The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-05

brigade of rebel infantsy, and reached
Stewards creek, the Sd Kentucky gallant
ly charging the rear guard Of the enemy
and saving the bridge on which had been
placed a pile of ralcs that had been set
on fire. This was Saturday night
McCook having settled the fact Of Har
dee's retreat, Thomas moved Negley's di-
vision on TO join Crittenden at Stewards
creek, and moved ROusseau's division to
Nolensvile
On Sunday the troops rested, except
Rousseau's division, which was ordered
to move on to Stewartston; and Willich's
brigade which had pursued Hardee as
far as Riggs cross roads, and had deter
mined the fact that Hardee had gone to
Murfreesboro, when they returned TO Tri-
une.
On Monday morning, McCook was Or
dered TO move from Triune TO Wilken-
sons cross roads, six miles from Muir
freesboro, leaving brigade at Triune.
Crittenden crossed Stewards creek by
the Smyrna bridge, on the main MUIR
freesboro Pike, and Negley by the ford
two miles above; the whole force to adj
vance on Murfreestoro, distant eleven
miles.
Rousseau was TO remain at Stewards
creek unit his trains came up, and pre-
pare himself to follow.
McOook reached Wilkerson's Cross
roads by evening, with an advanced bri
gade at Oyerall's creek, saving and hold
ing the bridge, meeting with but little re-
sistance.
Crittenden's corps advanced. Palmer's
leading on the Murfreesboro' Pike, fol-
lowed by Negley, of Thomas corps, TO
within three miles of MurfreesbOro'
having had several brisk skirmishes,
driving the enemy rapidly, saving two
bridges on the route, and forcing the enc
my back TO his entertainments.
About 8 p M a signal message coming
from the front, from General Palmer, said
that he was in sight of Murfreesboro, and
the enemy were running. An order was
sent to General Crittenden to send di-
vision to occupy Murfreesbo'.
This led General Crittenden, on reach
ing the enemy:s front, to order Harker's
brigade TO cross the river at a ford, on
his left, where he surprised regiment Of
Disadvantages division, and drove il
back on its main lines, not more than SOC
yards distant, in considerable confusion
and be held this position until Gen. Crit
tenden was advised by prisoners, cap
tured by Harker's brigade, that Breckin
ridge was in force on his front, when, il
being dark, he ordered the brigade back
across the river, and reported the circum-
stances to the commanding General, on
his arrival, TO whom he appologised foI
not having carried out the order to occupy
Murfreesboro'. The General approved oil
his action, Of course, the order TO occupy
Murfreesboro' having been based on the
information received on General Critten-
| denis advance division, that the enemy
were retreating from Murfreesboro'.
Crittenden's corps, with Negley's di'
| vision, bivouacked in order OF battle, dis.
tant seven hundred yards from the enc
my's entertainments, our left extending
down the river some five hundred yards
The Pioneer brigade bivouacked still
lower down, prepared three fords, and
covered one Of them, Vkile Woods diyi,
| sion covered the other two.
Van Cleve's division being in reserve
on the morning of the Both Rousseau
with two brigades, was ordered dowr
early from Stewards creek, leaving on,
brigade there, aud sending another I,
Smyrna, TO cover our left and rear, ant
took his place in reserve in rear of Pal
mer's right, while General Neglcy move,
on through the cedar brakes until hi
right rested on the Wilkerson Pike. a
shown in the accompanying plan. Tn
pioneer corps cut roads through the ce
dars for his ambulances and ammunition
wagons.
| The Commanding General RENAME,
with the left and center, examining tn
ground, while General McCook moyet
forward from Wilkerson's cross roads
slowly and steadily, meeting with heav,
resistance, fighting his way from Over
alPs creek until he got into position, witt
a loss.of some 1876 killed and wounded
Our small division Of cavalry, sa,
5000 men, had been divided into tire
parts, of which Gen. Stanley took two
and accompanied Gen. McCook, fighin
his way across from the Wilkerson TO Oh
Franklin pike, and below it, Oolone
Zahn's brigade leading CALAMITY, an
meeting with such heavy resistance tina
McCOok sent two brigades from Johnson
division, which succeeded in fghtn
their way into the position, shown on III
accompanying plan, marked A, while th
Sd brigade, which had been left at Triun,
moved forward from that place, and az
rived at nightfall near General McCook
headquarters. Thus on the close of IN
30th, the troops bad all got into the posi-
ton substantially as shown in the accom-
panying drawing, the rebels occupyin
the position marked A.
At o'clock IN the afternoon, Generi
McCoOk announced his arrival on Oh
Wilkerson Pike, joining Thomas-th
result Of the combat in the afternoo
near Grieson's house, and the fact thu
Sheridan was in position there, that h
right was advancing 10 support the cava
ry also, that Hardee's corps, with tw
divisions Of Folks was on his front, e.
tending down toward the Salem pike.
Without any map Of the ground, whic
was 10 us terra incoglita, when Genori
McCook informed the General Command
ing that his corps was facing strongly L
ward the east, the General Commander
told him that such a direction 10 his lIl
did not appear 10 him a proper one, b
that it ought, with the exception Of b
left, TO face much more nearly south, wi
Johnson's division In reserve but N
this matter must be confided 70 him, wi
q knew the ground over which be HI
/ fought
+ Al Up NJ, the corrs commanders nj
4 at the headquarters oil the General CuJ
, handing, who explained TO tha@ the f.
lowing
o. PLAN OF THE BATTLF.