Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-01-15
General ROsecrans' Official De.
SpatCileS.
A Corrected Copy Of His Despatch
Ofthe Srd Instant.

WASHINGTON, January S.-Nearly ons-half f
General Rosecran's despatch of the Sd instant
communicating the operation OF his army up to
that time, was omit ed in its publication in the
papers OF yesterday. The following is COM
plete copy OF the despatch, which includes IL
record OF the most crtirll period of the strug-
gle-the fight on the 3lst:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CoRrs,
DEPARTMENT OF. THE CUMBERLAND IN FRONT
OF MuRFREEsBoRo,' JANUARY B. VIA
NASHVILLE, January, 4, 1863. J
To H. ". ItLleck, Genc,GG-in- Chief Washing
ton;
On the 26th of December we marched from
Nashville in three columns. Gen. McCook
by Nolinsville pike, General Thomas from his
, eucampment on Frankin's Pike, via Wilson s
pike, and General Crittenden on the main
Murtreesboro' pike.
Our left and centre met with strong resis-
lance, snch as the nature of the country per-
mits, the rolling or hilly routs, skirted by c.
dar thickets and farms, and intersected by
small streams, with rocky bluff banks forming
serious obstacles.
General McCook drove General Hardee's
Corps, II mile and q hall from Nolinsvllc and
occupied the place.
General Crittendcn reached within a mile
and half of Lavergne
General Thomas reached the Wilson pike,
meeting with no severe opposition,
On The 9th General McCook drove General
Hordee from Nolinsville, and pushed forward
IL reconnoitering division six miles towards
Shelbysville, and found that General Hardce
had retreated towards Murfreesboro'.
Gen. Crittended fought and drove the enemy
before him, occupying the line Stewards creek,
and capturing some prisoners with Slight loss.
General Thomas occupied the vicinity of
Nn1i lla ~, tha OIL, Tnrn Il
his reconnaissance OF IIardces movements
Crilenden remained, awaiting the result and
bringing up trains. Thomas moved on to
Stewards Creek and on the goth Gen. Nc
Cook moved into Wilkiuson's Cross Roads
seven miles from Murfreesbror' the end of a
short pike road, rough, through rolling
country, skirted ny bluffs, and covered with
dense cedar thickets, tops and open timber,
Crittenden pushed the enemy rapidly, saved
the bridges, and reached point within three
miles OF Murresboro.' lie advanced, driving all
the outposts to within sight Of the town.
Thomas two divisions closed up with Crlten-
denss, and took a position on his right
On the 3oth McCook advanced on the Will
kinsonson Pike having to make his way
through dense woods, meeting with determin-
ed resistance, and got into position three miles
from MurSreesboro', occupying the extreme
right OF our line. The lett stood fust The
centre advanced slightly, and were engaged
in cutting through an almost impcnetrable
growth OF ce lar, which separated them from
our right, rendering communication with
them extremely difficult. The combat and
the roughness OF the country had brought for.
ward McCOok's right divisions So as to face
strongly 10 the southeast, instead OF being re-
faced to face TO the south with the several d.
visions between the centre and right and su f
tci f.lr n hp rpu n
cessary, to extend it, the grave consequences
of which were developed the mex, day.
On the 3lst, found our left crossing the
Murirees bore pike and ra:lroaG-one division
front, one forming crochet on Stones river,
and one in reserve in centre-Negley being
between the left aud right, and Rousseau in
reserve. The plan of battle wa, to open on
the right, engage the eaemy sufficiently to hold
him firmly, 10 cross the river with our left,
consisting of three divisions Ito oppose which
they had blu, two divisions the country be-
ing favorable to an attack from that side of
the town. But the enemy attack ed the whole
front of our right flank, which was partially
surprised and thrown into confusion and driy-
en- back.
General Sherdah's Division had repulsed
the enemy four times, and protected the flank
of the centre, which not only held its own
but advanced until this untownrd tvont,
which compelled me TO retain the left wing to
support the right until it should be rallied and
assume new position.
On the lst instant the rebels opened by IN
attack on us, and were again repulsed.
On the I'd instant there was skirmishing a.
long the front, with threats OF attack, until a.
bout three O'Clock in the afternoon, when the
enemy advanced, throwing Il small division
across Stems river 10 occupy the commanding
ground there.
While accommodating the ground occupied
by this diviSi on, which HAD no ARTILLERY, SAW
a heavy force emerging from the woods, and
advancing in line OF battle three lines deep.
They drove onr little division before, hen, at
ter sharp cont est, in which we lost seventy
or eighty killed and three hundred and sew
enty-ti wounded; but they were finally re-
pulsed by Gen. NegleJ s Division and the re-
naming troops Of the left wing of Gen. Nor
tons, Pioneer Brig .de, and fed far over the
field and beyond their entertainments, their
officers rallying them with great difficulty.
lie lost heavily. We occupied the ground
with the left wing last night. The lines were
completed at four o'clock in the morning.
The Sd was speat in bringing up and dis,
trbuting provisions and ammunition. 1t has
been raining all day. The ground is very
heavy.
w