll bu the
enemy, and the right again occupied that por-
ton Of our original line from ,chich it had
been dricen on Wednesday, On
SATURDAY
There was spirited engagement at La
vergne, IN our rear, between the Mechanics
and Engineers, under Col. Innis, and General
Wheaton's rebel cavalry. The latter were
routed with the loss of 33 killed All contra
bands captured by the rebels on the Federal
wagon trains are Immediately shot. Twenty
thus killed are lying on the Murfreesboro'
pike. Major Skinner and Capt. King, who
were being conveyed away in an ambulance
from the battle field, were captured by the
rebels, taken four miles away, and then paro-
ed and thrown out upon the road. Yesterday
Gen. Rosecrans personally took command of
the 4th U. S. Cavalry, and attacked General
Wheaton's rebel cavalry, who were utterly
routed. On Saturday night, during the storm,
the rebels attacked our men in their rifle pits,
along the whole line. The fight continued
two hours.
At one O'Clock Sunday morning, the rebels
commenced to retreat. At noon Stanley's
cavalry entered Murfreesboro, and captured
prisoners, guns, and stores. The Federals on
Sunday occupied Murfreesboro' in force. The
town is much injured by shells. Gen. Silrs
body was at the Court House. The rebels
buried their own dead and our officers. There
hach ham l.ka1 af y