Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-05

THE BATTLE OF THURSDAY.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Commerclall
NASHVILLE, January 1.
have just arrived from terrific battle
on Stones River, in frontof MurfreesborO,
on the west side Of that town. 1t has
ragged with unremitting fury two days, and
at last report was not yet decided. It is
one of the most ferOciOus Of modern times,
sustained by both sides with splendid de-
termination.
General Rosecrans marched from Nash
Vile last Friday, with about $4,000 effect
i've men, and 100 pieces artillery, and skir-
mished all the way to the battle field, the
enemy resisting bitterly. The whole of
Tuesday was spent in reconnoitering.-
Theenemy was found strongly posted with
artillery, in a bend of Stones River, his
iauks resting on the west side of Murfrees-
boro.
The center also had the advantage of
high ground, with q dense growth of cedar
masking them completely. Their position
gave them the advantage Of a cross fire,
and General McCOok's corps closed in on
their left on Wilkerson's Greek. Negley,
of Thomas corps, worked with great diff
Guilty, to the front Of the rebel center
Rosseau's division was in the reserve
Crittenden's corps was posted on compar-
atively clear ground on their left ) Pal
mer's and Van Cleve's divisions In front In
the woods, and held in reserve. A battle
MAS GXpeUUeu al uay Iuesuuy5 UNI UHS en-
emy merely skirmished and threw few
shells. one of which killed Orderly No
| Dsnald,-sf che 4th United States Cavalry,
nut ten feet from General Rosecrans.-
| That afternoon, the Anderson Pennsyl-
vania Cavalry, on McCook's flank, was
drawn into an ambuscade, and its two
Majors, Rosengarten and Ward, were
killed.
Crittenden's corps lost four killed and
two wounded that day, including Adjutant
Elliot, of the 57th Indiana, severely
wounded. McCook's loss was about fifty.
The same day, the rebel cavalry made a
dash on our rear, at Laveergn, burned q
few wagons, and captured thirty-fve pris-
oners. That night dispositions were made
to attack the enemy in the morning. AZ
ter dark the enemy we're reported massing
upon McCook, obviously to strike our right
wing. This corresponded with the wishes
of General Rosecrans, who instructed
General McCook to hold him in check
stubbornly, while the left wing should be
thrown into Murfreesboro behind the en-
emy.
At dsybreak of the last day of Decem-
Der, everything appeared working well.
Battle had opened on our right and our
left wing was on hand at seven o'clock
Ominous sounds indicated that the fire was
approaching on the right. Aids were des-
patched for information, and found tine
forests full of flying negroes, with some
struggling soldiers, who reported whole
regiments falling back rapidly.
Meantime one of McCook's aids an
nounced to General Rosecrans that General
johnson had permitted the three batteries
of his division to be captured by a sudden
attack of the enemy, and that that fact had
somewhat demoralized tho troops. This
was obvious.
The brave General Sill, one of our best
officers, was killed, General Kirk severely
wounded, and General Which killed, or
missing, beside other valuable officers.
General Rosecrans sent word pressing
General McCook to hold the front and he
would help him. 1t would all work right.
He now gslloped to the front Of Critten-
den's left, with his staff, to order the line
of battle, when the enemy opened full
battery and emptied two saddles of the es-
cort Van Cleves division was sent to the
right Colonel Beatty's brigade in front
The fire continued to approach on the right
with alarming apidity-extending to the
center, and il was clear that the right was
doubling upon the left. The enemy had
compelled us to make complete change
of frsnt on that wing, and were pressing
the center
General Rosecrans, with splendid dar-
ing, dashed into the fire and sent his staff
along the lines, started Beattys brigade
forWard-sOme six batteries opened and
sustained a magnificent fre-directly a
tremendous shout was raised along the
whole line The enemy began to fall back
rapidly. The General himself urged the
troops forward. The rebels, thoroughly
punished, were driven back fully mile.
The same splendid bravery was displayed
in the center, and the whole line advanced.
Meantime the enemy made formidable
demonstrations on our left, while they pre-
pared for another onslaught on our right.
Meantime orders had been issued to move
our left upon the enemy. Before they had
time to execute it they burst upon our
center with awful fury, and it began to
q
break. ROsseau's divisions were carried
into the breach magni6cently by their glo-
rious leader, and the enemy again retreat
ed hastily into the dense cedar tbiekets.
Again they essayed our right, and again we
were driven back. This time the number
| Of our stragglers was formidable, and the
prospect was discouraging, but there was
| no panic The General, confident of sue
| 20 rriusk ant aff thu
1 field, and with the aid of Thomas, McCook,
Crittenden, Rosseau, Negley, and Wood,
the tide of battle was again turned.
Early in the day, we were seriously en-
barrassed by the enterprise of rebel caval-
~, who made some serious dashes upon
some of McCook's ammunition and subsis-
tence trains, capturing a number of wag-
ons and artillery ammunition was alarm
| ingIy scarce. At one time 1t was announced
that not single wagon load of it could be
| found. Some of our batteries we're quiet
on that account This misfortune was
| cauSeu Dy GH6 UdPUurv =4UegvtEis-s--sn
About two o'clock the battle had shifted
again from right to left the enemy dis
covering the impossibility of succeeding
in their main design, had suddenly mass
cd his forces on the left, crossing the river
or moving under cover ofhigh bluffs from
his right, and for about two hours the fight
ragged with unFemitting fury. The sdvan-
tsge was with the enemy for a considera-
BILE length Of time when they were check
ed by our murderOus FIRE of both mu kerry
and artillery. The scene at this point
was magn fcent and terrible. The whole
battle was in full view. the enemy deploy-
ing right and left, bringing up their bat
terisG in fine style, our own vomiting
smoke and iron missiles upon them with
awful fury, and our gallant fellows NOV
ing to the front with unfinching courage,
or lying fat upon their faces to escape the
rebel fire until the moment for action.
There was not place on the field that