Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-01-16
sArCRpAYs ENGAGEMENT.

returned last night to Nashville from the
bath field at Murforsboro and after a tedious
ride on the cars during which L was engaged
writing out these dispatches l arrived late
this evening at this place. [ say l left the
field but not thank God until | was able to re-
port glorious success for the arms OF the
Union. The operations up to one o'clock yes
terday had been conducted on a scale Of almost
unparalleled grandeur almost equaling the subli-
most military occurrence during the days Of
Napoleon. The battle Of Wednesday display
ed in the most striking manner the valor Of our
troops, the earneatnoss OF our officers and the
genius Of General Rose Grams, but the result on
the whole seemed 70 be against US ard there
was a general feeling Of dtspondency through
ont our army On Thursday there was little
disposition on either side 10 renew the battle
| and this feeling continued until after The can,
nonade oi Friday morning aud the result Of
which did much TO encourage and inspire our
troops and make them ready for the great event
that took place in the afternoon OF that day
1t was about O'Clock in the evening when NJ
one anticipated a renewal Of be battle that the
rebels advanced in overwhelming force under
the command of Blcckinridge who seems to
have been all day in charge Of the right wing
Of their army aud threw themselves with terri
be inipeluosiiy y upon Van Clcve's DIVISION
This portion of our forces was In command OF
Col Beatty ol the 81 Ohio General Van Clcve
having been wounded on Wedne day. The
assault of he enemy was speedily announced
to the rest Of the army by a dreadful war OF
artillery aud deaieniug rattle of musketry.-
Eveay body rushed instantly TO arms and al!
seemed anxious 10 ge the enemy at once.
For half al hour the gallant men Of Van
Ceye's division held tEeir own against five
times their lumber but finding il impossible to
withstand one-,hird of the entire rebel army
began to give ground Two brigadcs slowly
retired the euny following with great deter
mina,ion ill at length our men were pushed
into Tue river many Of them dyeing the water
with their blood. The third brigade stood its
ground somewhat longer ard fought if possible
mole obsinately: still they too were just on
the point Of giving way wh,n NegIeys divis-
ion which was near the center when the tat
tie began came rushing ap to the rescue with
loud cheers,
. The soldiers advanced to the riverside, de-
livered few terrible voIlcys, which efltclually
checked the rehH onset. and then panged into
the stream itself and waded across, all the
time pouring. their bullets into the face of the
foe An adjacent bill, covered with woods, was
just upon the other side Of the riyer, aud upon
ascending .. tolerable steep bank fence was
reached, which separated the woods from the
open ground through which the river runs. Here
the rebels attempted. TO make stand and
poured u leaden hail into our ranks as they
clanlbe red up the river bank; but the soldiers
oE the Uaion were no longer 10 be checked, |
They rushed up to the fence and hurled the en- |
emy away from it at the point of the baynet |
The whole woods then resounded with the roar
of battle, our men continuing to drive the en-
emy steadily before them.
Coils II. Stanley ard Miller, commanding !
brigodes, urged forward their men with daunt-
less courage, and drove the rebels entirely from
The woods and across some corn-helds which |
lay just in front of the last strip OF timber |
which separated our army from Murfreesboro.
These corn-6elds were literally covered with 1
the rebel dead and dying The enemy had now !