New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-05

On the same day the Rebel cavalry made dash
:, IN. roor y, Isyergne, burned few wagons and
captured IS prisonerf
Tho, o;cbt dispositions were made to attack the
.rerv in the morning. After dark the enemy was
reported massing near McCook, obviously to turn
our right wlhg'
This oorresponded with the wishes Of Gen. Rose
crane, who instructed Gen. MeCook to hold him in
tcbeck stubborply, while the left wing should be
thrown into Murfreesboro behind the enemy.
At daybreak OIL the last day Of December every
thing appeared working we'll The battle had
opened on the right, and our left wing was OIL
hand
AT o'clock omnous sounds indicated that FIRE
was approaching our left. Aids were dispatched for
information, and found the forests full of flying
negroes and struggling soldiers, who reported whole
regiments falling back
Meantime one of McCooks aids had announced
to Gen. Rosecrans that Gen. johnson had permitted
sudden attack of the enemy, and that ii had some
VIDA, demoralzed our troops was obvious.
TIE brave Gen. Sill one of our bee, officers, was
killed; Gen. Kirk wounded, and Gen. Which
killed or missing, beside other valuable officers
wounded.
Gen. Rosecrans sent word to Gen. McCook TO bold
the front and he would help him, that II would all
work right.
He now galloped to the front OF Crtteodens lsf,
with his staff to order the line of battle, when the
enemy opened full battery, and emp'ied two sad
lies of the escort.
Van Cleves division was sent TO the right and
Col Beatty brigade in front.
The fire continued TO approach on the right with
alarming rapdiiy, extending 10 tie center, and it
was clear that the right was doubling upon the
left. The enemy had compelled us to make com.
plete change o. front tia, wing, and were pren.
iYg the center.
Gen. Rosecrans, with splendid daring, dashed INTO
tie furious .ite and sending Lis b,aH along the nes,
started Beatty's brigade forward. Some ELK bate
ries opened aud sustaining magnificent fire.
directly tremendous shout r.sed nlong the
Whole line, ard The euepy Logan to IA back RAPIDLY.
The General Limself urged the troops forward The
Rebels, terribly punished. were driven tack fully
mile. The same splendid bravery wa Displayed 10
the lines aud they adveuc d. though the enemy made
formidable demonstrations on our left. wDilo they
prepared for another ons'ansht on our night.
Meantime, Orcers, had been ,sued to move ous
left upon tue enemy but before they bad time to
execute them they burst upon center wish awful
fury, tnd il began to break. Rofecmnss division
wap clirei into the breach magui'lcenty by their
ri rou. leader.
The enemy nclia rotr,n,ed hastily into ho derse
cedar ilickcts. Again they efsayed or hight, an
-gsfn We were driven back. by this line tie rnm-
ter OF our .trneg err was Formidable, and The 'os
lcci WIS d'sorral lug; bui there was 10 panic.
TIE General confident Of success, continued T.
,sit otter parts Of toe field aud with the aid q
Cens. Thomaf, McCook, Cnten|en, Kous'efu
NeeIev. and Wood, the tide OF battle turned
carly ia tie d"y
We wen seriously embarrassed by the enterprise
Of Re5el cavslry, who made some serious dashes
uron some OF McCooks ammunition aud subsistence
trsius, capturing number Of wagons, and ag'iiieg5
auimuLitiJn grow slasmlDgly scarce.
A, one time ii was announced that not a single
wagon load OF it could be found. Some Of our battle
res were quiet on that account. This misfortune
wa. caused by the Capture Of McCooh's trains
About O'Clock the battle had slfei again from
right 10 left. The enemy dicoverngthe irnpossb ~
Of succeeding ia their main design, had suddenly
nlaseed their folces the left crossing tie river
or inoviog under of bluff the right, ana for
about two houIs the fight ragged with unremitIing
fury 10 tie advantage 0. the ebemy for consider
ale length Of time. when they were checked 10y
our m1rderous fire. OF both uurkctry and artillery
The scene a, tbi. point was inagnifcently terrible.
TIE whole baltic was In full view. The enemy de-
Tloying righ, and left bringing up their batteries in
nueslye, our own vomiting ,moke and iron mlssiles
upon them with awful fury, and our gallant fellows
moving TO thefron with uufncbinS courage and
lying 4 It urol their faces 10 escape the Rebel IRE
until the mou,nt for nc ion.
Shell and rhot fen around like hail. Gen. Rose
craos was himeef ilcessanty eXpoaed. IL - won
d,rfu that he Escaped. His Chief Of staff, the noble
Lieut.. Col. Garescse, had his bead taken off by
round.shot and the blood berpnt'ered the General
ard some Of the staff. Lieut.. l. lan KIRK Jurt b.
bind him, was lifted clear out Of bis saddle by a
buIet which shattered his left arm.
Three ord-rss and gallant Sergeant Richmond
If the lth United States Cavalry, we're killed, not
zen feet from him. and five Nix horses IN tue sian
Escort wore struck.
Bstseen five and six O'clock the enemy, appa-
rentIy exhausted by hs rapid and ineessanl asrhns
took NJ portion not assailablc without abundant
ar.ilefy and the lire Oh both sides slackehel' aud
finally sileuced at dark The battle having r"g'd
eleven hours the loes Of life our SIDE being con-
siderable. and the terrific nature Of the led conpara
lively limited.
Our casu Atty list that day, excluding captures dd
not exceed perhaps 500, OF whom not more than
oue.fourth were killed. This is attributable TO the
care taken 10 make men lie down. lie enemy
lo.s mus; have been mora severe.
Al. q q