The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-01-20
TIE BATTLE AND VICTORY OF FRIDAY.

TIE BATTLE AND VICTORY OF FRIDAY. DR.
/. At precisely the same hour on Friday
morning as on the day before, the thunder Of
artillery called all the troops to arms. This
time il was the rebel batteries that commcnc
cd the fight; but our artieris,s were not
slow in r plying to them, aud in twenty
minu tes the country for miles ar round resounded
with continual roar. Then the firing ceased
as if by mutual consent, aud both parties
hauled off, to repair damages, although dur
ing the course Of the affair a rebel gun was
dsmounted, and the battery TO which it be-
longed silenccd.
The aru felt in somewhat better spirits
this morning. as it was evident from the
events Of tho last twenty four hours, that the
rebel leaders were exceedingly diffi'lcnt about
renewing the battle, even with the advantage
Of the twenty six guns which they captured
from US on Wednesday. The news bad also
spread through tho camp Of Van Cleye's
division having been sent across the river the
evening before, and this convinced the men
that they were not SO completely surrounded
as they had imagined. tit III.
There were three things. however, which
siil depressed their spirils-tbe actual scarcity
OF food, the prospect that communication
with Nashville would be cut off entirely, and
lie which the rebels taken prisoners be-
gan TO circulate, by instruction from tl.eir
LENDERS, namely: that Bragg had received
large reinforcements from Richmond. Not.
withstanding these drawbacks, the tone of the
army rose every hour, as the men marked
the disinclnation Of the rebels to renew the
struggle, and comprehend how completely
!. Il - hatA oil
forces under control.
Hour after hour tho enemy kept feeling a
round our lines, as il be were trying TO d
cover weak and unsupported place, uupor
Il which he might fall and break through =
Much apprehension was felt least he sboul(
again assail the right, and gain, what bad 81
long seemed to be one Of bis ol jects, posses
sion Of the Murfecsboro road IN the rear
i. Those, however, who. knew the situatiou o
: Van Clcvo's division upon the other size o
dtbe river, frll certain that when the rebel as
sault did come, j. would fall upon the oxtrem
llef. ......... l.iI'i., =.
1t was about four O'Clock, when a fore
cannonade which had been oipg on for som
time upon the loft, was succeeded by,a defen
ing crasb Of musketry, and the whole arm
!, at once comprehended that the battle was &c
1pewed in earnest, ..............s.sr, r,ag1
l. The ground upon tho west side Of the rive
is much more irregular than upon the east :
Toward the rear moderately high bluff rise
from the river, Tho level ground abovc wa
1.-The scene of The rebel cavalry charge
Wednc sday. Going toward the town 20
ascend wooded hill, and find npon the otht
~ side a. patch OF low cleared ground. 10
e, cross. this, and come 10 n part OF the s,reaI
or where the bank is eight or ten feet high.
=. A narrow strip Of ground upon whic
there are trees, but no underbrusb, interviews
"a, nn between tho river and rail fence. Upc
10, the other side Of the latter is a WOO,
n. p. in iis natural state; aud for the distance
nd balf a mile going from the river, You seem
nd be gently ascending . low wooded hill. (.
n deep ravine ruas down the side Of IL. 10 q
rec,ion nearly parallel with the course of u
= 1river. When the summit Of the rise
y. " reached, there are couple Of level cornfel
to and then another strip Of dense woods, IL
in. media,ely behind which lies Murfeesboro.--
1t was in the cofnfeid last named, and 10 Y
.rs woods behind them, thai Van Cleve's divisio
a. aow commaded by Col. Beatty OF tho 10
!. ohio, was posted on. Tuesday eycning--tv
lof tho brigades' mostly in tho open spat
r while the third was in more covered positlc
lily and was projected. by some slight fortlhc
,ions of dirt and logs. o.. ...,..... .7isi3 :
N The enemy, pursuing hi, usual tactic
~ "a nasscd three Of bis divisions, Rains And,
cs oo,. ard Rreckiuridge's. the whole und