Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-15
THE BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO
PreliminaIies of the Engagement.

PreliminaIies of the Engagement.
HEADQUARTERS l4TH ARMY Corps,
Dec. %, via Louis lille, Dec 81
Orders to advance on the enemy were
given Christmas Eve, but were counter
msnded before morning. On the morning
of Friday, the 26th, our entire force was
in motion, sweeping down the Wilson,
NolinsVille and Murfreesboro pixies.
OPERATIONS OF FRIDAY, GOTH.
During the day, Col. Carlin's brigade of
Gen. jeff @. Davis division, McCook's
corps, had some lively skirmishing, and
the 10lst Ohio CALAMITY charged and cap
tured one gun and caisson from Geor
gia battery. We lost only two killed and
three or four wounded.
The enemy were driven back at all
points, and at dark we occupied Noiins-
vile and Lavergne, and Thomas corps
moved down the Franklin and Wilson
pixies, and all intermediate points Nc
Cooks corps down the Nolinsville pike.
and CrittendeE's down the Murfreesboro
pike, two brigades marching to the left
on the Jefferson pike.
Gen. Rosecrans moved from Nashville
down the Murfreesboro pike, at half past
eleven o'clock a. NJ, and passed to Nc
Cooks front, his headquarters being estab.
lished on the Murfreesboro pike, twelve
miles from Nashville.
WHAT WAS DONE ON SATURDAY, 9th.
Gen. McCook was directed to press Har-
dee two divisions at Triune on Saturday,
and orders were issued to move up along
the whole road. The enemy's pickets
were soon met at various points, and there
was sharp skirmishing all day long, Har-
dee fell back rapidly before McCook's ca
gre advance, the Anderson division distin-
gushing themselves in skirmishing, and
Negley's and Rosseau's divisions moving
up to the centre on the left
Crittenden drove the rebels all day, car.
rying the bridges on the Jefferson and
Murfreesboro pixies in handsome STYLE
Our loss il the left wing was two killed
and twenty seven wounded, most of the
latter of the 26th Ohio.
Our information up to this period war
rants Us in saying that the enemy did not
Intend to give battle. At late hour Gen.
McCook torward ed dispatches that Hardee
had retreated upon the Murfreesboro pike.
1t seems that his true line of retreat, if
Bragg did not intend to engage us, was
down the Shelbyville road; therefore it
was concluded that the enemy would re
sist, in force, from Stewards Creek to
Murfreesboro.
Subsequent information confirmed the
Impression, and every preparation which
had not been made was perfected. In
consequence of the heaviness of the roads.
1t required the whole of the day to concen.
trate and rest our troops; and, with the
exception of picket skirmishing, there was
no lighting on The entire front.
The two armies now face each other. on
opposite sides OF Stewards Greek, twenty
miles from Nashville The main force OF
the enemy is six miles from the creek. and
we are encamped upon it in line of battle.
The General and staff went to the extreme
front on the M arfreesboro pike this after
noon. The enemy's pickets were visible
to the naked eye, and considers abe body
OF them, with battery, were drawn up
on the road, within distinct view, not
more than mile from Us, keeping up a
lively fire, with little effect.
We anticipated a Smelling, but for soma
reason the enemy, though deeply interest
ed In our movements. declined to expend
their ammunition
Tomorrow We shall have some sharp
actions, very likely great action. The
enemy have the advantage of position,
high, rolling territory, very much broken,
with deep creek intervening. Our
troops are full OF ardor, and the General
appears confident of winning great vic
tory.
We estimate the rebel effective force at
35 5000 men, They recently sent 10000
from Kirby Smiths corps to Mississippi.
This is certain.
The cutting off of our communication
between Louisville and Nashville is not
good thing for os, but great victory will
relieve US OF all embarrassments. Rev.
Dolds' and Fry's divisions are after Nor
gan sharply.
Before this reaches you a great battle
will have been fought, or the rebels will
have fed before Us. Scouts Inform Us,
however, that Bragg asserts that we shaIl
lose 10000 men before be leaves Middle
Tennessee.
DAY OF REST.
sunday-Nothing was done, Rosecran.
declining an attack that day.
OPERATIONS OF MONDAY.
The army was in motion at daylight,
Dec. 295h Gen. jeff O. Davis moved
upon Murfreesboro in advance on the
right, on Bully Jack road, several miles
north Of Triune, with Negley's and Rous.
seau's divisions Of Thomas grand division
n the centre, and Crittenden's corps OF
the LETT, moving down the Murfreesboro
aud Jefferson pixies. Woods and Van
Cleves divisions, of the latter corps, were
right and left respectively, and Palmer's
division in reserve.
A battle on Stewards Creek was an.
ticipated, but excepting a duel between
Parsons 4th United States artillery and a
rebel battery, at nine o'clock, to the right
Of Murfreesboro pike, in crossing the
creek, there was no engagement.
From ten to one all was quiet, our ar
ny crossing Stewards Creek, from right
10 left, without opposition. At one we
were within six miles OF Murfreesboro, on
he direct pike.